Need an advice for the .308

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ak77

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Hello CGNutters,

I am looking for a piece of advice here.
I want to buy a .308 for hunting and occasional mid-range range shooting (up to say 500m or so).
I am not looking for a rig with the potential 1000m+ competitive shooting. While the idea is tempting i don't see myself doing it, not for at least another many years down the road, if ever.

My initial search almost lead me to wanting Rem700, but then I thought that there got to be more fish in the sea. Unfortunately there is an abundance of the information about Rem700, with Savage coming in the distant second.
Not much info about anything else.

In general, as i understand for a long range rifle we are looking for a nice trigger, long barrel for velocity, heavy barrel for rigidity.

So which gun the community would recommend?
.308, bolt action (don't like semi- or lever), probably detachable mag (but if anyone here has any arguments for the floor plate i am all ears). Iron sights or no iron sights? Don't really care if stock is wood or plastic, but i would rather pay a couple of hundreds more upfront for a decent stock instead of getting crap and having to buy aftermarket later. Also i am not a big fan of tacticool stuff.

I almost went and bought the Rem 700 SPS varmint (http://www.cabelas.ca/index.cfm?pageID=71&&section=1187&section2=1724&section3=1952&ID=4740).
Then my second thought was about SA 10FCP (http://www.cabelas.ca/index.cfm?pageID=71&&section=1187&section2=1724&section3=1952&ID=9736). i think about 99% if the people say that AccuTrigger is the next best thing since chinese invented gun powder, and the AccuStock is right behind.
After that things got blurry and overwhelming and i got lost.

I think Winchester 70 is in the same league. I am sure Sako and Tikka have something too. Ruger? Browning? Anything else to me sounds like an odd-ball - Hasq, Mossberg, Thompson...
I don't even mind getting a used gun. After digging here on the forum i saw people suggest the used Weatherby Vanguard.

What do you suggest?
 
I'd get a standard weight rem 700 and tweak it alittle. Order a Boyd's, bed it and get the trigger done. Add a good scope/ring combo and stars shooting.

A set up like this will probably out shoot 90% of CGN'ers
 
The good news is that there has never been more options to fit what you are after. AND prices have never been this low.

Suggest you go into a well stocked store and handle as many as you can get your hands on. Many will do all that you want but have their own corporate quirks. Some you may like, others you may not.

I am a huge Savage fan after tiring of fixing several Rems. For out of the box with the option for lots of modification, Savage gets my nod.

if you want out of the box and not do anything much, TIKKA. Their performance can be stunning and one of the few factory barrels that can keep accuracy even when the barrel gets hot. Most everything else warps.

I have started playing with the new gen plastic fantastics as curiousity has peaked given their dirt cheap price. I have beat on a savage axis and have been very impressed. If not for a few homely features, this is a huge move in performance for dollars spent.

I have just started playing with a Ruger American and this may be my new fave. Amazing in all aspects I consider important for a rifle and initial firing shows it has alot of potential. A review will follow as I get some range time.

From this you can go anywhere through all manner of companies features and styles.

One common fix is to have the rifle you choose properly bedded and forend opened up. From there, tune the trigger, add a quality scope/base/rings, load up some quality ammo and go have some fun.

Odds are you will get a sub MOA rifle no matter the brand (US manf and some offshore stuff, Chinese stuff I would avoid). With suitable optics, you can plink as far as you have elevation which is a whole lot further then 500m.

The furthest we have shot a Savage factory rifle is 1 mile so there is lots of room to fill anything desire you have.

Enjoy...

Jerry
 
Sorry for the noob question, but what does "One common fix is to have the rifle you choose properly bedded and forend opened up" mean?
 
THanks Mystic, that covers the bedding, what "open the forend" is?

Also, are there gunsmith shops in Edmonton? Or, rather, i am sure there are shops in Edmonton, any help with names and addresses
 
The Model 700 is not what it used to be... if you can find an older BDL, pick it up... the company is run by bean counters and they are cutting corners where ever they can. I agree with Mystic Precision... a Savage rifle is a better buy in all regards. The Tikka T3 is a nice gun, but I still prefer the Savage. The Weatherby Vanguard II impressed me greatly at the range the other day... incredible fit/finish and accuracy for the money... you can't go wrong with a Browning X-Bolt Hunter either... top notch fit/finish and generally very accurate.

http://www.cabelas.ca/index.cfm?pageID=71&&section=1187&section2=1724&section3=1952&ID=26828

http://www.cabelas.ca/index.cfm?pageID=71&&section=1187&section2=1724&section3=1952&ID=5913

http://www.cabelas.ca/index.cfm?pageID=71&&section=1187&section2=1724&section3=1952&ID=480
 
Thanks everyone for the replies.
I still have one question that looks like has been buried in my message. Are there any reasons to have the iron sights? As i see lots of the guns come with no sights. I understand that with no sights the scope can be put closer to the barrel which results in the better accuracy. Are there any circumstances when i would really wish i had iron sights?
 
ak77 said:
Thanks everyone for the replies.
I still have one question that looks like has been buried in my message. Are there any reasons to have the iron sights? As i see lots of the guns come with no sights. I understand that with no sights the scope can be put closer to the barrel which results in the better accuracy. Are there any circumstances when i would really wish i had iron sights?
Click to expand...

i prefer iron sights on my guns just in case im hunting up north or something and my scope decides to break or something. also you may want iron sight if your hunting in thick brush.
 
Unless you are using a lever gun in a 100 mtr caliber there is no need for sights. The only thing they will do for you is add weight and hook on the bush.
If I am on a hunt a long way from home and I'm paying a lot of money to be there, I take a spare scope all set up in rings and pre sighted in. I have also never had a QUALITY scope go south on me during a hunt. If it is going to fail it will usually be during the several hundred rounds I will be shooting at the range prior to the hunt.

Your type of hunting will determine how heavy a barrel you can tolerate, if you hunt from motorized vehicles, ATVs, Argos, pick-ups etc, then I would highly recommend a 700 Rem heavy barrel varmint style set up. If you actually plan to carry it around a bit then a standard weight barrel 700 Rem or fluted barrel 700 CDL. A little bedding job and a trigger tweak and you are good to go. The light barrel will shoot ALMOST as good as a heavy barrel but will heat up much quicker at the range. A heavy barrel does not guarantee a more accurate rifle, I've had several whippy barrels that shot 3 shots as tight or tighter than some of my heavy barreled stuff.
You would be hard pressed to find a more accurate firearm with a better trigger than the 700 Rem. It might need some TLC but all the right basics are there to be a great shooter.
If you really want it to shoot into one hole buy a 700 and send it to Dennis Sorensen on the Island and have Dennis give it the once over and you will be one very happy camper.
 
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