First Rifle Options?

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Mattymoose

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Hey guys, I just finished my CFSC and am now in the process of waiting for the paperwork so I can send my application. In the mean time I'm doing research on what rifle I'd like to buy as my first.

I'm pretty sure I want to get a .308win as I've heard good things. I will be starting off using it at a range and maybe move into hunting next year if I can find some buddies who are interested as well.

The 2 rifles I've looked at so far are the Remington 700 sps varmint as well as the Tikka T3

My price range is in the 700-800 range with a little wiggle room if you really convince me it's worth it.

***NOTE: I am a lefty, so lefty option is a must on the rifle!

Can anyone speak for / against these rifles, or have another suggestion for a good starter rifle in my price range?


Thanks guys!
 
for a first center fire rifle you can't really go wrong with a 700 or tikka but i wouldn't call then precision rifles per say, especially if using factory ammo.

I would recommend buying a bolt action savage .22 LR so you can shoot a lot. then buy a .308 of your choosing but keep in mind a good range rifle will be too heavy for hunting.

if you get serious about precision the first step would be buy a good reloading setup


just my 2 cents,

Alex
 
I have both an sps Varmint In 308 and a tikka t3 lite but it's in 22 250 and have shot a buddy's 270wsm. I'd go for the tikka; it's lighter, has a smoother action, a better trigger, and a free floated barrel. It has a cheap recoil pad though. The only regret I have is not getting stainless.
 
Get a decent .22 bolt gun so you can practice, practice, practice your shooting. As for your starting center fire rifle, just about anything you buy will shoot better than you if you are a new shooter. A .223 isn't a bad option simply because it is WAY cheaper to shoot as compared to any other center fire and you won't develop any bad habits around recoil. A .308 is a very versatile hunting and range cartridge (I swear by it), but a number of my shooting friends are even bigger fans of the .270.
 
The SPS as a too smooth stock for precision shooting (my opinion), but the 700 action is good and the barrel isn't bad. It's not free floating so a good bedding job (aluminum or glass) would be an option. I've own for few year a Rem 700 5r for precision shooting and it's pretty good. It cost around 1000$, it as pillars block, a free floating barrel and a better stock. Not the best color for hunting...the barrel and action are stainless, but you could always have it cerakoted. Don't know if you can have them lefty. I've replace the trigger with a Jewell, but those triggers are not friend with dirt...so to avoid for hunting unless you're ready to put time cleaning it after a trip. You can also have a look at some savage, many loved them. The only savage I have is a mark II BRJ in 22lr and it's pretty good for the price I paid....

For the tikka, I don't have an opinion, never tried it. One of my buddy as a Tikka T3 Tactical, it's a nice rifle, but double the price you want to pay...

The 308 caliber is very versatile. If you start to reload, you'll have lot of options... You can't go wrong with that caliber...It's maybe not the best caliber for hunting, but it's a nice one..

Having a .22lr at first is a good option... The ballistic of that bullet is pretty much the same as 308, but at different distance. For example if your 22lr is zeroed at 50yards and your 308 at 100y, the drop of your 22 will be similar at 100y to your 308 at 200y and similar at 150y compare to 300y with your 308. It's a nice caliber to practice for 308 shooting at much lower cost...

And don't forget to save some money for a good glass, rings and base if you want some precision....

You can keep a look on the EE, there's some nice rifles there that would fits your needs...and you could some money...

Let us know about your final choice
 
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I have a had a couples of 700 actions and I also have a sako
if you want to keep your rifle as is forever, tika is a higher class and it worth it
better trigger and the action is a lot smoother
but if you plan in changing everything later on to build a custom from your action, it is easyer with the 700 to find parts.
 
For hunting, .308 is a great cartridge. I'm a big fan of the Ruger scout carbine.
Left hand options
Light weight and short
10rd detachable box magazines
Robust and reliable Ruger all American build
950$ish
 
Mattymoose said:
***NOTE: I am a lefty, so lefty option is a must on the rifle!

Can anyone speak for / against these rifles, or have another suggestion for a good starter rifle in my price range?


Thanks guys!
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Get just right carbine, the charging handle can be placed left or right handed as well as Chang sideds for ejection port. It's a no brainier. 9mm or 0.40 S&w or .45acp
 
Surreyjack1 said:
Get just right carbine, the charging handle can be placed left or right handed as well as Chang sideds for ejection port. It's a no brainier. 9mm or 0.40 S&w or .45acp
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Except a pistol caliber carbine is neither a precision or hunting rifle ... So how is that any use to either thing the OP plans to use it for??
 
I would go with a 700r5 in .308 or a Tikka Varmint in .260

I personally shoot a 700r5 and would not trade it for anything. The possibilities to mod and build a 700 action to your liking are endless.
 
i have the varmint in .308, the factory stock is crap but everything else is nice, although the sps tactical might be a better choice if you want to hunt with it, the 26" barrel may be unwieldy/heavy for bush bashing.
 
Have been doing quite a bit of research on just the same subject, came up with build my own.200 stevens r/h only doesn't matter to me to reach over receiver(old savage 110 most accurate production rifle made out of box 350.00)Buy stock from microfit gun stocks refinish myself(150.00)Bi Pod (100.00)then buy trigger(100.00) of choice or take to gunsmith.The one I built for a freind is 270 win 100gr is what the barrel likes and it shoots 1 inch groups at 400 yards all day long with us doing our part .hope this helps
Dave
 
250 savage said:
... and it shoots 1 inch groups at 400 yards all day long with us doing our part .hope this helps
Dave
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....... A huh......

Like the hunters sighting in a few weeks ago saying their groups are touching at 300yards....

Only to see a board 2'x4' speckled with rounds.... yup....
 
I would like to know why "***NOTE: I am a lefty, so lefty option is a must on the rifle!"

I am also a lefty hand have never shot a left handed rifle. many others in that same camp around as well. Why limit yourself to a small selection of rifles if you dont have to. There is way more options for right handed guns then left. Prices on left handers are usually more. Go try handeling some left and right rifles and see what you like. But I would seriously consider right handed ones as well.


250 savage said:
it shoots 1 inch groups at 400 yards all day long with us doing our part .hope this helps
Dave
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I would love to see this. Lest me guess you have a bushnel banner 3-9x40 on it as well. If this was the case you would see people spending $2000+ on rifles and scopes to shoot at distance.
 
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hometownhero said:
If this was the case you would see people spending $2000+ on rifles and scopes to shoot at distance.
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2000$??? My stock gun is well over that.

I've shot many guns that are 6,000-9,000$ and won't do that.

We need to start a 5 shot, 5 group, 1" @400 thread so 250 Savage can be the only one.

I don't want to be degrading, but proof is required.
 
as I stated I put the rifle together for a friend. diff brands and grains of ammo to find right bullet, scope zeroed from a sight vice (nikon 6x18x40 or 50 not sure) time between shots no 5 shot bursts,glass bedded, free floating barrel,the rifle has no problem doing it,people have trouble doing it.It was fun for me to put something together and more fun when it actually worked.He got the idea from sniper central about the 200 stevens and found the stock he wanted from microfit. He uses it for coyotes on his farm.it is a lot of fun to shoot.If I could afford it I would like to take the gunwerks school and try shooting one of their rifles.my son wants to become a competitive shooter so my next project is a savage mark II for him.It doesn't get any better.Thanks
Dave
 
Both the Tikka and the Remington are good guns. Most rifles manufactured today are of good quality. I shoot mostly Savage, at first it was because I read the hype and thought they were more accurate, now I guess I still have them because I like the models. I have a 114 American Classic in 7mm, an LRPV Repeater in 22-250 and a 99 in 308. All are good guns, and all are accurate enough. The 114 and LRPV have outshot Tikkas and Remingtons, and been outshot by them. Hype is hype.

The Tikka is a nice rifle, a little to plastic for my books but quality throughout. The Remington's are silky smooth and give you many options down the road. Go to a good gunshop, shoulder a few guns, and buy what fits best. This won't be your last rifle so don't worry so much.

308 is a good calibre. Can been cheap to shoot and not too bad on the shoulder. The 223 is a little cheaper, a little easier on the shoulder, and effectively the same at 100 yards which is where 90% of shooters spend there time and lead. Personally, if I wanted a rifle to mess around with I would pick up a 5R Remington in 308. Good platform, and pretty multifunctional. But a few guys on here made a good point. Pick up a rimfire (bolt), and practise practise practise. You will be surprised how much you can learn with 500 trigger pulls behind a rimfire of ammo (thats the cost of 30 rounds of 308 on a good day).
 
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