Re: Need a rifle, have $2500, any ideas?
dar-dar;
I'm making some assumptions, but I'm also taking you at your word that you're new to the game.
First assumption, you're pretty convinced that only a superlative gun will make you a great marksman. Many believe this, but if you can root out the actual good marksmen here, I'll betcha the skills came first, and then came the superlative rifles. I'll go further and suggest that throwing a lot of money at the question in this stage of your marksmanship development won't buy you one penny's worth more ability that something significantly less expensive and more mundane.
What I'd suggest you really need at this stage is something uncomplicated, dependable, and so adequately accurate that it allows one to distinguish between their own flaws and any the rifle may possess. Egos aside, for at least 90%-95% of the shooters here, a very basic varmint rifle is going to serve practically until it's worn out before it's limitations actually curtail a shooter's advancement. Consider the word, 'beater', because the process of marksmanship skill development means that whatever implement you're gonna choose, it's gonna be in for a respectable beating before all the dust gets to settle.
$2500 is far more than you'd be needing to spend on any one rifle right now. But if we look beyond the superlative, and consider this from the viewpoint of the word 'adequate', we open up the stage for a learning experience that has far more depth and potential.
First, I'd spend about $250-$300 on a very basic .22LR bolt action repeater (I suggest a Savage MKII-F), a utilitarian scope, and some simple, basic mounts.
Next, I'd invest significant bucks, say $500-$600, in a reloading capability that included at least .223 and .308 reloading capacities.
Then, I'd get that reliable, relatively inexpensive beater. Perhaps a Savage mod 25 Lightweight Varminter .223 for $667. Black Hills and Hornady 75gr Match loads will go a long, long way accurately out of this rifle. Or perhaps the Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine, available in either .223 or .308, listing for $854. And then, there's the Savage 10 FCP-K, same chamberings, for $893. There's also the 12 VLP-DBM in a number of chamberings from .223 through .308 for $1021, and .300 WSM for $1061.
A good base, like the Ken Farrel 20MOA, and quality adjustable rings, like the Burris Signature 'Vee' Rings, and some (again) utilitarian optics, complete the suite.
This may also leave some significant change for .22LR ammo and reloading components. I would shoot the Bejeezuz out of the .22; and save the centerfire ammo components and bore life for more the memorable applications.
I probably make few friends (immediately) among those excellent folks here who favor and provide really nice stuff, by suggesting this line of approach. But I am supremely confident that the type of skills foundation such an approach will provide will also provide them with a capable and discerning customer somewhere down the line, where and when their wares can be put to a much more able use.
More importantly, finding a good mentor is at least ten (thousand?) times as valuable as finding a superlative rifle. A good marksman can shoot any moderately intact and functional rifle well; but a mediocre one can't do squat with anything, no matter how nifty it might be.
Greg
