Budget, $3 grand, Class F - Bench rest rifle

[bruchi]

For a friend, that's her budget, she is new to F class and enjoys as well bench rest. Has to be 308 as other ammo here is very hard to get, range max is around 600 yards.

Has to be a "from the box" deal, there's no local gunsmith I could trust with installing pillars and doing a good bedding job, I am not about to go experimenting with a "friends rifle" and sending stuff out to have customized gets very expensive as it must be sent and received via an LGS here.

Thinking on a Savage 112 F /TR or a 112 bench rest for her, no idea if a better stock will be in order and pretty sure a McMillan is over her budget, no clue if Bell & Carlson makes one with the aluminum bedding for this rifles?

Will need as well a 20 MOA mount, Harris Bipod, bag/case and a cleaning kit and of course the best scope in that budget, pretty much sold on Badger Ordnance rings.

I have laying around a new Leupold VIII 6.5 x 20 50mm scope that I could let her have for say $700?

Still scope recommendations will be welcomed.

 

[Erud]

Re: Budget, $3 grand, Class F - Bench rest rifle

I think you've pretty much got it figured out. On a budget it would be tough to beat the savage F-TR rifle. Team Savage wins about every f-class match they show up to with pretty much stock savage rifles(though not .308's). I'd say your leupold would probably work just fine also for this application, as long as it doesn't have too thick of a reticle and has enough elevation adjustment, and I can't see how it wouldn't. . With f-class and benchrest both being all KD shooting, no need for FFP, illumination, matching turrets/reticles, etc. A fine duplex reticle would work just great for either.

She could spend a lot more money without seeing drastically better results.

Good luck,
Erik

 

[bruchi]

Re: Budget, $3 grand, Class F - Bench rest rifle

Thanks Eric, never a bad thing to double check stuff!

 

[redbullitt]

Re: Budget, $3 grand, Class F - Bench rest rifle

that savage is a great out of the box rifle, and it should work just fine! With that glass, you should be well under budget.