.308 for precision shooting

B-Maxx

New member
I'm in the market for a new rifle and I'm looking to get a tactical style .308 bolt action. Les Baer is a little out of my range so I'm looking for something like the Savage Model 12 Long Range Precision. Remington 700 XCR looks nice too. What I'm really asking is, which long range rifle is top dog in the $1200-$1800 range?
 
You're not exactly comparing like rifles with the Remington and Savage. The Remmy is made for extreme environments, not necessarily long range accuracy. The 308 cartridge speaks for itself in that category. The Savage, I looked on their website and don't see a 308 listed as a chambering. It may be out there but I didn't find it on their website. For out of the box long range capability, I'd suggest looking at the TC Icon. But it may not be Tacticool enough for you.
 
Out of the box with Black hills .308 win match ammo, my standard rem 700 with a Zeiss shoots -1/2 in groups at 100 yds no problem (A lot of "one ragged hole shots). As I understand, most people have sub MOA at 100 yds with the rem.


Dont let some people fool you on quality, everyone at my range loves the 700. If 1 in 100000 people get a "bad" gun, well, I like my odds of getting a good one.

I out shoot my brother who has a Saur .270 ($2500 gun) on a regular basis with only about $400 dollars invested in it (outside of the $540 I paid).
 
Remington 700p or 5R. The 5R is around a 1000$ the 700p can be had for less. Both very accurate rifles. The 5R is exceptional accurate. Everything i've put through mine from the 155gr scenars to 175gr BT LRs i'm shooting now have been sub MOA. Including the black hills 168gr SMKs. The 5Rs i've all read about including mine have all shot flawless.
 
I'd go with a savage 12 for the 26" barrel and they all come in 10 twist so you're good all the way up to 208 amax or 210 vld's. Just depending on what you're lookin for. I've launched 155 scenars at 3000fps out of mine and they grouped at .25 moa out to 1000. The 168 smk's are the contemporary .308 win bullet loaded to about 2700-2800. They'll de-stabilize at about 850yds though. 175 smk is IMO the ultimate .308 win bullet. Load it to 2750 or so and it'll carry .50 moa to 1100 yds!!!!!! I don't think you're gonna get great performance out of that particular remington, but who knows?! If you really want a low-kick bad ass long range weapon, get the Savage 12 F-class in 6.5x284. The trigger is adjustable to 6oz!!! 1K yds is no prob for that sweet thang!! At the other end of long range kings is the .338 Edge (which I'm building), the .338 Lapua Mag, and the .338 Lap. Mag Ackley Improved. The last three are a little much if you're not shooting at least a mile, plus they're not very easy on the wallet. Handloading will run you about $3.00/rd. It all really depends on how much you're willing to spend.
 
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If your really shooting 2.5" groups at 1000yds with 155gr scenars i'd be poised to say it's not the rifle it's you. And find me a 5R that hasn't shot well and i'll agree, but everyone i've read that has bought one including mine has had great results. Savage's are great shooters, but i dislike the action, i wont go into that though.

My opinion go with a remington and build on it. Even if it's the varmint sps for 500$ or 600$, put it in a great stock, get it bedded, eventually give the thing an overhaul. The great part about it is you can work on it as you go.
 
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.25 moa ass-hat! Lol! For any kind of extreme precision like out to a mile or farther, I'm using the surgeon action. Rem and Savage can't handle the serious lengths.
 
If you money is tight you could get a Howa custom varmint 24 inch in .308 for $399.99 from CDNN and spend the rest on good glass and mounts .You will end up with a sub moa rifle for cheap $$$$$. ;) You could play with it untill you Save up for a SAKO TRG 22 if you don't think it is what you want ,and you won't loose much or any money on it if you sell it ;).If you get the Howa I'll bet you keep it .:)
 
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I'm in the market for a new rifle and I'm looking to get a tactical style .308 bolt action. Les Baer is a little out of my range so I'm looking for something like the Savage Model 12 Long Range Precision. Remington 700 XCR looks nice too. What I'm really asking is, which long range rifle is top dog in the $1200-$1800 range?

Take a look at the Icon Precision Hunter's by Thompson Center.

They're guaranteed sub-moa out of the box. I have one in .308 and it is far more accurate than anyone that has picked it up so far.
 
Outlaw, .25 MOA at 1000 is 2.5 inches. If your shooting .25 MOA at 1000yds its you not the rifle that is getting the job done. That's not an insult. Takes some serious skill to shoot a 2.5" group at 1000yds.

I disagree a blueprinted remington with the right barrel will do just as good if not better than a custom action.
 
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I have never fired a shot at anything over 500 yards.

But for those who spend a lot of time shooting at 1000 yards targets.
Is this possible? I mean on a consistent basis.

I'd go with a savage 12 for the 26" barrel and they all come in 10 twist so you're good all the way up to 208 amax or 210 vld's. Just depending on what you're lookin for. I've launched 155 scenars at 3000fps out of mine and they grouped at .25 moa out to 1000.
 
But for those who spend a lot of time shooting at 1000 yards targets.
Is this possible? I mean on a consistent basis

Yes its possible, but its the shooter more then the rifle. The X-10 ring on the 1000 yard target is 2 MOA, (about 20 inches). Just about any factory rifle is capable of shooting 2 MOA.

The problem is not the rifle. The rifle doesn't know the temperature, how fast the wind is blowing and from which direction. Nor does it know the brightness of the light, and which direction.

That comes from the shooter, and the shooter gets it from more and more shooting and recording EVERYTHING in a data/score book.

So if you want to shoot 1000 yards (or any other distance PRACTICE, learn your rifle and ammo, record every shot you make, ever call, every change in the environment and any other change you make.

And of course sticking with proven marksmanship fundamentals.

I don't care how fancy the rifle, how much it cost, what kind of tiny sub-minute groups you shoot at 100 yards, when it comes to distance shooting, its the shooter.
 
kraigwy said:
I don't care how fancy the rifle, how much it cost, what kind of tiny sub-minute groups you shoot at 100 yards, when it comes to distance shooting, its the shooter.

Exactly the point I was trying to make. Well said as always kraig.
 
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Sorry if my comment was taken in the wrong context blackops. 2.5" at 1k is totally possible. Even with the 155s. I was a long range sniper for four years and that probably has something to do with it. But don't think the average Joe can't do the same. It was my experience with various .308s n particular that I make the comment about savage being better. Its because they just are sir. As far as actions are concerned for extreme long distance, u will always have a custom action. A blue-printed factory action is simply a factory action that actually was rebuilt to spec. If you wanna compare them talk to my friends at surgeon rifles. I'm building a 338 edge myself and posted on this site to gather ideas from others to see if I.could.possibly improve on them. My point is, I'm extremely experienced and not here to argue.
 
No thats what i'm trying to say, I wasn't saying that you didn't shoot a 2.5" group. I was just stating that if you did it's you as a marksman doing it not the rifle. Nor was i saying it was impossible. There are plenty of people that shoot that kind of accuracy. I realize what a blueprinted remington is, but here is my train of thought. If both the surgeon and a overhauled remington so to speak are both proven and capable of shooting 1/2 MOA at 1k, then i see the remington keeping up with the surgeon at further distances. Then again it comes back to the shooter. I could be wrong, but to me accuracy is accuracy. A good example is of this 7wsm @ 1400yds and 2000yds. Granted these are just hits but give them an experienced shooter and Cheytacs ballistic program they'll be right on track ;). Now if you referring to just an off the shelf remington 700 your completely right the surgeon is going to sustain more accuracy at extreme distance. That being said quite few can actually shoot the difference of a regular 700 and a custom. Again not doubting your abilities i was stating it's you not the rifle, as kraig has already pointed out. OP sorry to derail the thread a little.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcNn_BbtelY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5G13N3Yd3w

And yeah more than often Savage's are far better than remingtons, but the 5R is known to shoot good, i haven't found a bad review on one yet is all. Mine also shoots.
 
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