Here's some advice from a guy that's just slightly ahead of you in the LR game. Take it for what it's worth.
Making a jump from 3-500yds to 1000 is like going from driving your car to just hopping in an airplane and hoping like hell that you'll get into the air and then back down safe. You won't die trying to get to 1000, but if you're anything like me you'll get frustrated, and shoot even worse, and get pissed off and quit.
Now, I'm not at all saying that you're not capable, almost all of us are, but there's lots of things that have to be right. If any of these are redundant for you, just tell me to suckit.
You're first thing, JMHO, is your caliber. In not pretending to know everything, but in my head I see people doing 3-600 with the .223-ish, 6-1000 with the 6.5's and .308's, 1000-1800' with the .338's, and 1800+ with the insano chey's.
From there, your glass is important, but you don't need a NF. Sightron and Vortex can get you to 1000 no problem.
Then there's your rifle. You don't need. 3000$ custom, but there are tonnes of heavy barrelled factory guns available for under 1000$. A t3 varmint would be my first choice. You can customize the $hit out of it as you can afford. Start by bedding it, +\- a Boyd's stock.
Then there's you. You gotta know your $hit. The details of your scope, your rifle, your load, the wind, etc etc. That's a lonely thing to do alone. I have 3 close friends, one who is very experienced, so we leach info from him. Forums are great, and don't be discouraged by the jerks that may talk down to you. LR is 90% thinking and prep, 10% trigger squeezing. You have to love it, or you'll lose interest.
Hope that helps somewhat. Don't get bummed out, and honesty I'm not trying to be condescending. I've lived it, and am living it, now too!!
-J.
PS - if my ATACR ever gets here (jobrook, are you listening???) I have a 4.5-30 XRS I may put up for sale. 34mm tube and more clicks available...