Hi folks,
After some time off, I've decided to get back into long range shooting over the winter and into 2014. I have previously owned two Savage 10's, one in 223 and one in 308 that were great shooters but I ended up selling off due to lack of time to shoot them. I have some time opening up and would like to get back into this.
I'm working on a limited budget and will be buying another Savage 10 in whatever caliber I choose.
My uses for the rifle are as follows, listed from primary to less likely:
- Shooting paper at my local 200yd range near my house. Load development, etc. (at least monthly, prob twice/month)
- Shooting 650yd steel matches at a semi local range (monthly)
- Shooting at a 1000yd range (planning on making the trip 4-5 times per year)
- Shooting coyotes/varmints around local farms (prob 4-5 times per year)
I'd like the idea of being able to shoot deer and pigs with this same rifle, but the likelihood of me getting out to do that is probably pretty slim and I have other hunting rifles capable of those tasks. I would like to keep the barrel length under 22" for portability and weight, but I understand 243 and 260 like longer barrels.
I thought I had settled on 243 for its trajectory and low recoil (my wife is going to shoot this rifle too), but the barrel life is concerning.
260 is obviously very popular but I've never shot one and don't know much about recoil or barrel life
308 is probably more than I need for any of my uses and I'd like to avoid the recoil for my wife, but the barrel life is very nice
223 is something I already have a ton of ammo for (very little of it match, though), but I do have a Dillon 650 set up for it. I shoot AR's a lot and load for those, I could tweak some things and load for my bolt gun too.
I guess my main questions are in regards to barrel life on the 243 and 260, and if you have any opinions on caliber choice given the above info. Cost/availability for reloading components is obviously a factor but I don't think there is a huge spread among the calibers selected.
Thanks for your time.
After some time off, I've decided to get back into long range shooting over the winter and into 2014. I have previously owned two Savage 10's, one in 223 and one in 308 that were great shooters but I ended up selling off due to lack of time to shoot them. I have some time opening up and would like to get back into this.
I'm working on a limited budget and will be buying another Savage 10 in whatever caliber I choose.
My uses for the rifle are as follows, listed from primary to less likely:
- Shooting paper at my local 200yd range near my house. Load development, etc. (at least monthly, prob twice/month)
- Shooting 650yd steel matches at a semi local range (monthly)
- Shooting at a 1000yd range (planning on making the trip 4-5 times per year)
- Shooting coyotes/varmints around local farms (prob 4-5 times per year)
I'd like the idea of being able to shoot deer and pigs with this same rifle, but the likelihood of me getting out to do that is probably pretty slim and I have other hunting rifles capable of those tasks. I would like to keep the barrel length under 22" for portability and weight, but I understand 243 and 260 like longer barrels.
I thought I had settled on 243 for its trajectory and low recoil (my wife is going to shoot this rifle too), but the barrel life is concerning.
260 is obviously very popular but I've never shot one and don't know much about recoil or barrel life
308 is probably more than I need for any of my uses and I'd like to avoid the recoil for my wife, but the barrel life is very nice
223 is something I already have a ton of ammo for (very little of it match, though), but I do have a Dillon 650 set up for it. I shoot AR's a lot and load for those, I could tweak some things and load for my bolt gun too.
I guess my main questions are in regards to barrel life on the 243 and 260, and if you have any opinions on caliber choice given the above info. Cost/availability for reloading components is obviously a factor but I don't think there is a huge spread among the calibers selected.
Thanks for your time.
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