Newbie .308

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blueblast

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So I'm thinking of moving into the target/precision rifle category (.308 of course!). I already have decent experience with shotguns, various iron-sighted & red-dot centrefires, and some scoped rimfire bolt guns.
I don't want to drop big $$ on a fancy new gun, but can't decide between a new less-expensive gun (maybe a Stevens or Savage), or an all-in fancy target/tactical gun on the EE.
Any help is appreciated. All opinions accepted!
 
Savage makes a good target rifle. So does Remington and Tikka. If you want to keep it simple and stick with 308 than you have lots of choices. You really can't go wrong with any of them. Savage is a good way to get into the game less expensively. What is your budget like?

Are you going to be shooting factory ammo or reloading?
 
If you plan on moving up to the "target/precision rifle category" and want to buy a rifle that will perform well straight out of the box without alteration, you'd be wise to pass on the Stevens. It's a hunting rifle and not suited to the task as such.

Depending on what your budget is, a Remington 700 SPS Varmint might be the way to go. I see that Savage isn't offering a .308 Winchester option in their 12FV series this year. Wow, a mistake on their part if they want to keep parity with Remington.

There are other Savage offerings that have the .308 option. You'll just have to decide what it is you want and need and go from there.

Has anyone had any experience with the new Savage Accu-stock? It has to be better than what they've had in the past. It wouldn't take much to be an improvement.

The "Golden Standard" for factory precision rifles has been the Remington 700P series. Buy it, lighten the trigger some, and away you go. The prices are starting to creep up on these so if $1,000 is out of your league then it's better to consider less expensive options.

Plan to spend as much if not more on QUALITY optics, base(s), and rings. If you can't see the target clearly or rely on the precision/consistency of the scope's windage & elevation adjustments, you'll never realize the true accuracy potential of either yourself or your rifle.

If I was starting out new and in your position, I wouldn't consider a .308 Win. but a .223 Remington. However, that's just me.
 
My budget for the gun will hopefully be around $800 (I can get a new 700 SPS Varmint for under $700), and then I'll go for Leupold glass. I'm leaning towards Remmy, because I don't like the Accutrigger, and reviews on Accustock are 50/50.
Would I be better to get a new gun and go through the break-in myself? Or just search throught the EE and find a gently-used quality gun like a Rem 700P or Tikka?
 
Understand that for the budget you have set, it doesn't matter what you buy. They will all shoot the same. A 700P barrel is the same as an SPS barrel, only the window dressing is different. There are good Savages and bad, Good Remingtons and bad.

There are no true target/precision rifles on the market in that price range. The closest would be the Savage FTR

If you are really interested in precision shooting, think ahead to the future in terms of upgrade-ability and to the need to reload your own ammo. Savage or Remington are both good platforms. Buying a factory rifle in the precision game is like buying a factory car in the stock car racing game. It forms the basis for your platform, not its final incarnation.
 
If $800 is your budget then a used rifle will be a viable alternative. Unless someone has shot the Hell out of the rifle, round count isn't going to be a big issue because there's plenty of guys getting anywhere from 5,000-8,000 rounds out of a factory barrel.

I would suggest that the majority of shooters (myself included) don't shoot enough to worry about wearing out a .308 Win. barrel, let alone the action.

The stock on the 5R is significantly better than what's on the SPS Varmint. The latter is barely acceptable and it's readily apparent that Remington went away from HS Precision stocks to come in at a lower price point.

The stainless steel finish of the 5R is going to be vastly superior to what's on the SPS as well. There again, you get what you pay for.

In terms of accuracy, the standard heavry barrel is just as accurate as the 5R. Over time, you might find that the 5R cleans easier but that's not an absolute certainty considering we're talking about a factory mass produced barrel. Some are fantastic, some are acceptable, and others are simply junk. You pays your money and you take your chances.
 
Look for a savage 10### or a remmy 700 .. the 5R's are good shooters but you won't get into one for under $1000.. and then you will need glass and you will be into a minimum of $300 more like $600 for decent glass.. and $100-$200 to mount it...



Personally, I'm going to get another savage... But that's me... with any mass produced guns you will good ones and bad ones...
 
Obtunded said:
There are no true target/precision rifles on the market in that price range. The closest would be the Savage FTR
Click to expand...

Good advice here. I have not fired the FTR, nor do I know anyone who has experience with it, but I did look at/hold one recently, and was impressed. If I were getting into F-class/precision, I would give these very serious consideration, especially if I wanted to get right into it, or didn't want (for whatever reason) to go the route of buying an inexpensive action, and upgrading everything from there.
 
Quoted by 2bad4u2

Depending on what your budget is, a Remington 700 SPS Varmint might be the way to go. I see that Savage isn't offering a .308 Winchester option in their 12FV series this year. Wow, a mistake on their part if they want to keep parity with Remington.
Click to expand...

Really??? No Savage .308 12FV???
Wow...glad I got mine when I did in mid summer last year...and at `07 prices too :D
My 12FV "Varmint" (26" heavy barrel) has already taken two whitetails this year. Great gun...Great caliber.
 
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