A good starting rifle
- Thread starter Devon
- Start date
- Location
- calgary alberta
I would think you should define what you mean by long range shooting, as well as what the intent is, IE target or hunting, or competitive. Each has its own parameters. Paper is easy to kill at long range, animals take more horsepower, some competitions will not allow this or that.
Everyone has an opinion of what is best, but getting a rifle that comes closest to doing what YOU want it to do, is really the right answer.
I consider 1000 yards pretty close range so what I feel is right for me may not be if your idea of long range is 500 yards max and at paper.
Skill level, budget and reality all figure in to "what is the best" caliber or rig to start with.
To buy a rifle with the options of easy upgradeability makes sense, as your skill level improves you can refine the rifle, some rifles are what they are and their is little you can do with them to improve them.
I am not suggesting Remington is the best rifle, but for upgradeability is hard to beat. Savage has come along way in quality, but can be hard to get, some upgrade parts are available.
Tikka is a fair rifle but there is little available for them.
Browning and Weatherbys are what they are and there is virtually nothing available to upgrade them available.
Sometimes getting advice from strangers on the internet is about the same as getting medical advice in a beer parlor, you have no clue of the "experts" qualifications.
Terry Perkins
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Bruce County
This is true, as you generally get what you pay for. The opinions offered here are free. However, I am familiar with 2 of the posters, and given the information they have to work with, they did offer viable solutions.
Make a more detailed requirements list like ATR suggested. Based on that you can start finding a rifle that fits the bill.
I rifle that will be strictily used for punching paper out to 500 yards will be vastly different than one you want to shoot out to 1000 yards yet still want to use to hunt deer sized game with and be able to carry comfortably.
I rifle that will be strictily used for punching paper out to 500 yards will be vastly different than one you want to shoot out to 1000 yards yet still want to use to hunt deer sized game with and be able to carry comfortably.
- Location
- calgary alberta
That was the point, not enough info for anyone to really work with.
This forum has a plethora of very knowledgeable people and a few that are questionable., but to have the whole picture would make those who actually know something of more help.
223 is a great caliber for learning to shoot with, it is cheap, but in most provinces not leagl to hunt with.
338 lapua or 50 BMG are great long range calibers, and WILL kill things, but are expensive to shoot and not range friendly in some places.
I wonder about the SPS varmint at $700.00 and then spending $300 to $550 on an HS stock when a 700P can be had for the same or less money.
Terry Perkins
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Bruce County
So, we got this little thing going on next year called the F Class World Championship. We're (Canada) looking for a few good shooters, and you seem to be very comfortable with long range. Whaddya think?
- Location
- calgary alberta
If you tell me that my 338LAI, with a brake, 8x32x56 NXS scope, that weighs 19.5 lbs and has a 2 oz set trigger is ok with the rules, cool
Going to the BCRA sniper shoot this June will be interesting, has been 20 plus years since I did any serious belly shooting, will see then how easy it is to get my arse off the ground.
This is what I usually shoot from.
ATR,
Just wanted to say that you are one lucky dude to have such a nice looking range; what a stunning view!
Just wanted to say that you are one lucky dude to have such a nice looking range; what a stunning view!
If you tell me that my 338LAI, with a brake, 8x32x56 NXS scope, that weighs 19.5 lbs and has a 2 oz set trigger is ok with the rules, cool
Going to the BCRA sniper shoot this June will be interesting, has been 20 plus years since I did any serious belly shooting, will see then how easy it is to get my arse off the ground.
This is what I usually shoot from.
Devon, for what you want to spend, I'd definitely go 700P bedded with a tuned trigger. You've got all of the future upgradeablility you would ever want plus, like you said, it won't brake your wallet to shoot. I'm with you there. Give us a call 403-277-7786 and we'll make it happen for you.
Cheers
I would look at the equipment exchange forum and see if you can find a rifle that has already been upgraded in the caliber you can work with, and by upgraded I really mean having had a proper barrel put on it. You can never improve your long range shooting, if you gun isn't capable of putting all its rounds in a very tight group because you keep correcting for the bullet's own inevitable variation in POI, not the true shooting conditions.
If you reload your own ammo, the sky is the limit. If you plan on buying factory ammo, stick with a caliber that is readily and cheaply available such as 223 or 308. For long range shooting, be careful about 223 twist rates and look for something in a 1:9" or less.
There are some Remington 700P rifles for sale new by one of the site sponsors and this would be an excellent platform to start with and has infinite upgradability as funds and desire permits. Savage also makes pretty decent target rifles as does Tikka. Tikka's are extremely accurate as a rule, but they are hard to upgrade.
Two words for you Savage F/TR
Two words; try finding one. Savage hasn't had stock in Canada for a while now since they can't seem to fill out paperwork correctly and keep getting permits bounced back to them by the state department. Savage is a great gun out of the box as Remington is. Tikka was a great gun but their recycled plastic stocks and plastic firing pin covers lead me to believe that's just the tip of the iceberg and from that wouldn't recommend someone starting out. I wouldn't want to paint myself into a corner buying a gun with zero upgradeability and I wouldn't sell something to someone without them fully knowing what they were getting into.
"Try finding one" is three words.
Rick, You know perfectly well your 338 Lapua with the muzzle brake is not legal, besides, real men don't use brakes! Just stick another barrel in a reasonable chambering on the old shootin' iron (sans brake) and come show us how it's done!
Devon,
It is possible to get into long range target shooting at a reasonable price. I'm not a fan of long range shooting at big game (some are) so don't consider it necessary to be able to deliver a lot of energy downrange. Regards, Bill.
Rick, You know perfectly well your 338 Lapua with the muzzle brake is not legal, besides, real men don't use brakes! Just stick another barrel in a reasonable chambering on the old shootin' iron (sans brake) and come show us how it's done!
Devon,
It is possible to get into long range target shooting at a reasonable price. I'm not a fan of long range shooting at big game (some are) so don't consider it necessary to be able to deliver a lot of energy downrange. Regards, Bill.
- Location
- New Brunswick
I've been outta the game for a while but I attended the 1ST F-Class Worlds in '02 at Connaught. Are we hosting them again in '09?
- Location
- calgary alberta
THAT sort of attitude is the biggest reason I quit shooting competitively.
"real men" don't use ....whatever, Big calibers are not needed, they disturb the line too much,or damage the backstops too much, or you use to much optics so you have an unfair advantage, are some of the BS lines I have encountered.
What IS a reasonable caliber? In my opinion it is whatever a person likes.
The biggest reason I shoot is for personal enjoyment. I like BIG guns that apparently "real men" are afraid to shoot or feel it is more manly to get the crap pounded out of them by shooting a rifle without a brake.
I don't relish hematomas in my shoulder, but truly love watching my gongs swing at great distances. If I want to be harrassed or BSed by guys I can do it in places where there are no firearms present.
Tell ya what , build a real mans gun and come on out to where we shoot and lets see who goes the distance
