Long range practical precision rifle for a beginner

[BRANDON7766]

I wrote this as a reply to someone but figured why not post it here...maybe someone could learn from responses as well.


My goal for this rifle is to give me something to shoot out with the ncpprc. I am a new shooter to bolt guns and longer than 100 yards in general. so I'll be horrible for some period of time. I want something nice that I can learn on over the next year or 2.

When I upgrade, I'll just have Spartan make me a custom on a surgeon or perhaps a gap. I would do that now but at my skill level and not having shot enough long range to even know if I like it, I wanted something factory for the resell value and cost. There are some other things die like to purchase as well. I plan on a top end scope, possibly a premeir or NF

For around 1-1200 what would you recommend?

I could just use a 308 AR but I'm probably better off learning on a bolt gun in the

[BRANDON7766]

So far options I've considered are:

Rem 700 sps tactical or varmint, putting extra $$ into a new stock.
Rem 700 5r
Savage 10fcp McMillan (nice A5 on it)

Other ideas?

[1911su16b870]

IMO the most important purchase right now for you entering the realm of precision shooting is to buy the best (most expensive) glass you can get your hands on.

You spend alot of time looking through that glass and good glass = less eye fatigue.

You can start with an out of the box Remington 700, just put that "buy once, cry once" glass ontop of it.

Another great idea is to go to one of the comps or introductory classes and see what the other guys are running.

[BRANDON7766]

No worries on the glass...I've got the money for a S+B or less. Just working n the rifle now.

[CSACANNONEER]

Buy the best glass you can afford and the cheapest rifle that will shoot within your tolerances. Don't forget to have money for decent reloading equipment. Precision shooting takes 4 main things (rifle, glass, ammo and shooter) and, you will only be able to shoot as well as the weakest one of them is. To begin with, that will be the shooter but, that can change quickly so, be ready to learn to reload precision ammo asap.

[BRANDON7766]

For reloading, I plan to buy some match ammo and try various loads over the 1st year and save the brass to reload during year 2.

Need some help on final rifle selection....anyone have opinions on any of the above or another model worth considering in that 1-1200 or less price range?

[a1fabweld]

I did the same thing you are trying to do. Here's what worked for me:

Remmy 5R .308 for $1050 OTD.
AICS chassis for $800.
Badger 20MOA base & rings about $275.
Harris swivel bipod with Pod-lock about $125.
NF 5.5-22x56 Mil/Mil scope about $1500.
Bubble level, sling & misc gadgets about $150.
I threaded my own barrel & added a PWS comp for about $100.
Finished it off with a can of black BBQ paint for $5.

After selling off the factory 5R stock (which is a good stock BTW) you're in it less than $4K for a pretty solid, mostly factory type rifle.

I opted for the AICS chassis because by the time you inlet the rifle for a detachable mag bottom metal, purchase the bottom metal, & bed the rifle, you're within a few bucks of an AICS which is plug & play. Then sell your HSP stock to get a few bucks back.

It shoots great & I never regretted one thing about my combo (Thanks Mudflap for the specs on this combo).

Now reloading gear ran me another $1500 with an electronic powder dispenser, press, match dies, precision measuring tools, trimmer, 1K brass, 1K bullets, couple kegs of powder & primers.

It's a good idea IMO to get a factory built starter type rig (all the while not buying junk parts) to get your feet wet. It will take you a while to outgrow it. Then if you stick with it, if & when you upgrade to a custom rifle, you can sell your old setup for 70% of what you're into it for.

Or you could spend $10k right off the bat for a custom Surgeon/GAP/ whatever rifle & a Premier scope to test the waters. Some folks have money to burn & if you do, by all means get the best of the best.

Last thing is a 20" barrel is too short for this if you're going to be shooting alot of 1K. You'll be limited to 155 grain bullets to keep them supersonic at the long end. Go at least 22". Good luck!

[Zippiot]

It doesnt look like much and a combo rifle+scope make most people cringe, but infact the Howa Hogue's scope won scope of the year a while back! It can be had at any Bass Pro shop etc for less than 600 dollars, and though it isnt much to look at the rifle shoots great!

Here is the first link google gave me

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/howa-hogue-rifle-scope-combo-package-hgr36307b-winchester-black-stock-blue-finish-p-117248.html

[Fjold]

By a rifle and scope with enough elevation to get you to 1,000 yards and shoot it. I see a lot of people on here talk about building rifles to shoot to 1,000 yards and actually see about a dozen people who do it.

Don't waste your money on a Stiller, Nightforce, etc. until you actually shoot at 1,000 yards first. I'll bet that 90% of the long range builds that are shown on these boards haven't been shot past 600 yards.

[Hoop]

I would look for a deal on a rem700 or a savage heavy barrel and then the best scope you can afford on your dime plenty of good choices at every price.

[Hoop]

For reloading, I plan to buy some match ammo and try various loads over the 1st year and save the brass to reload during year 2.

I did the same thing with my rifles and now that I think about it I was just pissing money away. Put that $$$ towards reloading stuff...

[diego-ted]

I was shootin at 1200 yards today. Across a canyon uP about 15* of cant. My rig was spOt on. TIlka 308 varmint, lrs1 abot$1200 in the set uP!

[Retzius]

I would get a stock SPS Varmint in .308 and the Bushnell 10x40 Tactical. Cheap but very capable setup.

I would spend your money on ammo, range time, reloading ammo, range time, rinse and repeat.

When you finally shoot out the barrel and the rig is the limiting factor (5000-8000 rounds) then YOU will know what you need.

[HonkingAntelope]

So far options I've considered are:

Rem 700 sps tactical or varmint, putting extra $$ into a new stock.
Rem 700 5r
Savage 10fcp McMillan (nice A5 on it)

Other ideas?

Equipment issues aside, practice makes perfect. Shooting groups under 1 MOA requires serious shooter skills even when shooting a sub-MOA rifle.

I did the same thing you are trying to do. Here's what worked for me:

Remmy 5R .308 for $1050 OTD.
AICS chassis for $800.
Badger 20MOA base & rings about $275.
Harris swivel bipod with Pod-lock about $125.
NF 5.5-22x56 Mil/Mil scope about $1500.
Bubble level, sling & misc gadgets about $150.
I threaded my own barrel & added a PWS comp for about $100.
Finished it off with a can of black BBQ paint for $5.

My build:
700 SPS Tactical 20" bbl = $780 OTD
B&C Stock = $480
EGW 20MOA Base + Burris rings = ~$100
Leupold 6.5-20x50mm ER/T FFP TMR scope = $1200
Harris bipod = $80
Total = $2640
---------------------------------

The first time I took it to the range, I shot well under 1" with FGMM 168gr ammo (first time I ever shot a .308). The next step is to figure out which, if any, 150gr ammo this gun likes, and to keep practicing.

[a1fabweld]

Equipment issues aside, practice makes perfect. Shooting groups under 1 MOA requires serious shooter skills even when shooting a sub-MOA rifle.



My build:
700 SPS Tactical 20" bbl = $780 OTD
B&C Stock = $480
EGW 20MOA Base + Burris rings = ~$100
Leupold 6.5-20x50mm ER/T FFP TMR scope = $1200
Harris bipod = $80
Total = $2640
---------------------------------

The first time I took it to the range, I shot well under 1" with FGMM 168gr ammo (first time I ever shot a .308). The next step is to figure out which, if any, 150gr ammo this gun likes, and to keep practicing.

If you're not reloading, try the Corbon (I think) match loads that use Lapua 155 grain Scenars. Should boost velocity from your short barrel. I started with an SPS Tac as well. Couldn't make it to 1K with FGMM 175 grain ammo. I opted to sell it for the 5R due to longer barrel length. That SPS Tac shot straight though!