Looking for a 308 for target shooting but not sure which one to get

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southernangel0711

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I am looking to get a 308 and have looked at a few different ones but I really am not sure what is the best one to go with or what the differences even are between brands. I want to do long range target shooting. Any information or suggestions would be great. Thanks
 
This topic has been discussed at length, try using the search feature!

That being said its pretty hard to go wrong with a rem 700.
 
Best commercially available long range target rifles are made by Savage as proved by their track record in competition. Check out their web site for one using the .308 Win. cartridge. That rounds a good choice for a single one to be used in all types of long range matches, if competition is your desire.

There are better actions to build a custom one on, but that's another chapter in the long range target book.

What specific type of long range target shooting is your interest?
 
Since I somehow got to be too old for the running games, I've been thinking about doing this, too.
And the conclusion that I've arrived at is the same as for all other types of competitions.
And it doesn't matter if you're competing against others or yourself.
The gun is the least of it, at the start and for a long time after.
Any brand name rifle will be superior than the shooter until things get sorted out.
Ruger, Savage, CZ, Kimber, Remington, 'etc - just pick one.
Rig it out to suit and get some instruction and practice, practice.
More than likely, the one you start with will not be the best choice later on, anyways.

I've decided to start with a .22 or .17 to begin with, especially since places to shoot long range are few and far between.
We have only one local place with over 200 yds.
Just a thought.
 
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I just like to go out and shoot targets ,I don't hunt . I have been using a 22 rifle for a while and I want something that will get more range, I have looked at a savage and a kimber , is there any difference between the two?
 
Savage 10 FCP-K, or FCP McMillan (with McMillan stock).
Their "law enforcement" models, with heavy barrels and an excellent reputation for out-of-the box accuracy.
 
The major "upside" to the Remington 700 is the shear number of after market parts and upgrades available.

Why do people keep thinking this is such a up for remmy's?. What are you going to up grade and why did you not just buy it that way to start?. Buy a cheap remmy and put $800.00 of up grades to it. Could have just bought a good remmy to start with. The only up grades I can think of worth while is a trigger and a stock. That's 2 up grades pretty much offered in any rifle you buy. Not exclusive to remmy's.

That being said buy a Savage Model 12 in FV series in 308 and be done. Accutrigger is flawless and stock replacement is a breeze. Very accurate and no modes if you wish. The stock is good to go the way it is.
 
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What's your idea of long range? And what kinda targets?

Why's it gotta be .308? There are so many better calibers to use!!! Yes, .308 can do it, but there are better calibers suited for long range. Might want to look more into the long range shooting game if that's what you want to get into. Go to a match and see what they're using. Talk to some folks there. Just about every range I've been to the people have been really friendly...or really stupid... Generally not both though.

Do you have a long range to shoot at? Reason I ask is cause there's not any around here. A .22 or .17 hmr can simulate long range on a much shorter range. All the basics are the same. I know it's not as cool and all....

If you just want an accurate rifle out of the box, I'd go savage. Their accu-stocks and accu-triggers just can't be beat. Not by a anything in it's price range off the shelf at least.

If you don't reload, you'll want to start. Match grade ammo is expensive and hard to come by. Can't expect to reach out there with the stuff you by from walmart.
 
Why do people keep thinking this is such a up for remmy's?. What are you going to up grade and why did you not just buy it that way to start?. Buy a cheap remmy and put $800.00 of up grades to it. Could have just bought a good remmy to start with. The only up grades I can think of worth while is a trigger and a stock. That's 2 up grades pretty much offered in any rifle you buy. Not exclusive to remmy's.
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Remington has the track record,thousands of gunsmiths have the knowledge and skills to enhance the accuracy.My question would be, Why is it that that the 700 action is the most copied action for custom gun makers in the high end "L/R" game ? Compare what's available for Savage and Remington, there is no comparison. Barrel makers, stock makers,again why is that ? Not going to Brownells and getting a off the shelf Bartlein or Shilen barrel for 6-10 different cartridges or 3-5 different tapers for a Savage.You have to hunt around to find someone that will make you one. I am not stuck on any one gunmaker I know whats available and what's not.10:1 Remington 700 actions available for custom builds in the form of used rifles or a custom action. Just the way it is.The Savage action is just not the "go to" action for custom builds and there's a reason.
 
Check out the Weatherby Vanguard S2. My .308 has shot a 11/2" 5-shot group at 200 yards my last time out. They come with a match grade 2-stage trigger and a sub-MOA guarantee right out of the box. If you do your part, the rifle will too.

Weatherby's Monte Carlo stock design and recoil pad also minimize felt recoil. Their Synthetic is the best $500 rifle value out there.
 
Remington has the track record,thousands of gunsmiths have the knowledge and skills to enhance the accuracy.My question would be, Why is it that that the 700 action is the most copied action for custom gun makers in the high end "L/R" game ? Compare what's available for Savage and Remington, there is no comparison. Barrel makers, stock makers,again why is that ? Not going to Brownells and getting a off the shelf Bartlein or Shilen barrel for 6-10 different cartridges or 3-5 different tapers for a Savage.You have to hunt around to find someone that will make you one. I am not stuck on any one gunmaker I know whats available and what's not.10:1 Remington 700 actions available for custom builds in the form of used rifles or a custom action. Just the way it is.The Savage action is just not the "go to" action for custom builds and there's a reason.
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You know, I hear this argument at least a couple times a year and never can understand the logic behind it... Maybe you can help me?

Why is it that Savage builds a factory rifle, that anyone can buy, that in "L/R" game competitions beats all of these custom rifles built by custom gun makers using the "holy grail" 700 action?

Lack of aftermarket custom options for the Savage may not be a bad thing. The Remington's have a lot of areas that could use improvement, hence the reason there are so many aftermarket upgrades for them. Apparently, the aftermarket companies haven't found as many things that they can improve upon with the Savage rifles.

Remington has more actions available for custom builds because they have been around longer and were practically the only available bolt action rifle "back in the day", and because they are so plentiful, they can be found pretty cheap...
 
I bought a Remington 700 for this exact purpose. If I was to do it again (knowing what I know now) then I would go for the Savage FCP-K or FCP-McMillan without a doubt.
 
Longranger--Savage actions are fast becoming the go to for Comp rifle builds. Remmy still has the market for sure,but Savage is gaining ground on them every year. My point is-- If you have to change more than a Stock and a trigger,,Maybe you should have bought something else to start with?. Barrels are a replaceable item. No matter what rifle you buy at some point in time you will be replaceing the barrel. Remmy's are great rifles,but they are not the best by far. As was pointed out in another post-Any rifle can be made to shoot accurate, At what point do you stop dumping money into it to get it to do that?. For me it is a Stock-So I buy Savage rifles and I am done.
 
im getting a howa to play with in 308 , you can read up on those, they are reliable and accurate

maybe try to read up on the other threads with indepth knowledge on the topic?
 
Compare what's available for Savage and Remington, there is no comparison. Barrel makers, stock makers,again why is that ?
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I wouldn't agree that there's "no comparison"...
Perhaps not equal footing, but there's still an absolute plethora of aftermarket support for Savage, from stocks to chassis systems, barrels and triggers. Own both, and like both.

I'm about to upgrade my son's 700 with a "Remage" barrel- and combine the ease of rebarreling and chambering changes of the Savage system with the 700.
 
Savage with quality glass on it. I have a Savage 12 LRP, but they don't make them in .308. Make sure the scope has lots of downward adjustment, or get a 20MOA down-sloping base, or both. The rifle will run at or just over $1k, and you want about that much again for a good scope. Sightron, Vortex, Schmidt-Bender, and Nightforce make some really nice scopes, but they aren't cheap. You could also maybe find something from Leupold or Nikon.
 
Does it matter that Winchester 70 actions proved more reliable, easier to operate and maintain, held bedding better and are near 3 times stiffer than the Remingtons? This is the track record of both when used in matches shot in 3 positions at ranges from 100 to 1000 yards. Both single round loading for slow fire matches and 10-shot rapid fire matches reloading after 5 rounds fired.

But the Remingtons were cheaper and easier to rebarrel and bed. Plus, their actions or barreled actions could be bought wereas Winchesters were not sold that way.

But poor Winchester, their barrels weren't quite as accurate as what Remington made (broach cut versus button rifled) and that easily made the Remingtons more popular for most folks.
 
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