Buy something, make sure it fits you, shoot it at reasonable distances until you are consistent with it, to me, 1000 yards is something I'll waste a box of ammo on now and again, just to see if I can do it. Yeah, there are bragging rights and considerable chest swelling but it is basically a chess game between you, your load and the elements. If I am serious about having a good day at the range, I try to see how many 1/2" diameter dots I can hit at 200 yards against the clock. It is easy at 5 shots in 2 minutes, at 1:30 it gets a little tougher and I have yet to go 5x at 1 minute.
I currently have 3, 4 if you count a 22 trainer, rifles that I would consider precision guns. They range in cost to me, ready to shoot with scope and bipod mounted, from a little over $7K to $300. All have been purchased used. All are in "small" calibers, 6.5CM, 6.5x47L, and 243 Win. I'm 75 years old next month and frankly, I can no longer put up with heavy recoil, I never liked it to start with and now, with various injuries and deterioration of my physical condition I tend to heavier guns and nothing but bench shooting. I choose 200 yards cause my range has a golf cart to get me out to the targets, you are expected to walk for the 100 yard line.
Back in the day, I was an avid trap shooter. Avid as in froth at the mouth, think of nothing all day but getting out and shooting type shooter. It was a rare week I didn't shoot a case of 12 gauge. I went from a C shooter to AA on singles in a year and moved from 18 yards to 27 yards in the same time. Why? I shot a lot and loved the sport. Then one day I woke up. I looked in my car trunk and there was a $15K shotgun, a case of ammo and a couple 100 bucks worth of crap like shell bags, a vest and, of course, my lucky hat full of holes from my first century in competition. Some quick mental arithmetic let me realize I, at $40K/year, had no business in that sport. Sold all my stuff and never looked back.
This is a fun game. Go have fun, do the best you can with what you have and enjoy. No one can shoot your gun for you, buy what feels right and go shoot. Chances are, as you mature as a shooter, your taste and preference will change anyway.
go ahead get the 300WM)
