Opinions on which rifle

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biggerair

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I have picked 3 rifles for long range shooting, It will be my first of many precision rifles. I have beat this board to death with research as the entire internet. This is what I have found so far.


My first pick is the R-5, From what I have read this rifle shoots wicked out of the box. No mods no fuss, just shoot. A good stock and a proven design.

My second is the Rem 700 Tactical, the cheap one. After a few mods this rifle really seems to shoots well. (from reviews)

My third is a Savage, I would buy the Stevens action, a aftermarket barrel and stock.

This rifle would be a 1000 yard paper puncher with the odd hunting trip thrown in. I would like to stick to .308 caliber. Are these rifles a good starting point or should I look at another brand or model ? It doesnt matter to me if I have to build or buy built.

Thanks Guys !!!!! :sniper:
 
None of the guns you have mentioned are precision rifles, they are factory sporting rifles with fancy window dressing. It is a coin toss as to whether you will get a rifle that shoots well or not. They are guns with mass-produced factory tolerances and most importantly (in a negative sense) factory barrels.

Of all the options you mention, the Stevens with a good quality after market barrel will have the potential to be by far the most accurate. Proper ammo, optics and shooting skill are the other essential components.
 
Obtunded said:
None of the guns you have mentioned are precision rifles, they are factory sporting rifles with fancy window dressing. It is a coin toss as to whether you will get a rifle that shoots well or not. They are guns with mass-produced factory tolerances and most importantly (in a negative sense) factory barrels.

Of all the options you mention, the Stevens with a good quality after market barrel will have the potential to be by far the most accurate. Proper ammo, optics and shooting skill are the other essential components.
Click to expand...

I did not expect to open the box and shoot 1000 yards ! I do expect as I said to have to modify.
 
biggerair said:
I have picked 3 rifles for long range shooting, It will be my first of many precision rifles. I have beat this board to death with research as the entire internet. This is what I have found so far.


My first pick is the R-5, From what I have read this rifle shoots wicked out of the box. No mods no fuss, just shoot. A good stock and a proven design.

My second is the Rem 700 Tactical, the cheap one. After a few mods this rifle really seems to shoots well. (from reviews)

My third is a Savage, I would buy the Stevens action, a aftermarket barrel and stock.

This rifle would be a 1000 yard paper puncher with the odd hunting trip thrown in. I would like to stick to .308 caliber. Are these rifles a good starting point or should I look at another brand or model ? It doesnt matter to me if I have to build or buy built.

Thanks Guys !!!!! :sniper:
Click to expand...


A few months back, I was in the same spot minus the hunting. I wanted to eventually shoot to 1000 yards, .308 and have a good precision rifle that's upgradable.

I picked up the Savage 10FP with the 'tupperware' stock due to the free floating barrel, the price and just some reviews I read. Then I got a Bushnell Elite 5-15x40 tactical scope and took it to the range to shoot it and it shoots good.

The scope I will upgrade soon, I already ordered a new stock from rifle-accuracy for a great price and that should help with the accuracy compared to the cheapo stock that it came with.

Both the Savage and Remington are great rifles, for stocks I found Remington has a huge selection that we can get compared to the Savage but both are still great rifles.

Whatever rifle you do go with, I highly suggest spend the money the first time around for a good scope. I bought a Bushnell Legend scope, didn't like a few things about it so took it back, paid a bit more and got something better.


Good luck!
 
Buy one rifle that fits you, and change barrels as you need to. For example, the 1K barrel will be very long, heavy, and very accurate. The tactical barrel is shorter, and awesome at 300 yards and down to zero. So, pick the right platform...I would suggest a tube gun. No, I am not a shill for MAK tube guns, but they work.
 
Consider the Savage 10FP with the HS stock (under $1000 at Frontier). Stock is a really nice fit for both bench and prone. Not unweidly/super heavy so offhand/kneeling is comfy too.

Center feed d mag that actually works. Accutrigger that in a minute can be tuned to under 2lbs.

There is little doubt that this is a sub MOA capable rifle out of the box with quality ammo. Bedded properly, 1/2 min is not entirely out of the question with handloads.

Yes, factory rifles will never shoot like a true match pipe but odds are you arean't looking to hit pop cans at 1000yds just yet.

We have a 1000m BR type shoot and there are many Savage rifles that shoot in the hunting class. Sub 10" 3 rds groups are not uncommon and this under some nasty air.

For general plinking aka blasting milk jugs at LR, the Savage will do you well.

Then when you really want some precision, you just need to spin on a match quality pipe and you are good to go. $350 to 400 and 20 mins of your time.

With a rifle that is consistently shooting MOA or better at 300yds, 1000yds is only another 30mins away.

At the first Summerland LR shoot, I had one guy from 1000yds to a mile in 6rds. Really not all that far...

Jerry
 
I have bought two Remington 700s in the last year one a Police 26" in .223
I only tried 75gr Amax they shot poor there 75 gr HPBT Match shot 1.65" at 300 yards. bought a Rem 700 XCR LRT 26" using 69gr Sierras 1" at 300 and 75gr Bergers .875 at 300, Shot my friends Savage 12 1/7twist with 80gr sierra's at 300 .811" all 5 shot groups. but my brothers custom Hart 28" on a 40xb action shot a .615" 5 shot group at 300y and many groups under the inch, and it shoots .200 at 100 yards with 80gr Sierra's.
Tonight the three of us all shot at 300 and we all where in 1.50" in some very diffficult winds, really had to watch the flags. any of these guns could win at a F class shoot on a given day.Only thing done to factory guns bedded and trigger work. but if I had the coin the custom does have a edge.
All guns had premium scopes Nightforce & leupold 30mm target scopes.
neck turned brass, lapua, benchrest primers etc. iI would go with 223 than .308 ,recoil factor, cost of reloading etc
manitou
 
Obtunded said:
None of the guns you have mentioned are precision rifles, they are factory sporting rifles with fancy window dressing. It is a coin toss as to whether you will get a rifle that shoots well or not. They are guns with mass-produced factory tolerances and most importantly (in a negative sense) factory barrels.

Of all the options you mention, the Stevens with a good quality after market barrel will have the potential to be by far the most accurate. Proper ammo, optics and shooting skill are the other essential components.
Click to expand...
by far oh God give me a break.

If he is new to it, a Remington r5, or any police will very most likely shoot way better then he can for quite some time, and that is not a shot at biggerair.

biggerair, if you feel you want to mess around with aftermarket stuff to make a rifle shoot, a stevens can work. If you want something solid out of the box, an R5, 700P, or a Savage 10 with H&S or Mcmillian stock is what you are looking for.
 
id have a look at the savage 12 f/tr, great right out of the box, a little more than all of those but epps has them for $1082.00 in .308 win. just need bases mounts and a scope.
 
I'm in the same dilemma too. I'm leaning towards the Savage 10FP. If I can afford an Accuracy International AW rifle I would buy it in a heart beat BUT that won't happen.
 
If you're planning to modify it, get an M700. The M700 is basically the 10/22 of boltguns as far as customization is concerned.

Of your choices, the R-5 would be my choice. However, I would still sooner get a cheaper M700, replace the barrel with a good match one, true the action and end up with something much better for not much more. My $0.02
 
I've been researching the same..

I'm planning on starting a proper precision rifle in the new year (no use in the winter for me), and using the time to save up proper. After a lot of research and inquiring, I'm leaning to the Savage 10FP in .223. I've had back surgery, and the kick on a .308 is too much for me to take on regular basis.

WRT the Savage 10FP, will I get all the after-market options than on a Remington 700? No. Will I be able to find quality parts for it (stock, barrels, triggers, etc)? Yes.

In the end, have I decided by buying one? Not yet, my opinion may change, but so far, the Savage 10FP seems the best for the money. Sure, I'll change the stock to something else (leaning towards a McMillian A5 now), and I'll change the barrel (from the factory 1:9) once I am confident enough with my skill at 300-500 meters. As far as optics, it's either a Falcon or a Leopold at 2x-3x the price - I'm making enough at my job, but I'm not *made* of money.

The 1000-yard/meter mark seems to be the illusionary holy grail for precision shooters. I'm not interested in that; I'm interested the skill (both physical and mental). Whether I'm shooting at an ORA event at 800 yards or a 300 yard range, the enjoyment for me will come from the knowledge that I've eliminated or minimized the issues with the rifle, and the rest is up to me. That's my own personal challenge, and I am looking forward to it. In the spring. When it's warmer.

-- Stephen
 
The kick with the .308 you've listed isn't very much. I find the .308 is a much slower push back type of recoil compared to the light snap/crack of the .223. you have to remember that the .308 rifles you've listed have heavy barrels and as a whole are significantly heavier than a scout/hunting rig. There's very little recoil with my heavy barrelled 5R .308.

Also if you live in an area where it's frequently windy. The .308 will work a lot better.

I also like .223. I have a couple of them as well. Either way you won't really go wrong. There are lots of good target grade bullets for both.

I saw a Savage target rifle with an HS stock and one in a Macmillian the other day. Both were in .223. I have to admit they looked pretty good. I personally went with the CZ-527 Kevlar for my .223 bolt rifle. But... it's tough because there are a lot of choices out there.

Good luck with your choice. Another scope option is the Zeiss Conquest if you're looking at the $950-1000 range for glass. The 1000 yard Rapid Z reticle is pretty good ;). I like Leupold but I opted for the Conquest over the Leupold VXIII.
 
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