Long Range Rifle Shooting on a budget ...

[Creedmoor shooter]

Here's PRB's top five Long Range Scopes
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Not for the Budget minded but fun to look at.

Nothing prs is budget minded. Those guys are at the point where they're in a competition to see who's pockets are deeper. They need to start restricting gear because it gets pretty intimidating for someone like me who's is just getting into it this year. I'm just going to run a bipod and one bag and call it good. It should be more about the skill of the shooter and not about how much you spent on your gear.

 

[FIGJAM]

Here are some Scope Brands that offer great Scopes at Budget prices :
Vortex, Nikkon,. Redfield, SightMark and the list goes on ...
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Nikons don't get a lot of love for some reason - their monarch line is awesome. Better glass than anything else in their class. They have the no fault VIP warranty like vortex. They take a beating and hold zero better than most and track really well. I put the 4-16x42 on my son's creed and the 6-24x50 on his 223. Picked them up used for $250 and $300. Both have the BDC reticles - they are tough to beat when looking for something with a 1" tube.

 

[KyCarl]

Sorry but winning costs! Does Andy Dalton make as much as Tom Brady?
Can a weekend racer beat the Pettys or the Wood Bros.?
At some point skill needs a budget equal to it! When I competed at Sporting Clays
I didn't feel like I was progressing like I wanted so I hired a coach. I went from just competing to cashing checks? Every little thing adds up! And it all costs money!

 

[LkHntr]

Just to put my nickel in I have never been able to hit what I couldn't see if you buy good glass that has a big name behind it you'll never have to compromise on sight picture

 

[Canhunter35]

Nothing prs is budget minded. Those guys are at the point where they're in a competition to see who's pockets are deeper. They need to start restricting gear because it gets pretty intimidating for someone like me who's is just getting into it this year. I'm just going to run a bipod and one bag and call it good. It should be more about the skill of the shooter and not about how much you spent on your gear.

Don't let it bother you. Last year I borrowed a stock from a buddy to compete and used my stac. Had the cheapest rig by far, but I was happy with my performance.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Don't let it bother you. Last year I borrowed a stock from a buddy to compete and used my stac. Had the cheapest rig by far, but I was happy with my performance.

I'm just going into it with a mind set to have fun and learn. Everyone has to start somewhere

 

[Ndfarmer]

SWFA 10-42 $300
Used savage 10 $250
Rifle basics sav 2 trigger $155
New criterion barrel $320
Trued barrel nut and recoil lug $60
Boyd's at one stock $200
Total $1285 + $85 I think for tools to change barrel. For $550 you could start shooting and buy parts when you can afford to. Just an example on how someone could start shooting. There are a lot of choices for rifles and scopes that can upgraded to make a accurate lr rifle over time.

 

[NEMTHunter]

Just to put my nickel in I have never been able to hit what I couldn't see if you buy good glass that has a big name behind it you'll never have to compromise on sight picture

I am sure you cant hit what you could see through my "cheap" scope to. And it would not be the scopes fault. This scope has 140 MOA of elevation adjustment.

Not to mention some of the "cheap" scopes have the best recticle's. One of the ones I like cost less then 500 has a 1/16 MOA center aiming dot. That one MOA @ 1600 yards.... The only thing wrong I can find with it is the elevation adjustment room. Its only 70. BUT that with a MOA base will get most guns out over 1200 yards so still LR on a budget. It will get my 06 out to over 1600 yards. And it will get my 300BSM out to about 2200 yards.

 

[Canhunter35]

It's not the rigs that are expensive.
Bullets, brass, powder, and even primers. I went through 2200 primers last year. Ack!
That's why I don't think about it lest I'm moved to get this addiction under control lol

 

[CanardNoir]

There's a lot of good advise from experienced shooter's and gun enthusiasts on these forums .

However - the greater problem for the would-be-long-range shooter, today is:
"Where may I legally shoot?"

 

[CanardNoir]

Sorry but winning costs! Does Andy Dalton make as much as Tom Brady?
Can a weekend racer beat the Pettys or the Wood Bros.?
At some point skill needs a budget equal to it! When I competed at Sporting Clays
I didn't feel like I was progressing like I wanted so I hired a coach. I went from just competing to cashing checks? Every little thing adds up! And it all costs money!

True.

But just like "speed" - money can also buy accuracy at a distance. So it's not always the nut-behind-the-wheel; OR a trembling finger on the budget-based trigger.

 

[CanardNoir]

Just to put my nickel in I have never been able to hit what I couldn't see if you buy good glass that has a big name behind it you'll never have to compromise on sight picture

But what if you happen to wear eyeglasses?

So there are a lot of variables to the long-range-accuracy equation...

 

[jarnold37]

Whats your definition of not affordable and Long range shooting?

There is a thing people like to say. you get what you pay for. That is not always the case.

I think of the saying "You can sometimes pay a high price and get poor quality but you can almost never pay a low price and get high quality." The scope is the one variable that the shooter has little control over. Everything else, with the exception of the quality of the barrel can be tweaked and tuned. I think, in my experience, top notch optics and accurate repeatable tracking do come at a price.

 

[rustyshackleford]

Tikka CTR 899$ New probably closer to 7-750$ used
SWFA SS 10x42M 399$ New probably 200-250$ used
(don't be afraid to shop the sample list on SWFA)
Good rings 100-150$

Total: 1448$(All new)-1050$(used rifle and scope)

It would be a long time before anyone outgrew that setup. Good factory barrel, trigger and stock and after market options exist once the individual begins to develop their own preferences.