Starter long range rifle opinions
- Thread starter Rooster504
- Start date
Tikka T3 CTR. Options to upgrade stock later if you like and easy upgrades available as you grow. Not sure if you are set on the .308 but if your open to options I would go 6.5 Creedmore. Lots of hinting and match bullet options, better ballistic results for longer range shooting and can hunt as you would have with the 308. Nothing wrong with the 308 but I would go 6.5
Tikka T3 CTR. Options to upgrade stock later if you like and easy upgrades available as you grow. Not sure if you are set on the .308 but if your open to options I would go 6.5 Creedmore. Lots of hinting and match bullet options, better ballistic results for longer range shooting and can hunt as you would have with the 308. Nothing wrong with the 308 but I would go 6.5
I personally can vouch for the T3x Varmint .308. I picked one up in stainless, and it's basically a laser beam.. Sighting it in with several different loads already showed 2 groups out of 5 less then .5 MOA.
The bolt is buttery smooth, the stock trigger is beautiful, especially if you swap out the spring. Just a real nice rifle overall...
And then, down the road you can throw it in a chassis and be good to go!
-Josh
The bolt is buttery smooth, the stock trigger is beautiful, especially if you swap out the spring. Just a real nice rifle overall...
And then, down the road you can throw it in a chassis and be good to go!
-Josh
Buy Rem 700 SPS for action...have it blueprinted by gunsmith(optional but preferred).
Buy a Magpul 700 Stock and bottom metal and magazine.
Buy a Remage Barrel, Barrel nut a recoil lug.
Buy a Magpul 700 Stock and bottom metal and magazine.
Buy a Remage Barrel, Barrel nut a recoil lug.
Both actually....
I would skip the 308, unless competition rules require it.
A Tikka Varmint in 6.5 Creedmore will amaze you with its accuracy.
Very good aftermarket for stocks and various other bits, factory ammo is available and is also very good.
Many choices on brass, large or small rifle primers in Lapua.
I have several Tikka's and the best thing is they do not need a gunsmith to make them shoot, some will benefit from a bedding job.
You get a match grade trigger with a YoDave spring.
The Varmint barrels are reported to be hand lapped at the factory and are every bit as good as any of the top aftermarket brands.
To be blunt, there is no better choice for 500-1000m shooting out of the box.
A Tikka Varmint in 6.5 Creedmore will amaze you with its accuracy.
Very good aftermarket for stocks and various other bits, factory ammo is available and is also very good.
Many choices on brass, large or small rifle primers in Lapua.
I have several Tikka's and the best thing is they do not need a gunsmith to make them shoot, some will benefit from a bedding job.
You get a match grade trigger with a YoDave spring.
The Varmint barrels are reported to be hand lapped at the factory and are every bit as good as any of the top aftermarket brands.
To be blunt, there is no better choice for 500-1000m shooting out of the box.
Or the 10T-SR for $849, which is full price. They've had them on sale fairly regularly for as low as $700.
The extra cash buys you the Accustock, 5R rifling, and a scope rail.
Not pretty or fancy, but they do shoot well.
I often see the Savage 12FV recommended. I'm not sure why you'd pick it over the 11VT though. 11 VT is $500, has a threaded barrel, detachable mag and you could shoot the scope it comes with until you're able to identify it's shortcomings then sell it for a few bucks on the EE.
I don't know how much the 5R rifling brings to the game, to be honest. It does clean easily, but how much easier if at all, than standard rifling?
I'm assuming the barrels are of equal quality, I don't see Savage "reserving" better quality barrels for their higher priced rifles. The Accustock is quite good, the action feels rock solid when you torque it in place. If you get one of these, be sure to tighten the front screw first though, since it has rail material on both front and rear of the front action screw. The back screw is unsupported to the rear due to the trigger assembly being in the way.
The 0 MOA EGW rail that comes with this rifle is decent quality, though I had to cut the front of mine to get clearance for the objective bell of my scope.
Great price, even if you choose to put the barreled action into a B&C stock you're ahead of the game.
Although the 6.5 appeals to me for a variety of reasons, one of it's perceived drawbacks is it's current ineligibility in some competitions. That didn't stop me from buying a rifle in that chambering, however. I don't regret it for a moment. If it means I'm in F-open class, so be it.
If you're going to shoot competitions that specifically require you to use a .308, it makes the choice of what chambering to buy easy.
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Do you reload? A 308 is a great cartridge but it will frustrate you on times if your planning on shooting it often beyond 700 or 800 yards in any sort of wind. If it were me id look at a tikka t3, rem 700, savage 10 in a 6.5(lots of aftermarket upgrades for all of these should your heart desire and gunsmiths are used to working on them should u decide to re-barrel down the road). Even with just buying factory ammo these days its not really much difference in price between match 308 ammo vs match 6.5 creedmoore ammo.
A good way is to keep an eye on the EE for barreled actions or rifles in cheap plastic stocks for a good bargain. Then upgrade to a chassis that you can make perfect fit yourself, detachable magazine etc. Should be able to swing that for under $1500. I started off with a rem 700 LTR and spent a LOAD of money getting a custom rifle made. Its really nice but in all honesty you can buy a 6.5 creed barreled action in rem 700 for $800 new, throw it in a stock/chassis of your choosing and it will do most anything my custom 7-08 that costed me close to $3500(before optics). don't tell my wife that though lol. With the CZ's im pretty sure you would very limited to what aftermarket stocks and triggers you could get. Something that almost everyone upgrades on their factory rifles, you would probably also likely end up having it threaded for a muzzle brake down the road.
The long range stuff is an expensive addiction, just sharing my experiences and how i would do it if i had to start over. Hope it helps!
A good way is to keep an eye on the EE for barreled actions or rifles in cheap plastic stocks for a good bargain. Then upgrade to a chassis that you can make perfect fit yourself, detachable magazine etc. Should be able to swing that for under $1500. I started off with a rem 700 LTR and spent a LOAD of money getting a custom rifle made. Its really nice but in all honesty you can buy a 6.5 creed barreled action in rem 700 for $800 new, throw it in a stock/chassis of your choosing and it will do most anything my custom 7-08 that costed me close to $3500(before optics). don't tell my wife that though lol. With the CZ's im pretty sure you would very limited to what aftermarket stocks and triggers you could get. Something that almost everyone upgrades on their factory rifles, you would probably also likely end up having it threaded for a muzzle brake down the road.
The long range stuff is an expensive addiction, just sharing my experiences and how i would do it if i had to start over. Hope it helps!
Great info thanks.
And a threaded barrel on 6.5CM is meaningless, not like there is any recoil with that cartridge in a heavy 26" barrel rifle.
I filled the hollow butt of my 12FV with lead wheel weights and silicone caulking, weighs about 13lbs now. Stock is pretty comfortable so I'm trying to make it work rather then replace it.
I was in a similar situation recently, did a lot of comparing and reading reviews, ended up with a Bergara B14 HMR in 6.5 Creedmoor from SFRC.
Just looking for glass now, but the reviews are all excellent and it feels top notch. Trigger is beautiful.
Just looking for glass now, but the reviews are all excellent and it feels top notch. Trigger is beautiful.
I know you found your rifle but in case there are others in the market for one, Cabela's is blowing out last year's Savage 10T-SR's in .223, 6mm CM, 6.5 CM and .308 for $650.
