Rehabilitating my mind

852859801 · Feb 20, 2012

Hello everyone

First post, maybe my last, so please bear with me...

My psychiarst told me putting this into words and sharing would help

Just wanted to say that I have been reading up on bolt action rifles for over 2 years and I will finally be making a purchase in the coming week or so. I have always used my dad's guns but it is time to really reach out and touch some long range targets and vermin.

I am lucky that dad's farm has 3km of flat land from the dam bank behind the house to set up my own range. We have already welded up some fun targets.

I think I have read every piece of information available on what would be the best starting long range rifle for a young life long sniper enthusiast.

This forum has been very helpful, sort of, thus me joining recently. So thanks for your help.

I orginally decided I was getting a Remington 700P .308 26". It is similar enough to the M24 from BFBC (favourite gun) and at the time seemed like a no brainer:

- looks (tick)
- barrel life (tick)
- factory ammo cost and availability (tick)
- range (tick)
- ability to customise later (tick)
- price (tick)

I planned to whack on a harris bi-pod, sling and either a Bushnell 6500 or a Vortex Viper (mil - mil turrets and reticle, i'm Australian)

That was all well and good until I came upon the world of custom rifles thanks to forums like this one... I have explored every option from a custom Remington with and XLR stock, to Sako's to Savage to Steyr... in all sorts of calibres (.223, .243, .7mm, .300, .338)and all sorts of optics, you name it and i have researched it, priced it and put it in my spreadsheet with the 57 other possible build scenarios, pricing, etc, etc

I just want you all to know that I have a freakin sore head and because of this I am just going to buy a bl00dy Remington 700P in 308 with a 26inch barrell...

(Can someone talk the possibility of owning a .338 or .300 out of my head so I can sleep, .308 is the most sensible round... isn't it....?)

Thanks for the head ache and your advice

Booga

jdmartin · Feb 20, 2012

Re: Rehabilitating my mind

Welcome to the forum.I think the 308 is a good starting point. If you learn to shoot the 308 well,you will then be able to shoot the sexier calibers even better when you move on.The 308 will be much cheaper to shoot than 338 or 300, plus I don't know how much shooting you have done,but big calibers are more likely to create bad habits if you are not comfortable with the blast and recoil.
You can always sell a good 308 and move up at a later date.If you put your money into good optics you will not regret it in the long run.
Sounds like you have thought about this a lot and you like the Remington anyway.I never regretted owning a Remington 308- I have owned four.

Griffin4590 · Feb 20, 2012

Re: Rehabilitating my mind

For starting out hands down the rem 700 or savage 10 series is the way to go.
+1 on good optics. It saves you money in the long run

852859801 · Feb 20, 2012

Re: Rehabilitating my mind

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback.

Would you say that Vortex and Bushnell are good enough optics?

My only options are the above and NightForce which is a bit pricey.

Locally I can get the Bushnell Elite 6500 for $1250, Vortex Viper PST is $895 and the NightForce NX is over $2000

Leaning towards the Vortex, simply based on reviews and price although I have been told that the illumination on the Bushnell is very impressive.

I have been shooting for 10 years (started young) but my dad is all about 222, 22-250, 223, etc

I want a 30 cal, never shot one, will see how I go.

My latest struggle has been over the 700P and the LTR. I am going to go with the 26" as I guess I can always cut it down to 24, 22 or 20 but I cant make it grow! I also like the 700P stock better.

I found a sweet Tac Ops modified 700P cut from 26 to 20 on the net which helped make up my mind.

Thanks again

George63 · Feb 21, 2012

Re: Rehabilitating my mind

if that were the choices/prices of the scopes here I would go with the vortex

700 P is a great choice, the trigger may not be satisfactory (same as other current remingtons), but reasonable replacement options abound, if it is overly stiff out of the box an option to start is to remove the set screw external adjustment, this changed one from 4 3/4 lbs to 4 lbs.

Practice your trigger pull with dry fire until the reticle does not move on the target

a great resource for you will be the online training offered here

RugerSlinger · Feb 21, 2012

Re: Rehabilitating my mind

What about a Sightron SIII mil/mil or moa/moa, I think the glass is way better than the Bushnell (I own both). It is almost as nice as my Nightforce. As I was writing this I just remembered there is a new Sightron MOA/MOA 8-32 sitting at my parents house that just got delivered! Yeh!
This is my second one and for the money you can beat it.

WB300 · Feb 21, 2012

Re: Rehabilitating my mind

Sounds like you are in the same book I am, just one chapter behind. After a few years of research, I finally went with the LTR (I was Police back then) and had some minor work done. It shot pretty good out of the box. Had it skim bedded, it shot a little better, had the trigger adjusted, it shot even better. Read more here about basic and advanced marksmanship, shot better than before. Just replaced the X-mark trigger with a Timney and now she shoots better than the custom 300WM I had built. Any Federal, Hornady or Winchester match ammo I run through it shoots sub 3/4" regardless of bullet (110 to 175 grains). It loves the 175 grain Federal 7.62x51 and the Hornady TAP 110 grain best. Shoots one big hole all day long, go figure. But the biggest improvement I made that has made this rifle my go to rifle for hunting or plinking was quality base (Ken Ferrel 20moa), rings (Leupold PRW lapped), and NF 5.5x22. Ringing a gong at 800 yards in light wind has become easy and very fun. Don't get me wrong, I love my 300WM, but the Rem .308 is easier to shoot and to learn from your shooting. You can always upgrade or go bigger later. My next adventure is to purchase the equipment and start reloading. As crazy as I am about trying to better my shooting, reloading just may put me in the nut house.

My suggestion: get the Rem .308 (either one). Have it accurized (skim bed, trigger, bolt and barrel lapped, and maybe touch up the crown). Get the best glass you can afford (can't go wrong with the NF). Then go shoot the piss out of it. Dry fire often. Read threads here. Shoot some more. Record your data. It will take time and repetition, but eventually you will make hits at distances that will amaze you. None of what I said is new. I got it all from the Hide. They were right. To the 99% of members that contribute positive things to the Hide, thank you.

Good luck. Hope this helped.

Bill

852859801 · Feb 22, 2012

Re: Rehabilitating my mind

Thanks for the suggestions. Very helpful.

I would love to get the NF glass but it is a bit out of my price range for now... :-(

I am still leaning towards the 26 inch barrel. Maybe cut it to 24. Reason being is I like the look of a thicker barrel and 26 looks just a bit too long but 20 looks too short to me.

I personally like the larger stocks better and I am pretty tall so it maybe more suitable, i am not real worried about the weight as I wont be lugging it around.

I will enquire about the trigger, thanks for the heads up.

I will definately be reading up and watching as many LR shooting videos as possible. No point wasting time and money doing it wrong!

Thanks again

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