Sanity check on next rifle/optics choice

mysticplayer said:
My suggestion is to start with a 223. The ballistics of the 223 mimics the 308 with 1/2 the cost and 1/3 the recoil. Neither is ideal at LR. Handload to get the best bullets downrange. 75gr Amax is hard to beat.

For a factory, the 'best' savage is a 243. You will need to handload but you will need to anyways. The 260/6.5 Swede and 7-08/280 are excellent choices if you can find an appropriate rifle. Later this year, Savage will release a 9 twist 22/250. If you like the 22cal and want better zip, this is going to be hard to beat.

If you don't mind waiting a bit for barrels to cool, the 7RM is a wonderful cartridge for any needs out past a mile. Best bullet is the 162gr Amax but then you need to handload. 180gr Bergers if you can find them.

I shy away from the 30cal because the smaller bores offer much better ballistics for lower recoil and cost. If you want to LR hunt, then go big, otherwise, there is no prize for bruised shoulders.

I use the same Elite scope and can go from 300yds to about 1500yds with reticle and internal adjustments. This will a flatter shooting cartridge.

You will need about 20min to make the trip you want so that scope has plenty of adjustment. Not ideal but for the money, hard to beat (until new scopes come out).

Weaver bases and Burris Sig rings w/inserts. All you will ever need until your distances have 4 digits.

If you just want to make noise, then the 308 and factory ammo is fine. If you want to start hitting something small at 600yds, handloading in any of the cals above are a requirement.

Jerry
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I had my mind set on .308 because that's what I would be feeding the M-14s, and from my understanding, a good overall calibre. You do make a great case for .243, and after further reading, it's got a lot of advantages. In any case, you've sold me on handloading.
 
Dlau - reloading is the first step towards accuracy.

Buy quality products and generally you do not have to second guess them.

I.E. Lapua brass, Berger bullets or any of the other custom bullets. Quality dies etc. etc.

BR shooters have fine tuned the accuracy game. Long range shooting opens up the playing field for guns that can't hold a candle in short range competition. Consistency and repetitive shooting is just a struggle with some of these rigs. A quality shooter using a quality rifle will always out perform a quality shooter using mediocre equipment!

Quality bullets are important.
 
I had my mind set on .308 because that's what I would be feeding the M-14s, and from my understanding, a good overall calibre. You do make a great case for .243, and after further reading, it's got a lot of advantages. In any case, you've sold me on handloading.
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Get your rifle in .308 Win. Sure, it might not be the "best" round out there but if the barrel is an accurate one you'll get your money's worth out of it as barrel life is excellent. Somewhere between 5,000-8,000 depending on various circumstances. You'd be lucky to get 2,000-2,500 with .243 Win.

By the time you're ready for a new barrel (maybe rifle?) you'll be in a better position through experience to appreciate the benefits of other chamberings.

Regardless of what you read on the internet, .308 Win. is still getting the job done by countless shooters.

FWIW, I'm not really a fan of .308 Win., I just want something thats going to work and work well. Hence my suggestion.
 
I'd recommend watching the EE for a tikka varmint or super varmint in 6.5 x 55 or you might luck out and find one of the rare 260 rem model 700 VLS' as well.

They're both "better" options than the 308 and available in factory guns.

Just my humble opinion as there are many here with much more knowledge than I.
 
I wasn't aware of all the different mounting options, so thanks for the summary. I took a look at the TPS AL7075 system, and that looks to be the best bang/buck. However, from my understanding, the one big feature of the Burris Sig is that if my scope runs out of elevation, I can pop in an offset to compensate.

With the TPS rail/rings and the scope I'm looking to get (Bushnell 6-24x) would I need to worry about this? I see there is a 20moa option with the TPS base, but is this needed?

As I've never used a one piece rail before, would it not affect the ejection of the spent casing, or get in the way of loading?

Thanks!

Derek

### International said:
Derek - the Burris system on Weaver bases is the cheapest route and should not be a problem with your rifle (mild recoil). You could go to grand slam bases (steel) but for this application the good old Weaver Alum ones are fine and matched to the Burris system. We have a sale on the Sig. Rings and also sell the Offset kits. A one piece TPS rail 0moa would offer you many scope ring positions (to support and best fit the scope) and is about $80ish or so...

Resale value of the said Burris products is fair as well.

If you decide to go to a better quality and stronger system, I can't think of a better product then TPS AL7075 grade rings and bases. $160ish ball park and your off to the races. Some of the competition's bases out there cost more then that and the law of dimishing returns does apply!

I like the power range of the scope you mentioned and it will allow you minimize human sighting error and give you optimal magnification. It is a bit long, but the one piece picatinney style rail will help with providing proper scope tube support.

We have tons of product to pick from and all of them can be made to work.

Joe
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If you are going to handload anyway then I would look at something like a 260or thought (I don't follow what savage is doing) Savage was releasing a 6.5/.284 which would be my first choice. Depending on the factory twist of whatever rifle you buy if you cannot shoot the 140gr VLDs there is enough bullet makers making decent 123-130gr bullets that will still beat the .308 ballistically.
 
The 12BVSS only comes in .243 or .308... I might still get it in 308 and use it as my "medium" range rifle and look at getting a Remington in .260 later on... if/when I ever reach that level.

On another note, I'm reconsidering changing the scope from the Bushnell 6X24to a Leupold VX II 6-18x40 target. It's about the same $$$, but it's shorter, and I would think the magnification would be more than sufficient.

Still deciding on the rings... I like the specs on the TPS system, but with this scope and rifle, do I need tapered bases? I guess the Burris Sig rings is really all I need? :confused:
 
Last time I checked the Bushnell scopes only had about 30 min. elevation while the Leupold has 55.Better optics more consistant clicks and reliability make the leupold my choice.As for the .308 I have been using it in F class for two years and getting my butt kicked by the custom guns in mag. calibers.Problem could be the nut behind the trigger...:) :bangHead:
 
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