Medium/Long Range Rifle

.260, 6.5CM, 7mm-08, .308 would be my suggestions. Not a huge difference in performance on game animals, but the first two will be less recoil than the .308 for target shooting.
 
Thanks for all the feedback - I think .308 it will be
I thought about 6.5 creedmoor, but with a barrel throat life of around 1200 rounds, I would have to be swapping the barrel out almost every year. From the feedback here, looks like the .308 will do everything good that I want to do.
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A Savage is an easy rifle to rebarrel. There are gobs of pre fit barrels by a lot of mfg you just screw on and head space is set by a gauge not any reaming.

Of the barrels, Shilen and Lother Walther are the ones I have experience with and like.
XC Barrels not so much (rougher and so so accuracy wise)

While the 6.5 is a great caliber, you will get a lot more roudns out of 308. Shoot enough you will need to replace the gun or get a new barrel.

Cabellas has two on sale (store models, you won't get those elsewhere) , the 12FV I think is under $300, the 10T is under $500.

I like the 12FV as it has the Top bolt release where it belongs (my opinion).

Boyds makes great stocks when you want to replace them. The 10T has the better OEM stock.
 
I shot a lot of 308 and 300 WM in 1000 yard competition. Going over some of my old score books, on the average, my 308 scores are higher. Fatigue kicks in with 300 Mags.

Either work for hunting, just people tend to shoot the 308s better.

I dont hunt with either. My primary hunting round it the 270 Win. Good as any for long range hunting.

Now after saying that, the last two years I'm been playing with the 6.5 CM. I'm totally impressed. It could easily pass my 270 as a hunting round.

As to competition, now days for me its mostly 30-06 as I got involved in the CMP GSM Vintage game.

Not legal, but I've often thought how impressive a M1903a3 or a4 would be in a 6.5 CM.
 
Any centerfire round is going to have a barrel life issue. As for the 6mm or 6.5 compared to a .308 with any of those 3 if you reload your own, and buy in huge bulk to cut per round cost. You spend tbousands for ammo to wear out the barrel that you spend a couple hundred or more to replace. So that ahould be a non issue in the end.
 
MarkCO said:
.260, 6.5CM, 7mm-08, .308 would be my suggestions. Not a huge difference in performance on game animals, but the first two will be less recoil than the .308 for target shooting.
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I have to agree with the nod towards the 6.5...I have a couple of 6.5x55 Swedes but have also discovered the joy of the 264 Win Mag. There are rumors of the 264 being a "barrel burner" but I'm not convinced of the validity of that argument in a modern production rifle.

For your stated distances and purposes, I'm not sure a 30 caliber is necessary. In the end, it will come down to your personal preferences.

Jerry
 
The .308 is the only cartridge allowed in Palma Cup. 800, 900 and 1000yds.
The 6.5’s are used by many in long range competition for their accuracy.
The US Marine Corp briefly used the .300WM for long range competition. A gunnery sgt at Camp Perry said the recoil was an issue.
I use a .308 for long range.
I personally like the .338WM for elk and moose. Jack O’conner used the .270Win for non dangerous NA game successfully and wrote many pages on it.
If I had to buy one rifle for target and non dangerous big game I suspect it would be the .308Win. You can find ammo almost anywhere for it and you’ll have many bullet choices for reloading.
 
I would say go with the .308. I had a 300 WM and sold it because it was too much recoil, even on a heavy Rem700 build, to be any fun for more than 5-10 shots target shooting.

And if you reload, all the better. The .308 is the parent case to the 7mm-08, my favorite round by far, as well as the .260 rem, the .243 Win, and the .358 Win. If you ever want to switch to something else, or add to the collection, you'll be nicely set up with brass.
 
Lots of .308 rifles available out there in all kinds of configurations. For what you describe I would choose a 20" - 24" bull barrel. But that is just me.

Same with .308 (7.62x51) ammo, just tons of choices out there to help keep those range trips affordable.
 
john in jax said:
Lots of .308 rifles available out there in all kinds of configurations. For what you describe I would choose a 20" - 24" bull barrel. But that is just me.

Same with .308 (7.62x51) ammo, just tons of choices out there to help keep those range trips affordable.
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With a Remington Sendero Fluted contour, 20-22” throated for the 168-175 grain bullets. 1:10 twist.
 
I've shot severall rifles between 600 and 1000 yds. Here's my quick overview based upon myself being an average recreational enthusiast.

223/556 AR15 20" match service rifle. outstanding and economical at 600 yds when loaded with a 80 gr match bullet , zero recoil

R700 Varmint 26" .308 1-12" bbl, outstanding midrange caliber, plentiful reloading components best using 155-168 match bullets, mild recoil, awesome barrel longevity . (Not a good choice for a 1000 yd rifle from the slow barrel twist and length)

Savage 12 FT-R .308, 30" bbl 1-10 twist. This is hands down the best out of the box rifle you can use an midrange. My rifle has shown me .75 MOA at 600 yds (only if I had the skill to call "sub moa all day long", but I don't) . Unfortunately have not yet had a chance to try this rifle at 1K , but it certainly is capable by the numbers.

R700 Varmint 26" 243 Win, outstanding midrange , uses 6mm bullets , zero recoil , shorter barrel life. Excellent at 1000 yds, but the lightweight smaller bullet will be tough to spot at 1K if you are shooting steel.

R700 300WM 26" Sondero. Outstanding ballistics at 600-1000 yds, flat and fast. 180+ gr bullets will be expensive, basic sporter rifle will hammer you hard with recoil. Also shorter barrel life. I have Bell and Carelson T5 stocks on all my precision rifles and they add much weight, and tame recoil. My 300WM is fitted with a brake which also tames recoil quite a bit. I also wear a recoil pad and that allows me to shoot all day with my 300WM.
 
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For what it's worth, the NRA highpower rifle rules for known distance competition define short range as out to and including 300 yards. Mid range is 500 and 600 yards. Long range is 800, 900 and 1000 yards.
 
Why not go with the Boss cartridge >300 Mag. Who says it can't be down loaded into a easy shooting bench rest'er with decent accuracy. If you were to reside in say lower Manhattan or Washington DC places where those fellows are known to wear lifts in their boots. I would agree the 6.5 Creedmoor or the 308 would be right up your alley. But for someone who resides in the far West up against those fresh air handsome Rockies. Only a manly caliber would do. Hands down the venerable 300 Winchester Magnum.
 
I have a 300 win mag--the only thing I don't like about it is that I never could come up with a good excuse to buy a 30-06 because of it. ;):D And it's not near the thumper I had heard it would be--I thought my arm was supposed to be blown off from all the legendary recoil. :D
 
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