A reasonably priced beginner rifle for paper and steel to 300 yards?

So I looked at my ammo and component inventory; to further muddy the waters, I have about 300 rounds of .308 and something like 500-600 more 1F cases, dies and about 150 Hornady bullets. This is from when I had my M14, I don't have anything to shoot them in.

If she got a .308 with the intention of reducing loads a bit, say to 150 grains at 2,500fps, would it be unwise? I do really like the idea of the 6.5 (and so does she) but it would be yet another caliber, cases, dies and bullets to stock up on. I already reload for 5 other calibers, I'd rather use the .308 stuff than sell it and re-supply for 6.5.

Bad idea? Will accuracy suffer with loads that aren't near maximum?
 
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Investigate reduced loads using H4895... you can do pretty much anything you want.

Then you can also load plated heavies to drop costs even more.

The biggest downside is cost of bullet (vs smaller cals), and using more powder per bang. If that doesn't matter to you, have at it.

Jerry
 
243 Win is an excellent cartridge that SMOKES the 308 Win from the muzzle all the way out to 1000 yds and then leaves the 308 in its dust. Much less recoil than 308 too.

If you want to stick w 308, and there is no reason you shouldn't, consider 125gr - 130gr bullets. I've been using 125gr Ballistic Tips in my 308 bolt guns for many years and they shoot amazingly well, with way less recoil. I've taken the little 125gr BT out to 700 yds no problem. Starting out at around 3100 fps they have a ton of jam and are very accurate. My Savage 308 has consistently produced 5/8" groups with the 125gr BT for hundreds and hundreds of rounds. With the accuracy and velocity and reduced recoil, it is good fun to shoot.

As others have mentioned, there are a ton of worthwhile rifles and cartridges that would fit the bill for your wife. For sure 223 is a top choice. I have no experience w 65CR but it does seem very popular. As you reload, the choices are wide open. I'd say buy something that interests you or something that simplifies things ... you have loads of 308 components and the dies etc.
 
Another round that I would suggest is 6BR. There are both factory rifles and factory ammo available for the 6BR. Designed as a benchrest cartridge it is inherently accurate and extremely easy to load for. It can run lighter weight varmint bullets and heavier VLD long range bullets and produce incredible accuracy with both.

The accuracy of a 6BR and lack of recoil makes it ludicrously fun to shoot. You practically have to try to miss.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
Another round that I would suggest is 6BR. There are both factory rifles and factory ammo available for the 6BR. Designed as a benchrest cartridge it is inherently accurate and extremely easy to load for. It can run lighter weight varmint bullets and heavier VLD long range bullets and produce incredible accuracy with both.

The accuracy of a 6BR and lack of recoil makes it ludicrously fun to shoot. You practically have to try to miss.
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6BR is an awesome little cartridge.

But there's some nuances to it that a newcomer should know.

Factory rifle options are very limited, as is factory ammo. Going to 6BR you essentially have to reload, which the OP does. Components are readily available, but you may have to go the custom rifle route for this cartridge.

There's also an issue with mags - but this has largely been fixed with spacer kits (for AI mags) and the MDT 6BR mags. If you do go down the 6BR route and want to mag feed, you do need specialized mags or mag kits to get this short cartridge to work.
 
kthomas said:
6BR is an awesome little cartridge.

But there's some nuances to it that a newcomer should know.

Factory rifle options are very limited, as is factory ammo. Going to 6BR you essentially have to reload, which the OP does. Components are readily available, but you may have to go the custom rifle route for this cartridge.

There's also an issue with mags - but this has largely been fixed with spacer kits (for AI mags) and the MDT 6BR mags. If you do go down the 6BR route and want to mag feed, you do need specialized mags or mag kits to get this short cartridge to work.
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For some reason I thought there were more factory offerings in 6BR. It seems there are only a few and they are on the more expensive side. :(

My 6BR was built originally by Henry Rempel using a Rem 700 action. It's been a great rifle. Really enjoy shooting it.
 
iron cat said:
Never mind ballistics, ease of shooting, or any other nitpicking thing when it is compared to the .308. The biggest factor for somebody not hand loading (IMO anyway)would be availability and cost of ammo.

Cat
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I agree with this. Given a max of 300 there isn't much that WOULDN'T work, so I'd let the cost of ammo be the deciding factor. My short list would be 243win, 6.5cm, and 308, in that order, if prices were the same.
 
If it is only for the range, I would go a heavy barrel Howa in 6.5 CM or .308. You can get this in either a cheap Hogue stock that you can upgrade to an MDT XRS (or similar) at a later date or get in an MDT Oryx as a production rifle.

With the heavy, threaded barrel she can blast away without overheating and can get a muzzle brake if she wants to tame the recoil. It will also balance nicer if she wants to do some position shooting .
 
We went to a local gun shop and my wife looked at a bunch of rifles today, "just to have a look", and she bought a Tikka T3X Varmint stainless in .223. She really liked the heft of the bull barrel and the smoothness of the action. Is that bolt ever smooth!!! Of about 6 rifles she looked at I'd say the Tikka had the nicest trigger.

She also got a Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40mm. She said she wanted a hunting rifle in 308 down the road so the guy at the shop recommended this or the 4-12 as it is small, light and tough and could serve both range and field purposes. I know Leupold has an excellent reputation and warranty do the deal was sealed. Apparently the warranty is transferable, so she figured resale would be good too.

Thanks for all the recommendations, she was very grateful that a bunch of strangers chimed in with a variety of suggestions!
 
I think the Tikka varmint in 223 is the right answer. 300yds is childs play with a 223 no sense in using a 308 based cartridge for that.

With Tikka you get a great rifle from factory and the sky is the limit if you want to customize it.
 
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