Budget 500 yard gun ?

[Billdogge]

What is a good budget 500 yard gun for deer sized game. Model and caliber ?

Thanks for your reply in advance

 

[Rev.]

M70 300wsm

 

[Scot E]

Howa 1500 6.5x55. Cheap, very accurate, great ballistics for a deer and under or target fun gun!

Most any of the standard calibers will do you out to 500 yards so don't be afraid to look at standard offerings instead of all the magnum stuff.

 

[Billdogge]

Thanks. Had 243 TC Icon but wanted something with alittle more punch.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

$399 Weatherby Vanguard chambered for 257 wby cartridge. Extremely accurate and you can zero it to make kills up to 700 yards trivial. Mine has a mil dot scope. First dot above crosshare is 100 and 200 yards. 300 yards hold 3" low. 400 yards is dead on. 500 yards is on backbone. 600 yards hold first dot dead on. 700 yards hold second dot dead on. You can easily kill any deer to 700 yards with this system if you do your part. 100 grain bullet at 3800 fps. Get a 4-16 Nikon Monarch mil dot scope. I have a couple new for $350

 

[threejones]

Cheapest Savage you can find with the accutrigger is 300win or 300wsm. The option of heavier bullets will buck the wind better than something lighter, and the Savages usually shoot pretty well right out of the box.

 

[angus-5024]

+1 on what LongtimeLongranger said. Any fast and flat cartrige with mild recoil will do you just fine.
A 308 win is another good one, but youll want a scope with dials. the good thing about the 308 is that you can shoot it aot and practice getting your D.O.P.E. and that would come in hany when you step into more horsepower for longer ranges. I would say that the 25-06, .264 Win, 270WSM or Win, or 7mm Rem would work well useing only mill-dots also.

 

[Dr. Vette]

As per LTLR and Angus, any "normal" cartridge would work fine. 25-06, 270 Win, 30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag come to mind. Factory ammo and brass (if you reload) is very readily available.

I'd look at an S2 Wby Vanguard and take it out and shoot it. If you want to move it up a notch then re-stock it as per recommendations in this thread:
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/custom-stock-recommendations-older-vanguard-81177/
From what I've heard, though, the new S2 stock is much nicer than the previous plastic one.

My 270 Vanguard gets a new scope once this season is over. That should take it from a 250 yard rifle (regular duplex reticle now) to a 500 yard rifle for next season. I hope to do this as it is much easier to drag around the Vanguard than my Sendero.

 

[Billdogge]

.280 or 6.5 creedmore have enough punch at that yardage?

 

[Billdogge]

Anyone elsegun)

 

[ishootkittens]

ANY savage in any flat shooting caliber. If he is looking for a rifle on a budget, then I doubt he wants to pay the extra 10 bucks a box for WSM ammo. I think a .308 or a .270 or even a .30-06 is a great start for ya buddy!

 

[Korhil78]

25-06 or 308... Easy to get ammo, ammo is cheap and hardly any recoil.

 

[Jinx-)]

if on the budget, get yourself Stevens 200 either in 270, 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06 or 300WM, they around 250 - 300 bucks, down the road you can always upgrade its barrel to anything you desire short or long action, trigger and stock are also upgradeable, this way you'll have an entry level rifle and the ability to modify it anyway you like it when funds will become available.

 

[WildRose]

.280 or 6.5 creedmore have enough punch at that yardage?

Yes but if you are going to go the 6.5 route I'd suggest going with the .260 rem. It's going to be around for a very, very long time and so will both the factory ammo and components.

In that same vein is the 7mm-08 which is certainly worth a look.