I have been building up my firearms collection and, with the exception of the AR-15, most are close range weapons. I was looking to get into a really long range rifle. I'm open to semi or bolt action and any caliber. I'd say my maximum budget for the rifle and scope would be around 1,500-2,000 dollars. I'd appreciate any suggestions for the rifle and/or scope. Thank you.
Long range rifle
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PlatinumCore16
New member
Read an article about the Savage Long Range Hunter in 300win plus a scope that was about $1000. Guy was hitting mile long shots with a coach. Obviously he'd had quite a bit of experience shooting rifles, but it was really neat.
Found it: https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/shoot-one-mile-just-one-grand/
Edit: at some point I would like such a gun in 300win but $1000 of disposable income is a long way down the road not to mention as far as guns go it's definitely a luxury (in my opinion/philosophy).
Found it: https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/shoot-one-mile-just-one-grand/
Edit: at some point I would like such a gun in 300win but $1000 of disposable income is a long way down the road not to mention as far as guns go it's definitely a luxury (in my opinion/philosophy).
Even with stating 1,000 yards or so, still a pretty open ended question.
What size and type of target do you want to hit at 800-1000 yards. Deer, varmints, paper, steel? At the range, natural terrain? Many of these guys on Youtube are shooting targets the size of storage sheds, very few 10" targets, at 1000.
I have at least 10 rifles in my safe that I have shot out to 1000 and beyond. Some you might like and some not. Some are a reloading only proposition.
What size and type of target do you want to hit at 800-1000 yards. Deer, varmints, paper, steel? At the range, natural terrain? Many of these guys on Youtube are shooting targets the size of storage sheds, very few 10" targets, at 1000.
I have at least 10 rifles in my safe that I have shot out to 1000 and beyond. Some you might like and some not. Some are a reloading only proposition.
the possum
New member
What kind of place are you gonna be shooting at? Out here I can plink at long ranges in the fields behind Dad's house, and have had some long range fun with pretty much all my centerfire rifles. Just pick out a dark spot on a distant hillside & walk my shots onto the target. This is not the same thing as consistently hitting a small target at the same range, and I readily admit that. BUT, it does teach ya how to shoot to your rifle's full potential, which is a worthy goal in its own right. Even if yer gun is only capable of shooting 3 MOA, try for a 3 MOA group at any range, from any position, in any conditions, and you'll see what I mean.
the possum
New member
I noticed a couple votes for the Ruger Precision Rifle. Are you guys getting good accuracy from 'em? I've only seen one review so far (on the .308) and the dude was getting groups around 1"-2" at 100 yards with match ammo. None of the ammo he tried turned it into a tack driver. http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/11/tyler-kee/gun-review-ruger-precision-rifle-in-308-win/
That doesn't inspire me to want one. Not at all.
That doesn't inspire me to want one. Not at all.
"...What does "Long Range" mean to you?..." And what are you planning on doing with said rifle? As in what kind of long range shooting? Formal target shooting is one thing, but hunting anything at long range target shooting distances requires a great deal of skill.
"...very few 10" targets, at 1000...." Yep. The bull on a 600 plus yard NRA High Power target is 24". And that's on an 8' x 8' frame.
Any heavy barreled, .308, target rifle will do 1,000 with ease. Your budget might be light though. The Ruger PR's MSRP is $1599 with no sights. A Savage M12 Long Range Precision runs $1288 with no sights. Plus rings, bases and the scope itself.
"...very few 10" targets, at 1000...." Yep. The bull on a 600 plus yard NRA High Power target is 24". And that's on an 8' x 8' frame.
Any heavy barreled, .308, target rifle will do 1,000 with ease. Your budget might be light though. The Ruger PR's MSRP is $1599 with no sights. A Savage M12 Long Range Precision runs $1288 with no sights. Plus rings, bases and the scope itself.
precision_shooter
New member
Savage 12 LRP in 6.5 Creedmoor. Shop around and you should find one for less than $1k new. I like the Burris Veracity scopes. 4-20 or 5-25 should get the job done. You'll want a 20moa base as well. Should be able to get all right around your $2k max including shipping, tax if applicable, and/or ffl transfer fee.
With that update and your pretty tight budget, I would probably steer you in the direction of the Ruger American Predator in 6.5CM: http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/models.html
With a SWFA scope on top: https://swfa.com/swfa-ss-3-15x42-tactical-rifle-scope-4.html
That is going to put you at about $1.2K.
Then, when the MagPul Hunter stock is released for that this summer, add that for $300.
I own a few of the RPRs and while I shoot matches with them, I do not want to hunt with them. The Ruger American Predator (I have one in .243 Win) is a silly accurate rifle for the price and does not need any smithing. The stock is not great, but MagPul is inexpensively fixing that in a few months.
With a SWFA scope on top: https://swfa.com/swfa-ss-3-15x42-tactical-rifle-scope-4.html
That is going to put you at about $1.2K.
Then, when the MagPul Hunter stock is released for that this summer, add that for $300.
I own a few of the RPRs and while I shoot matches with them, I do not want to hunt with them. The Ruger American Predator (I have one in .243 Win) is a silly accurate rifle for the price and does not need any smithing. The stock is not great, but MagPul is inexpensively fixing that in a few months.
the possum
New member
How much sub-MOA? Both my semi auto .308s can do that, and one of 'em cost less than the Ruger. If I were looking to buy a "precision" bolt action, for north of $1100, I'd want bug hole groups.
Don't know for sure. When GMM, Prime or some other match grade factory ammo is not around, hard to tell for sure. Both of mine indoors are around 1/4" at 100 with my handloads. Some of the ones I have shot where the owners were shooting 2" or so, I put into 1/2 to 1" at 100 for 5 shots. But I can not say the ammo was the best for the gun.
To shoot bug holes, you have to have everything right with shooter, ammo gun and optic. Rarely does that occur with Novices. RPRs are cheap for what they are and they draw novices, so taking internet claims on them is not really data collection.
the possum
New member
Sweet!
Model12Win
Moderator
Ruger precision rifle in 6.5 Creeder.
precision_shooter
New member
I see so many people mentioning the RPR, knowing his max budget is $2k. Doesn't leave much at all for decent glass/scope, let alone good glass/scope, for shooting to 1,000. The glass/scope is as important, if not more so than the rifle. Clear glass less mirage distortion, less fatigue on the eye(s), not to mention you'd want repeatable adjustments. The money left over after buying and rpr doesn't get you that. Sure you could find something that "will work for now", or you might suggest he increase his budget/save a little longer...
You can modify a rifle, as you go and get better, to make it more accurate. The same cannot be said for the scope. Start with the scope and work backwards. You know you want to shoot to 1,000 yards. Many many rifles and calibers are capable of this. Not near as many scopes have the same capability. Not much more frustrating than knowing you have a rifle that will shoot "bug holes" only to find that your scope can't be relied on to give you the point of aim you dial into it...
You can modify a rifle, as you go and get better, to make it more accurate. The same cannot be said for the scope. Start with the scope and work backwards. You know you want to shoot to 1,000 yards. Many many rifles and calibers are capable of this. Not near as many scopes have the same capability. Not much more frustrating than knowing you have a rifle that will shoot "bug holes" only to find that your scope can't be relied on to give you the point of aim you dial into it...