Where would you start? Sub 3k (Custom build/production rifle)

C10

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If you had 3k to spend on a rifle to learn to shoot up to 1000yds with factory ammo how would you spend your money? New/used? Would you build something or buy a production rifle? What caliber would you go with?

(Scope and bipod not included. The more money you can save the better. I’m bored at work scrolling the buy and sells and think it might be fun to hear some opinions. The factory rifle on my radar retails around $2500)
 
I’ll agree with redneck hippy, I got the 6.5 creedmoor in the tikka tac a1 because the ace target wasn’t in production yet or would have got that, so when the ace came out I picked it up in .223, love both of them.
I’m using the .223 up to 600m and the 6.5 for out to a mile once I finalize my load.
 
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Ghillbert said:
I’ll agree with redneck hippy, I got the 6.5 creedmoor in the tikka tac a1 because the ace target wasn’t in production yet or would have got that, so when the ace came out I picked it up in .223, love both of them.
I’m using the .223 up to 600m and the 6.5 for out to a mile once I finalize my load.
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Yea I’m planning on picking up the ace target in 6.5 but I figured it’d be cool to see if anybody recommends another route
 
I think that will be a safe bet to learn on and later decide if you want/need to go custom or not depending on your use case.
Personally I would love to build custom rifles but as of yet I don’t really know that I need to change anything ( if it’s not broken….) plus I just can’t afford it regardless hehe
Out of the box these rifles are no slouch though!
Enjoy!
Oh btw before I started loading my own I had good/great results with factory ammo and only one that pooped the bed, it really liked the sako and s&b and those are quite different price wise or were anyway. Just experiment and you will find the ammo your rifle likes the best.
 
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Ghillbert said:
I think that will be a safe bet to learn on and later decide if you want/need to go custom or not depending on your use case.
Personally I would love to build custom rifles but as of yet I don’t really know that I need to change anything ( if it’s not broken….) plus I just can’t afford it regardless hehe
Out of the box these rifles are no slouch though!
Enjoy!
Oh btw before I started loading my own I had good/great results with factory ammo and only one that pooped the bed, it really liked the sako and s&b and those are quite different price wise or were anyway. Just experiment and you will find the ammo your rifle likes the best.
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Yea that’s the plan. I picked up a Dillon 550 reloading press recently. I’ve gotta get the rest of the supplies but it’ll be a bit.
 
I’d think a bit more about it.

The first time I shot 1000m I had only shot to 200yd previously. I made a bunch of 6BR ammo and brought my rifle to a long distance range.

Without any data or help from another shooter, it was easy to hit the target. I just walked it out there with the help of GeoBallistics.

So from my experience, hitting 1000m is easy. I think MDT did a video with a new shooter and got her to do it too.

The question then becomes, what’s next?

Longer distance? Or maybe a sport like PRS?

Want to learn how to read the wind, on a budget? .223 can be a great option. Windy days will be very hard to hit 1000m, but you will learn more with that than 6.5

6.5 man bun is the easy button for all this, but I’d rather stick with 6mm specialty rounds and reload ammo for PRS.

In any event, buying a low round count used rifle is a good way to save some money.
 
C10 said:
Yea that’s the plan. I picked up a Dillon 550 reloading press recently. I’ve gotta get the rest of the supplies but it’ll be a bit.
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I hear ya there, took me about 6 months to piece together all the basics and still adding as I learn new things
 
jimbo14 said:
I’d think a bit more about it.

The first time I shot 1000m I had only shot to 200yd previously. I made a bunch of 6BR ammo and brought my rifle to a long distance range.

Without any data or help from another shooter, it was easy to hit the target. I just walked it out there with the help of GeoBallistics.

So from my experience, hitting 1000m is easy. I think MDT did a video with a new shooter and got her to do it too.

The question then becomes, what’s next?

Longer distance? Or maybe a sport like PRS?

Want to learn how to read the wind, on a budget? .223 can be a great option. Windy days will be very hard to hit 1000m, but you will learn more with that than 6.5

6.5 man bun is the easy button for all this, but I’d rather stick with 6mm specialty rounds and reload ammo for PRS.

In any event, buying a low round count used rifle is a good way to save some money.
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I’d like to try prs eventually if I can find any events near central Nova Scotia
 
With factory ammo as the caveat , it is going to get pretty expensive pretty quick!
a 6.5 Creedmoor in something like a used Savage long range or a Tikka would be a great place to start great if you can find one.
an 8-32X Sightron S111 will work as well, not overly expensive but gets the job done well.
I would start looking into hand loading ASAP if you are planning on shooting on a regular basis .
Cat
 
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adamg said:
It's out of the budget, but I'll mention this to give an idea of what is available at a higher price point.

Priced at about $4500 CAD is the MPA Matrix Pro PMR rifle. I received mine recently and have just started putting a few rounds downrange.
https://masterpiecearms.com/shop/matrix-pro-pmr-rifle/
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That’s pretty sweet! I’d have to be pretty deep into competition to justify something like that. Maybe someday.
 
iron cat said:
With factory ammo as the caveat , it is going to get pretty expensive pretty quick!
a 6.5 Creedmoor in something like a used Savage long range or a Tikka would be a great place to start great if you can find one.
an 8-32X Sightron S111 will work as well, not overly expensive but gets the job done well.
I would start looking into hand loading ASAP if you are planning on shooting on a regular basis .
Cat
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I’ve picked up a press and am slowly gathering supplies hopefully in the next few months I’ll be able to set up a bench.
 
If I was limited to factory ammo, then the no brainer 6.5 CM.

I used one for a few years, until I shot out the barrel and needed to change it up. My 15 yr old daughter wanted to go shooting with me, so I let her try it out with the 6.5. She was comfortable shooting to 1000m easy, but the recoil was just a tad to much to handle and be comfortable, and this being with a 18+/- lbs rifle. Granted I was pushing 139 gr lapua bullets at 2850 fps from a 26" barrel.

I decided I would get a 223 for her. Lots of fun, and a bit cheaper to shoot and reload for. Great out to 500m, but any further out at our range and we were running into wind problems with the 75 gr tips being blown all about and hard to get consistency from it past 500 at our range. Always windy.
I sold the 223 and started to build her a 6GT. Now she has around 400 rounds down the barrel and is enjoying it. Recoil is easier for her and she can spot her shots. But it is a reloaders cartridge and factory ammo is difficult to find.

I was planning of building myself a new set up, now that she has my action. That all went out the window when I found a great deal on the EE for a 6 dasher. I wasn't planning on a 6 mm, but hard to pass up this deal. Ticked many of the boxes for what I wanted. Low round count, left hand action, single feed, bench set up. I shoot right hand, but have longed to try a left hand action off the bench for shooting right handed. I'll know in a week or so if I made the right choice or not!

While granted it will be hard to find a 6.5CM for a deal, they are out there. Me, I reload so the dasher fits well into my reloading set up with new dies, new brass, and new bullets already on the way. The other low cost bulk ammo that is decent will be for the 308. Once you shoot out that barrel you can always change up caliber with the new barrel, as long as you stay in the bolt diameter range of the 308.

When I shoot out the dasher, I can always change up into a caliber of preference.
 
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Used Tikka or Rem700, a MDT chassis or stock, and a custom barrel in 6.5cm. Or maybe even 223, if you're just punching paper then 223 with a fast twist can get you pretty far.
 
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wallz said:
If I was limited to factory ammo, then the no brainer 6.5 CM.

I used one for a few years, until I shot out the barrel and needed to change it up. My 15 yr old daughter wanted to go shooting with me, so I let her try it out with the 6.5. She was comfortable shooting to 1000m easy, but the recoil was just a tad to much to handle and be comfortable, and this being with a 18+/- lbs rifle. Granted I was pushing 139 gr lapua bullets at 2850 fps from a 26" barrel.

I decided I would get a 223 for her. Lots of fun, and a bit cheaper to shoot and reload for. Great out to 500m, but any further out at our range and we were running into wind problems with the 75 gr tips being blown all about and hard to get consistency from it past 500 at our range. Always windy.
I sold the 223 and started to build her a 6GT. Now she has around 400 rounds down the barrel and is enjoying it. Recoil is easier for her and she can spot her shots. But it is a reloaders cartridge and factory ammo is difficult to find.

I was planning of building myself a new set up, now that she has my action. That all went out the window when I found a great deal on the EE for a 6 dasher. I wasn't planning on a 6 mm, but hard to pass up this deal. Ticked many of the boxes for what I wanted. Low round count, left hand action, single feed, bench set up. I shoot right hand, but have longed to try a left hand action off the bench for shooting right handed. I'll know in a week or so if I made the right choice or not!

While granted it will be hard to find a 6.5CM for a deal, they are out there. Me, I reload so the dasher fits well into my reloading set up with new dies, new brass, and new bullets already on the way. The other low cost bulk ammo that is decent will be for the 308. Once you shoot out that barrel you can always change up caliber with the new barrel, as long as you stay in the bolt diameter range of the 308.

When I shoot out the dasher, I can always change up into a caliber of preference.
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My daughter is left handed and debated awhile getting her a lh rifle but decided against it as she doesn’t shoot as much as she used to, but I was also wondering about how I would be with one, ( after all she has to shoot my rh ones atm fair is fair lol) curious as to how you get on with it. Not seeking out a lh but if like you a sweet deal presents itself I could see myself considering it. I’ll watch this thread to see how you make out.
 
My close range is 25-200, the other one goes out to 1 mile so my load development is at the close one and the other one to play at, has lots of options there like pistol caliber areas with steel knockdowns and texas stars great for my 357 lever, trap and skeet area, and the main range 100-600 with steel from 200-600 as well as target boards, then the 1000,1300,1625m range.
Its 2.5 hr drive each way so I make a day of it when I go. In winter mostly the close range but spring/summer I increase my visits to the far one.
 
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