I am ready to enter the long range hunting game and had some questions. First things first I want to be able to kill everything from antelope to elk out to 1000 yards. I'm thinking 7mm Rem mag or 300wm although 280ai intrigues me as well. Not sure if I should go with a factory rifle or custom/semi custom. I want to keep the rifle and scope combo under $2500. I'm sure I have left something out so let me know if you need anymore info. I really appreciate any and all help!
For ME, 1000 yd elk=300WM minimum. STUFF HAPPENS at 1k that don't happen even at 750.
A custom will be WAY over $2500 scoped unless you are married into the custom makers immediate family....even then its not likely.
There are scopes that will come in under $1000 today, Burris Veracity, Sightron, Vortex etc.
Does your budget include everything needed to play at 1k?
Rangefinder, weather station, loading equipment, chrono, ballistic app, rests or bipods.
Everything LRH is more $$$. A rail will be $75, rings are $50+, brass, bullets etc. It all costs $$$.
Shooting 1k and killing at that range takes a lot of different things to happen.
I am a Savage guy and if I was doing it I would buy a junk Savage action and buy a prefit barrel/stock.
If you don't feel confident on building something, the Savage LRH is a great shooting rig that can go long straight from the factory.
Also it would help to know your current experience level, do you reload, do you have a good rangefinder, do you have a range to shoot 1k often?
LRH is a BIG PROPOSITION, some like to make it out to be harder than needed BUT its not a case of buying a BDC scope, throwing it on whatever 300WM you have laying around and buying some Federal Long Range ammo. I personally don't think anyone who doesn't reload should be dabbling in 1k hunting. 100 FPS Extreme Spread in ammo will absolutely murder you at 1k. Can LRH at 1k be done with factory ammo? Yeah BUT I wouldn't count on it or counsel one to try it.