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308 All Purpose Lightweight / Sub MOA?

devildawg2531

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 30, 2013
69
14
USA
I'm looking for a general purpose bolt 308. This will be used for hunting and shooting steel. I want to get maximum accuracy (at least sub MOA) with good factory ammo and light weight with a durable action. Ideally 18 '' barrel. Without going high $ custom route is their a better choice than Tikka T3? Without optics and rings I want to stay $1500 or less max. Durability is key as it will get banged around some hunting.

Really appreciate your input.
 
I'm looking for a general purpose bolt 308. This will be used for hunting and shooting steel. I want to get maximum accuracy (at least sub MOA) with good factory ammo and light weight with a durable action. Ideally 18 '' barrel. Without going high $ custom route is their a better choice than Tikka T3? Without optics and rings I want to stay $1500 or less max. Durability is key as it will get banged around some hunting.

Really appreciate your input.

I am a big fan of the Remington 700 5r. I have one and my friends have some and all of them are sub three-quarter moa. I am being conservative when i say 3/4 moa as i have shot ragged hole groups with hand loads. Of course these are the 24 inch barrels. But now I see they are making the same in a 20 inch barrel. Got mine for around $1100. It is a bull barrel so not the lightest weight but they are accurate as hell. And a 20 inch barrel shouldn't be too bothersome. Has a tough hs precision stock
 
I am a big fan of the Remington 700 5r. I have one and my friends have some and all of them are sub three-quarter moa. I am being conservative when i say 3/4 moa as i have shot ragged hole groups with hand loads. Of course these are the 24 inch barrels. But now I see they are making the same in a 20 inch barrel. Got mine for around $1100. It is a bull barrel so not the lightest weight but they are accurate as hell. And a 20 inch barrel shouldn't be too bothersome. Has a tough hs precision stock

Thanks Mosquitoshooter. I had a Rem 700 Sendero in 300 WM that was very dissapointing from an accuracy standpoint. How is 5R diffrent from the Sendero? What is better about the 700 5R vs the Tikka 3?
 
I have a 20" Lt Tactical barreled action for sale in the classifieds. It's a 308 with less than 50 rounds through it. All you need is a stock and bottom metal of your choice. I've only shot it to 50 yards but it was easy to keep the holes touching.
 
I plan on getting one of the 700 5R's, going to use it as a hunting rifle, as in walking around wise, not fixed. Anyone actually find it's weight all right for that?
Also just rang one of the gun store's here and they have a 700 5R anniversary, alloy bedded .308 24" barrel. Not sure if that info is correct, it's what's on the website but I wouldn't be surprised they have no idea what it is. Anyone know what the anniversary edition is, is that any different from the 700 XP listed on remington defense? Unfortunately no one in the gun store knows anything about guns so they can't help me lol. I'm from Australia so it's common for people to sell stuff they don't know shit about, that's pretty much all stores you go to. Might be lucky to find 1 guy in 5 stores who actually knows about guns and that store wasn't one of them.
So hopefully someone can help me out who has some remi knowledge. In the meantime I'm going to ring around and hopefully find the answer.
 
Having owned MANY Rem 700 'stock' rifles, and a Tikka T3, I'd go with the Tikka T3, no question. The T3 offers FAR better out of the box accuracy, smoother action, and less need for after market fiddling i.e. trigger replacement. While there are TONS of after-market products for the Rem 700, there's a reason for that. If you're looking for a ONE-STOP-PURCHASE,... get a Tikka,... They're a fantastic value.

Ry
 
Remington 700 SPS Tactical 16.5" barrel. Light enough, excellent shooter and well balanced.
 
I saw the title of the post and was already thinking Tikka T3 ... Scout if you can find one, cut back Varmint or a Tactical.
 
my all purpose lightweight hunting gun will be a r700 aac-sd model. 20" 308 in a 5R takeoff stock. can be had easily for less than $1k. add in a PTG bottom metal and a 10 round mag with a badger 20MOA base and your set. or at least that's my plan.
 
Does anyone smith a Tikka for competition match accuracy? I wonder what percentage of precision rifles among the masses utilize Rem 700 actions...base or customized? Just sayin.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
 
Does anyone smith a Tikka for competition match accuracy? I wonder what percentage of precision rifles among the masses utilize Rem 700 actions...base or customized? Just sayin.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Not sure where they were done, but I've seen a few Tikka's in various comps with custom barrels. All were in a Whiskey chassis, but they were Tikka's. Seemed to run great!

Ry
 
Unless you're going to wait to find a Tikka Scout or Varmint neither of which are being imported anymore and can drop another grand to replace the shitty tupperware stock and trigger guard assembly then I would pass. A standard T3 heats up to fast and in 308 is going to beat you up which won't make range sessions fun.

If you didn't have the 18" barrel requirement I would suggest one of the SPR's Taccord is closing out. They're 24" though and the chrome lined barrels really should be cut back as the lining can and will flake and cause poor accuracy.
 
Unless you're going to wait to find a Tikka Scout or Varmint neither of which are being imported anymore and can drop another grand to replace the shitty tupperware stock and trigger guard assembly then I would pass. A standard T3 heats up to fast and in 308 is going to beat you up which won't make range sessions fun.

If you didn't have the 18" barrel requirement I would suggest one of the SPR's Taccord is closing out. They're 24" though and the chrome lined barrels really should be cut back as the lining can and will flake and cause poor accuracy.

So what do you recommend? I would be OK with 18" to 20" barrel but really don't see the need for a longer barrel on a 308 that will be in the woods and deer stands in GA most of its life. I have shot extensively with a 300 WM and 308; never had a 308 that was an issue with recoil.
 
Your price range and requirements put your options in a serious bind. 308 generally isn't bad as far as recoil but when you're talking a 6.5lbs gun and putting steel shooting in the mix then you're going to soak up some recoil.

If you want short and light the 5R is probably your best bet. Remington does have some QC problems but they also put out a ton of great shooting rifles so your chances of getting a bad one is honestly slim. The good news is its winter and cold as shit so now is the time to buy one if it has to go back.
 
Your price range and requirements put your options in a serious bind. 308 generally isn't bad as far as recoil but when you're talking a 6.5lbs gun and putting steel shooting in the mix then you're going to soak up some recoil.

If you want short and light the 5R is probably your best bet. Remington does have some QC problems but they also put out a ton of great shooting rifles so your chances of getting a bad one is honestly slim. The good news is its winter and cold as shit so now is the time to buy one if it has to go back.

I can open up the $ spend if it significantly improves the gun. I don't see the logic in getting into GAP, AI, custom etc for a gun that will be beat up. Thanks for everyone's feedback.
 
AI's are meant to take abuse a keep running, they aren't a typical hunting rifle though... not of the 4 legged variety anyhow. I lugged my AE MKI around two years in a row that was a 24" barrel + 9" can and weighed 20lbs and this year I lugged my AX 24" around that weighs 18lbs. I do quite a bit of walking, carry a backpack full of gear, and I'm far from excellent physical condition. The 24" barrel plus can was a bitch in a blind but without can I didn't know it wasn't 16", my AX also was no problem in a blind or stand this year.

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So what do you recommend? I would be OK with 18" to 20" barrel but really don't see the need for a longer barrel on a 308 that will be in the woods and deer stands in GA most of its life. I have shot extensively with a 300 WM and 308; never had a 308 that was an issue with recoil.
If youre going to be parked behind it shooting 50+ rounds, you will notice the recoil especially if youre shooting hotter loads. Id go with the 20" 5R, my 24" is a hammer.