Let's build a 1000yrd rifle, opinions and thoughts welcomed!!

J

JohnGl

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Ok folks, it's time Nate gets into distance shooting. I've been pondering for months now.. Were one should start...

I'm thinking Rem 700 build... Eventually getting into a surgeon action... Chassis?? AI? Cadex?MDT??

Which rem700 should one start with??


26" vs other barrel lengths???


This build will be for long range shooting...308(7.62x51) is my caliber of choice.


Which Rem would you purchase to start with and why?? Also which chassis would you opt for??

I'm looking to put a muzzle break on the rifle.

Optics.. Leaning towards Vortex PST 6-24 OR Nightforce 5-25


Thoughts, opinions welcomed. I'm just looking for a starting point. There's many makes and models of the 700 however I'm not entirely sure which I should grab. I hear the savage 10tr mil/Leo model is great too, but rem is superior?
 
For actions there are tons of choices out there, same with stocks. For the stock/chassis try out a few different ones to see what fits you best and what feels most comfortable to shoot.

Barrel: 1:10 at 24" or 26" should do it. This way you can shoot the high BC .30 cal bullets.

Optics: Get the best glass you can, you can't hit what you can't see. Proper tracking is also highly important. A Nightforce 5-25 should do it.
 
Why not just start with a Surgeon action? The route you plan on taking now is going to end up costing you a lot more money. Stocks are personally preference thing, nobody can tell you what the right stock for you is. Why a .308 for 1,00 yards? Sure it can do it, but there are a lot better options out there (such as 6.5 cm).

Get the best scope you can afford. S&B, Khales, Steiner, Vortex Razor Gen II, etc...
 
kthomas said:
Why not just start with a Surgeon action? The route you plan on taking now is going to end up costing you a lot more money. Stocks are personally preference thing, nobody can tell you what the right stock for you is. Why a .308 for 1,00 yards? Sure it can do it, but there are a lot better options out there (such as 6.5 cm).

Get the best scope you can afford. S&B, Khales, Steiner, Vortex Razor Gen II, etc...
Click to expand...

Do this, I would have saved thousands just getting what I ended up with 6 months later.
 
Nothing wrong with doing a build on a 700 action... if you have an action it can be trued and the trigger reworked for less than $300. I would choose a different caliber for dedicated 1000 yard shooting... and you don't want to break the muzzle - it's better you add a brake.

Custom actions cost a lot and no guarantee they shoot any better than a worked 700. They have a higher resale value only because they cost more to start with.

Don't get me wrong - if you want to spend the money - do so...
 
For the best in LR 308 Tech, see what is happening for FTR rifles used in competition. No issue hitting small targets at 1000yds with the current tech 308.

For a no brainer start, there are used Savage FTR in the EE and that will do what you want out of the box. These rifles are being used at some very high levels of competition so they do work very well.

Reload using quality bullets and enjoy. If you prefer to build, all sorts of ways to go but the big one will be your budget as this can get spicy real fast.

For LR optics, include Sightron into that mix. If you have the pockets, the Tangent Theta is very very impressive.

If you want to build a repeater, no problem BUT there are lots of limitations when running a 308 out of a mag... and here, I would lean you towards other smaller bore options. But if single feeding, plenty of great slugs for the 30cal.

PM or email if you want to discuss further.

Enjoy...

Jerry
 
Here's what I had built by Steve at EM Precision Rifles.

Remigton 700 SA (trued)
MDT HS3 chassis
Jury Custom barrel (17 heavy contour finished at 28")
Anderson Arms custom brake
Ergo plus grip
Timney CE trigger
3/8" recoil lug
Near 30moa rail
Near Alfa-mount
NF NXS 5.5-22x56
LRA light tactical

DSCN9328.jpg


It loves the heavier pills...(2750-2800fps)

DSCN9256.jpg


And it will go out to about 1200m before I lose confidence.
 
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Exciting stuff! I would consider looking at a different caliber though. I have a 700p in 308, and can't wait to use up all of my components and have it re-barreled. I'm leaning towards a 7-08. Good barrel life, Lapua made brass, good bullet options, a little better suited for hunting larger game than some of the 6 or 6.5 options, far better long range performance. Look up the load data and run it in a ballistics program and you will see quite a difference in velocity at range. Id recommended taking a look at a jewell trigger if it fits your budget as well. The sky is the limit when it comes to chassis and optics depending on your budget. Good luck!
 
I have found my .308 to preform reliably out to just under 1400yards.. Don't plan on killing power at that range, but for paper it's great. It's a 1-12 26" Krieger on a trued Remington action, very reliable (launches a 178amax at 2650 easy) almost boring under 1000 once your dialled and not dealing with too much wind. And at 16.5lbs all said, no need for the muzzle brake and occasionally your lucky enough to catch your own swirl on the bullet.

As for the stock.. Get what fits, don't set on a chassis just cause it looks cool, make sure it fits and is comfortable, some are real nice, but you won't convince me they PREFORM better than a stock that's been bedded and has a FL aluminum block that has a cheek pice and correct LOP for the shooter. These can be had for under 500 easy and I want to be clear I am not a chassis hater by any stretch, but weigh your options.

Triggers are personal too, I don't like jewel or canjars, but love Timmney and am dying to try a trigger tech.
 
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.308 will work at long range. Shot one for years. Then I built up a .260. The improvement in long range performance is dramatic. Flatter trajectory, but more important, performance in the wind is much better.
There are lots of cartridges that will shoot well at 1000, from .223 on up.
 
Exciting times for you!! Everyone loves a project!!!

My only additional thought is to consider if you may be interested in competing in anything in future, or if you want to hunt with this beast. Just beware of how your caliber choice may affect you ability to be in certain comps or hunt in certain areas.
 
Savage 10TR.

I did this about two years ago out of the box (well, had a brake, bipod and a 5-15 Bushnell) with factory ammo and a crappy shooter (me) behind the rifle:

http://1.bp.########.com/-XXsdv1PHz74/UvA9ubVcqdI/AAAAAAAATH8/gmt8BtVVfvc/s1600/DSCN4860.JPG

http://4.bp.########.com/-KibYlxS68_Y/Uu60fHELRVI/AAAAAAAATGA/4SmdQkF26Sc/s1600/IMAG4129.jpg

Sometime last year, I managed this with factory ammo at 1,050m and I'm still a crap shot compared to everyone I know, so credit goes to the rifle:

http://1.bp.########.com/-lGDb9S9hh8g/VWvsRk35R5I/AAAAAAAAXcE/T1GFkErtCds/s1600/DSC_2267.JPG

I think the chassis helped me reach out to 1km, glass was a Millett LRS 6-25x56mm:

http://2.bp.########.com/-X9Cw6lSer34/VX-XaTfzGZI/AAAAAAAAXyM/ZwF0XQA4bAo/s1600/P6159935.JPG

....but Condomboy reached out to 1km with the factory Accustock using Hornady Steel Match.

I've got better glass on there now but it was a great shooter out of the box, even with entry level glass.

The rifle as it is today:

https://1.bp.########.com/-mYfPm_-AhnU/Vvai2vW9MCI/AAAAAAAAhto/jgVkk_2WwfkrLSMYtrzYhWUsDbvKNzWWA/s1600/P3252764.JPG
 
I have built and torn apart a dozen different rifle which would not only perform well at 1000 yards but with which I could be competitive. None utilized any sort of "chassis" and none wore more than $500 worth of glass. Chamberings ranged from 22-250 up to 30/06 and included no less than six different 308's. Currently, I have four 308's a 22-250. a 30/06, a 303 British, a 30/40 Krag, and two 6.5x55's. Actions include Winchester Model 70's (3) Remington 40X (1), PGW, RPA, Ruger 77 and P14 Enfield. All will shoot close to 1/2 minute and some considerably better than that at 300 M. With that out of the way, let me say this; the configuration of your rifle and it's make up is largely dependent upon what you want your rifle to look like. There are numerous ways to accomplish the same goal. You can build on a "chassis", you can use a synthetic stock, you can build on a wood stock, or build on a wood/ aluminum/glass composite. You can build a practical rifle which can almost double as a hunting rifle (assuming you are young and strong or old and don't get far from the truck!) or you can build a 16 pounder which is at home only on the range and, preferably, on the bench or on the ground. You can build a Roy Dunlap or Jim Cloward classic or and all aluminum and steel space gun and all will have the potential to shoot as well as you can at 1000 yd.
 
Dear Mister Donut,

If your gun is shooting well, that means that all things are in order, including the shooter. It's when it's all over the place the shooter MAY be the problem.....

My point:

All right groups are shot by a good shooter and a good rifle.

Not all crap groups are shot from a bad rifle, or by a bad shooter.

You're a good shooter.
 
Why does everyone feel the need to put a scope on your rifle....it is only 1000 yards. Google "Palma rifle". That said, a good set of iron sights with a few gadgets will set you back almost 1K.
 
A friend of mine got a slightly used Savage F TR in 308 off the EE for about $750. Last week we did some load testing and he got 2 nodes under .5 MOA and we still have not done any seating tests yet. (using Sierra Matchings 168 g and some TAC powder bought at the Calgary gun show for $250 for 8 lbs). I suspect that once that is done he will be under .4 MOA. Use the extra money for a great scope and bipod. I am sure this this gun can be resold in a couple years for about the same price.
 
guntech said:
Nothing wrong with doing a build on a 700 action... if you have an action it can be trued and the trigger reworked for less than $300. I would choose a different caliber for dedicated 1000 yard shooting... and you don't want to break the muzzle - it's better you add a brake.

Custom actions cost a lot and no guarantee they shoot any better than a worked 700. They have a higher resale value only because they cost more to start with.

Don't get me wrong - if you want to spend the money - do so...
Click to expand...

I think you must be the only person that agrees with me.

When I had my custom made I wanted it made off of a Remmy, everyone said "oh just buy a custom, by the time it is done it will cost just at much" - it did not. It may not have been half the price but it was less expensive than a surgeon/defiance/etc. I personally feel that it gives up zero accuracy to the custom actions. It doesn't have some of the fancy stuff (mostly side bolt release) but it does what I need it to do.

As for resale, that part is true. I don't ever plan on selling it anyways - I have a feeling the market for a Tactical 6.5X55 swede is limited. I wont complain about launching 140gr bergers at 2,838fps though.
 
guntech said:
Nothing wrong with doing a build on a 700 action... if you have an action it can be trued and the trigger reworked for less than $300. I would choose a different caliber for dedicated 1000 yard shooting... and you don't want to break the muzzle - it's better you add a brake.

Custom actions cost a lot and no guarantee they shoot any better than a worked 700. They have a higher resale value only because they cost more to start with.

Don't get me wrong - if you want to spend the money - do so...
Click to expand...

I agree. A trued remington 700 action will shoot just as good as any custom action if the gunsmith is any good. A trued action is a trued action, and just acts as the vehicle to deliver the round to the chamber.

However the OP seems interested in a Surgeon action, and if that is what he really wants, eventually I'm sure he will get one. Better to get one now than later.
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
Dear Mister Donut,

If your gun is shooting well, that means that all things are in order, including the shooter. It's when it's all over the place the shooter MAY be the problem.....

My point:

All right groups are shot by a good shooter and a good rifle.

Not all crap groups are shot from a bad rifle, or by a bad shooter.

You're a good shooter.
Click to expand...

Thanks :) My friends would disagree with that statement but it's nice of you to say, lol! Some of my pals can stack rounds at 100m so I know there's still plenty of room for improvement, but getting there sure has been fun. Also, back to the original intent of this thread, building a rig.....that's pretty damn fun too :)

maynard said:
Why does everyone feel the need to put a scope on your rifle....it is only 1000 yards. Google "Palma rifle". That said, a good set of iron sights with a few gadgets will set you back almost 1K.
Click to expand...

There's a guy that goes by the user name Oktiuk or something like that who runs irons on his 50BMG....I heard from someone he hunts whales with it?

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1140825-50BMG-with-iron-sites?highlight=lrt-3

I just threw a red dot on mine for those close quarters situations, lol!

DSC_0482.JPG
 
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