Long Distance Rifle

[HawkMan]

I'm thinking about expanding my gun collection and buying a rifle which could be used for long distance shooting.

So far I've been looking at the Loaded M1A and the Ruger Precision Rifle.

• What other guns would you recommend I take a look at?
• What range do you start to consider "long distance?"
• What are some good calibers for long distance shooting?

UPDATE:

Any suggestions for semi-auto rifles that are chambered in something more powerful than .223/5.56 and not using the AR platform?

[Danodog]

I'm thinking about expanding my gun collection and buying a rifle which could be used for long distance shooting.

So far I've been looking at the Loaded M1A and the Ruger Precision Rifle.

• What other guns would you recommend I take a look at?
• What range do you start to consider "long distance?"
• What are some good calibers for long distance shooting?

Long range can be the sport of kings. .338 Lupua can be extremely pricey. There are a few guys that shoot .308 but it is more for convenience or economics. The Ruger Precision Rifle with moderately priced glass can bring hours of entertainemwnt without breaking the bank. I think most would prefer the 6.5 Creed over the .308 for longer range work.

Most long range guys will use bolt guns, so the M1A might be a fish out of water when competing.

Anything over 500 is long distance for these 50 year old eyes but most will tell you 1000+.

If money were no object, I would start from the ground up from this website.

http://defiancemachine.com/deviant-action/

[Sir Toast]

Research, research research. You have so many options. I've been seeing a lot of Ruger Precision Rifles up for sale recently. I'd grab a 6.5 Creedmoor. The M1A is a terrific rifle. But if you want real precision at long range, you're better off with a bolt gun.

I've been reading an awfully lot of good things about the Tikka rifles. If memory serves me correctly, it's made at SAKO and SAKO makes great TRG rifles. Not a lot of aftermarket stuff for them, but under 1 MOA out of the box (although there are some exceptions for every manufacturer).

Savage has a pretty nice rifle for about $600 new, with the Accu-Stock and Accu-trigger, big bolt handle, fluted, threaded, etc.

If you aren't sure of the caliber you want to shoot, I'd go with the 308 because of the cheap 308 match ammo, etc. If you want a better cartridge, go with the 6.5 Creedmoor. Hornady match ammo is pretty cheap. I wouldn't bother spending the $$$$$$$$ to run the 338 Lapua Mag round, especially if you aren't willing to spend the $$$$$$$ on a world class rifle. If you're going to go that far out, then you want a good rifle like a Sako TRG, Accuracy international or Desert Tech Inc.

If you want more power than the .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor, look at the 300 Win Mag with a nice brake. You'll be impressed. Also, consider the 7mm. Although the barrel in the 7mm won't last as long.

You have tons and tons of options for long range. Me . . . I went with the Desert Tech Inc. rifle. I mount a Nightforce BEAST on it and run it in 308, 6.5 CM, 300 Win Mag and 338 Lapua. I have all those different calibers and I only need one scope. So I put my money into a quality, tough scope. If I didn't have a son, I'd be buried with it.

[SFgiants105]

Even with match ammo, straight from the factory Springfields are know to be around 2 moa at best, which isn't going to do you much good at long range.
Depending on your budget, for an M1A platform, I'd consider a LRB M25. Fully built from LRB with a Krieger barrel is around $2500 I believe, and then you could swap out the wooden surplus stock for the Archangel that comes on the Loaded for another ~$400. You could hit pretty far out using just irons until you manage to save enough for sufficient glass.

For straight bolt action, it's hard to beat a Remington 700 because the out-of-box accuracy is decent and there are so many aftermarket parts out there that you can just keep upgrading as funds become available. Food for thought, although a 16.5" barrel isn't the best long-range set up, you could get the r700 SPS tactical and a folding chassis like this https://www.midwayusa.com/product/65...s-system-black and that's 100% CA legal. That and a LaRue SJC Titan comp and you have a very portable tactical rifle that is good out to ~600yds. Plus, you could alway slap a Krieger on it later on down the line (say a 18" 6.5 creedmoor, which would give you another 200+ yds). Possibilities are endless with a short action r700.

Btw, if you're getting a "precision" rifle, you really shouldn't be spending less than $1000 on your scope (save for a few exceptions, such as Sightron).

[NapalmCheese]

Go to the long range forum or the center fire manually operated forum and listen.

You'll be told
a) long range starts at 1000+ at leat
b) the M1-A is the wrong choice
c) .308 is the wrong choice
d) the RPR is fine for a starter gun
e) buy a $2000.00+ dollar scope or go home
f) role you're own ammo
g) forget the RPR and buy a Remington 700 and build up from there
h) forget the R700 and buy a surgeon action, anything less is just wasting your money
i) forget any stock that isn't at least $500.00 dollars
j) forget any chassis that isn't at least $1000.00 dollars


Basically, prepare yourself to be berated by a bunch of people you don't know for not spending your first born's college fund on a rifle and scope. Then prepare to be berated about all of your choices that don't include custom Remington 700 variant action, Bartlein barrels, Atlas bipods, Nightforce scopes, Norma or Lapua brass, and custom made lathe turned projectiles to be loaded on your Dillon something or other.

Or just buy an Accuracy International rifle and tell everyone to bugger off.

[GW]

Serious question: How far out are you looking to shoot ?
is there a range you can shoot at beyond 100-200 yards?
That said..
The M1A will be a more fun gun to own because semi-auto and a very solid setup with the best iron sights out there. You can bang on steel at 3-500 yards all day long.If you're going to shoot beyond 500 yards the consider the Savage 110 Stealth as an option. $1100 or so' It has great reviews
The Ruger is also a great rifle
As someone said before check out the 6.5 Creedmoor caliber (Which the M1A does not come in.
Good luck with whichever you choose.

[hambam105]

Shall we check to see how much money we have in the bank and how many points we have on the Man Card before we define the word, Long Range?

[vliberatore]

I'm thinking about expanding my gun collection and buying a rifle which could be used for long distance shooting.

So far I've been looking at the Loaded M1A and the Ruger Precision Rifle.

• What other guns would you recommend I take a look at?
• What range do you start to consider "long distance?"
• What are some good calibers for long distance shooting?

I'd pass on the M1A. The Ruger precision rifle is a decent setup, but I'd go for a Remington 700 5R instead. The 700 is the smallblock Chevy of the precision rifle world and you will find a LOT more support for it regarding scope bases, stocks, chassis, triggers, etc.

If you want to spend more, a custom action is the way to go but I would not recommend that to someone new to the precision rifle world.

Long distance is generally 800yds or longer.

There are a lot of good calibers but I'd suggest starting with .308. It's readily available and cheap to reload. When you shoot the barrel out of the rifle that you get then you'll know what you want out of the rifle and be able to make a decision about the cartridge for your own use.

[Jimmy's]

Go to the long range forum or the center fire manually operated forum and listen.

You'll be told
a) long range starts at 1000+ at leat
b) the M1-A is the wrong choice
c) .308 is the wrong choice
d) the RPR is fine for a starter gun
e) buy a $2000.00+ dollar scope or go home
f) role you're own ammo
g) forget the RPR and buy a Remington 700 and build up from there
h) forget the R700 and buy a surgeon action, anything less is just wasting your money
i) forget any stock that isn't at least $500.00 dollars
j) forget any chassis that isn't at least $1000.00 dollars


Basically, prepare yourself to be berated by a bunch of people you don't know for not spending your first born's college fund on a rifle and scope. Then prepare to be berated about all of your choices that don't include custom Remington 700 variant action, Bartlein barrels, Atlas bipods, Nightforce scopes, Norma or Lapua brass, and custom made lathe turned projectiles to be loaded on your Dillon something or other.

Or just buy an Accuracy International rifle and tell everyone to bugger off.

LOL, There's a little more to add but that's what they preach alright.

[dpr]

Of those 2 choices the Ruger would be a far better decision.

[audiophil2]

I use my Savage MKII FV-SR and a PA 4-14x44 scope to go to 425 yards. That is as far as my elevation can go until I install a canted base. I just run Gemtech subsonics at $5/50. Total into the gun is about $575ish.

For 500-1300 I am building up a Ruger American Predator in 6.5creedmoor. I used the same scope and it was boring at 500 yards to I put it away. I have Athlon Optics sending me a test scope so I can try it out and if it is as good as the reviews say it should get me to 1000 yards. That setup will be about $900. It is nothing fancy but I like to build up underdogs that compete with much pricier rigs.

[blueman]

The Ruger Precision Rifle would probably yield better accuracy results at distances exceeding 500 yards or even 1000 yards. The M1A is an excellent semi-auto designated marksman type rifle, but probably won't yield sub MOA groups at longer distances like a precision bolt action rifle would. The 6.5 Creedmoor round is perhaps one of the most popular rounds for precision long range shooting and the cost per round won't break the bank either. 308 Win is a good round as well and has been used for over 50 years as a long range competition, law enforcement, and military sniping round. Match grade 308 Win rounds are ubiquitous and fairly inexpensive. However, the 6.5 Creedmoor has better ballistics for long range precision work.

Other rounds to consider would be 300 Win Mag and 338 Lapua Mag. The caveat with these cartridges is that cost is considerably more the both 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Win. Also Rifle barrels for magnum calibers tend to wear out faster than non magnum barrels. Reloading for these calibers is preferable to paying full price on a box of 20 match grade rounds.

In essence, I would stick with 6.5 Creedmoor or 308 Win for entry level long range shooting and I would also probably stick with a bolt action precision rifle as you probably won't be disappointed with the accuracy results using match grade ammunition. Semi autos that rival bolt action rifle accuracy do exist, but they cost as much as a new compact car and that doesn't even include the cost of the scope. A Ruger Precision Rifle, Savage 10 BA Stealth, Remington 700, Tikka T3X, or Howa HCR all can be had brand new for less than $1,500 in both 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Win.

[Truck286]

Savage BA 110
With Accutrigger.
Take a look

[HawkMan]

I'm leaning more towards the M1A because I think it will probably be a better fit for me at the moment. I think I have to do more research and mid-long range shooting before I consider buying a bolt gun with an effective range of over 1000 yards.

Would the M1A be a good introductory gun to mid-long range shooting?

[blueman]

Yes, its a great gun for mid range shooting. Not sub-MOA, but a great semi auto 308 Win none the less. If you only plan to shoot out to 500 yards or so, its an excellent choice. If you decide to add a magnified scope, ensure you buy quality scope rings and probably some sort of cheek riser as well. With match grade ammo, I don't see why you couldn't keep it within 1.5 to 2 MOA.