Newbie question

K

Kathryn

New member
I am interested in getting my first rifle. Would really enjoy two sports:

The first is long range shooting, as in shooting 1000 yards accurately, with bench rest.

The second is competing in tactical matches. I am active in the IDPA, with pistol now. With the rifle, keep in mind that I will need a fairly light one so I can lift it! The AR types look most promising.

What are your thoughts? Please put price ranges in if you know them.

Thank you!

Kathryn
 
Kathryn,
JMHO, but I think you'll be wanting 2 rifles.

The AR would be great for your Tactical & is a "fun" rifle.
Locally, there are plenty of new ARs at the 800 dollar price range.

Long Range shooting is another story. I feel that you'll find yourself wanting a heavy bench style rifle in a rather powerful (flat shooting, wind bucking) caliber. I don't shoot 1000 yards but my 30 cal "600" yard bench rifle weighs 12.5 pounds and even then will wear on the old shoulder by the end of the day. And of course you'll be wanting a really fine scope.
My "Remington" after a few "improvements" with a VXIII Long Range on top is in the 1600 dollar range. By many accounts I'm a real "low roller" because some of the dudes I shoot with go totally custom.... $$$$OUCH!

No mater what you go with, Have Fun & Keep Shooting! k
 
I agree with K in Ar about the two-rifle deal. His idea about the AR is just fine, SFAIK.

For the serious long-range stuff, I suggest browsing around the Web for some of the long-range shooters' sites. I know there is one in Wyoming, although my bookmark is on a long-way-off computer...

Given the options, and the range of costs, I'd suggest not being in any hurry. :)

Best luck,

Art
 
two is correct

Two sports, two guns. Guess I will start with an AR this year, get my feet wet, so to speak. Easier on the budget, too. What do you all think of the "Bushmaster"? It's in the lower price ranges, so I've seen so far.

"k", is your Remington the one you use for 600 yards?

Thanks!
 
Kathryn,

from my experience the Bushmaster is an excellent choice. I have a Colt H-Bar Competition model, and I hate to admit it but the Bushies I have seen, shot, & competed against are at least as good over all and cost less.

One thing to watch out for. Don't let any "AR Guru" sell you a reworked, rebuilt, or tuned up "used" AR. This type of gunner tends to mix & match parts which leads to a unreliable weapon far too many times. They are always looking for the "perfect" combination & sell off their failures. And yes, early on I was suckered by someone I thought I could trust on a Pre-ban. Until you really get to know ARs, (IMHO) Best Bet is to purchase a NEW IN THE BOX AR! Shoot prices arn't that much different between new & used anyway.

My Remington?, Yes that's my long range bench gun,.. shoot it's too heavy for anything else <Laugh>. I used a VLS stock, bedded & floated, Timney trigger, 1" dia. heavy barrel, Leupold rings & scope, lapped & "properly" head spaced bolt, etc. By bench shooting standards, A very modest setup. Still, it can out shoot the nut behing the trigger any day of the week <L>.

Enjoy your shopping & shooting, k
 
Maam, one thing to keep in mind if you are going to be shooting 1000 yard bench rest is the recoil factor. If you purchase a rifle that can buck the wind and reach out to 1000 yards with any kind of authority at all it is going to have a fair amount of recoil to it, when fired from the bench. A long stint on the bench can get downright painful, or at the very least fatiguing. A heavier rifle (10-12 pounds) can cure this problem before it starts.
 
Don't forget guys - Them li'l Tompkins-Gallagher girls have been kickin' butt at 1,000 yards for quite a while... Last I heard, they were shooting a 6.5/284 wildcat...

Gun 1: Get a DCM legal Bushmaster. They do good stuff. Add a good sling and shooting jacket, and weight the rifle in both the butt and the handguards. It'll top out around 15 pounds, but the sling will help you keep it steady, and you won't even notice the recoil.

Gun 2: How much do you want to spend? I'm building up a 6.5/284 that's gonna cost me $200 (action - got a deal), $150 (clean up action), $425 (for the barrel with match chambering), $100 (trigger), $175 (laminated stock) and $25 (my cost for bedding and adding weight). So that comes to about $1,100... And it probably won't be "competitive" in the rare air of the upper echelons, but hey, it'll be fun... If I were going all out, I'd start with a custom action for about $1,000, add the $425 for the barrel, and $200 for the trigger, with about $400 to cover the stock and a "professional" bedding job. The stock and bedding could cost as much as $2,000 tho...

Then you add in the cost of brass, match bullets, loading equipment, etc...

Check out http://www.benchrest.com
 
Bogie that 6.5-284 can't be a hard kicker, that should work pertty good. Last I heard most were using stuff like the 7mm Mags and the 300 Mags for that1000 yard shooting. Heck when I was competing it was a National Match M1 from prone for both 600 and 1000 yards, so you know how long ago that was :D.
 
Of course theres always the Robar .50 cal RC50 which is capable of 1000 yards priced at $3850 without scope or bipod. :)
Hell why didn't they just make it an even $4000...
 
Newby Question

Kathyrn, I would suggest that you get yourself a copy of THE COMPETITIVE AR-15 by Glen Zediker. I picked up a copy from http://www.brownells.com There's an awful lot of knowledge about long range shooting and the ar rifle.Highly recommended.
 
I'll write all this down

re: budget, I'll have to raid the cookie jar for an AR. It's a matter of TIME. Maybe next year for gun #2. But "Deadman", I'm not that serious.

Springfield .308 M1A, is it tactical or LR?

For LR, a heavy rifle is OK.

For tactical, imagine me running from spot to spot and heaving something heavy from a standing or crouching position, and aiming with precision. Not. I've tried an AR, and the kick is OK.
 
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