Did I make the right choice?

[FD1911Truck]

So, a few weeks ago I went to the local store and picked up their last sps-t in 308win. I'd did a lot of forum searching and decided it would be a great first rifle to get into the shooting game with. I paid $700 for it, which being a hard-to-find rifle, I figured was a good price. Since then, I've been looking at all the different scope options out there. I guess I didn't realize that I would be spending just as much to mount some good glass on top of it.

I'm not planning on taking it out to 1000yds anytime in the near future. My main purpose for purchasing it was to learn how to shoot accurately for distance. I've always wanted to become a good marksman, but since I was only a helicopter mechanic in the army, that type of training wasn't available to me.

My question to the forum is this: would I have been better off just saving a little more and getting an AR instead? Obviously that platfrom I'm very familiar with and understand a lot about it. I should probably mention that I'm a police officer, although it probably doesn't mean anything since the only weapons I'm allowed to carry at work are my issued sidearm and shotgun. As of right now, no patrol rifles, and no talk of them in the future.

I've got around $200 left in my budget, mind you it took me almost a year to be able to buy the rifle.

So let me know what your opinions are. Thanks.

 

[hydro556]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

If you want a bolt rifle, you are off to a good start. Dont get caught up in the craziness with optics and mounts.

You can get optics mounted to do what you need without spending an arm and a leg. BO and Seekins offer great products, but you can use Warne and Burris and get the job done (very well) for half the money. Then for an optic go with the best Vortex, SS, Bushnell or Nikon you can afford. These guys, and some other companies make optics that will do what you need for ~$200. When you can afford to step up to something nicer (if you feel the need) you can move the low priced optic to a 22 or something.

Bottom line, when you come on sites like this, it is easy to get a thought process going that makes you think anything less than a $2500 S&B or USO is useless. Thats not the case.

Get adequate gear and start shooting. Upgrade as funds allow.

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

+1,you can find used SuperSniper fixed power for around $250.
Go buy some Federal Gold Medal Match or Blacks Hills with a 168 or 175 grain Sierra Match king and go and practice.

Not a bad rig to start with. Good Luck.

 

[mark4567]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

Take a look at "Konus" scopes Italian made,Japanese glass, very clear and close to your budget.
The 700 is a good choice it, also leaves the door open to upgrades as money allows.

 

[oneshot onekill]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

As far as Mount/Rings I got a DNZ with a 20MOA cant for around $60.00. It's a relatively solid Mount/Ring set made of one piece of Billet Aluminum. Mounts on the rifle easily and then you just drop the scope on and clamp it down. Definitely not super tough but I'll probably never need it to be.

. Cheap scope and rings on my 40X... I know... Sacrilege!!! But it's all I can afford and does pretty damn well.

 

[maxx]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

I bought the same gun this past summer and I put a pentex 3x10 on it. It shoots very well and mine likes 150 hornadys. At 100yds. it will shoot under 1 inch. Great gun to start with.
Got about 700 total in mine with scope. (i work part time in a gun shop)

Shoot straight

maxx

 

[GreginVa]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

If your gonna be crankin' the knobs and shooting 600yds. I would
get a super sniper. If you can find it in your wallet the VX 3
Leoupold is the next stop. The S.S will work for you but a vx3
gives you power choices. Don't consider anything in between.

 

[Reloadyour9]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

I would recommend buying a budget optics for now, like the SS. You will learn to shoot on this, which is what you intend to do. While learning, save your money and buy better optics down the road.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lt. Arclight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1,you can find used SuperSniper fixed power for around $250.
Go buy some Federal Gold Medal Match or Blacks Hills with a 168 or 175 grain Sierra Match king and go and practice.

Not a bad rig to start with. Good Luck. </div></div>

yep +1 here

 

[flyboy]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

Get the super sniper, a 0 Moa base and burris max 50 rings (I think thats what there called) and go to town. I found on that set up I still had 17 more moa after 1000 yards ASL.

 

[tbrewer]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

I agree go with the super sniper for the money I've got one in the safe and have never been disappointed in it.

 

[CK_32]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

I say stick with the SPS.

But Ar's are nice to. Nothing against either.

Edit: I'd agree also to go with a SS scope.
Decent glass for the $$

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

+1 on the Super Sniper - great scope for the money and it will do everything that you are looking to do with it. I have a friend that shoots F-Class with his. He has no problems with it and it works fine for the money. When on a budget look no further then the Super Sniper.

 

[mackdrvr]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

Bump for the SS. New or used you can't go wrong.

 

[terrygood]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

Big mistake. You just made the 2nd biggest mistake of your life. Guns are bad to start with, and now your on this forum? We are going to be the first in the round ups?

There is no right or wrong choice in shooting. The set up you have will work just fine to get started. I have a friend in the same boat. Take the time to train and study with what you have. Dont be afraid to take it all apart, then call someone for directions on how to put it back together. Dont waist money on match ammo. Get some surplus for now. Read some books on the art of shooting. The same rules apply for Tubbs as they do for you.

Shooting is an art. Love it and enjoy it and then you will see it does not matter what you have for equipment. No accomplished shooter will ever make fun of someone starting in this game. In fact the #'s for competitions and the sport are so low that they should be happy to have you with them.

 

[flyboy]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

Spend $10 a month for the online training. I wouldn't shoot surplus ammo unless I didn't care about acuracy. It may shoot well but probably not. There are cheaper than match options for factory loadings. Back to the online training, its the best bang for your buck. Through out what you thought you knew about shooting and start over with that.

 

[scotharr]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

For the money you have spent, I think you will get a more accurate and reliable rifle with the bolt action you have. Love my ARs and my bolt guns, but I think you can spend less money and get a better gun with a bolt action Remington. Hard to go wrong with what you have. As mentioned, don't go crazy with a scope. Just get a moderate variable from a reputable company like Nikon or Leupold.

 

[Jhart242]

Re: Did I make the right choice?

+1 on the SS. Other than that a Bushnell 3200 for me. I started in the same boat and now I have it sitting in an MCM A4 and topped with USO ST-10. You'll get there. Don't give up.