Budget sniper rifle -- hints?

Obtunded said:
Just buy what you like best. they all shoot the same and don't get sucked into believeing more money means more accuracy.
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You won't sell any barrels like that!:D

Some time ago there was an interesting article by one of my favorite writers, Bill Calfee, in Precision Shooting on this very subject. Right after the 9-11 attacks, a small police department was looking to properly equip a rifleman for emergency situations, and asked Calfee for a suggestion of an appropriate SWAT rifle. Price was a huge concern to these guys, but at the same time they wanted to come up with a solution that was feasible. Calfee was a die hard Remington man, and a Remington is what he suggested. Some time later he received a call from the Police Chief who asked for his opinion of a Savage 110 for a SWAT rifle. They had looked into a Remington but between the cost of the rifle, a scope, and the normal ancillary purchases to support it, was too much for them. Calfee insisted they get a Remington, but against his advise they bought a Savage 110 in .308. Once all the stuff came in they got Calfee to mount the scope and assist in sighting in the rifle. He agreed and took the opportunity to admonish them for choosing a .308 which he believed would not be as accurate as a .223 particularly in that factory ammo was mandated by law.

The SWAT guy he called Jerry, made the first shot at 100 yards after the rifle was bore-sighted, and the bullet struck just off the bull. After adjusting the scope the second shot hit dead center, the ammo was Federal 168 gr Premium. Group after group (5 shot) from that rifle made single ragged holes. Jerry quit shooting from the bench and began shooting slung-prone with the same results. Calfee was blown away. Only a few years earlier he had built a no holds barred custom M-70 SWAT rifle for a big department and this Savage shot better. This doesn't come as a surprise to anyone here who has read Mystic's praise of the Savage bolt guns, but I guess Calfee doesn't spend much time at CGN.

Now I don't know if it is realistic to expect to purchase a precision rig for $1000 even if it is based on a Savage bolt gun, but getting the rifle would be a good start. Calfee didn't share what scope was on the rifle in the article, but glass and mounts are not good places to economize, although buying used is certainly a viable option.
 
hutten said:
I am looking to build a long range target rifle, that can be used for a little hunting. I would like it to be chambered in .308. As I am on a tight budget, I have been looking at the Savage 10FP, 12FV, the Stevens 200, or possibly a Remington 700 SPS Varmint. I have heard that they are all quite accurate. Can anyone give me some suggestions - which rifle and scope to pick, and also where I can find these for a reasonable price. I would like rifle and scope to be in the neighbourhood of $1000.
Thanks for any help.
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My first suggestion would be to increase your budget.

$1000 does not a "sniper" rifle make.

You might luck into a good shooting factory rifle in the used variety, but I doubt quite strongly that you will be (in the long term) pleased with the results.

Double your budget and then factor in what your annual ammo costs will be.

NS
 
no such thing as a budget sniper rifle. In the end you'll end up spending just as much as you should have in the beginning. Do yourself a favor and buy once cry once. Get what you want. This sport is not cheap. Yes you can buy a stevens/savage or remington sps etc. but really you'll want to customize the rifle and that is going to be alot, but hey you only live once. My .02$
 
you cant even buy a decent scope for that price. i would buy a savage with either the mcmillan or hs precision stock and save my pennies for some good glass.
 
Building an accurate 308 is not difficult. Making a rifle that is also good for hunting is a real challenge.

I built a rifle to shoot the sniper matches using a heavy stainless barrel, but cut it off at about 20". It is quite accurate, but the reduced velocity measn it is no contender at 1000 yards. I have used it back to 800 with no problem.

One year I put a hunting type variable scope on it and took it deer hunting. I was sitting at a rock outcropping looking down a wide gully. I could see 200 yards. This is not a typical deer situation in ontario, where 25 to 50 yards is more the norm. Rifle was on a bipod and if a deer had ambled by he would have been easy picking with thats et-up.

The rifle was in the standard black Savage tupperware stock and was not too long or heavy to carry.
 
A "sniper" is a person, the rifle is just a tool. Lots of practice with a $1000 rifle is recommended prior to laying down the big cash. Also, get out into the field and practice shooting from hides, different angles etc.

Savage and Rem. both make great entry level long range platforms.

Remington even has a .338 Lapua for around the $1300 mark!

Cheers
 
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