5K for rifle, how to proceed

[Madball6]

Most of my life I've shot hunting rifles, shotguns, and pistols. Recently went to shoot at a friends farm who had a 1000 yard shooting lane. I found it surprisingly satisfying to just punch holes in paper from very far away. So, now I want to buy/build a 1000 yard rifle. (will have no other purpose other than bench shooting long range) I can throw $5000 into this project, including glass. So, where to start? looking for recommendations on everything, caliber/action/stock/scope/etc. no real rush other than an itchy trigger finger. I do reload but would also like to be able to shoot factory match, so no super rare wildcats. Thoughts Gentleman?


-Madball

 

[4runnerman]

I got the Savage 6MMBR F Class. Very accurate, easy to load for, Barrel swap is a cakewalk. I have taken that thing out to 1400 yards now. 1000 is easy with it.
It's over 1000.00, but not by much. Grab some Varget and 107 Serrias and go have fun. I am on my 4th barrel already.

 

[turtlehead]

Maybe you'll like this 5 part series on the subject. I'm not a long range shooter but thought it was very informative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eBhnRms3PM

 

[taylorce1]

Tikka CTR , Sako TRG, and Savage 10 FCP in .308 Win or maybe the .260 in the CTR would be a good place to start. $3000-4000 will get you a custom rifle from GA Precision as well as many other custom rifle builders. Nightforce, Schmidt & Bender, and March are some of the popular rifle scopes for 1000+ yard shooting.. That'll spend your $5000 budget pretty quickly.

Personally I'd cheap out and buy the CTR in .308 Win, SWFA Super Sniper HD 5-20x50 mil-quad reticle scope, Harris 6-9" swivel bi-pod, rear shooting bag, shooting mat, shooting sling, and a case of Federal Gold Medal match ammunition and go shooting. You should have at least $2k left out of your budget. Take a vacation with it and find a long range shooting school you want to attend.

 

[Road_Clam]

I mainly shoot 600 yds, but have taken a 1000yd instructional classes as well. One fact is clear the longer the distance the more expensive the shooting costs. There are a few excellent choices for 1K , the 6mm's the 6.5's and your tried and true .300WM The problem with these is they are all barrel burners so your barrel life is a lot less than your typical mild .308 short range rifle. In talking with shooters at my club the new flavor of the month 600+ yd cartridge is the 6.5 creed. Seems as though it's an excellent compromise of long range trajectory , yet good barrel life. I've shot a few 6.5's and they are awesome, flat, fast , and mild felt recoil. When I shoot 1K I use a basic R700 in .300 win mag that I built with a heavy fluted Sondero barrel , a B&C Tactical A5 stock , and a nice Sightron 8-32x scope. More that adequate for reaching out to 1K+ and It only cost be about $2300 to build, short money compared to what some people spend. I shoot as good (or as poorly) as guys that spend $5k on rifles. What I learned from going from 600 to 1K is now at 1K it's not about the quality equipment so much , it's now about BC velocity and precisely accessing the weather conditions and compensating for them.

 

[kcub]

I wouldn't want to shoot 300 magnum a lot just considering the fun factor.

What's the tradeoff between 6mm and 6.5mm? Wind effect?

 

[Nathan]

I think you are looking at spending $5000 like this:
$1700 rifle
$200. Scope mount
$2200 scope
$500 reloading supplies
$400 precision rest

Rifle - I would get a Savage 12 Fclass, Benchrest or LRP in 260 or 6.5x284 Norma. If it shoots, great. If you want more, hold back ~$600 for a true Kreiger match barrel. Have a muzzle brake with a lock nut put on asap, even though the round is small. You want to shoot a lot and have minimal recoil sensation.

Scope - Nightforce and Vortex can be had right around $2300. U.S. Optics are more like $3200. Unless your POU shifts, you basically need 10-40x SFP with good turrets. Get a level ring, on the base, or in the scope.

Mount - look at ken Ferrell, egw, and TPS

Reloading - start with the $200 Redding die set and Norma brass. You will likely want to throw in a Wilson case trimmer and K&M neck turner soon.

Rest - all I can say if that a big gun needs a world class rest. Start your search at Sinclair.

 

[MrBorland]

I generally like taylorce1's advice.

Good glass & rings for 1k is gonna cost up to half your budget. I can't speak for other factory options, but Tikkas are excellent shooters, with very smooth actions, and would be a good choice.

For 1k yards, though, I'd opt for the Tikka Sporter with a 24" barrel over the CTR. I actually have a CTR and love the rifle, but it's 20" barrel likely makes it a better mid-range than a long-range gun. If you reload, the .260 Remington would be a good choice; otherwise, .308 would do.

FWIW, I just took delivery of a custom LR rifle built on a premium custom action and barrel, and built by a top builder of F-class rifles. It's quite a bit heavier than my CTR and has a longer barrel, so it doesn't bark as much as my Tikka, but as far as accuracy at the ranges I've been testing (inside 300Y), the Tikka hasn't yet been outclassed. That could change with more trigger time, and load tweaking (and ought to considering the cost difference ), but it speaks very highly of Tikkas.

 

[fourbore]

Since the range is fixed at 1000 and shooting paper from a bench, why not a fixed power scope like the t-36 and save a bunch of money?

Keep in mind the paper is know size and should be just as easy to shift aim point as play with dots. or use the turrets for windage - easy right?

 

[Mobuck]

I had a 1000 yard capable rifle built in the late 90's (well before the current fad). It didn't cost $5K over even close to that. After determining it's true capabilities, I lost interest and other things occupied my time. I haven't shot that rifle for almost 20 years but it's waiting in the case to rain a world of hurt on whatever needs the treatment.

 

[Jim Watson]

Anybody tried the Ruger Precision Rifle yet?

 

[agtman]

* * * So, now I want to buy/build a 1000-yard rifle. * * *I can throw $5000 into this project, including glass. So, where to start? looking for recommendations on everything, caliber/action/stock/scope/etc. no real rush other than an itchy trigger finger. I do reload but would also like to be able to shoot factory match, so no super rare wildcats.

Skip the second-rate, production line stuff and have your thousand-yard precision rifle hand-built by GAP ($3,000). Tight-chambered .308 or .260Rem; 24" or 26" barrel. Consult with George @ GAP and get his recommendations on tailoring the rifle to your preferences ...

GAP Base Custom Rifle: http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-precision-2014-custom-rifles/ga-precision-base-custom-rifle.html

Spend the rest of the money on glass, rings, and the mount.

You can thank me later.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmore pick up a 20MOA base and rings to match your scope. I use a Bushnell Elite Tactical 5-20x50 and I've shot it easily to 1000yds. That will get you to 1000 but if also budget for reloading supplies to "custom" make the ammo for your rifle.

 

[taylorce1]

Thank you Mr Borland.

I only recommended the .308 because the OP wanted factory ammunition option. There are just so many more options for factory ammunition with the .308 for match ammunition vs. the .260. I think the .260 version of the CTR would actually be the better LR rifle, and while not optimal a 20" .308 is still capable of 1000 yard shooting. I just feel for under $1000 the Tikka CTR is the best LR capable rifle out there.

Tikka CTR .260 Rem @ 1200 yards


Another cool thing about the CTR is it uses the same Sako barrel as the TRG. I have a buddy who has a TRG in .308, and that is the nicest factory rifle I've ever operated. I haven't really checked out the Tikka Sporter as I never liked the laminated stock, but I'm sure it's a shooter as well. I just wish Tikka offered the Creedmoor in a rifle, as that is the 6.5 cartridge I want to try the most.

 

[taylorce1]

WARNING: Graphic Photos!

Anybody tried the Ruger Precision Rifle yet?

Most of what I've seen they rifles are shooters. There is a guy who frequents another forum I'm on that is enjoying his in 6.5 Creedmoor. He did a heck of a two tone paint job on the rifle as well with Krylon. They are just too heavy to have me interested in one, I'll do 9.5-10 lbs scoped but these start at around 11 lbs naked.

Took it to 700 yds on steel. Then went out......200 to 363 on meat....

 

[MrBorland]

taylorce1 - oh, I think the CTR can make it to 1,000 - it's just that you're likely giving up 100+ fps with a 20" barrel over a 24" or 26" barrel.

Interesting tidbit about the TRG barrels. I didn't know that. The CTR also uses TRG mags - they're 10-round double stack mags, so they don't protrude out the bottom of the gun, but they are pricey.

The mags are also an issue if you want to change stocks - AFAIK, there aren't any aftermarket Tikka stocks specifically for the CTR (i.e. compatible with TRG mags & bottom metal). If one goes with another Tikka, say the sporter, they're not paying extra money for mag & bottom metal they'll likely not use if they get the itch to drop the action into an aftermarket stock. And they'll get a longer barrel to boot.

Skip the second-rate, production line stuff and have your thousand-yard precision rifle hand-built by GAP ($3,000).

I'm all for cool high-end rifles, but re-read my above post about how my Tikka's stacking up so far. A premium rifle may (or may not) do better at serious LR shooting, but there are likely several good production rifles that'd be fine for getting started, and for that purpose, there's nothing "second rate" about them.

FWIW, here's a pic of my new custom rig. It'll take every penny of that $5k. Again, it's new to me, and I'm tweaking loads, but the second pic shows the best I've done so far with it.

Custom Borden Alpine .260 Rem, 26" Brux barrel, Vortex PST 4-16x50 FFP scope:

4 shots @ 0.26" @ 100 yards:

Here's a pic of my bone stock Tikka CTR .260 Rem. Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 scope with standard duplex reticle.

My best group with it so far: 3 shots @ .25" @ 200 yards.

100 yard keyring fobs courtesy of my CTR:

 

[4runnerman]

First we need to let him know- The 308 is a great 1000 yard rifle, for punching paper( No hunting at that range). Myself- I would not go with anything less than a 32 power scope. As for a $5000.00 custom rifle- They are not shooting any better then a $2000.00 build yourself rifle. Don't get suckered into that hype.
Buy your action seperate if you like, get a good barrel ( most important part)
and have at it.

 

[Jim Watson]

All my Long Range shooting has been with .308 because I got into F-T/R.
Almost all, a GOOD .223 is a fine 600 yard rifle but stretching it to 1000 is tough.

A guy here took a 6.5 Creedmoor to a long range school with factory ammo and reported excellent accuracy. Factory 6.5 CM does not cost any more than .308 MATCH although it might not be quite as readily available.
Windage is less, recoil is lighter, barrel life nearly as good.

If I were going to buy a new scope, I would look at a Nightforce Benchrest 8-32. They make a 12-42 but at my level of expertise anything over about 25X is hard to manage. Of course you could get a plain vanilla rifle and a Schmidt und Bender or March scope which would help you eat up that $5000.

 

[taylorce1]

MrBorland, good to know about the CTR magazines. However, there is a Tikka Promotion going on right now through the 31st of October. Buy any Tikka rifle and get $150 in Beretta Bucks to spend on their online store. That'll make an extra TRG magazine about $100.

First we need to let him know- The 308 is a great 1000 yard rifle, for punching paper( No hunting at that range).

Yes it is, and for banging steel as well at all ranges.

As for a $5000.00 custom rifle- They are not shooting any better then a $2000.00 build yourself rifle.

Or some sub $1500 production rifles. I believe that if a guy is starting out shooting long range they can learn a lot before they even need to drop money on customizing a rifle. It's too easy to get caught up thinking you need to spend a lot of money for a LR rifle. If I were to do it all over again I'd buy a decent factory rifle with a stock built for prone shooting, excellent optics (more people cut corners on this myself included), and a ton of ammunition or quality reloading components.

In the OP's case I'd rather spend $2000-2500 of his budget on the rifle and optics. Then the other $2500 on ammunition. He'll learn a lot more sending lead downrange, than he will spending $5K on a rifle and scope.

 

[Road_Clam]

I'm not going to brag about uber tight bug hole groups at 100 yds. I will comment I nailed a 12" balloon at 1000 yds. Granted took me 6 attempts but I was right there every shot... Here's a pic of my ghetto mutt .300WM build and my 1K yard class at Sig Sauer Academy:





That black dot way way off in the distance was our target it's a 4' square steel gong. The rifle to my left was my shooting partner/spotter and he was shooting a 6.5 creed. He was an excellent shot. My.300WM has been an excellent training rifle as it's got some kick but the brake makes it very tolerable. Shooting a big stick pro efficiently trains you to have zero flinch.