800 yards under $1,200?

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silverstang23

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I'm looking to get to 800 yards under $1,200. I'm thinking I want a 308. I'm mostly a sport shooter but want something to take hog and deer hunting with friends. What are your recommendations?

I have in mind a remington 700sps with a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x40
 
Keep in mind that I am not a long range shooter, but I see a flaw in your plan. I have 2 of the VX3 of that magnification range. Great scope, but probably not what you need. Maybe a Vortex with turrets would be better suited to what you want to do while staying in your spend range. Of course there are long range guys on here that can give better info on what's the best way to go.
 
Savage Model 10 Predator Hunter Max in either 6.5 Creedmoor or .260 Remington with the Vortex Viper HS-Tactical or SWFA SS 3-15X42.
 
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I'd look at 7mm 08 as a cartridge choice.
Savage or Remington will do you well, Savage seems to be the most popular for cheap accuracy lately. I'd also have a look at Tikka T3s also.

Vortex seems to have the number one spot of bang for your buck at the moment, but the SWFA super sniper range is darn good too.
You could look at the Burris C4 line up for a slightly cheaper scope, with a lot of functionality.

Your biggest problem will be that a sporting rifle is typically reasonably short and light, and something like a 3-9 or 2.5-10 times scope. Where as a long range rifle will have a long barrel heavy barrel, a bipod and a large not at all light weight scope.

Personally I'd consider a Tikka T3 lite, with a Burris C4 4.5-14x42 and a Harris Bipod. The Tikkas are extremely light but also a very nice feeling rifle, and 99% of the time, stupidly accurate. The Burris is really lightweight but packs some great features in with a very reasonable price. And a S series Harris will be quick detachable whilst being a very good bipod. Spend any left over money on ammo, or get into reloading if your not already . Reloading will get you more accurate ammo, cheaper, and give you something gun related to do when it's not practical to be out shoot.

308 is a great round, but 7mm08 will give you better long range performance with no real loss in capability. 260 or 6.5 Creedmoor or anything else are all good options to consider, but 7mm08 is more or less just as available/common as 308, whereas many others are not, and will potentially be an easier round to start with if you are getting into reloading.
 
You can do it for far less if you want to. The weakest link in your plan is the stock on the SPS. The forearm on the SPS is pretty flexible and if you're planning on using a bi-pod you could have problems. I'd look for a better stocked rifle to start with.

You can easily reach 800 yards with the scope you chose so don't worry about it. Just get it with a CDS elevation dial in MOA adjustments, that will make it easier to dial in the range. If you want to get past 800 yards you'll need a canted base, unless the VX3 you're talking has a 30mm tube to start with.
 
You could get to 800 with decent accuracy with pretty much any modern 308.

Whichever rifle you get, the Vortex Viper 6.5-20X is a great scope and can be had for $459 at opticsplanet. Right now they have a 10% off promo which would bring it closer to $400.
http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-riflescopes-vpr-m-06fp.html

Cheap option - Savage Axis 308 - between $250 - $300. Buy a Boyds laminate stock for another $100 to get rid of the flexible tupperware stock.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/70978

'nicer' option - Savage LE with 24" heavy barrel with accutrigger and accustock - $717
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/57408

Either of those would shoot well at 800 yards with the Vortex scope, assuming good ammo.

Rings and an optics rail would run another $100+.
 
Savage 11 in .260, 7mm-08, or .308 (I prefer the 7mm-08, btw) with a Bushnell 3200 Elite 10x fixed mil-reticle on top and Leupold rings. Plus, of course, bipods and a few rounds on top. While I wouldn't want to be limited to the fixed 10 power on hot hazy days when I'm hunting (wouldn't be comfortable with killing large game clean at 800 yards anyway, and I'm a confident shooter), you should find that it'll be fine for the range. As a matter of fact, the range will show you exactly what haze can do to your shooting and you'll appreciate better glass when you get it (though the best glass in the world can't eliminate haze, just make it a little easier to shoot in). I recommend this scope because it's about as good of a deal as can be found for solid optics (target turrets, 10x, mil reticle, bullet proof, capable of .5moa accurate, turrets adjust accurately as they should, and can be had for $230ish).

There are other choices. This is not the be-all-end-all. I have a rifle that is capable of hitting 8" plates every time at 800 yards that cost less than your price range. It's a Savage and I started with the Bushnell scope I mentioned (have upgraded glass since, but I still have nothing bad to say about the scope for the price). With the basic Savage hunter series you will have a sporter contoured barrel. It will still likely be accurate, but if you shoot 10 shots back-to-back you might see some drift. For caliber... eh it's on you. If reloading is an option then I would look at the .260 or 7mm-08. If reloading is not an option, then obviously .308.
 
I am not a Savage fanatic per se` but I think the easiest and best way to get going towards long range goals on a budget is a Savage rifle. Use the factory barrel, stock, trigger, etc. until it's limitations trump your ability. Then, buy a match grade barrel, a nice stock, trigger, etc. It's the easiest way to go, if not the best outside of going with a custom action.

I wouldn't be picky on the cartridge. A lot of them can get to 800 yards. A long action will give you the most versatility down the road but I enjoy shooting shorty cartridges. If you got a 30-06 or .270 you've got long range capability and when you go to change things up you'll have a nice long magazine for seating long, long-range bullets in short action cartridges like .260Rem, 6.5CM, .243Win, etc.
 
What level accuracy do you want? 1 MOA? 1/2 MOA? 2 MOA?
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Yes. This. If you are looking to compete competitvely, $1200 probably won't do it. If you're trying to hit a 4'x4' plate, just about any rifle could do it.

Here's another vote for Savage. You can get accurate to really accurate right off the shelf. I'm a 260 Remington fan, but 308 would be easier and cheaper to find ammo (unless you will be reloading.)

And one other general note. The longer I do this (which isn't all that long.. yet) the more I appreciate a quality scope. I'm almost to the point where I'll buy the scope first and get the rifle with whatever's left.
 
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Savage 10P-SR .308 - 18" heavy barrel threaded for brake/suppressor, 5R rifling, great trigger - $550 out the door
Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 - 30mm tube, large turrets, good glass - $430
1-piece 20moa base - $40-$60
Rings - lots of choices - plan to spend at least $50-60 for a quality set.
Brake - many choices here, $50-$150. I went with JP for $80.
Bi-pod or other rest - $60

$1,090 without the brake or bipod.
 
I'm looking to get to 800 yards under $1,200. I'm thinking I want a 308. I'm mostly a sport shooter but want something to take hog and deer hunting with friends. What are your recommendations?

I have in mind a remington 700sps with a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x40
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That set up wont have any difficulties getting to 800 yards and beyond. Make sure your bullet will.
 
I don't reload currently. I would like to be able to shoot 1 moa (that should be an 8" plate at 800 yards?) I don't plan on shooting any competitions with the weapon
 
I would suggest the SPS in 308.

I have experience with that rig. It shot well under moa with the floppy stock and improved to under 1/2 moa when the Boyd stock went on.

The glass I would leave to the others to decide. I haven't looked at the latest offerings.
 
Savage.

12 LRP in .260 if you're serious about LR target. It'll shoot beyond your ability for a long time to come.

10 FCP in HS Precision, or McMillan for the extra $$ if you've got it, if .308 is the desired flavor.
 
To shoot no worse than eight inches at 800 yards in hunting conditions, you'll need ammo that shoots no worse than four inches at 800 yards properly tested. I don't think there's any commercial ammo - rifle combination that'll do that. Not even a precision match rifle will do that with commercial hunting ammo.

Sorry 'bout that. Commercial hunting rifle and ammo best hope at 800 yards is about 16 inches; maybe 12 with some custom work on the rifle.
 
The heavy barrel model 700 SPS is a great value and choice in my opinion.

But as already mentioned, the factory stock is junk. You will want something more rigid. The Bell and Carlson Medalist is a very good choice to replace the factory one.

I was using a similar set up in .243 and very happy with it.

Rob
 
For a scope, you might consider a Nikon 6-18x40. They may not be as well-known for riflescopes as Leupold, but they make a comparable product. And let's be honest: they're also a top-of-the-line camera manufacturer; their lenses are GOOD. At 800 yards, you want as much magnification as you can feasibly get.
 
Savage of your choice, and weaver tactical or SWFA, maybe a leupold VX-R patrol but the reticle is thick for 800.
 
I have to agree the savage for the money off the shelf is hard to beat . My son has a 7 mm savage that he's got 12" groups at 1000 without doing anything to it. I can't remember the details on the ammo but I don't think it was anything real special. I like my Thompson pro hunter25-06 w/ thumhole and fluted bull barrel I think it was just over 600.00. Though past 500 it would probably be just for light game or target. I am impressed with the overall on 100 gr Barnes tsx .I never tried it past 300 so not sure how well it will be at 800. For what its worth Natchez has the elite 3200 bone collector Bushnell on sale for 169.00. Its not a tactical but a good price.
 
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