Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

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Frankey

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Minuteman
Feb 19, 2012
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South Carolina
#1
I'm sure this has been done before so forgive my post. I'm new to this forum and sport so please be gentle.

My name is Josh and I'm in need of a hobby...

I have looked into other sports (Chess, Shuffle board, majong etc.) the problem is I can't shoot anything playing them without jail time:( So i started looking at sports where I'm able to shoot at things (Assassin, police officer, Russian roulette champion so forth.) I eventually came across the sport of long range shooting and this forum. The problem for me is I'm starting with nothing. No rifle, no scope, ammo etc... This is were you Lovely peaple here at snipershide come in. There is a wealth of info out there on rifles, calibers, stocks, scopes... And I need some help sifting through it.

So here's my problem:

I have a $1200-1500 budget to buy everything.
I know I want a 308 caliber bolt action. I have been looking at the rem 700. The FN factory is up the street and could get a SPR for a good price but I haven't seen much on the forum about them ( quality, etc.).

So there it is please help me narrow down this decision
 
#3
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

Hey josh, from S.C. This is josh, from De. I had a similar dilemma. Golf or shooting, when I retired. I would say I'm a begginer, at long range. Bought an M1A, bout a year ago, and started at the 100yd. Then I got a 700 5R, in 308, and am much happier. I like the 308, cause it's a cheap, strong, accurate round. My personal favorite. The 223's just don't have enough "muscle", for me. You can get surplus 308, dirt cheap, from many dealers. It usually shoots pretty good. Your next "hobby" should be reloading. It's mine. No better way to make your rifle shine, than to shoot your own "recipe". It takes time and some dedication, but it's worth it. There is a great 'Pool of info", and some really nice, knowledgable guys, on this site. You can't go wrong here. Here's a suggestion. Look on this site, for a nice used gun. Go to FN, and look. Look at a Rem 5R. Make the choice, on a good bolt gun. I have one, and love it. My buddy has one. He put a "cheap ass" scope from Walmart, on it, and shot almost as good as my $700 Nikon. These things are always a "work in progress" later, you may upgrade, as you feel, but you want to start with a good base. Good luck!
 
#4
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: excaliber</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why 308? Don`t just go with 308 because somebody says to. The 308 is a good cartridge but there are better out there. </div></div>

Yes, for a novice who considered chess as an option, I think a .223 would be a great place to start.
 
#6
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

Glad to hear that you are interested in the world of shooting, always nice to have new people get into the sport. Not sure if you have ever handled a firearm before, but personally I would start with a rimfire rifle, like a 22 Long Rifle. The problem with this great sport for many is the expense. Most here will agree that the initial cost of equipment, although great, is not the really expensive part. Ammunition on the other hand will cost you much more over the years than all of you equipment. A 22LR is a great place to start and learn. I know you cant really shoot the 22LR "Long" distance, but it is loads of fun on the cheap. You can spend the money you have availble on a wondefull 22 setup and if you decide later this sport is for you I would then look into the classified postings here on the hide and find a great deal on a rifle. Good Luck.
 
#7
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

So, in the range of price you are looking for, I know of two rifles that fit pretty well into the starting rifle catagory and with a low enough price point to meet your budget. Those are:

The Tikka T3 Lite
Remington 700 SPS

Both of those rifles run about $600. In my opinion the Tikka is the better out of the box rifle in regards to fit and finish. The Remington however is the rifle every smith in the US works on so it's a bit cheaper if you wanted to have the action trued and put a better barrel etc... on it in the future.


The unfortunate thing here is that with a $1200-$1500 budget, that only leaves you around $600-$900 to kit the rifle out with.

For a scope, you could probably fit a Leupold VX-III into that budgeting cost along with rings. The Leupold Mark4 is pretty much knocked off the list as are all of the USO, Nightforce, etc... scopes.

Little things here start to hurt you as well. A Harris bipod is going to cost you around $60-$100 depending on what you get. Eveyrthing else (other than ammo) you should be able to get away with scrounging about. You don't really need a shooting mat when you can use an old blanket (just make sure it's not a flammable blanket).

One more rifle that I would consider if I were you (although it may impact your overall budget with an increase of around $300) is the FN Herstal TSR XP. Overall a pretty nice rifle which sells for around $900.

I'll leave the caliber arguments for elsewhere.
smile.gif


--Wintermute
 
#9
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

Depends, make the decision first as to whether or not you're planning to have the rifle modified in the future. I know what your budget is right now...but is that all the budget you ever expect to have? Or is that the right now budget and you'll set aside over time for additional kit/modifications? If you'll set aside over time, the Remington is a great way to go since you can eventually send it off to a smith for truing and a new barrel and stock (or just the barrel and learn how to bed into a new stock on your own). If you plan to buy this rifle and do nothing to it ever, then I'd recommend either a Tikka or FN.

Other than that, the price sounds decent
smile.gif


--Wintermute
 
#10
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

the 308 is a great choice.but you can go 223 like one has already said.both are great choices for a new shooter.

my choice would be a 223 the ammo would be even cheaper.my pick of rifel would be the 5R milspec for $1000 or so.you can get a great scope like the 6-18x40mm Buckmasters for around $350.an EGW base ( 15 or 20 moa ) is about $45 and Leupold rings for about $40.this would get you started and even some ammo.my choice of ammo would be anything in a 69gn bullet running as close to 3000 fps you can get.

the 223 will help out alot for reading wind.the 69gn bullet will reach out to 500 just fine.

or you can go 308 with the same scope,bases and rings.
 
#11
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

Start with a 22lr and learn the fundamentals right from the ground up. You will be able to put in lots of shooting time with this and it remain within your budget. Get a nice scope. You'll be able to remain within your stated budget.
 
#13
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wintermute</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Depends, make the decision first as to whether or not you're planning to have the rifle modified in the future. I know what your budget is right now...but is that all the budget you ever expect to have? Or is that the right now budget and you'll set aside over time for additional kit/modifications? If you'll set aside over time, the Remington is a great way to go since you can eventually send it off to a smith for truing and a new barrel and stock (or just the barrel and learn how to bed into a new stock on your own). If you plan to buy this rifle and do nothing to it ever, then I'd recommend either a Tikka or FN.

Other than that, the price sounds decent
smile.gif


--Wintermute </div></div>


Wintermute your right I have a budget for now/ next month or two, and yes I do plan on making the rifle I buy "my own" with upgrades so something customizable is what im looking for. So the age old question then Better Rifle or Better Scope?
 
#14
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

Ha guys you all have been a real help. I didn't mean to suggest that I am inexperienced around guns. I have been shooting small caliber rifles for quite sometime now. I have and carried a 45acp for the last 4 years. Bought a Dillon Press 2 years ago and have been reloading my 45's since and that brings me to another question.
I have a Dillon XL 650 is there any resin i cant use a progressive loader on rifle ammo?
 
#15
Re: Need help I'm new to LR shooting & need an adult..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Frankey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Wintermute your right I have a budget for now/ next month or two, and yes I do plan on making the rifle I buy "my own" with upgrades so something customizable is what im looking for. So the age old question then Better Rifle or Better Scope?
</div></div>

Well, I'd figure with your right now budget, you're getting mid-end glass regardless, so go with the best rifle you can get while figuring on about $600-$700 for a scope. Down the line if you go up to something which requires it, you'll easily blow around 2-3k for USO glass or similar. For right now, I'd say the Remington is a good bet if you want to have it trued up and rebarreled in the future.

--Wintermute
 
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