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Rifle Vs Optic?

elkkid3

elkkid3

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 26, 2009
903
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Tonto Basin, AZ
#1
I am getting into long range I have been a life long hunter, but this is going to be my first "Long Range Rifle". I can shoot my dads 257 wetherby or 30-3-78 wetherby anytime I want but ammo for them is 70$ or 120$ a box! My options are 1. Get a used GAP and top it with a Super Sniper or SS HD. 2. Get a stock LTR and top it with better optics?. What would you guys do, If i get a LTR I will slowly turn it into a custom gun tactical bolt nob, barrel, stock ext......

Edit: I didn't know where to put this thread because It has to do with optics and rifles.
 
#3
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">LTR and a NF or USO scope. Burn the barrel out shooting, then send it to one of the smiths on here for a barrel and action job. </div></div>

+1

I believe lowlight has said the same thing several times.
You can get a great deal on a used but like new NF or USO here on the hide.
I know a bunch of guys are VERY impressed with their LTR's
 
#4
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

Just saw a suprisingly large number of guys shoot the Snipers Hide Bash at Rifle's Only this past weekend with 20" or shorter barrels... I've got an LTR myself, and with some good ammo, it'll do 1k yards. I'd definitley go with the LTR and some good glass. The Super Sniper isn't a bad scope, and for the money, its pretty impressive, but if you can get better glass, always get better glass. You'll shoot the barrel out of the rifle several times, but the scope will remain the same.
Best of luck!
 
#5
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: patches</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">LTR and a NF or USO scope. Burn the barrel out shooting, then send it to one of the smiths on here for a barrel and action job. </div></div>

+1

I believe lowlight has said the same thing several times.
You can get a great deal on a used but like new NF or USO here on the hide.
I know a bunch of guys are VERY impressed with their LTR's </div></div>


1+. My first stick was a LTR and Leupy glass. Would recommend NightForce over Leupy however.
 
#6
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

Optics first then splurge on the rifle. You will be a lot better off in the long run. The LTR will shoot just fine for now. Get some great optics and A LOT of ammo!!! With time and training/practice you'll be good to go.
 
#7
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

Spend as much as you can on ammo and practice. Great shooters with decent rigs will generally outshoot decent shooters with great rigs. Once you are thoroughly confident that you can shoot your rifle at long range to the fullest of it's potential it will be time to upgrade.

The SS scopes are a good deal for the money, and wont do you wrong until its time to upgrade.
 
#10
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

i am going through a similar dilema right now and decided to go the optics route.. I was thinking falcon and a new bbl action job plus some other goodies? or a NF nxs. I dont think I'll ever have the money saved up again like i do now, so i'm going for the NF.
but thats me...

a good smith once told me, " accuracy depends on these 4 things in this order, good barrel - good glass - good trigger- good stock."

i can easily save 300 for a bbl, but not for a NF.
 
#12
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

do what you can do with the budget you have.
smile.gif
 
#14
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

An LR rifle is a rifle that will shoot LR. It needs neither an exotic rifle nor exotic optics. A reasonably decent 24" .308 or .30-'06 and a Weaver V-16 or V-24, with Black Hills 175gr .308 Match or .30-'06 180gr boattailed hunting ammo will reach 1000yd. The next question is about your own marksmanship and a place to do the shooting. Zeroing the rifle for 100yd, adding approximately 30-35" of elevation at 100yd will get you pretty close at 1000yd.

Once you've done it, and really caught the bug, then do it some more and talk to the folks you see on that 1000tyd line about finding something better to shoot. Maybe one of them will have something you can work out a deal about.

Greg
 
#15
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: huntinaz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am getting into long range I have been a life long hunter, but this is going to be my first "Long Range Rifle". I can shoot my dads 257 wetherby or 30-3-78 wetherby anytime I want but ammo for them is 70$ or 120$ a box! My options are 1. Get a used GAP and top it with a Super Sniper or SS HD. 2. Get a stock LTR and top it with better optics?. What would you guys do, If i get a LTR I will slowly turn it into a custom gun tactical bolt nob, barrel, stock ext......

Edit: I didn't know where to put this thread because It has to do with optics and rifles. </div></div>

LTR and the ABSOLUTE Best glass you can get ahold of. IE Vortex Razor, Premier Heritage, S&B, Hensoldt. I think you will find the performance gained from top end optics are more easily appreciated than the high end rifles sometimes. Buy the LTR, top it with good glass, and practice until the barrel wears out. Then down the road, keep the glass and upgrade the rifle.
 
#16
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: huntinaz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What about a Leupold mark 4 I was looking and you could get one for about 850?

Edit: Read on Leupolds and I think I would get a super sniper HD before a mark 4. </div></div>

I am certainly no expert, but I like the Leupold Mark 4 line. My first is a MR/T 1.5-5 which is on my LWRC M6A2 in .223. This is used for 3 gun.

My second is a LR/T 6.5-20 which is on my 700 LTR in .308. This is a brand new rifle to me. I pick it up later this week.

But after having my MR/T and having the chance to use LR/T before buying, I saw no need to look elsewhere. Especially since high end scopes are normally something I would have to buy sight unseen.
 
#17
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: holdem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But after having my MR/T and having the chance to use LR/T before buying, I saw no need to look elsewhere. Especially since high end scopes are normally something I would have to buy sight unseen. </div></div>

The best advice I can give you is that if you are happy with your Leupolds don't ever look through a high end optic. If you have reasonable eyesight you will suddenly have the desire to replace all the optics you have. I once got behind a Nightforce wondering what all the fuss was about. Once I saw I realized what I was missing. Now that I have really beaten the hell out of a USO I do have the desire to replace all my optics with that level of quality.
 
#20
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

I would get the Super Sniper HD, if you are okay with a fixed power. Having one and having compared it optically to my IOR SH edition. It really does have top shelf glass you will not be disappointed that way. And it is a Super Sniper on steroids so you know it is going to be crazy tough and precise.

If you are okay with the fixed power, it will be all the scope you ever need. They really are that good.
 
#21
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

He is proposing getting the SS-HD for his "budget" scope. It's not like we're talking a BSA here or something. A used GAP with a SS-HD would be a very nice rig. If you're going to buy a factory gun, I'd suggest finding lightly used 5R for just under $1000 rather than an LTR (which I often see listed in the $850 range.) For just a little more cash you will have a much better barrel. Otherwise get a SPS Tactical for $550 and get a B&C stock to drop it into.

If you do decide to go the "LTR + 2k optics" route for your first purchase, I'd suggest you make sure you buy used. High-end glass loses $200+ of value when you walk out the door. If this is your first scope it is entirely possible you will get it, use it, and decide you wanted something slightly different (also called "USO Configurator Syndrome".) If you bought the scope used then you'll probably be able to resell it for very little loss (if any, depending on how quickly you want to move it.)

It sounds like you're buying factory ammo, you might want to take a look at the forsale section. There's a GAP 6.5 Creedmoor for sale there for a great price. 6.5 Creedmoor is going to be a lot more forgiving than 308 and match quality ammo is pretty inexpensive (so far as ANY factory match ammo can be described as 'inexpensive')
 
#22
Re: Rifle Vs Optic?

I am going to reload I just need 308 brass and dies ext.

I think I am going to get this rifle for my starter. It is a Remington Model 700VS heavy barrel .308, pillar bedded into desert camo McMillan HTG stock by Robar Industries . Very accurate, He has fired 1" - 5 shot groups at 200 yards with handloads, (data included).

When I get money I will rebarrel it, action job, tactical bolt knob ext.... If I can get enough money out of the HTG stock I will bed it in a McMillan A5.

huntinaz



Edit: Hope I posted the pic right.
Edit 2: I am getting the rifle for 900
 
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