For that money, you could get an Ultralight MPA chassis gun and top end scope and then put a little more $ out for a RRS tripod with Arca Swiss head - best long range hunting rig I've seen yet.
Best Value Long Range Hunting Rifle up to $5k
- Thread starter DanTheMan
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Garyinmt
Active Member
I hate to muddy the water here because there are many men more qualified than I who have already offered sound advice. However, here's my two cents worth anyway. I know the 300WM has a large following and rightly so, it has downed a lot of game, but a perfectly designed cartridge it is not, if you stick to saami specs. The new 300 PRC on the other hand, is a nearly perfectly designed cartridge and equals or exceeds the 300WM in several areas.
Lastly, I have another custom gunmaker to throw in the mix. That being 406 Precision located in Twin Bridges, Montana. They use many of the quality components mentioned in this thread and build rifles second to none in accuracy. Nuff sed!
Lastly, I have another custom gunmaker to throw in the mix. That being 406 Precision located in Twin Bridges, Montana. They use many of the quality components mentioned in this thread and build rifles second to none in accuracy. Nuff sed!
Don Spence
Member
Take a look at IN-RUT Rifles inrutrifles.com Talk to Mark Lembke 605-390-4922
Velvet
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2017
- Messages
- 216
take a look at the Meopta Meostar S2 HD spotting scope, even better
I've never seen a production rifle that didn't have a feature (or two) that I would consider a compromise for someone who is looking for the kind of weapon you describe. A well blueprinted Rem 700 action worked up by someone who really knows what they're doing is a great place to start.
My opinion is that you should be shopping for a gunsmith instead of a rifle at this point.
My opinion is that you should be shopping for a gunsmith instead of a rifle at this point.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2007
- Messages
- 317
Usually they are reloading when doing load development. Usually but not always it is the load that the gun likes. Very few times have I not been able to get a gun to like a bullet. It's the powder and the charge.
tuscan
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2015
- Messages
- 147
Check out Mesa Precision Arms in Grand Junction - John and Chad make great rifles. I have a lightweight rifle from them that is super accurate, and can be carried all day. They are great guys to work with as well.
Also, not in Colorado, but makes terrific guns in your price range is RBros. I've taken a 7mm Rem Mag from them all over the world hunting, and it's never let me down.
greenejc
Well-Known Member
If you're looking for a shooter, and not just for bragging rights, Gunwerks will take a Remington or a Ruger and accurize it to hit at 1300 yards. They have a series of videos where they take a Remington Longrange rifle with the Remington barrel and do just that. It consistently hits beyond 1200 yards. If you don't like the stock, they'll replace it. I suggest the Magpul stock with 5 round detatchable magazines. Or you could buy a McMillan rifle or A Shilen rifle, or a Barret rifle. As to barrels, Shilen, Hart, Kreiger, Lilja, McMillan, Shaw, Douglas, McGowan, Bartlein or Schneider barrels. Criterion can also make you a very good barrel. Several of these makers also make bench rest barrels and hold a number of records for accuracy. It depends on what you want. I'm shooting two Shaw barrels, one in 35 Whelen and one in 30-06. Both shoot under an inch, one is 26" and a standard heavy sporter Remington contour, and one is a 20" bull barrel. The bull barrel will shoot into less than 0.5" at 100 yards when fed properly. I shoot 5 shot groups to see if heat causes the barrel to change point of impact significantly. It doesn't so far. Both rifles have Timney triggers.
Fabulous advice here but I might add a suggestion to see what is on the used market. Lots of long-range guys where I live build a new rifle every few months and the old ones end up sitting around or getting sold. It would cost half as much and leave you plenty of room for a reloading setup, fantastic optics, a suppressor, or whatever your heart dreams of.
I picked up a 15 year-old custom rem 700 a few weeks ago and my first loads are already consistently inside of 0.300" at 100 yards. I got it for less than I've spent on some factory guns. Barrel almost shot-out? Who cares? There's plenty of budget left to rebarrel & rechamber.
Guys that make them often have leads on really great used guns for sale.
.300 Win Mag is an excellent choice, but to really maximize the potential of any rifle. handloads are a huge piece of the equation.
I picked up a 15 year-old custom rem 700 a few weeks ago and my first loads are already consistently inside of 0.300" at 100 yards. I got it for less than I've spent on some factory guns. Barrel almost shot-out? Who cares? There's plenty of budget left to rebarrel & rechamber.
Guys that make them often have leads on really great used guns for sale.
.300 Win Mag is an excellent choice, but to really maximize the potential of any rifle. handloads are a huge piece of the equation.
JPBCA
Member
Someone may have mentioned this already but check out bugholes.com . Greg at Southern Precision Rifles built a 300WM earlier this year for me. Trued up SS Rem 700 action, Bartlien SS 26" M24 barrel, McMillan A3-5 stock, Calvin Elite trigger, Area 419 Sidewinder Brake and I topped it off with a ZCO 527 in a Spuhr Mount. The rifle is amzing. You won't be disappointed.
I have owned a Cooper 520 for over 10 years. It's a 6.5x2384 with a light varmint, 26", 1:8" barrel. It's been dead reliable, accounted for dozens of game animals and coyotes out to 1200 yards. Still holds very consistent sub.35MOA groups as when new. With over 1000 rounds down the tube, IF I ever wear the barrel out, Cooper will replace it for $125!
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Ranger Rick
Well-Known Member
I'll second that. I've got an MPA 65 Competition in 6.5 PRC, and truthfully, I am stunned how accurate that rifle is!
