any ideas on an affordable rifle??

Wa_Coyote_Hunter

Wa_Coyote_Hunter

New member
I better clarify here also! I am looking for the rifle for long range deer and Elk hunting. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

I am looking at getting a long range rifle. I am thinking atleast 700 plus yard shots. Does anyone have any suggestions??
I am wanting a rifle that does not cost an arm and leg. I am thinking a savage 116FCSS in 300win or maybe a Weatherby Vanguard sub moa in 300weatherby, I do like the Remington 700 dbm stainless but then we are talking big bucks.
any suggestions would be helpfull. Thanks!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif
 
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I would go w/ a less recoiling caliber myself maybe a .260, .308, or thereabouts. Remington are probably easier to get parts for long range stuff. I just think it would be hard to hit something 700 yds away w/ that much recoil, unless it had an expensive brake or something.
 
Absolutely no question. Savage 10FP in .308
In fact I believe someone on this site is selling one wearing a choate ultimate sniper stock for a pretty good price.
 
All of the Savage 10FP's I have seen shot very well out of the box. The .308 WIN is a mild load from a recoil stand point with plenty of choices and data for long range shooting. And, they do not break the bank.
 
Sorry

I guess i better clarify!! I am looking for the rifle for big game hunting!!
I am thinking in the $600 plus range. And yes i do want one with a muzzle brake!! If it is a bigger caliber.

And i don't know if the 308 is good for that. sorry I didn't clarify guys.
 
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I would say start with your longest range and biggest critter your after and work it backwards. A 308 at 700 yards is about max for that round for deer. 700 yards on an elk you need a bigger round like a 300 win mag. Then you need to have a gun that can shoot at least .5 moa. I'm blessed because I have several 308's tactical's that can do that and 2- 300 win mag also. They have excellent scopes which will be important at long range hunting. There is a web site for long ranger hunting that you might want to checkout.
 
30-378 is what we like /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif. it will do the job /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
The "SAVAGE" rifle choice provides you with more options to change barrels calibers etc with-out having to trade rifles.

Another point is the "quality" of scope to make the range shots to 700 yards is going to cost you alot more than the rifle, as well as a Leica rangefinder.

Hoggy
 
I'm not trying to be a smart ___ but I question how ethical it is to attempt 700 plus yard shots on big game.

Even a 300 Winchester would have no more energy at 750 yards than a 30-30 has at 100 yards. Your also dealing with drop over 13 ft and bullet wind drift @10 mph at around 5 ft. Even if you managed to hit an elk at that range with your first shot, your chances of making a humain kill are not good. Getting a bugget class rifle to shoot that well is also a problem. A muzzle brake is not going to help the rifle's accuracy, but may help with your tendency to flinch if the extra muzzle blast doesn't. You may be one of the 2 percent of hunters that can make those kinds of shots routinely. I would not try it on game without a top grade rifle, the best optics, ideal conditions, and alot of range time to get prepaired. Just accurately ranging a non-reflective target over 700 yards is marginal with the best rangefinders. Good Luck, you have your work cut out for you.
 
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I can only say the following,

Range time, range time, range time...




/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hoggy
 
Quote:
I better clarify here also! I am looking for the rifle for long range deer and Elk hunting. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

I am looking at getting a long range rifle. I am thinking atleast 700 plus yard shots. Does anyone have any suggestions??
I am wanting a rifle that does not cost an arm and leg. I am thinking a savage 116FCSS in 300win or maybe a Weatherby Vanguard sub moa in 300weatherby, I do like the Remington 700 dbm stainless but then we are talking big bucks.
any suggestions would be helpfull. Thanks!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif



I just have to ask.
Have you ever shot anything at 700 yds. ?
I shoot alot of long range (at least it is long range to me) because I have a place to do that and the guns that will allow it. I just came from a site where they thought anything over 300 yds. is too far. It probably was for them. It probably is for most. My self imposed limit is at 500 yds. and even then everything has to be perfect. I'm never in much of a hurry so that helps and I get a ton of practice.
Without a ton of field practice, excellent hand crafted ammo, high end optics, laser range finder, a spotter and a good rest I wouldn't think it a good idea to even attempt beyond 400 yds. Doesn't matter what caliber it is if you can't see your target and know your ammo.
If you think that a standard "off the shelf" Remington rifle is too expensive then wait til you price the optics you'll need to make big game shots at 700 yds. Not to mention how much practice ammo you'll burn up.


Don't ever let anyone tell you "there are no dumb questions" because this my friend is one.
 
I dabble in what I call long range shooting. I shoot groundhogs here in the east. I have a 37 Pound Custom bench gun in .22-250 AI, wearing a 24X Unertl 2" target scope, Jewell trigger, that is sat on a portable shooting bench, and all shot are made from there. I have a very good adjustable shooting rest, and very good sand bags. I feel this is relavent, as to size of bullet and game are matched up well. For me, the game is not about shooting the ground hog. It is about shooting the ground hog in the head. I can tap a hog at 500 yds without much trouble, but to tap him in the head, is another story. Most shots on calm days can be made, if calculations are right. I have ballistic charts, showing drop and wind drift. Add some wind, it's a different ball game. I do shoot a lot, and am very comfortable shooting 500 + yds. Only because I shoot that range. My longest hog kill was 590, in the head, on a calm day. I have shot antelope at 550, with my hunting rig, and did not have much trouble. I am currently building a long range rig on a 7MM Rem. Ultra Mag. I live where I can shoot across the ohio river, to about 700 yds at deer, and want the rifle to be up to the task. Good glass for such shooting, is a must, and sometimes requires a custom reticle, which adds cost. Long range shooting is fun, some enjoy it, and some scoff at it. Fact is I've seen gut shot deer shot at less than 50 yds, so poor shots can happen from any range. What is ethical is your own judgement about your own ability. Having the equipment, skill, patience, and shooting ability to pull off a good long range shot, and possibly a follow up shot takes a lot of practice and range time. You must certainly hand load, and shoot in all conditions, not just when it is nice out and you feel like going to the rang. I would stay in the 7MM STW as a minimum, and if you wanted look at some sites dedicated to Long Range Hunting, for more advice. Good Luck
 
"Every mans' gotta know his limitations" --- Dirty Harry (Callahan) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
maybe you should look at that new Remington 700 PSS in 338 LM there supposed to bring out in Jan. It has a DBM. and muzzle break. Price is supposed to be around $1000.00 maybe less.

theres pictures of them on floating around the web.
 
1) A half mile is 880 yards.

2) 700 is pretty close to 880.

3) Energy at 700 yards is, at most, questionable, not including wind drift.

4) Browning A-bolt in .300 mag - 2 types of muzzle breaks for you to choose from.

5) Good luck.
 
Thanks Guys!! No I did not take any statements in a bad way. I have shot coyotes over 300 yards. And I am just getting into reloading. I have never shot a deer past 250 yards. And most places I hunt 200 is a long shot. But I am looking into a rifle To practice and become proficiant with at longer ranges. I would never take a shot at a range I have never practiced on. And yes I do know the scope will be very pricey, that is what I expect. And I don't think I would ever need to shoot past 500 yards. I just want a caliber that has lots of kill power at long range. And I am also thinking I might put a custom barrel on the rifle if the factory doesn't give me .5 or less minute. I know the savages are very accurate. But I am not sure about the weatherby vanguard sub moa. It is suppose to be very accurate for what I have read.

I have a Winchester DBM in 30-06 but I cant seem to find a round that shoots under 3" at 200 yards. Hopefully when I start reloading. I can come up with a better cartridge for my gun.
 
I certainly don't want to piss in your cornflakes but what everyone has said so far makes great sense. I have practiced shooting at 600 yards, open sights and I can tell you you need a very large circle to see it at that far. I live in the great wide west and really have difficulty judging distance to game. I have an 800 yard range finder. I certainly wish to encourage you to achieve your goal to be a 700 yard shooter but it requires several things. A gun that will do it, a cartridge that can push a bullet fast enough to kill an elk at that range and still have enough energy to kill it, optics galore, as said above "practice, practice, practice. There are probably a number of things that I am forgetting. None of these things are usually found on a $600 gun though. You may be able to find a Remington Ultra mag chambered gun selling cheap because once someone actually shoots these things, a lot of them end up on the used market, or no one is buying them. Another costly option is the 338 Laupa which is a long range champ, brass is expensive, chambering is expensive, it too kick a bit. Also these rifles will weigh easily in the 10 pound range or more, to mitigate recoil and to eek the best accuracy out of the platform.

I think you should think incrementally. Learn to shoot at 500 yards with your 30-06. Be able to group 1 inch per 100 yards, or 5 inches at 500 every time with your old clunker and you will be ready to move on to longer ranges and more lethal cartridges. Most any gun when locked into a static rest can shoot well, repeatedly, but most shooters can't operate the platform repeatedly. My wise friend once told me, "it is not the rifle that shoots well, it is the shooting system". That of course includes rifle, ammo, optics and the nut on the end of the stock.

Reloading may help your groups with the Winchester. But it may be many other things. Do you have an accurate rifle? One that shoots very well? Practice with that and when you can consistently shoot well at a given range, then change the range, when you can consistently shoot well at that range, change the range.... you get the picture. Even a 22 LR is a great tool for improving shooting. Small groups at 200 yards with a 22 LR is comparable to shooting a centerfire at 500 yards. Much cheaper too.
 
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