Rifle for novice long range shooter - just starting

C

Croge

Inactive
Am about set to buy a Rem 700SS Milspec in 308 but all my web surfing is sort of pointing me toward something in 6.5... say Rem 260 or 6.5 Creedmore.

I like the Rem 700 SS Milspec as to price and value but guess it is not avail in 6.5 .

Thoughts as to a reasonable priced starter rifle?

Thanks
 
Yeah, it's too bad the 308 Winchester/7.62X51mm NATO can't cut it anymore. Too old, you know. Just can't hardly get out of its own way nowadays. :rolleyes: Too bad, but don't tell those guys in Iraq or Afganistan that are shooting jihadis at 1,200 yds. ;)

6.5mm (in all its various incarnations) is the current sweetheart of match shooters. Yes, the bullets have great BC, yes, they will do more with less powder and recoil, but that does not disqualify the 7.62X51, it is a fine round, and will carry 1,000 yds just fine with the heavier bullets. Go ahead and buy your rifle and enjoy it.

Just as an aside, the 260 Rem is moribund, and the 6.5 Creedmore is only available loaded from one commercial source or you go to custom loaders.
 
Define "long range" (how far), and are we talking long range target or long range hunting? And the million dollar question... are you handloading ammo, or buying factory?

308 may not be the top of the heap for 1000yd+, but its very versatile at, or below that threshold. There is also lots of factory match ammo out there (as well as high end components), so it costs a bit less than the dedicated long range chamberings (easier to find, too).

Also consider that by the time you become competitive, you will probably have worn your barrel out and be in the market for a new one (at which point you will be free to re-chamber to whatever round you desire).
 
600 yd Targets is what I have to shoot at my club, love to try 1000 at some point but need practice at 400 - 600 for now. Figured 168 - 178 gr range and find a good load. I do reload and plan on dusting off my Rock Chucker and finding a good high quality set of dies for whatever cal I end up with. Just figured that as I am starting from scratch could just as well go with the right choice up front... no opinion here as I have no basis for one yet.

I don't rifle hunt much any more, birds are about it for me and the target thing is a good way for me to get out and shoot.

I, also, feel the 308 is a good round and experienced what it can do in my first tour in Vietnam ( hated the M16 so much I always scrounged an AK for subsequent jaunts in the scenic land of the smaller folk ).

Thanks fellows.
 
I totally agree with Scorch in post #2. The 308 is a great way to start. It's more than well proven, and there is a lot of premium factory rounds available, and a ton of handloading info. They even used that cartrige for Benchrest Competition.

The short action is more stable than a long one with less flexing. The cartrige uses all of it's powder space thus leading to superior accuracy. Lots of bullets with a high BC available.

Any doubts, just watch " Between The Crosshairs " on I believe the history channel, and they will be erased.
 
I really like (on paper anyway- don't own one yet :)) the .260 as a long range caliber.
Handloading is a must, but you've got that covered.

Problem is availability of that caliber in a "reasonably" priced "starter" rifle.

I have been looking for the new Savage LRP in .260 for months now, and haven't been able to find one.

Fluted, heavy barrel, Target AccuTrigger, and comes standard in an H-S Precision stock. At a street price of around $800, I think it's a value that can't be beat. Also available in 6.5 Creed and .243...

That's probably why I can't find one...

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/
 
I'm not trying to derail this thread but have a question for scorch regarding the 260. Why would you describe it as approaching obsolescence? I understand there's always the next "best thing ever" coming just around the bend which can make today's new hotness into tomorrow's has-been. However, to read this forum one would interpret the 260 as the paramount of cartridge innovations with no trump card anywhere on the horizon. I don't have a 260 so I'm not advocating for or against it. I'm merely interested by your differing opinion of such a highly regarded cartridge and the reasoning behind said opinion.
-Michael
 
Ahaa,
jaunts in the scenic land of the smaller folk
Click to expand...

Now that got a chuckle from me.

While the 308 is in great supply and easy to find, the 6mm for comp shooting would do you better. It also burns out the barrel faster (part of the cost of comp shooting). And while you seem to have your mind set on the Remington, I would suggest you look at the Savage's for your rifle.

Here is a site dedicated to the type of target shooting you seem to be interested in. Ton's of great information.

http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html

Jim
 
I shoot a .308 and am content.
And as TheZ says, by the time you have shot out a .308 barrel, you will have a lot of experience. You could then rebarrel to anything on the same head diameter that suited you or you could stay where you were with a better barrel.

I doubt the .260 Remington is moribund. At least Lapua doesn't think so because they have announced brass for it. If anything, that will be a nail in the coffin of the real proprietary rounds like the Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor and Lapua's own 6.5x47.

There is a slight trend to 7mm for Long Range. Shooters got away from the .308 because it is more wind sensitive and the .300 Magnum because it kicks. The various 6.5s are currently the darlings of the LR set, with a few experimenters in 6mm and a very few weirdos (like me) in .223. But there are also getting to be some 7mms as people become willing to put up with some more recoil to get the very high ballistic coefficient .284" bullets out at good velocity. Of course the British figured that out in 1913 and what goes around, comes around.
 
If you are using it for hunting and long range shooting .308 all the way. It will do anything you want it to do. If you are a dedicated long range shooter and do not ever plan on taking this rifle into the woods I would go any of the 6.5's.

I am biased towards .308 myself but I am a generalist, plinking, hunting froendly hunting class competition and long range all gets done with either my M1 Garand in .308 or my H&R Handi-rifle.

If I was 40 years younger and could have afforded it I would have gone with the 6.5X55. In the woods where I live now it would be like using a Ferrari for a taxicab in downtown Chicago. Just a bit much for the job.
 
Clifford L. Hughes

Croge:

When I shot on several Marine Corps base rifle teams I shot a match M-14 Rifle over the Marine Corps match course at distances of 200, 300, and 600 yards.
It took a perfect score of 300 to win the match. The Western Divison match was shot over two days and it took a 600 score to win it.

Now for Marine Corps qualification. Marines are required to requalify each year with issue rifles. However, instead of shooting at 600 yards the Marines shoot
2, 3, and 5 hundred yards. The 500 yard target is a twenty inch bullseye. Some of the betters shooters posted perfect scores. However six fives and lesser value shots were common.

The thousand yards shooters shooting in the service rifle match used either the M1 or the M14. Again, other then in a gale, it took a perfect score to win the matce.

This says a lot for the .308's ability to preform at long range.

My experience was in the mid 60's. Marine Corps rifle qualification has change since then.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
If this is just for paper and 600yds in, then why not the .223. Less expensive, works fine at the distance, and has lots of bullets to choose from.

Personally I think cartridge choice is not as important as what rifle you pick.
 
Croge:

If you are looking to shoot a 160+ grain ball, then the 260 and the 6.5 are out of the question. The sweet spot for that caliber is 140 grain ball. Given what you have said, I think the .308 is going to be perfect for you!!!

Drop me a line if you have not yet purchased and we will see if we can save you some $$$...
 
Get the 700SS, (haven't regretted mine for a second) it's a great rifle out of the box; Good stock, good barrel, very smooth action, accurate and easy to clean. Get the best glass you can afford. Shoot the thing until the rifling is gone and then rebarrel it to whatever you want.
 
I'm not trying to derail this thread but have a question for scorch regarding the 260. Why would you describe it as approaching obsolescence?
Click to expand...
If I am not mistaken, Remington has discontiinued chambering it. Generally, when the manufacturer who introduces a cartridge discontinues chambering it, the cartridge is destined for obsolence, and usually due to low sales. Good examples for Remington are the 6mm Rem, 6.5mm Rem Mag, 8mm Rem Mag, 350 Rem Mag, etc. It may continue on for a long while (like the 220 Swift), or it may die quickly (like the 22BR, 7mm BR, and 30 BR). Or I may be wrong, it may supplant the 308 and the 30-06 as the deer rifle of choice for the upcoming generation of shooters. Hehehehehehehe, mmmmph, hahahahahahahahahahhaha!

Oh, sorry. I just can't say something like that with a straight face!
 
Yeah, get the .308. My 2 cents on the .260: With excellent and popular hunting calibers at 6mm (.243) and 7mm (7mm-08), it's a tough sell. Shooters wanting a 6.5mm are inclined to go with a classic (6.5X55 nuts like me) or a hot wildcat like 6.5X284. Handloader rounds for sure. Unless you are particularly sensitive to recoil, the rifle you have chosen is the right one.
 
personally i would look into the savage 308. not only is the gun AWESOME, but you'r ammo choices are enless, on top of the fact with reloading. my 308 is dialed in and i can reach 400 yds no prob. i havent tried to go for father simply cause I'm lazy and have no real need to shoot as far as I do now. But its fun knowing I can. Savage 308 all the way
 
I would stick to .223 or .308 to begin with. Plus your going to need to put a lot of thought into a scope.... and knowing how to use it. The shooter is more important than the rifle... and the cartridge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top