Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

[Jeremy45]

Ok guys,

I need some input and ideas to build a full LR setup for a beginner. I have a buddy who is big into LR shooting and I am wanting to go to the range and shoot steel and maybe do a bit of hunting with him.

I am looking to build a rifle somewhere in the 12-16lb range, on the lighter side of this if possible. This will be a multi-purpose/go to rifle for a while.

Alread Own:
Remington 700 varmint, .243 in wood stock
SWFA 10x42HD w/rings and base
Harris Bipod

I have about $2000 to spend on building a setup and I need to know how to prioritize my funds. I am willing to sell the 10x42 and upgrade optics if that would be a good move.

What do I need and how bad do I need it?
1)Better Optics
2)Reloading components/dies
3)New stock or chassis
4)Better Bipod
5)Weather Station
6)Binos/Range Finder
7)Hard Case
8)New Trigger
9)Rifle upgrades

The range we have access to has steel from 300yds to 1700yds. I would also like to attend a shooting school at some point.

Any help will be greatly appreciated,
Jeremy45

 

[tackleberry2000]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

Might wanna consider another calibur if your serious past 1000 yards

 

[Pusher591]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

Use the action, have it squared/trued by competent smith. Have him fit and chamber a barrel in medium Palma for you in .260 or 6.5 Creedmoor finished between 22"-26". Reason I say this is longer barrel life then .243 and can still engage out to 1200 in steel.

I get you a non-adjustable cheekpeice stock. 2 reasons, they are lighter and cheaper. A good bottom metal from PTG and either have your factory trigger worked over or grab a Timney.

As far as glass, after 600 yards is when 10 power starts to fall off in my opinion. I'd sell what you have, and put that money with the other and maybe grab a Bushnell HDMR. That should be right around your budget. Your Harris bipod will work fine, that's what run and it hasn't let me down.

You can get reloading components and dies after you shoot a while. Give it some time to see if LR shooting is something you enjoy and want to stick with.

 

[Jeremy45]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

Ok, new stock, new caliber and new glass. Pretty much be all of my money so the accessory items can all be added later?

I think this is a pretty solid plan as I will be shooting on a static range anyway, I may shoot out the .243 though. I was reading the "what the pros use" thread and 6mm seems really popular but I'm not sure if I can afford the barrel changes like mentioned above so I may switch. I guess I'll see how much I actuall shoot then decide on caliber.

Thanks,
Jeremy45

 

[NaHa]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

Do NOT modify the rifle you already have. Keep it or sell it, but leave it alone. Get a decent .308, like a vintage Rem 700 PSS. Put your scope and bipod on it, and learn to shoot 175 SMK loads which will get you to 1,000y.

Figure the rifle will cost you about $700-$800. Post a WTB ad, and I bet you find one. After you're proficient to 1,000y, then you'll be able to gauge whether longer range is in your future. If it is, then sell the .308, and get something in 7mm (NOT the magnum, I suggest .284 or .280). With the right bullets, you'll be supersonic past 1,400y.

Keep It Simple for now. There's no more popular caliber for longish-range than .308. Start there. Finish where your path takes you. Walk before you run.

 

[CrazyDonkey]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

What do I need and how bad do I need it?
1)Better Optics - Maybe, but you can shoot to 1000 with a 10x
2)Reloading components/dies - You don't need, factory ammo will serve you well
3)New stock or chassis - Probably
4)Better Bipod - Harris is perfectly fine
5)Weather Station - Don't need
6)Binos/Range Finder - Don't need if you are at 1000...you already know the distance
7)Hard Case - Don't need
8)New Trigger - Don't need
9)Rifle upgrades - Broad subject

You can shoot to 1000yd with a .243, you will just need to practice but you'll be fine. Only thing you NEED is practice.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

A .243Win can work fine, depending on what kind of hunting you had in mind. What's holding you back is the factory 9-twist barrel which limits your bullet selection up to 105AMAX's.

-Locate a good, experienced, trusted gunsmith.
-Get your M700 trued.
-Chamber and Fit premium maker 7.5 - 8 twist Med. Palma contour barrel 24-26"
-Restock with composite stock (McMillan HTR, A1 or Manners T/T3 are good choices)
-If you're going to shoot tactical competitions, then a AICS compatible DBM is the way to go (Badger, Surgeon, PTG, CDI, etc)
-Tuned old style M700 trigger or aftermarket.
-20moa picatinny rail
-Vortex PST 6-24 is hard to beat in your price range.
-Muzzlebrake is optional (better on the range, worse when hunting)

If you NEED for thump on impact, then a .260Rem might be a better choice.

A laser rangefinder is a good thing to have, especially if you're alone. All the other stuff you can accumulate as time goes by.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

^^^Maybe a bit harsh, but in fact, not such terrible advice.

Go for the basic capability, then refine as needed. Do not confuse ambition with necessity.

A decent factory varmint rifle in a 1000yd capable caliber is all the firearm you need. .308 has been the gold standard for decades. Good factory ammo in .308 will probably shoot better than you can for some time to come, the only real issue is cost.

Megabuck optics are very nice, but necessary for the first timer? I doubt it.

If you're going to shoot with an experienced shooter, bring the basics, then chat the rest out with them. As for hunting, that is done best with a hunting rifle. Ask your friend, they'll probably agree.

Greg

 

[Jeremy45]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

I am talking about Whitetail in west Texas which generally means sitting in a blind not carrying the rifle all over kingdom come on my shoulder. If I get into hiking hunts I have a lightweight 7mag for that but it is a lot of rifle for small deer and such. I more meant I don't want a 100% dedicated prone rifle as I want this to be a go to rifle for 90% of the shooting I will do.

I am looking at the stocks mentioned above(HTG and T3) also looking at a Manners GAT and a KMW Sentinel but the latter is fairly heavy for what I am wanting. Will the HTG/T3 work with a 50mm objective as far as being about the right height?

I will look into having my action trued and a new barrel put on. I like what I read on .243 but I will look into some calibers with longer barrel life before spending all the dough to have a new barrel fit and chambered.

I will be throwing my SWFA up in the for sale section, once it sells I'll pick up a mid-range optic with more magnification to get me out past 600.

Thanks for all the input,
Jeremy45

 

[buffybuster]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jeremy45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I am looking at the stocks mentioned above(HTG and T3) also looking at a Manners GAT and a KMW Sentinel but the latter is fairly heavy for what I am wanting. Will the HTG/T3 work with a 50mm objective as far as being about the right height?
</div></div>
Shouldn't be a problem, but you can get an adjustable cheekpiece or a stockpack, if you feel you need it.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

My own answer is a pair of family heirloom Ruger MKI .280's. One has a sporter/length weight barrel, and one has a longer and relatively scarce factory varmint weight barrel. They appear to shoot the same loads with comparative and decent accuracy.

For hunting, the Hornady 139gr SST Superformance load is quite superior, and for distance, a handload employing H-4350 and the Nosler 150gr Hunting Ballistic Tip would appear on paper to be highly adequate to 1000yd and beyond.

The .280 Rem is not very far away from being a 7mm-'06 (shoulder lengths were messed about by Rem to prevent mischambering the wrong cartridge). It takes a cartridge capacity that is both highly adequate and still tolerable, and uses it to drive the newer crop of efficient 7mm LR-capable bullets. My rifles have a 1:9" twist, which will do OK for bullets of up to 168gr, and maybe 175gr, but really, when the 150 will reach 1000yd, the heavier choices become optional. Recoil is about equal to shooting a .30-'06 150gr Core-Lokt load; highly tolerable. My Granddaughter tells me these .280's are my loudest rifles.

A long action Savage and a pair of 1:9" .280 Rem aftermarket barrels in appropriate lengths and weights for hunting and distance could make for a very satisfactory ensemble.

Greg

 

[JB02]

Re: Medium Weight Rifle and Kit Setup ?'s

Prioritized order: Note, you will spend ~ $1K on a new trigger and a full reloading bench setup.

1)New Trigger
2)Reloading components/dies
3)Better Optics
4)Binos/Range Finder
5)New stock or chassis
6)Rifle upgrades (barrel, action truing, brake, bolt knob, etc)
7)Hard Case
8)Weather Station