Need help choosing my first rifle

[Nynni]

Hi everybody.

I'm going to buy my first long range shooting rifle soon and was hoping to get some advice on what to get.
I plan on using this rifle for target shooting at long range and hunting at medium range, then if my shooting gets good enough, hunting at long range.

A Remington 700 VSF .308 caught my eye at a gun store. Do any of you have experience with that rifle? If so, would you recommend it? Please post what rifle you recommend for me.

As for a scope, I would like to buy one that is high quality and will last me a long time rather than buy a cheap on that will break soon & I'll have to replace it. I was thinking maybe a Leupold Mark 4 LR/T or VX-III, but I have no idea which scope is good/bad. Which reticle & magnification would you recommend?

Any other advice would be appreciated, such as what scope mount to get etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[landcbeitner]

That is a very capable rifle, my buddy has one that shoots .6" groups at 100yds out of the box. 308 win is good if you don't reload your own ammo, but there are better calibers for long range hunting. Don't get me wrong, I have a couple 308's myself and love them, it really depends on your application. The scopes you listed are very good, there are many good options, depends on your budget.

 

[screech]

I would look at getting either a reminton sendero or a savage of some sort. I dont know if it really matters on what savage you get because they all seem to shoot very well. As for optics I am a nightforce fan but I have heard good things about leupolds just I feel better holding a nightforce. A NXS in a 5.5-22 or a 8-32 work great. I like the 300rum but would suggest a good break if you went this way.

In other words I would get a sendero in a 300rum, bring it to a smith and have a break installed, action bedded, trigger tuned then mount an NXS in nightforce rings and bases. Learn how to reload if you dont know allready and just get some time behind it shooting a few rounds.

Thats just me though. They are a little spendy to shoot but hard to beat for performance out a factory chambering.

 

[linksmechanic]

I would agree with screech: get a sendero. For the money I think for long range they are the cats @ss. I have seen 4 or 5 of them that flat out shoot. PLus they look good too. As for caliber if you plan on doing long hunting in the future get larger caliber.

 

[280AIman]

I would agree with screech: get a sendero. For the money I think for long range they are the cats @ss. I have seen 4 or 5 of them that flat out shoot. PLus they look good too. As for caliber if you plan on doing long hunting in the future get larger caliber.

i would agree with link, and screech on the rifle, a sendero in 300rum or even 7mmrum would be the cats ***, but for a scope stick with a Leupold.
I have owned 3 Nightforce scopes and more Leupolds then i can count, and the Leupold has always been clearer and stronger, from my experiance. i also like Zeiss if you want a good scope.

 

[Nynni]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

Now I know what to look for when I go rifle shopping. I really appreciate it.

 

[kolt1]

I agree on the sendero, had one in 25-06 that out of the box was a shooter. You didnt really say what size game you might be hunting at med-to long range. If its deer size and smaller you might think about a 7mm Rem Mag. Has enough in the horse power dept. to take elk out to a thousand yds if loaded right ( seen it done) and recoil aint so bad even without a break. Or for deer size on down Savage is cuttin barrels for the very impressive 6.5-284. Cant say enough good things about this round. Have one in a custom made rifle that shoots like a dream. Easy to load for, mine likes several different powders, light recoil and most important accurate. I think everyone agrees, all the horsepower doesnt mean a thing without shot placement. Ive been getting good groups on steel out to 1125 yds with my 6.5. Just a few things to think on, glad to pitch in like the other guys. Good luck!gun)