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Looking for a good "all around" rifle

R

rambler

Private
Minuteman
Jan 18, 2007
4
0
#1
Howdy,

I am in the market for a good all purpose rifle, something I can shoot out to 800m for classes/competiton, and still keep it light enough to hunt with. Budget for rifle w/o glass is $1700.00, I would like something with .308 or less recoil as I have had shoulder issues. Does the 5.56/223 round have enough weight to make long distance shooting worth while?

I have considered:

Steyr scout in .223 or .243
DPMS LR-243
Rem r-25
Rem LTR and ACIS stock upgrade
An AR with 1/7 bbl in 20"-22"
 
#2
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

DPMS LR243 or 260 gets my vote, less recoil and capable out beyond 800.
Check your local hunting laws for caliber requirements and restrictions. I know some states don't allow the use of "pistol grips" and of course, magazine capacity, caliber shouldn't be a issue.

Kirk R
 
#3
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle



That is the way I was starting to lean, will be used for OH, yote's and maybe WV White tails. I already have an AR in 5.56 so am familiar with the manual of arms...

Rambler
 
#4
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

You might want to consider one of the .308 autos like the DPMS Panther. I'm not a big DPMS fan, but I understand their .308 rifles are pretty good.

I say .308 rather than the more exotic .243 or .260 because of the commonality and availability of cheap ammo, a plethora of reloading components, the ease of getting an accurate load from a forgiving cartridge AND a MUCH longer barrel life. The .308 will get you to 800m easy and will take any game in North America.

If you go Bolt gun - look at a 5R in .308. Excellent accuracy for around $1100 and will allow you to put the extra money into reloading and optics.
 
#5
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You might want to consider one of the .308 autos like the DPMS Panther. I'm not a big DPMS fan, but I understand their .308 rifles are pretty good.

I say .308 rather than the more exotic .243 or .260 because of the commonality and availability of cheap ammo, a plethora of reloading components, the ease of getting an accurate load from a forgiving cartridge AND a MUCH longer barrel life. The .308 will get you to 800m easy and will take any game in North America.

I am already set to reload .308 (sold my savage) have tons of match brass/primers etc. How is the recoil on a gas .308AR compare to a bolt .308 in the 11lb weight range?

Thanks

Rambler

If you go Bolt gun - look at a 5R in .308. Excellent accuracy for around $1100 and will allow you to put the extra money into reloading and optics. </div></div>
 
#7
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rambler</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I am already set to reload .308 (sold my savage) have tons of match brass/primers etc. How is the recoil on a gas .308AR compare to a bolt .308 in the 11lb weight range?

Thanks

Rambler

</div></div>
I don't have extensive experience with a .308 Auto, but the times I have shot them, the recoil has been SIGNIFICANTLY less than my ~10 lb Rem 700 SPS-T. To give you an idea, I'm putting a brake on my SPS for that very reason. I doubt I would bother on an Auto based on how much less the recoil was. But a brake on a .308 auto and it would probably be less than a .223.
 
#8
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

What about a Remington SPS in 308? Looks like you can get one on Gunbroker for around $650, maybe less. Shoot it for awhile and then send it to Mark at Short Action Customs. He has an SPS package for $525 that includes. That would be my vote.
 
#9
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I say .308 rather than the more exotic .243 or .260 because of the commonality and availability of cheap ammo, a plethora of reloading components, the ease of getting an accurate load from a forgiving cartridge AND a MUCH longer barrel life.

If you go Bolt gun - look at a 5R in .308. Excellent accuracy for around $1100 and will allow you to put the extra money into reloading and optics.</div></div>

While I agree that the 308 might be the best jump into this range, I can by no means say the 243 is exotic. You can get tons of this ammo around here all the time. Is it match? No, but neither is the 308. Above this, the 243 is a flatter shooting round and has less recoil. You would have to just weight how much you shoot vs. barrel life.
Chad
 
#11
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

243 are nice, but keep in mind that most folks that talk about their 243's here are not shooting factory twists or factory bullets.

My vote goes with an 308 LTR dropped in a Manners with their mini chassis or an AICS, dependent upon personal stock choice.

'ripper's right, you gotta have a 308 in the stable.
 
#12
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What about a Remington SPS in 308? Looks like you can get one on Gunbroker for around $650, maybe less. Shoot it for awhile and then send it to Mark at Short Action Customs. He has an SPS package for $525 that includes. That would be my vote. </div></div>

I LOVE my SPS! And in fact I'm sending mine to maek at SAC 1st thing on Monday for some upgrade work. What is the "SPS package"? I hadn't seen that.

The only reason I didn't suggest the SPS is because the OP said he had a $1700 budget before optics. If I had $1700 to spend on just the gun, there are others I would get before the SPS.

But now that you mention it..... an SPS would be an excellent choice. And if the OP wanted to upgrade it right away, for and additional $6-700, he could have a custom barrel from Rock, GAP, Bartlein, etc and have it installed. He would then have an incredible shooter for under $1300. Which would still allow for extra $$ to be spent on getting a top end optic.

edit: To the OP, you said you have a $1700 gun budget.... how much were you planning on allocating for the glass?
 
#13
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What about a Remington SPS in 308? Looks like you can get one on Gunbroker for around $650, maybe less. Shoot it for awhile and then send it to Mark at Short Action Customs. He has an SPS package for $525 that includes. That would be my vote. </div></div>

I LOVE my SPS! And in fact I'm sending mine to maek at SAC 1st thing on Monday for some upgrade work. What is the "SPS package"? I hadn't seen that.

The only reason I didn't suggest the SPS is because the OP said he had a $1700 budget before optics. If I had $1700 to spend on just the gun, there are others I would get before the SPS.

But now that you mention it..... an SPS would be an excellent choice. And if the OP wanted to upgrade it right away, for and additional $6-700, he could have a custom barrel from Rock, GAP, Bartlein, etc and have it installed. He would then have an incredible shooter for under $1300. Which would still allow for extra $$ to be spent on getting a top end optic.

edit: To the OP, you said you have a $1700 gun budget.... how much were you planning on allocating for the glass?</div></div>

Reaper - here are writeups on two of Mark's SPS package builds:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...802#Post1898802

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...594#Post1871594

Pretty impressive stuff if you ask me, especially for the money.
 
#14
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What about a Remington SPS in 308? Looks like you can get one on Gunbroker for around $650, maybe less. Shoot it for awhile and then send it to Mark at Short Action Customs. He has an SPS package for $525 that includes. That would be my vote. </div></div>

I LOVE my SPS! And in fact I'm sending mine to maek at SAC 1st thing on Monday for some upgrade work. What is the "SPS package"? I hadn't seen that.

The only reason I didn't suggest the SPS is because the OP said he had a $1700 budget before optics. If I had $1700 to spend on just the gun, there are others I would get before the SPS.

But now that you mention it..... an SPS would be an excellent choice. And if the OP wanted to upgrade it right away, for and additional $6-700, he could have a custom barrel from Rock, GAP, Bartlein, etc and have it installed. He would then have an incredible shooter for under $1300. Which would still allow for extra $$ to be spent on getting a top end optic.

edit: To the OP, you said you have a $1700 gun budget.... how much were you planning on allocating for the glass? </div></div>

That' exactly what I did, I bought a virgin SPS and dropped it off to GAP the next day to have them sprinkle their pixie dust on it. Great base for the money, you figure for the price of the complete rifle ome people buy actions and triggers but I can sell the spares to recoup some of my build cost and if you don't do a build right away you get a sub-moa rifle out of the box for cheap
 
#15
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

I vote for a 223AI pushing the 75 amax. 800 yds would be no problem. VERY little recoil, cheap to reload and enough beans for splattin critters. Although you might not want to shoot a deer far away but within say 400 yards.... you'd be eatin good.
 
#16
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Reaper - here are writeups on two of Mark's SPS package builds:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...802#Post1898802

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...594#Post1871594

Pretty impressive stuff if you ask me, especially for the money. </div></div>

THANKS! You sold me - I'm definitely going to get that done while the gun is in Mike's shop.
 
#17
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

If you have shoulder problems, then a 308 may spend most of its life in your safe. If you are looking for the very best ballistics out to 1K with the least recoil, then the 243WIN is the clear choice in the 308 family. Just make sure you have a barrel designed for shooting the heavy long-range bullets: 1:8 twist or faster. At 1K, a 107gr SMK easily beats out the 308 drop and drift and also beats the 260 in various flavors.
 
#18
Re: Looking for a good "all around" rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Scooter-PIE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you have shoulder problems, then a 308 may spend most of its life in your safe. If you are looking for the very best ballistics out to 1K with the least recoil, then the 243WIN is the clear choice in the 308 family. Just make sure you have a barrel designed for shooting the heavy long-range bullets: 1:8 twist or faster. At 1K, a 107gr SMK easily beats out the 308 drop and drift and also beats the 260 in various flavors. </div></div>

Agree with the .243 comments. I'm a big fan of the .308 just for commonality. But I shot my friend's (and SH member) AIAW in .243 with an FTE brake on it and it recoils like a .22LR. Almost not even noticable. And FLAT.... holy shiite. He was making consistant hits with it at 1500 yds in a full 10+ mph value crosswind. VERY flat shooting. But again, I would bet barrel life is also going to be much less than a .308. I'm getting an FTE brake on my .308 and should have it back in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know how much of a difference it makes on my lighter SPS.
 
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