What rifle combo to choose

[Lee Persons]

Hi there, im lee and the farthest i have ever shot is 300 yds. Im new to trying to shoot at longer ranges then 100yds. Ive tried my best to learn the starter knowledge and have tried to write down what i have learned from people like ryan clekners vids on youtube. I have a ruger american ranch in 5.56 and it has a centerpoint 4-16x scope. Im a cheap person and dont have money to spend on high end stuff. I have figured out thru range equations which magnification my scope equals one mil to a dot and have tried to practice ranging that way, i think it works well so far, but the scope is 60 bucks so im not expecting tight specs on each dot being a mil. I pegged paper at 300 and was realy happy cause ive never done that. So heres the future plan that i am having problems working all the pieces out. I want a gun that can reach out to 1000 yds. Ive tried to do research and have a fews things that i havent nailed to one manufacturer. I think i want 308. I know it can reach out to 1000 yds and carry more energy then a 6.5 creed but the creed shoots flatter and fights wind better from what i understand. I will probably never shoot anything bigger then a whitetail so i only need a catridge that can kill a whitetail. Ive been leaning more towards a rem 700 sps platform to build from. I figure a boyds pro varmint stock, muzzle break to help my poor shooting, and a FSI sniper scope just to try something cheap for the fun. Ive heard good about the rem 700 action and i like the bull barrel of the sps, but if im not competing in matches and only shooting 1 or 2 rounds then maybe i should go with a sporter barrel package like the tc compass. I saw a youtube video on one with a pro varmint stock shooting sub MOA groups with hornady premium box ammo in 6.5 creed. Like i said, im new and have no experience so if you would be so kind to lend me yur knowledge and experience for a 1000 yard gun that might be shot once a month to keep fresh. Thanks and have a good day

 

[jpd676]

There are many ways to get to 1k. A .308 at 1000 yards takes a fairly skilled shooter. Many factory loads won't reliable get you to 1000 yards but some will. A 308 is an ok choice but a 6.5 creedmore has some advantages as you listed. I would recommend you look at a Savage with an accutrigger and an accustock. Savages are generally great shooters out of the box; Remington's can be but my experience is some shoot and some don't. The Hogue stock on the 700 (or the chep plastic stock) probably doesn't have a bedding block which means less consitency and less accurate at longer ranges. I would recommend a heavier barrel for long range accuracy.

I would suggest you look at Super Sniper fixed power scopes, a 10x will get you to 1000 yards. They retail at 300 and you can find them used for much less.

I'm not sure what you budget is for a rifle/optics and that might change what people reccomend.

 

[Barrelnut]

I would look at this for a rifle. Lots of folks buy them and replace the stock. they are a good deal and can be very accurate:
https://www.cabelas.com/product/sho.../savage-fv-varmint-rifle/1994604.uts?slotId=7

Get 6.5 Creedmoor, forget the 308 thing...

I would look at this scope. It is new and getting good reviews. Good features for the money. Should get you to 1K.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-diamondback-tactical-ffp-4-16x44-moa.html

 

[Tidus56]

Just like Barrelnut, I would build your budget build off a Savage action. They don't have near as many aftermarket parts available but that shouldn't matter if you're on a budget. I have 7 and they all shoot amazing. They have ranged in cost from $550-$1200. Super easy to build and swap barrels on. Good luck.

 

[okie man]

Forget 308? Funny ! I asked a marine sniper I know if he had or planned too add a creedmoor too his collection of 308's, his answer was why!

 

[Beardeddeer91]

There are many ways to get to 1k. A .308 at 1000 yards takes a fairly skilled shooter. Many factory loads won't reliable get you to 1000 yards but some will. A 308 is an ok choice but a 6.5 creedmore has some advantages as you listed. I would recommend you look at a Savage with an accutrigger and an accustock. Savages are generally great shooters out of the box; Remington's can be but my experience is some shoot and some don't. The Hogue stock on the 700 (or the chep plastic stock) probably doesn't have a bedding block which means less consitency and less accurate at longer ranges. I would recommend a heavier barrel for long range accuracy.

I would suggest you look at Super Sniper fixed power scopes, a 10x will get you to 1000 yards. They retail at 300 and you can find them used for much less.

I'm not sure what you budget is for a rifle/optics and that might change what people reccomend.

This is good advise. Obviously a lot of it is budget dependent, but you can get started fairly easily. For a cartridge that is more than capable for targets at 1000, the 6.5 Cred is hard to beat. There are certainly better cartridges for LR shooting, but the combo for good, cheap, and available factory ammo (assuming you don't handload) and a lot of options for gun choices makes it very appealing. IMO it certain is a better option than a 308 (although it is certainly capable).

As far as rifle choice, (again very budget dependent) you have a lot of options. Savage and Tikka are hard to beat for out of the box accuracy, while the 700 is a always a great choice if you plan on building off of it in the future. As jpd676 stated the 70" is often hit or miss on accuracy out of the box (the 5R stainless is a great choice but it is a little pricy for some starting out). I have a Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Cred and its a hell of a shooter for the price (although the stock is awful).

The super sniper scopes along with quite a few others will get you started at a reasonable price. I would highly recommend looking at used scopes and rifles if you are on a budget. You can find optics at half the price that you would pay for new. The classifieds on here, eBay, gunbroker, etc. are great places to start.

Finally, it doesn't matter what gear you have if you don't practice shooting at distance, if you hope to hit with any semblance of consistency. 1000 yards is not an easy shot. Learn you gear and your loads and practice as much as you can.

 

[Barrelnut]

Forget 308? Funny ! I asked a marine sniper I know if he had or planned too add a creedmoor too his collection of 308's, his answer was why!

Funny! I know a marine sniper who has 2 creedmoors. And if yours has to ask why. Well...
Plus, OP wants to get started. Excellent factory target ammo is available for the Creed at lower cost. Makes it possible to practice more. You know.

 

[Barrelnut]

Speaking of used rifles. there's a good deal in the classifieds right now. 6.5x284 is a well know accurate cartridge for long distance shooting. A little more expensive to shoot than the 6.5 CM ( and you would really have to reload for it). Don't know the seller, but like the rifle. Savage LRH rifles are pretty nice.
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/savage-lrh-product-18896-6-5x284.211433/

 

[Lee Persons]

Thank you all for your input! I am trying to stay at or under 1000 for the build. I do not reload and just dont see myself being able to dump real money into guns for a while so thats why i want something capable of longer ranges, even if i dont take them out that far. I am trying to practice the basics such as trigger pull and positjoning my rifle indifferent environtments for a stable position. Im not the best shot so i feel prone is the only way i can get consistency. Ive put thought into upgrading my 5.56 ranch with a pro varmint stock and muzzle brake so that i could just learn to become efficient up to maybe 4 or 500 seeing as how the 5.56 and 223 really gets tossed in the wind. I feel i can figure out elevation the easiest but have yet to get down reading wind.


I have seen many people talk about fixed magnification scopes. Are there any real benefits over variable power? Maybe glass clarity for reading mirage?

I had a savage edge in the past chambered in 30-06 and was condsidering upgrading that but with that stock it just tore my shoulder up and the rounds cost quite a bit. Will definetly look into savages again though

Thanks all

 

[35 Whelen]

Ether cartridge will work for you, witch ever you choose you will need to practice with. I think the savage accufit stock is worth you taking a good look at. As far as scopes good, I like Leupold and Vortex the most, Bushnell I think is one of the best in an economical scope. If you plain to use the rifle for hunting I'd go with a variable power scope in a 3x10 or 4-12, that way you can adjust it to your hunting conditions and turn it up for your long range shooting or hunting. Make shore the rifle and scope fits you and your eyes. Use our opinions as guide lines, what works for us may or may not work for you. Just lump our opinions, guide lines, experiences together mix in what feels right to you and practice and you'll do fine.

 

[Good]

Excellent points gents. My experience- Savages shoot well out of the box like others have stated. Remingtons hold their resale value better. I bought a pawn shop Savage 110 in 7mm Remington Magnum for 200 bucks and replaced the stock with a Boyds laminate of my wife's choosing. Also, had a muzzle break installed and I did a bunch of work to it including installing a Timney trigger, Devcon bedded the stock, bought good Seekins Precision rings and a nice base and mounted the scope (6-24 Vortex Viper HSLR) myself. My wife claimed this rifle, but I'd like to get her a 6.5CM for reduced recoil. It will probably be a Savage also. No range report yet, but researching and doing work yourself saves $$$. If this rifle doesn't shoot it may become a 6.5CM, 6.5x284, or a 280AI.

Please don't be offended if you already know this stuff:
Muzzle brakes reduce the overall recoil of the shot. You still feel the initial impulse because the brake doesn't become effective until the bullet passes all the way out the barrel and the gasses "catch" the baffles in the brake, but brakes can help you stay on target for spotting your hits (or misses) depending on caliber and brake.

Scopes- 6-24x50, 4-18x44, etc. The 6 is the magnification turned all the way down on this particular scope, same as the 4 number. The 24 or the 18 is the maximum magnification. The 50 or 44 is the size of the big end of the scope, in millimeters. There's also another choice- front focal plane/first focal plane FFP, and second focal plane SFP. FFP scopes tend to be more expensive but I prefer them in MOA. Research the difference.

Vortex optics are tough to beat on the lower end of the price scale. Every now and again I see the Viper line with mildot reticle on sale. I would recommend something like this, in a 20-24 maximum power range.

As recommended, the Creedmoor is a great round, but a 30-06 is tough to beat for price/performance. With today's ballistics, just getting into long range, I would bypass the .308. It is a fine, inexpensive round with accurate factory match grade ammo, but I would look at 30-06, 7mm cartridges like the RM or similar, 6.5CM, etc. and compare costs of ammo in similar performance ranges. The cheaper the match grade ammo, the cheaper cost per round, the more you can shoot for the same money!!! I LOVE the .243, but you might want something to make a bigger hole at the longer distances on critters. ...research, then build from there. You're on the right track. Wow, sorry for the book!

 

[ducky]

I'd go to a local Cabela's if you have and get the M700 ADL Varmint in 6.5 Creedmoor for $400 + tax. I agree with the suggestion of the 10X Super Sniper for $300, don't go with more magnification on the fixed SS, I feel the objectives need to be 50mm or larger to get the best of the 12X or 16X magnification. Then buy a good set of rings and bases, I like Warne or Burris XTR for around another $100 so now you're into a rig for around $800. You have $200 left over for other things like ammo.

I used to recommend Savage, but in my opinion they have priced themselves out of the budget rifle. Average price for a Savage 10 short action rifle is just too close to the Remington anymore to make me choose it. I just feel I get more potential out of a 700 action (sure it isn't as bolt together simple as a Savage) as I have far greater options in the aftermarket realm with the 700. Especially down the road if your tastes change and you want to build a hunting rifle out of your tactical/varmint style rifle. It was a different story back when I could pick up Stevens 200 rifles for $250 or less all day long. I may spend a little more on the 700 with bluprinting the action down the road after I reach the factory barrel, or maybe a trigger if an Ernie the Gunsmith spring doesn't get the X-Mark where I want it. However, thanks to the barrel nut I can replace barrels just as easily with a Savage after I get my action blueprinted.

A Savage long action is a little different, because they have never changed the action screw spacing it has better options especially when it comes to stock styles. I still don't like the bottom bolt release vs. top, but that's only a minor issue. My biggest problem is I don't shoot the long action cartridges much anymore.

I think the Ruger American Predator is a lot of rifle for the money as well, especially if you get the new style that accepts AI magazines. I don't like the stocks that much either, but the aftermarket will pick up on these in the future. Plus you can usually find them cheaper than Savage or Remington.

 

[the hunter]

look at the savavge 110 tactical.

 

[Morrison]

Hi there, im lee and the farthest i have ever shot is 300 yds. Im new to trying to shoot at longer ranges then 100yds. Ive tried my best to learn the starter knowledge and have tried to write down what i have learned from people like ryan clekners vids on youtube. I have a ruger american ranch in 5.56 and it has a centerpoint 4-16x scope. Im a cheap person and dont have money to spend on high end stuff. I have figured out thru range equations which magnification my scope equals one mil to a dot and have tried to practice ranging that way, i think it works well so far, but the scope is 60 bucks so im not expecting tight specs on each dot being a mil. I pegged paper at 300 and was realy happy cause ive never done that. So heres the future plan that i am having problems working all the pieces out. I want a gun that can reach out to 1000 yds. Ive tried to do research and have a fews things that i havent nailed to one manufacturer. I think i want 308. I know it can reach out to 1000 yds and carry more energy then a 6.5 creed but the creed shoots flatter and fights wind better from what i understand. I will probably never shoot anything bigger then a whitetail so i only need a catridge that can kill a whitetail. Ive been leaning more towards a rem 700 sps platform to build from. I figure a boyds pro varmint stock, muzzle break to help my poor shooting, and a FSI sniper scope just to try something cheap for the fun. Ive heard good about the rem 700 action and i like the bull barrel of the sps, but if im not competing in matches and only shooting 1 or 2 rounds then maybe i should go with a sporter barrel package like the tc compass. I saw a youtube video on one with a pro varmint stock shooting sub MOA groups with hornady premium box ammo in 6.5 creed. Like i said, im new and have no experience so if you would be so kind to lend me yur knowledge and experience for a 1000 yard gun that might be shot once a month to keep fresh. Thanks and have a good day

If you really want to hunt at 1000 yards, use a cartridge that is better suited than the .308. There is nothing better for big game to begin with than the 300 Win Mag, you can even buy match grade ammo off of the shelf the same as the .308 but you can more effectively use heavier bullets that buck the wind better. Remember that hunting is not sitting at a bench punching paper, you have to carry the rifle all day long when you hunt big game. Heavy barrels and heavy stocks become a burden with time. Perhaps you can use the bench hunting prairie dogs or coyotes but I haven't.