Opinions on which precision Rifle to purchase (first purchase)

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winky

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Ok so I've been around AR's for a long time, however I'm leaning towards a long range "ish" but precision rifle.

Now this will be my first of its kind I've owned, fired a few but never consistantly.

so my budget is 1300-1500.
preferably something with a few tactical modifications /upgrades I can add later on.

of course ammo cost is something to consider.

thanks in advance.
 
If an ar15 in .223/5.56 get a stag 3g if you can find one. Or some other ar15 with a match barrel, free floating handguard, and enhanced trigger. Chrome lined is nice for cleaning, but I'd stay away if you want accuracy. FN seems to be the exception to the rule; FN makes 1 moa or better chrome lined barrels.
 
winky said:
Ok so I've been around AR's for a long time, however I'm leaning towards a long range "ish" but precision rifle.

Now this will be my first of its kind I've owned, fired a few but never consistantly.

so my budget is 1300-1500.
preferably something with a few tactical modifications /upgrades I can add later on.

of course ammo cost is something to consider.

thanks in advance.
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Are you looking for a bolt gun? Does your budget quoted include optic, or is that just for the rifle? If it's just the rifle I would take a look at remington 700p or 5r. There are also some nice value offerings from savage that I'm not well versed on, but I'm sure someone will crime in on them. I personally prefer remington but both platforms have their merits.
 
I'd also check out a Savage Model 10 or 12 in 223 if it's for varminting or for target shooting. 223 can reach out accurately farther than you would think, just make sure it is a 7 or 8 twist barrel.
 
I'd like bolt action and primarily for target. my budget is with optics preferably but I can maybe stretch it
 
winky said:
I'd like bolt action and primarily for target. my budget is with optics preferably but I can maybe stretch it
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I'd budget more, if possible. Buy once cry once. RPR is great value for the money. Savages can shoot. I'm not so sure about a rem 700. If you intend on rebarreling with a good match barrel and trueing, the 700 is good. Do you plan on competing? PRS? F-class? Or just plinking?
 
I would look at the Savage TR or fcp in 223/308 or a ruger precision rifle in 308. You can get a bushnell fixed 10x that is an affordable scope to start off with. Keep an eye on the EE.
 
are you adverse to playing the long game with upgrades?
Tikka T3 308 $850~
Vortex Viper HS 6-20 $650
Rings - balance
Down the road - new chassis, muzzle brake, better optic etc
 
Savage is always a good deal and great rifles, but if you are looking for the tactical features look at a used Ruger RPR and you might have some funds left over for a decent used scope
 
Horse96 said:
I'd budget more, if possible. Buy once cry once. RPR is great value for the money. Savages can shoot. I'm not so sure about a rem 700. If you intend on rebarreling with a good match barrel and trueing, the 700 is good. Do you plan on competing? PRS? F-class? Or just plinking?
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No plan for competitions, just fun shoots.
 
That budget won't take you far. That will buy you a basic rifle or scope, but not both.
As mentioned, tikka t3 is your best bet.
Start putting money away for reloading equipment...
 
Id buy a Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 and shoot 80-82 gr bullets. No problem getting them out to 1000 yards with minimal cost. Tikkas will shoot as well as most custom rifles costing 3x the amount.

Cheers!!
 
A friend bought a used Savage FTR in .308 for $1400 which included an barely ok scope, and an amazing bipod. It's not tactical though. Shot it for the first time the other day using off the shelf Federal Match 308 and easily got 1/2 MOA. He is working up some Berger 185 Juggernauts which should improve things on a windy day out past 700M. We normally shoot 300M to 900M at the Fullbore range near Calgary. I really like this rifle a lot, the trigger is very good. The only negative was a rather short stock - I am not sure if there are different pull lengths or only one. If it's just for fun then there are a lot of choices, but if you decide to get competitive then this is a good entry level rifle.
 
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scott_r said:
Id buy a Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 and shoot 80-82 gr bullets. No problem getting them out to 1000 yards with minimal cost. Tikkas will shoot as well as most custom rifles costing 3x the amount.

Cheers!!
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Tikka's are good, but the twist rate is usually not enough for the heavier bullets to shoot long range. I think the .223 is a 1:9 twist, so maybe in the summer at higher altitudes, the 70+gr bullets will be stabilized. The .308's, if I recall, are a 1:12, and so under ideal conditions, you can shoot the 175+ grainers.

Check out the Litz ballistic calculator and program in the altitude where you are at. If you are going .308, 1:10 twist is the most flexible. 1:11.25 will shoot the 185's and lower in most conditions.

http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/
 
thanks for all the response everyone, very helpful...yes I know my budget is small right now but I have every intention to grow a collection and look at mods down the road. but I need to start somewhere lol .
thanks again.
 
I see a lot of newbies at the range showing up with REM 710 or REM 770. Do not buy these, they are crap!
With a limited budget, buying used should be considered. Nice bolt guns in 308 can be found rather easily.
 
I'll tell you this, I tried "Cheaping out" for a while and in some cases I was able to pull off some decent long range stunts. But, if you're interested in doing any serious repeatable long range shooting, you're better off raising your budget. $1500.00 will get you into glass, another$700.00 and up will get you into a starting rifle. And I do have 2 Savages that are factory stock actions in other stocks that shoot repeatedly and very well, but I also have spent a few bucks on varying degrees of custom builds that are waaaaay more fun to shoot. And that includes a hot rodded Remington R15 that I'd put up against a lot of boltguns.
 
this will get you to 800m and keep you under budget. ###y? No. Cost effective? Totally.

10 twist barrel will throw anything from 155s to 185s, factory or reloads - hell, shoot steel cased Chinese stuff out of it, for $700 who cares? Shoot off a bag and the wimpy forend is a nonissue. There's a couple 223 versions listed if you want to skip the 308.

yes the scope is cheap and ugly but you can learn to use turrets on it. X10 is lots, was the standard mag for a lot of military sniper systems before everybody went variable mag. Can be challenging to spot your own holes past 400m ;)

Rings and rail, whatever. Depending on the scopes up/down and your zero/max distance, you might not need or want the extra MOA.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1430554-Remington-SPS-700-308-Win

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1426320-Bushnell-Elite-3200-10x40-Mil-Dot

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...tical-rings-30mm-Rail-Talley-Remington-700-SA
 
Horse96 said:
Tikka's are good, but the twist rate is usually not enough for the heavier bullets to shoot long range. I think the .223 is a 1:9 twist, so maybe in the summer at higher altitudes, the 70+gr bullets will be stabilized. The .308's, if I recall, are a 1:12, and so under ideal conditions, you can shoot the 175+ grainers.

Check out the Litz ballistic calculator and program in the altitude where you are at. If you are going .308, 1:10 twist is the most flexible. 1:11.25 will shoot the 185's and lower in most conditions.

http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/
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The 223's are 1:8.
I had a tac 223 that I used with 80 grain bergers out to 1000 yards with great success.
 
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