Ive been looking back and forth trying to figure out what i want to get to start with on long distance shooting. I dont have a lot of money to build a custom so a factory is what im limited to for now. This is what i have found Savage Model: 10 Predator Hunter Max 1 in .260 with a 1-8 twist on a 24 inch barrel. Just looking for input on the gun and such. Im set on the .260 no i dont want a .308.
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buying a starter gun
- Thread starter MadDogCD
- Start date
Re: buying a starter gun
Savage will shoot I promise you. I have the budget savage "stevens 200". Really the only weak point of a savage is usually the stock. If you run the preditor max with a 10x or 16x SS scope and run hand loads there is no reason you wouldn't be able to do major damage at competitions. You've got the right idea about running a 260rem and with the combo above you will be just fine.
Later down the road upgrade the stock and the rifle will easily shoot better than you can drive it.
Good luck,
Merritt
SGT USMC vet.
Savage will shoot I promise you. I have the budget savage "stevens 200". Really the only weak point of a savage is usually the stock. If you run the preditor max with a 10x or 16x SS scope and run hand loads there is no reason you wouldn't be able to do major damage at competitions. You've got the right idea about running a 260rem and with the combo above you will be just fine.
Later down the road upgrade the stock and the rifle will easily shoot better than you can drive it.
Good luck,
Merritt
SGT USMC vet.
Re: buying a starter gun
The .260 has great ballistics and light recoil. However, understand that there is little in the way of factory match quality ammo available in .260 so you're almost required to reload. Also, good .260 brass is much harder to find (at least for a novice) than .308 brass. I'd bet nearly every great shooter here has a .308 in their safe, so don't overlook it based on ballistics alone. The .260 is the shit today, but something better may come along in a few years which pushes the .260 out of favor. People have been shooting the .308 for 50 years and it will still popular 50 years from now.
That said, it sounds like you have a decent setup in mind. The .260 is awesome and I don’t mean to try to talk you out of it. If I was starting over today I’d probably opt for a 6.5 of some sort. There are some drawbacks with the .260, but as long as you reload and obtain/make good brass, you’ll be good to go.
The .260 has great ballistics and light recoil. However, understand that there is little in the way of factory match quality ammo available in .260 so you're almost required to reload. Also, good .260 brass is much harder to find (at least for a novice) than .308 brass. I'd bet nearly every great shooter here has a .308 in their safe, so don't overlook it based on ballistics alone. The .260 is the shit today, but something better may come along in a few years which pushes the .260 out of favor. People have been shooting the .308 for 50 years and it will still popular 50 years from now.
That said, it sounds like you have a decent setup in mind. The .260 is awesome and I don’t mean to try to talk you out of it. If I was starting over today I’d probably opt for a 6.5 of some sort. There are some drawbacks with the .260, but as long as you reload and obtain/make good brass, you’ll be good to go.
Re: buying a starter gun
A tactical gun typically has a heavy barrel. There are several good reasons for this. The extra weight reduces recoil, it reduces muzzle flip, makes the barrel cool faster and you can shoot a box of ammo and still not overheat the barrel (though you still have to watch it). 20" barrel is long enough and becoming common. So...there is that.
A tactical rifle will have a tactical stock, with the cutout on the bottom. Not actually sure what to call that.
A tactical rifle will have a picatinny rail.
The Savage can be rebarrelled later on in 260 Remington for probably $450. But the 308 is a great starting place and you will be good to go with these items.
A tactical rifle will have a bipod.
A tactical rifle will have at least a 3x9 scope with mil reticle and mil knobs (or moa reticle and moa knobs). At any rate, matching knobs! A Millet can be had for $300.
In a Savage I suggest this:
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9917734.0
Then this scope:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=458997
It is possible to get all this for about $1200 (1650 with the 260 barrel).
A tactical gun typically has a heavy barrel. There are several good reasons for this. The extra weight reduces recoil, it reduces muzzle flip, makes the barrel cool faster and you can shoot a box of ammo and still not overheat the barrel (though you still have to watch it). 20" barrel is long enough and becoming common. So...there is that.
A tactical rifle will have a tactical stock, with the cutout on the bottom. Not actually sure what to call that.
A tactical rifle will have a picatinny rail.
The Savage can be rebarrelled later on in 260 Remington for probably $450. But the 308 is a great starting place and you will be good to go with these items.
A tactical rifle will have a bipod.
A tactical rifle will have at least a 3x9 scope with mil reticle and mil knobs (or moa reticle and moa knobs). At any rate, matching knobs! A Millet can be had for $300.
In a Savage I suggest this:
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9917734.0
Then this scope:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=458997
It is possible to get all this for about $1200 (1650 with the 260 barrel).
Re: buying a starter gun
you can look at the other posts too about savage v remington. there are a few of them going now. but if you look at buds guns they have great savage prices or call savage directly to see what they have available you might be able to get them to make you the gun you want. or buy the 308 and swap a 260 barrel
you can look at the other posts too about savage v remington. there are a few of them going now. but if you look at buds guns they have great savage prices or call savage directly to see what they have available you might be able to get them to make you the gun you want. or buy the 308 and swap a 260 barrel
