Humility based request

bacon · Nov 16, 2013

Hello my long-range brethren,

First, a short history...I have been playing around with precision rifles for a little while (Savage 10, Rem 700p), but have never quite gotten to that upper eschelon of precision rifles. I fully admit that I'm not a great shot (700-800 yards is an excellent shot for me and in my opinion, a really long way

. Additionally, I am a sponsored handgun shooter for IDPA and speed shooting (bowling pins, steel plates, etc) and own a defensive handgun training company, so I do know my way around a firearm.

What I need help with is I have finally saved up my pennies and am ready to jump to a higher end precision rifle that I could eventually train with (after acquiring some good training myself). I have about $4000 to spend on the whole package. I do reload and do a pretty good job of it so wildcat or more rare cartridges are an option for me. I would like to be able to connect at 1100-1500 yards without getting recoil shy from shooting prone (which I'm not too sure is ballistically possible).

I do have a brand new 700p in .300 win mag that I could upgrade or sell and start over...not sure what to do so I thought I would get with the guys that know what is going on and get some opinions. Thank you in advance for any knowledge and if I can pass some handgun knowledge/opinion back, please let me know!

-Bacon

sortafast · Nov 16, 2013

I am far from an expert, but look at the 260rem and some of the variants if you are just going to just punch paper and steel with it. I have seen some guys shoot past 1k with that. I would spend some nice $$ on glass. As for the action/barrel, there are tons of good options out there. Do a little digging and you will find a lot of info and manufacturers out there.

BoilerUP · Nov 16, 2013

260 or 6.5 Creedmoor, or 280AI if you want a long action with more "ass".

sobrbiker883 · Nov 16, 2013

The precision rifle game as its evolving is geared around short action calibers, and the majority of the aftermarket is SA based.
6.5's will do 1000-1200 pretty well, and excel at the shorter ranges the majority of shooting is done at. Many favor 6's as they allow even better shot to shot time and will do 1200, but you may lose points without top notch spotting.

Sendero_Man · Nov 16, 2013

ask and you shall receive brother Bacon....

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bacon · Nov 16, 2013

It sounds like I should "can" the .300 Win Mag and go with a short action option. In your opinion what glass should I be looking at...I have been considering a 7mm-08 AI .260 AI because of the great ballistics, I figure I can get a rifle built for $2000-$2300, which leaves me $1700ish for glass...I have a VXR Patrol on a FNAR that I have, and have been impressed with the Leupy glass...should I look elsewhere or stick with the Leupold? Does this whole pricing sound realistic, and if so, what gunsmith should I be looking at...located in Utah but don't mind outsourcing?

BillyGoatMachine · Nov 16, 2013

You can find a used Nightforce 5-25x in your price range.

lash · Nov 16, 2013

I'll start by saying that I'm new to LR also. What I do know, by lurking and spending way too much time here since its tough forme to get free to the range very often, is that you should spend a few weeks reading everything you can on as many of the sub-forum that you can. Unless you want to spend that $4000 twice, I suggest you first invest some time to read, study, and absorb. It's your money and choice, but there you have it.

If you read enough, you start to pick up the feel of who knows shit and who doesn't. You start to get a feel for the different calibers and what they excel at, where they are lacking, and who's using what to do what you want to do. You'll also get a feel for what platform floats your boat, what builders can be counted on for always providing great shooters and excellent service, and which hardware seems to be ideal for your purposes.

There are as many opinions for what is "best" as there are shooters. You can choose the expensive way , by taking quick advice and buying the "perfect" gun that someone else likes and then the next until you get there. Or you can do your homework (not bashing you, just telling it as I see it).

Another important help, if you have the option, is to get out there with your .300 WM and shoot it a bit, while meeting other shooters and learning what they are using. There nothing better than experience to educate you.

Having said that, I ended up buying a gorgeous custom .260 I found for sale here by a solid member on the Hide. I swear that right now is a great time to buy someone else's dream rifle, that just happens to have everything you want, but they are selling for less than you can ever build it for yourself.

Personally, we're I in your position, I'd keep the .300, study up a bit, here and elsewhere, and then buy what I think is the rifle for me. Eventually, you will end up building that .300 into something else...trust me.

Oh, and leave money for plenty of ammo for practice. I believe that I've already spent more money buying and slinging lead than I have for the hardware.

cav has been · Nov 16, 2013

I don't see a thing wrong with going with a long action Remmy, nor with a 300WM for that matter. Right now you are saying,1100-1500 yds. next it's a mile,then" well hell I can hit at a mile just as well stretch it out a bit" At any rate a 300 slinging 208's or better is a damn fine tool. Enjoy the journey!

bacon · Nov 16, 2013

The "mile" may be a bit long...I've set the 1500 as a lifetime goal...I totally realize that it will take me years to get there...

cav has been · Nov 16, 2013

What's another measly 260 yards between friends? A lot of the guys I shoot with thought 1K was really a long long ways. I guess a few still do. It's still a great journey!

bacon · Nov 16, 2013

LOL Thanks!

6Dasher · Nov 16, 2013

1500y is anywhere from 20 seconds by car to 20 minutes by foot (on flat terain), so it should not take a lifetime in most cases

bacon · Nov 16, 2013

You haven't seen me shoot...it will likely take a miracle! I can shoot 6 steel plates 30 ft away in 1.47 seconds or 5 bowling pins at 25 feet in 1.53 seconds with a pistol, I'm lucky to hit a milk jug at 700 yards with a "pro" spotter...sigh. I'll get there!

lash · Nov 16, 2013

Well, a milk jug at 700 yds is better than most hunters can do during deer season and it is still minute of deer.

I can tell already that you will be hooked...welcome brother...

lawman29 · Nov 16, 2013

You need to ask yourself what am I going to do with said rifle; compete in F Open, Tactical Matches, ELR, shoot long range for fun, use a bi-pod, shoot off a bench or all of the preceding... Those thoughts will help with picking caliber, barrel contour, action type (single shot, bdl or dbm), stock and optics. The F Open crowd shooting at 1k uses a lot of 7mm variants, the tactical crowd 6mm/6.5mm variants, ELR the big boys...

woostri · Nov 16, 2013

Bacon, I lived in Utah when I first got into long range. Brad Stair of Wasatch Precision built my first gun. I highly recommend him. Pretty sure he is now the smith for Cross Canyon Arms in Ogden, UT. He built me a 6mm AI. It's a tack driver still. If I could start all over I would stick with Brad but go with either 6XC or 260AI. It was a rem700, h-s stock, pacnor bbl, capped off with NF 5.5-22x56 NXS. No regrets.

--- aim small miss small ---

ZLBubba · Nov 16, 2013

Bacon, as a fellow competitive pistol shooter, welcome to LR shooting. It's a great discipline that I think you'll enjoy.

Now, for the good stuff: if I were you, I'd take my happy ass to the New Member For Sale section and buy the GAP 260 for $2000 before one of us impulse buyers snatch it up. That's a screaming deal and you're damn near guaranteed to have a rifle that will outshoot you, which is exactly what you want. Then you'll have the other $2k left over for a good scope, and if you keep on eye out on the Optics For Sale section, you can pick up an NF F1, PH 3-15, or something else that's FFP mil/mil. With that setup, you've got a pretty good base on which to learn the intricacies of LR shooting. Next on your list should be a Forster Co-Ax and Redding 260 competition dies, and then good reloading materials.

Welcome to the Hide!

bacon · Nov 16, 2013

I know Brad, good guy. The more I hear the more I think I'm going with a 6.5. I really want it for tactical use, and maybe to compete with, not Fclass though. Run and gun shoots (I do 3 gun as well). Thanks for the input!

bacon · Nov 16, 2013

Not hard to get one that will outshoot me!

Thanks for the advice! What does GAP stand for? Closest I can get is Glock Auto Pistol...

axeltow · Nov 16, 2013

GAP= GA precision, one of the top tactical precision bolt gun (and semi too) custom companies in the world. Out of KC. Home - GA Precision
I would second the recommendation to buy the $2000 260 thats for sale right now.

bacon said:
Not hard to get one that will outshoot me! Thanks for the advice! What does GAP stand for? Closest I can get is Glock Auto Pistol...

FALex · Nov 16, 2013

You have a long action Rem donor sounds like? I'd spy 6.5 x 55. I like the numbers on it, but as I just stated in a different post, I am a .260 whore. Ditching your win mag and going the whole custom action thing is awesome. They are all just absolutely beautiful pieces of machining work.

ETA - I didn't know there's a GAP .260 for sale for 2k. I'd look at ZLBubba's advice. Forget everything else and grab yourself a sure thing.

ZLBubba · Nov 16, 2013

I swear if I hadn't just bought a hunk of land, that GAP 260 would be on its way to me. I cannot believe that rifle has lasted so long on this forum. GA Precision is one of the best custom builders in the country.

bacon · Nov 16, 2013

I'm not seeing it over there...can someone post a link I can follow?

fdkay · Nov 16, 2013

Your 700P will get you there easily.
It won't be easy on the barrel though, but in reality, you don't have to hot rod it. Shoot it as is now or have some work done on it.
Remington barrels are usually good shooters. Sometimes they require being set back and rechambered (they have notoriously long throats).
You COULD have an accurizing job done by either Mark Gordon at Short Action Customs or by Russell at Scout Supply Company. They both offer packages for accurizing factory rifles.
I would either install a break or buy a suppressor.
After you shoot the barrel out, rechamber to .338 edge

ZLBubba · Nov 16, 2013

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/new-member-sale-section/214355-wts-gap-260-$2-000-tonight.html

Enjoy!

bacon · Nov 16, 2013

Thank you so much!

FALex · Nov 17, 2013

Yeah, bacon, I'd snatch that shit up in a heartbeat. You'll then have a good amount for glass too. Great deal there man. You will love shooting .260. It's a great all around caliber, IMHO.

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