My first post & a basic question.......

[DarryH]

I am a long time shooter, but that does not mean I know it all.
I know a lot, but.......there is still a LOT to learn!!!!!!!

Out local gun club has a 600 yard range, and they are hoping to extend it to 1000 yards. I want to be able to play at these ranges......effectively.

I have shot 600 yards with iron sighted military rifles like the 1903 Springfield and the M1 Garand. I can hit and score fair at best. My 53 year old eyes and older, hard used body can't do the job as well as they used to be.

I want to purchase a bolt action rifle in a caliber suited for these 600 and 1000 yard ranges.

My wants are as follows..........

1. I am NOT going to purchase or build a custom gun. I will NOT be spending $1000 on a gun. I want an off-the-rack gun like a Remington 700 or a Tikka, Winchester, Savage, etc. I am looking for suggestions, and the lower the cost, the better.

2. I want a fairly easy caliber to work with. I can handle the recoil of a 300 Winchester Magnum, but much prefer milder recoiling calibers.
.308 and 30-06 are no problem. I don't want to spend large amounts of money
on near impossible to get brass.
New calibers like 6.5 Grendel and 26 Nosler intrigue me.
The old 300 H&H also intrigues me.
I want something somewhat affordable.
I do NOT want to spend a lot of time fussing over every aspect of loading ammo.
I can trim, I can weight, I can measure powder, etc.
In short.......I want something easy to work with, but maybe more modern than
the 30-06 or .308..............or an older caliber like the 300 H&H.
(I love older guns and calibers too)

I welcome all comment........even the critical ones.....and I expect some from
all I wrote here. That is OK.

 

[Korhil78]

You could get a factory 300 WSM. More modern than a 308 and will get you to 1000 easy. With a good scope, 600 yards with this gun will get boring. If you didn't want a lot of recoil, you could load the 168 gr pills. If you didn't mind the recoil you could load all the way up to 210 gr pills.

In all reality, if you are not going to be shooting any animals and just targets, a 308 would be perfect for you. Light recoil, gets on target at 1K, VERY cheap and VERY easy to reload. But I do understand the need to want something different.

 

[Jcub]

You may not want to, but to play the 1000 yard game, you need to fuss over everything.

It's the driver, not the cartridge that gets you there. Your wind reading ability, and your attention to detail.

My .02

 

[406pat]

6 BR is notoriously easy to load for and will get you to 1000. Pretty easy to find bits and pieces for too.
1000 Yard World Record
Personally I recommend a Savage for ease of swapping out parts later on if/when the mood strikes.

 

[roninflag]

Darr- welcome. my eyes are even older. i did shoot 2500 rounds through my garand in a little over a year. the further you separt from what they shoot in F-class the less capable the rifle/scope/caliber will be. a heavier rifle is better for me . i like a remington 700 with krieger barrel. you will save money , by having a good barrel . imagine pulling your taurus/camry or what ever .......next to another one, one has a 2200$ engine the other 44,000 $ which will do better?? it is the same with barrels- factory 22$ installed; 440$ for a krieger.

 

[JOHNNIE WALKER]

Savage makes very accurate and very affordable rifles. I fully understand the price limit, but to shoot that far make sure you get the nicest one you can reasonably afford. If you do get a savage make sure you get one with an accustock. It really makes a difference. Also, the 260 rem is a very nice long range round. Very easy to reload for, low recoil, and better ballistics than the 308 (this comment may start a fight).

 

[Korhil78]

Also, the 260 rem is a very nice long range round. Very easy to reload for, low recoil, and better ballistics than the 308 (this comment may start a fight).

Haha....it would be a short fight since it is a fact!

 

[Jud96]

Definitely go with a Remington 700. No need to rebarrel it, factory barrels shoot excellent and never had a problem with one. If your looking into long range, check out the Remington 700 Long Range Model with a B&C stock, heavy contour 26" barrel, and chambered in .25-06, .30-06, 7mn REM Mag, .300 WIN Mag, and .300 RUM. They are right around $650-700 in price, saving you money to buy good glass. For caliber choice, the 7mm Remington Mag would be a good one. Lots of stuff out there for it and is a very accurate cartridge. Another option, since you want something different, would be to buy one in '06 then have it rechambered and bolt face opened up for .308 Norma Magnum. Brass can be made from .300 Winchester and it is an extremely accurate and efficient cartridge.

 

[roninflag]

I agree with Jud the new long range shoud be a good one for the money.

 

[Send One]

Welcome to the site Darry, I am new myself. Honestly, for the money purchase yourself a Savage Long Range Hunter in 6.5x284. I do not personally own one, but I have two good friends that do and those rifles flat out shoot....I mean real good for a factory rifle right off the shelf and close to the price range you are after. I have seen numerous targets at .5 MOA or less at 300 - 600 yards from these guys.

The 6.5x284 is a great round that performs great at 1000 and relatively easy to reload for.

Just my humble opinion. Good luck!

 

[JOHNNIE WALKER]

I also agree with the 6.5X284. The 6.5mm bullets are amazing. I mentioned the 260 rem earlier and forgot to mention the 6.5X284. The difference between the two is the same difference between the 30/06 and the 308. If you do start to lean towards a 6.5 cal and want more velocity than the 260, the 6.5X284 may be the way to go. I was in a serious de lima a few years back and had to choose between the two. I went with the 260. I'm very happy with my choice but sometimes wonder about the 6.5X284.

 

[Jud96]

Welcome to the site Darry, I am new myself. Honestly, for the money purchase yourself a Savage Long Range Hunter in 6.5x284. I do not personally own one, but I have two good friends that do and those rifles flat out shoot....I mean real good for a factory rifle right off the shelf and close to the price range you are after. I have seen numerous targets at .5 MOA or less at 300 - 600 yards from these guys.

The 6.5x284 is a great round that performs great at 1000 and relatively easy to reload for.

Just my humble opinion. Good luck!

I have to disagree. The Savage Long Range Hunter is $1000. The Savage also has a cheap stock on it compared to the B&C that comes standard on the Remington Long Range. You save $300 with the Remington and in the end its a better rifle.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

id suggest a 6.5mm caliber cartridge. For me particularly the 6.5 Creedmoor. low recoil with dead nut accuracy and cheap to shoot even with hornadys match ammo. I hear savage makes a heck of a rifle for the 6.5 Creedmoor. Lots of guys are having good success with that combination

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I have to disagree. The Savage Long Range Hunter is $1000. The Savage also has a cheap stock on it compared to the B&C that comes standard on the Remington Long Range. You save $300 with the Remington and in the end its a better rifle.

How is Remington a "better rifle"? Yes the savages are ugly but man can they shoot! Ill put a savage against a Remmy any day of the week. Ive seen both and shot both and for me the nod goes to savage way before the remmy. The only reason i would buy a remington 700 is for custom build and thats all. When it come stock from the factory, i think you will see savage come out on top MOST of the time.