New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

[KShaft]

Hello. I am new to high power precision rifle shooting. I have actually only owned one 308 rifle (SOCOM II) and would like to get back into shooting something with a little more oomph than my typical AR and AK style rifles. I am a former Marine so I have experience shooting medium range (500 yards) with Irons, but its been years (over 10) since Ive shot that far that wasnt with a crew served weapon.

Ive been doing a little bit of research and am considering these rifles,
Savage 10 FP, precision carbine.
Remington police LTR (kind of pricey for me)
Remington SPS Tactical
Tikka Varmint

Id like to keep it around $600-$800 if possible, and Id like to be able to grow into the rifle, but not out of it(if this makes sense). I could go a little higher if the returns were worth it.
Id also like to maybe try something other than a .308, something like a 338 Lapua, or 300 winmag or 7mm magnum. though I wouldnt feel bad at all with a .308, I just would like to try something with a flatter trajectory but the quality of the rifle would take president in this case, as beggars cant be choosers. Id really like to hear opinions on this(prospective rifles and caliber) as like I said Im brand new to this.

Ill have to get an optic as well, as of right now I have a diamondback vortex 2-7 on my lmt mrp that I will probably use in the meantime. Its a nice optic but it was a compromise purchase(I was going to mount a docter optic on top of it for close in work, but its defective). Ill ask about that when I can afford it! And once I get a basic set up, Ill ask about shooting techniques and training methods once I get a clue otherwise.

Thanks for any input!

KS

 

[gunslinger169]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

If you watch some of the classified sites you can get a good remington between 6-8 hundred,I just picked up a remington ltr 308 with a tactical scope 30mm rings and egw base for $659 and also found a remington sendero sfII in 300wm with trued action and muzzle brake for $605.Good luck

 

[landtoy80]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

Look at Weatherby Vanguard and Howa (Howa builds Weatherbys). They have the same smooth action like the Tikka.
Check out the Axiom stock on the Howa and some Weatherbys, its a nice setup.

A 260 Rem is a good caliber to check out.

 

[CaptainChaos51]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

700 sps .308 + AICS (partial because its what I shoot). If you want to really reach out get a 700 in winmag and upgrade the stock.
CC

 

[KShaft]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

Thanks for the input!

I think the 700sps plus the AICS is about $900 out of my price range though.

Im going to keep an eye out in the for sale sections. Gunbroker is somewhat more expensive.

KS

 

[CaptainChaos51]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

There are definitely deals to be had here at the hide. I think there is an SPS 300 winmag for sale right now. The only thing about the sps's is that most all of their stocks are subpar. You can get a M24 stlye stock from HS Precision for about 500. You could have a sweet hole maker at right at $1000.

I shot my sps tactical with the OEM stock for about 6 months. If you are patient you can get a rockin deal on a used stock in the sale section here.
Good luck!
CC

 

[buffybuster]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

New/Used M700 SPS Tac/Varmint and get a PSS takeoff stock.

 

[steve123]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

Get the Tikka T3 varmint in 6.5x55 or 260 Rem and top it with a SWFA Super Sniper then you're done.

I think that rifle to be the best rifle on the market for the money.

Steve

 

[bohem]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

Are you a reloader? Factory ammo gets pricey and if it's in something other than 308 or 223 it gets even more expensive much faster. 338 Lap ammo runs around $5/boom.

As was mentioned something in 6.5 or 7mm would be a dynamite idea to work from.

You can also look at the 7mm-08, the 7mm's have excellent ballistics (better than the 6.5's generally) and bullets are plentiful to choose from.

Factory match ammo is rather sparse for it.

Many people start reloading with the idea that it will save them money. It doesn't, but it does mean you shoot a lot more for the given money spent. It means I can afford to shoot several thousand rounds a year instead of several hundred.

 

[desertHK]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

That's a very goood selection you have there. I don't think you can go wrong with any one of them. The LTR wins my vote, then the Tikka follow by SPS.

 

[jimurphy]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

I hate to buck the trend, but my vote goes for the Savage. I know there is a lot of hardware and history with the Rem 700, but a stock Savage will shoot circles around a stock Rem 700. The Rem can be worked over to improve it's performance, for twice the price. The Savage also has the advantage of easily changed barrels and the bolt heads can be switched for any cartridge combination, all without a gunsmith. The Rem has a history, but the Savage is the future.

 

[KShaft]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

Thanks for the heads up on the Lapua. I had no idea it was that crazy. But then again, I am buying Black Hills ammo for nearly $1 a shot for .223.

Kind of ridiculous. I dont reload. I really cant right now.

Im gonna look for the 6.5 or 7mm, but I havent seen too much on G-Broker, and there isnt hardly any selection at all in my area (NE Ohio). So Ill probably end up with a 308.

I appreciate all of the great advice on here. Im strongly considering the Remington 700P LTR (a bit above what I wanted to pay though) The Savage 10 series, and the Tikka Varminter. It will likely be one of those, or perhapst the howa Varminter supreme as a wild card. Stock will definately have to get replaced one day If I get that one.

Im having trouble locating anything other than 308 even on the internet. Special order means retail prices, uggg.

Thanks again for the responces!

KS

 

[landtoy80]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

Check this guy out, he is in you neck of the woods.
He has a SWEDISH TARGET RIFLE cal.6.5x55 mirror bore, target front and rear sights, strap on your skis and head for the Biathlon! $449.00
BlackRiverGunssmithing.com
It might be a good starter LR rifle.

 

[sparks1]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

FYI...There is a Savage 10FCP action and barrel in the classifieds for $450.00. You can then stock it with one of your choice. Add a scope base and scope of you choice and you have a decent rifle to start with. As you go you can add a different barrel to it to change caliber. (If you can change a tire you can change a barrel on a Savage.)

 

[R.Walters]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

i would take a look at the remington 5r if you wanted a nice factory gun for about 950.

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Re: New to precision/LR shooting. What rifle to get??

I know your getting alot of ideas thrown at you and most of them are Remington, but please take a look at the Savage Mod 10PC. It's a way better gun than the SPS Tacticle and you WONT have to replace the stock. This gun comes with the aluminum bedded accu-stock. It's the best off the shelf rifle you can buy right now for under $700. I got mine for $675 and it's a awesome rifle. Don't be afraid to buck the odds and shoot a savage in a Remington world!! I have some remingtons, but they ain't stock and I've spent more on them "Fixing them up" than what I originally paid for the gun!! The 10PC is good to go. Take it out of the box, scope it, clean it, shoot it.