A buddy and I recently joined a Sportsmen's Club near us and they have a 600 yard range. Obviously we want to make the most of our membership costs and utilize this monster. We decided the best way to keep cost down would be to have a little competition: who can build the best 600 yard setup for under $600. I'm new to the long range game so pardon my ignorance in all this. I've been told that .308 win is the way to go, but which rifle and scope combo would get me in the ballpark at that distance?
600 Yards for $600?!
- Thread starter SubPar5
- Start date
Mosin-Marauder
New member
Maybe one of the Savage Hog Hunter for the rifle? No idea of scope, but the Hog Hunters have Bull Barrels and an adjustable accu-trigger. $423 from buds. Leaves about $175 for a scope and stuff. Could be better options, but the farthest I shoot is 300 with an Iron Sighted Mosin.
mtlucas0311
New member
Do you reload? If neither of you do that could be your secret weapon. You can squeeze a lot more accuracy out of a rifle with handloads. If you will be reloading I'd look at a used savage in 243, 260, 7-08, or 308. If not stick with 308 and get match ammo.
A lightly sported Swedish Mauser would be a very very good choice if you reload as well. You should be able to find one for $200-$300 with a very good bore, which leaves you plenty for a used Weaver T-36 target scope. There are no inaccurate Swedes.
A lightly sported Swedish Mauser would be a very very good choice if you reload as well. You should be able to find one for $200-$300 with a very good bore, which leaves you plenty for a used Weaver T-36 target scope. There are no inaccurate Swedes.
Last edited:
4runnerman
New member
Heck,Buy a Savage Axis for $300.00 and put the rest for a scope.
rifle
"Get a varmint rifle in .223."
The problem with that is that varmint rifles are designed to shoot lightweight bullets and have relatively slow twist rates.
If you want to use the .223 for 600 yard or.longer shooting, you are going to need bullets in the 77 to 90 grain weight range. A varmint rifle will not stabilize them. You need a fast twist barrel on the order of 1-7".
"Get a varmint rifle in .223."
The problem with that is that varmint rifles are designed to shoot lightweight bullets and have relatively slow twist rates.
If you want to use the .223 for 600 yard or.longer shooting, you are going to need bullets in the 77 to 90 grain weight range. A varmint rifle will not stabilize them. You need a fast twist barrel on the order of 1-7".
Savage Axis heavy barrel. 313 from budsgunshop http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...08263/Savage+Axis+Bolt+Action+Rifle+.308+Win+
Vortex Crossfire II 6-18x44. 219 from opticsplanet http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-crossfire-ii-6-18x44-ao-rifle-scope.html
Talley integrated rings/bases, 47.99 from midwausa http://www.midwayusa.com/product/17...ough-16-110-through-116-round-rear-axis-matte
You can have different rings/bases, since there is enough left over in your budget, if you want to upgrade the scope later get seperate rings and bases, you can still make your under 600 budget. Burris bases are 22 from midwayusa, and rings are whatever you want to pay for them.
Jimro
Vortex Crossfire II 6-18x44. 219 from opticsplanet http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-crossfire-ii-6-18x44-ao-rifle-scope.html
Talley integrated rings/bases, 47.99 from midwausa http://www.midwayusa.com/product/17...ough-16-110-through-116-round-rear-axis-matte
You can have different rings/bases, since there is enough left over in your budget, if you want to upgrade the scope later get seperate rings and bases, you can still make your under 600 budget. Burris bases are 22 from midwayusa, and rings are whatever you want to pay for them.
Jimro
Do they allow used rifles? You might find a nice Savage heavy-barreled varmint rifle for less than that amount including scope. Heavy rifles tend to sit on shelves around here, especially if chambered for less-common cartridges.
On the new side, look hard at the Ruger American and Rem 783. Both are very good shooters out-of-the-box, if not target rifles.
On the new side, look hard at the Ruger American and Rem 783. Both are very good shooters out-of-the-box, if not target rifles.
Used rifles absolutely count. Only problem is I can't find anything decent for a decent price. Amrslist doesn't have much, neither does any of the local gun shops. We allotted 6 months to do this, so I can wait and hope something comes up, but I'd rather get something now and get more practice time in with it. Savage seems like it keeps coming up though. May have to go back and take a second look at them. Thanks for all the input so far.
Buy a used Savage factory heavy barrel .308, clean the barrel, mount a scope costing the diff between rifle cost and $600, and shoot it. "Building" a precision rifle is going to cost far more than $600 these days.
I have a couple of fairly accurate .308 rifles assembled from Mauser actions and assorted used parts that cost $300 or less(10 years ago) but it often took a year or more to accumulate enough parts to make a rifle.
I have a couple of fairly accurate .308 rifles assembled from Mauser actions and assorted used parts that cost $300 or less(10 years ago) but it often took a year or more to accumulate enough parts to make a rifle.
You can buy a Remington 700 ADL on sale at one of the big box stores, or used and have the action trued and bedded and the barrel floated. For wind bucking at 600 yards, I would not go any less than .243 / 6mm. Handloading will be key to accuracy as some have already pointed out. Twist will be a factor too as you need a fast twist to stabilize most of the higher weight per caliber projectiles.
Bob
Bob
If you don't already own a good scope, you may be able to find a used one at a fairly low price on the internet. It should be about half of what you'd pay for the same scope new at a bargain outlet.
As for new, a Mueller 4.5-14X is a great value at about $165, (the last time I bought).
As for new, a Mueller 4.5-14X is a great value at about $165, (the last time I bought).
Ruger American should give you a 600+ yard gun, and still leave you ~$300 for optics.
Every cartridge they offer should make it to 600 yards, easy.
.22-250
.223 rem
.243 win
.308 win
.270 win
7mm-08
.30-06
each has advantages and disadvantages.
.308 is a decent choice. Surplus ammo is likely cheaper and easier to find, due to the 7.62NATO.
.243 will give you flatter shooting and less flight time than .308 with less recoil. Barrel life will suffer, though, and ammo likely isn't as cheap as .308
Both .308 and .243 have decent long range bullet selection.
6.5mm-7mm seem to be the most efficient for long range shooting.
Every cartridge they offer should make it to 600 yards, easy.
.22-250
.223 rem
.243 win
.308 win
.270 win
7mm-08
.30-06
each has advantages and disadvantages.
.308 is a decent choice. Surplus ammo is likely cheaper and easier to find, due to the 7.62NATO.
.243 will give you flatter shooting and less flight time than .308 with less recoil. Barrel life will suffer, though, and ammo likely isn't as cheap as .308
Both .308 and .243 have decent long range bullet selection.
6.5mm-7mm seem to be the most efficient for long range shooting.
If you have an AR already and it's a flat top, buy a good scope and some 75 grain ammunition and start shooting 600 yards. Get a head start on your buddy. Then save money to buy a better rifle and scope than you can currently buy for $600 or less.
I'd never say don't buy another rifle, just don't throw good money at cheap optics and rifles you'll want to upgrade. I'm not saying you can't put together a rifle on a budget, just plan your build well and buy quality gear. If you go over $600 it will be money better spent than cutting corners.
However, if it were me and I were doing this challenge I'd buy a Savage 11 Trophy Hunter package with Nikon Prostaff 3-9X40 BDC scope for around $520-550 and take my chances. It's a better rifle platform IMO than the Axis, Rem 783, or River American.
I'd never say don't buy another rifle, just don't throw good money at cheap optics and rifles you'll want to upgrade. I'm not saying you can't put together a rifle on a budget, just plan your build well and buy quality gear. If you go over $600 it will be money better spent than cutting corners.
However, if it were me and I were doing this challenge I'd buy a Savage 11 Trophy Hunter package with Nikon Prostaff 3-9X40 BDC scope for around $520-550 and take my chances. It's a better rifle platform IMO than the Axis, Rem 783, or River American.
Hit up your local pawn shops for a "donor" Savage action. A beat up hunting rifle is fine... all you want is the action and stock, chambering is irrelevant as you're getting a new barrel.
If you find one with a good barrel, you can sell it to reduce your "net cost" on the project. Maybe you can even find one with a decent optic, which you could also keep and use.
Figure about $200 net for a short action rifle with a .470 boltface.
There are somewhat better quality barrels available from Criterion and others, but given budget- buy a Shaw (I have one, it shoots 3/4 minute) for $200, here:
http://www.gunshack.com/barrels
Chambering can run from mild (.308) to wild, up to you and whether or not you reload. At only 600 yards, the .308 will perform very well and would be a solid choice.
That leaves $200 for an optic and rings/mount- which isn't much, but I think you could find something used that would deliver.
You'd need a few tools and a "go-gauge" to complete the build, but you could perhaps borrow them, or sell them after. Don't know if "tools" required to build the rifle would be considered part of the actual rifle cost.
If you find one with a good barrel, you can sell it to reduce your "net cost" on the project. Maybe you can even find one with a decent optic, which you could also keep and use.
Figure about $200 net for a short action rifle with a .470 boltface.
There are somewhat better quality barrels available from Criterion and others, but given budget- buy a Shaw (I have one, it shoots 3/4 minute) for $200, here:
http://www.gunshack.com/barrels
Chambering can run from mild (.308) to wild, up to you and whether or not you reload. At only 600 yards, the .308 will perform very well and would be a solid choice.
That leaves $200 for an optic and rings/mount- which isn't much, but I think you could find something used that would deliver.
You'd need a few tools and a "go-gauge" to complete the build, but you could perhaps borrow them, or sell them after. Don't know if "tools" required to build the rifle would be considered part of the actual rifle cost.