I'm sure this question has come up in the past but... I'm looking for a tactical rifle for under a grand including a scope. Is this an unreasonable request or are there some makes of new rifles like Savage that have anything of value.
I'm hoping that the thousand dollar limit is for just the rifle. The rule of thumb I've been told my whole life is to budget about as much for optics, rings bases, rails, etc as you would for the rifle. Especially for factory rifles.
This means you should expect your total price tag to be between $1750-2000.
If the 1000 is for the whole set up, then yes, it is a bit unreasonable.
There are threads dedicated to defining what a person means by Sniper Rifle, or Tactical Rifle, or Precision rifle. The obvious question for you is what are you going to do with the rifle.
Some people just want a tacticool looking rifle that they can show their friends and take some photos for face book. A .22 Savage Mark 2 TRR, Tasco scope and a couple cans of spray paint will get you something movie worthy and shoot quite well @ 50 Yards.
If your local range only goes out to 200-300 meters, then I think most people would recommend a remmy 700 in .223 or .308. If have somewhere you can shoot out past 500, then most would say that the .308 is a must. (unless you reload, have alot of spare time, the eye of an artist and the mind of an engineer, you can join the club of people who are proving that .223 is capable out to 1000 yards and beyond). The SPS tactical has a short 20" heavy barrell. Easy to carry, won't over heat too quickly, and the short size makes it very packable.
The SPS varmint with its 26" barrel will give you better performance, but is a little less wieldy, but I think would be the better choice for accuracy. Both are about $600 and should be in stock at most gun stores.
For a scope any of the bushnell 3200/4200 should meet your needs, but you'd be hard pressed to build this set up for under $1000 using new components. Don't forget about Bipod, spare mags, sling, MOA Rail if required, etc. $1200 might be a bit more realistic. A little bit of patience and effort and you could probably source a good scope and bits on the exchange forum.
The big limiting factor that ruins the TACTICAL aspect of most remingtons is the magazing options. Detachable mags inside a hinged floor plate, or internal box mags is not my idea of tactical. Modifying a stock to take proper magazines is less than ideal. Any of the reputable stocks out there, HS Precision, Macmillan, Accuracy Internation etc, are going to blow your $1000 budget all by themselves. The MDT 21 Tac chassis available from MYSTIC PRECISION looks awesome, but again, at the $1000 mark.
For a proper "Sniper Weapon System", look at what actual snipers use. Canada recently aquired the PGW Timberwolf chambered in 338 Lapua, retails for $6700, not including scope, bi-pod spare mags or any other bits that a "Sniper" would consider essential, like 5 spare mags. Timberwolfs little brother, the .308 Coyote still retails for 4800 on special. Extras not included.
The American military and IDF uses the M24, built on a Remington action in an HS precision stock. Hard to find total retail price but if you look up the sub components, you would still be well over 3500 dollars.
The Sako Trgs, 22 (.308) and 42 (338 LM) are good shooters, but hover in the $3000-$4000.
The list goes on.
Bottom line, if you want a GUN that can be used effectively out to medium range 300-800, is packable and tacticool looking, it can be done for under $1000, but that really is low end.
