Best .308 bolt gun for $1500

What is your reasoning to go with a 308? The 6.5 creedmoor is a much nicer shooting cartridge for that distance and use. I have taken a deer at 470 and it dropped in its tracks with a 140 factory round. The cost of ammo is the same or cheaper
Alot less recoil and bucks the wind much better.
Any new shooter that asked me about caliber selection I push them towards a 6.5 creedmoor.

I liked 308 for the large variety of ammo and you can find it everywhere. I always thought 6.5 was more expensive. I'll definitely look into that cartridge.
 
I have to agree - go with the 6.5 Creed. There is nothing a 308 can do better than the 6.5 Creed, and past 500yds, it is rather dramatic..... Ammo is readily available too - that is, if you dont reload.

When I made this decision I went with the Creedmoor - instead of the 308 for reasons beyond 500 yards. It simply shoots flatter
 
Looking into this same question myself. With the .308, how much value would you guys place on having a short action, rather than a long action modified for a short cartridge?

Well Short action - the 1/2" shorter receiver - makes the rifle a tiny bit lighter and a tiny bit shorter. I like the idea of a true 'to caliber' action....But in reality, My Tikka T3x and CZ 557 both are 'standard' action using the .308 and there is no noticeable difference at all in performance or ergonomics.

Basically, you get some cost reduction in the use of a 'standard' action for a shorter cartridge as the manufacturer is using a 'one size fits all' approach. That's one of the price factors between Sako and Tikka, amongst other things.

So to me its a non issue.
 
6.5 is more expensive, with 308 you have many more options both commercial and reloading. Target rifles and hunting rifles, along with caliber are very different beasts. 308 suits that cross over quite well in the range your looking for and quite possibly the majority of med and big game in Canada.
I liked 308 for the large variety of ammo and you can find it everywhere. I always thought 6.5 was more expensive. I'll definitely look into that cartridge.
 
I have to agree - go with the 6.5 Creed. There is nothing a 308 can do better than the 6.5 Creed, and past 500yds, it is rather dramatic..... Ammo is readily available too - that is, if you dont reload.

The 308 with a 200 grain bullet is a lot more powerful as a hunting cartridge,for large games such as moose and elk and out to 400 yards the difference in trajectory is so slight, it's not worth talking about. I have shot and moose with a 6.5 and while many of them are killed in Sweden, it's not my first choice, people forget our moose are a lot bigger than the European moose,also with 200 grain bullets a 2500 to 2550 ft./s and a high BC,there's not as much of a difference between the 6.5 and 308 out to 1000 as many people would believe, in reality there's not that many of us that shoot beyond a thousand.The other thing that the 308 does better than a 6.5 is availability of ammo and components, the price of amo is also a consideration . The 6.5 crowd also fails to mention is that you'll get about three times the barrel life out of the 308 compared to a 6.5 those are all important points the 308 is not near as dead as some would have you believe
 
6.5 is more expensive, with 308 you have many more options both commercial and reloading. Target rifles and hunting rifles, along with caliber are very different beasts. 308 suits that cross over quite well in the range your looking for and quite possibly the majority of med and big game in Canada.
Uhmmm.... I set up water bags and shot them with hunting bullets (didn't believe results) then repeated with water filled milk jugs (same results as the bags)....set up at 200yds and shot with 260, 7-08, 308, 300WM, and 325. The 260 shooting 140 accubonds out penetrated every cartridge listed by 1.5 jugs. All bullets were accubonds.

Also look at ballistic charts - a 140 VLD out of a Creed will keep up with a 180gr 300WM to 1500 yds.

There is inherent knockdown in the long skinny bullets. And if you reload it costs the same or less than a 308 (assuming you use Lapua brass).

Factory fodder is the same price in most instances, less in others, and some more expensive. All depends on brand of factory fodder. 6.5 creed factory loads are mostly premium bullets so yes it is reflected in the price, few are the quality of federal blue box. I suppose you could get surplus or Norinco ammo to shoot cheaper in the 308, but most of us here shoot quality ammo (or reloads) since this is a precision forum. Last i looked, there was no significant diff in price of components for either, but a Creed uses 5-6 gr less powder (Varget in this case) to do the same thing.

I dont own a creed, but have a 260 and a 6.5x47 - and 3 308's - I like the 308, but the 6.5's are just superior all around, period.

My 30" barrel 11.25 twist needs 33.5 MOA to 1000yds using a 175 TMK. 31 MOA using a 168 Hybrid.....My 6.5's shoot 130 or 140 hybrids & need 24.5 and 25 MOA to do the same thing.
Recoil is much less with the 6.5's.

So again, consider all this if you plan to stretch your rifles legs out.
 
how about another way of addressing this question....

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Start with a Rem 783 in 308 (various Savage SA's will also work). Around $400 to 500'ish new... A new Shorty version with nicer features may be closer to the $500'ish range.

Plenty accurate and easy to set up for hunting. The rifle pictured is in 243 but the 308's shoot similarly. Great mag, trigger and function. Sub MOA capable. I added an EGW rail for $56

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I detest the factory bolt knob so converted it to a aftermarket tactical style knob. $35 or less for the knob... some labour, or gunsmith... done. Cerakote and looks like new.

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For the precision side of things, add a Boyds pro Varmint or MDT LSS chassis. The black PV is around $225 Cdn. MDT LSS is around $400 plus AR furniture, grip and mags.

Add a match grade prefit in any short action chambering (that fits your bolt head) .. I really like the 6.5 CM. Prefer a 6 Dasher.. or a hot rod 22cal like the 22 Creedmoor? Starting at $465 ($100 for muzzle threading). Easy to swap the barrel at home with gauges, barrel nut wrench and a strong vise (gauges are $36 each, wrench set $48).

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Do some handloading and get some 1/4 to 1/3 min groups at 100yds

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Some nice performance at 250yds.

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Take it out to 1450yds

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And shoot some rocks for S&Gs

Convert the rifle back to factory dress for hunting. The factory plastic stock is quite comfy for a hunting rig and has a great recoil pad. Pretty sure I haven't spent $1500 yet.

PT&G does make DBM if going conventional stock.. that adds a bit to the price tag depending on how much work you can do yourself... but you are still way under $2k.

There are now more rifles that can be converted in a similar way.. Savage Axis (not my fave but it can work), Savage 10/12 - Stevens 200, base Howas, Rem 700s (yep, even these)..... kind of sort of Tikka T3's

If a factory rifle doesn't float your boat, just build it...

YMMV...

Jerry
 

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I have an RPR in 308. used it for target shooting and hunting for past two years. I don't mind the weight for hunting as I'm only walking a few km at most. Usually less to sit by the edge of fields. Only complaint I have is the aluminum handguard gets cold on the hands in cooler weather. Do you want adjustable cheek piece? How about barrel length, 20, 24, or 26 inches?

There are a few videos on youtube that claim there are some case size issues with the 6.5 Creedmoor. guys are reporting factory ammunition that will not chamber. I don't own a 6.5 so I never spent much time trying to verify those claims, but something you may want to look into further.
 
6.5 is more expensive, with 308 you have many more options both commercial and reloading. Target rifles and hunting rifles, along with caliber are very different beasts. 308 suits that cross over quite well in the range your looking for and quite possibly the majority of med and big game in Canada.

Have you actually looked at the price of 6.5 and 308. They are almost identical and sometime a little cheaper for 6.5.
Ya you can buy some crap surplus to make noise with that is half the price, but the point of precision shooting is actually hitting your target.

Ryan
 
Yes, and I'm talking about hunting and premium ammo, availability, in addition to components. Your location may be different.
Have you actually looked at the price of 6.5 and 308. They are almost identical and sometime a little cheaper for 6.5.
Ya you can buy some crap surplus to make noise with that is half the price, but the point of precision shooting is actually hitting your target.

Ryan
 
The best rig for $1500?

It’s the rig that you can feed with precise ammo and can afford to come out and shoot my matches and /or Ryan’s matches. Now get out and shoot!! Sorry for the hijack but I just could not help,myself :evil:

Seriously , get outside and shoot!,

As ChalkRiver2 would say, “Shoot faster!!” :wave:


Cheers, Barney
 
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