long range shooting weapon.

[Jewrrick]

I'm wanting to buy a rifle to start shooting some longer distances. I haven't shot rifles in a while and the longest shots I ever got to take were 75-100yards.


What I'm looking for: I want something that will require a minimal upfront investment but has potential to be modded and will be able to shoot up-to or further than 1000 yards. To start I just want to be able to shoot up to about 400-500 yards. I'm leaning towards a .300Win Mag or 7mm-08 but I am open to suggestions.

[ThreeFingerPete]

I'm wanting to buy a rifle to start shooting some longer distances. I haven't shot rifles in a while and the longest shots I ever got to take were 75-100yards.


What I'm looking for: I want something that will require a minimal upfront investment but has potential to be modded and will be able to shoot up-to or further than 1000 yards. To start I just want to be able to shoot up to about 400-500 yards. I'm leaning towards a .300Win Mag or 7mm-08 but I am open to suggestions.

7mm-08 probably doesn't belong in this discussion. Are you going to be reloading?

[Jewrrick]

Eventually I will but that will be down the road some. Why not the 7mm-08?

[soap]

Not considering a 308?

[Jewrrick]

I would consider it. I just have already found a couple of rifles in those calibers and I stand to inherit a .308 later in life possibly.

[Chopped54]

Why not the 7-08? Ballistically they are almost identical to the .308 with a fraction of the recoil.
Factory loads are readily available.

I gave up my .308 for the 7-08 and would never go back, for hunting. Now that said if I were building a long range rig I would go 260. Have a built 260 for sale, not a minimal investment, but it is ready to go with reloader, dies, and a couple spare barrels.

[GSXRK5]

I went with .308 and i love it. I had a 300 win mag and that is no fun to shoot. After about 3 times you're done. I have a TC Encore that i need a barrel for. Already have a scope, mounts, etc. Not sure if i wanted to sell the TC or buy a barrel for it yet. I'd go .308 just imo.

[Chopped54]

I went with .308 and i love it. I had a 300 win mag and that is no fun to shoot. After about 3 times you're done. I have a TC Encore that i need a barrel for. Already have a scope, mounts, etc. Not sure if i wanted to sell the TC or buy a barrel for it yet. I'd go .308 just imo.

That is what I have in 7-08, the Pro Hunter.

[GSXRK5]

That is what I have in 7-08, the Pro Hunter.

If I hunted I might have kept the barrel but I've never been. Nor do i really come into contact with anyone that does regularly. All you use it for is hunting?

[Chopped54]

If I hunted I might have kept the barrel but I've never been. Nor do i really come into contact with anyone that does regularly. All you use it for is hunting?

Yep. It only gets pulled outta the safe 2 months out of the year.

[CJ]

A match remington 700 chambered in .308 is going to be your best bet for long range shooting on a budget. 7mm-08 is a good cartridge as well, but the .260 remington outperforms it 500+. .300WMR is excellent for this but will beat the shit out of you, and it's not cheap.

your problem for "budget" is optics. You're going to need a $1000 scope minimum. That ends your budget build right there.

[Jewrrick]

I'll need $1000 scope to shoot 500yards? that doesn't sound right

[slow06]

I'll need $1000 scope to shoot 500yards? that doesn't sound right

"Need" is a flexible term on things like this IMO, but guys that shoot long range competitions spend more than that on optics. You don't absolutely have to have one to make a bullet go 500 yards, but you will inevitably get better results with a better optic. If you have a cheap scope where POI changes when you move left to right, or where the range and elevation don't adjust exactly up/down and right/left it will cause you some frustrations. (not an expert, but I did stay at a holiday in express list night)

[GSXRK5]

I'll need $1000 scope to shoot 500yards? that doesn't sound right

500 yards is pretty far out. You "could" shoot that far without an expensive scope. But how accurate would you be? Or wanna be?

[CJ]

I'll need $1000 scope to shoot 500yards? that doesn't sound right

Give it a shot. $1000 is a relatively cheap piece of long range glass. You initially said 1000 yards, do you want to buy a piece of glass you'll toss eventually? Do you have a place you can shoot at those ranges?