Best Bench Caliber?

striker

striker

New member
Guys I am asking your opinion on behalf of a good friend. So give it your best. I know that this is really a Chevy and Ford battle that I am starting here, but here goes. Question #1 Who makes the best "Out Of The Box" Bench Rifle(Meaning heavy bull barrel and wood stock or laminate or synthetic)? I know that most rifle makers makes one, But the shooters are aware of the facts. Next question #2 What may be the best caliber for such a gun? I was thinking .308 since the snipers use it so much, but there are many others available. I'll be honest, I've never had much use for a "Bench Rifle" because I have always been worried about something that I can practically take into the woods. So thank you for all of your help. - Striker
 
Almost all benchrest rifles at anything over the entry level, are custom rifles, not out-of-the-box factory. They are either custom reworked factory actions with custom barrels, or custom from the ground up, including the action.

The Remington 40XBBR is the only true "factory" benchrest rifle that I know of, and it comes out of the Rem custom shop. "Target/Varmint" is not the same as benchrest.

If by "best" you mean most accurate and you include varmint type rifles, Savage has an excellent reputation for out-of-the-box accuracy on the low end, and Tikka/Sako on the high end.

Caliber is going to very dependant on the range and use. A 308 is used by many sniper teams, not because it's the most accurate round, but because it gives acceptable accuracy and will deliver enough energy to kill a man out to decent ranges.

For true benchrest, the bullet just has to be able to punch a hole in paper, and a .308 is rare as hens teeth.
 
Is he wanting to compete or does he just want a very accurate 'bench target rifle'? The answer to that question is important and will point to either custom or off-the-shelf. Could be a couple of thousand dollar difference there.

Savage makes some very accurate rifles at affordable prices. Most rifles can be made to shoot very well (better than most shooters LOL) with a little gunsmithing and load development.
 
With your comments, my guess is that he is looking for a target/varmint rifle. It will most likely need to be "out of the box" My guess is that he can spend somewhere around $1200-1400 total. - Striker
 
Nesika offers a benchrifle I guess you can say is out of the box. Benchrest rifles are all hand built and handloaded. I don't shoot benchrest but know lots of guys who do. On caliber I was told this once. "You either shoot a 6ppc or wished you had!"
 
For point blank (up to 300yds) the 6PPC is the King, but beyond that 6BR is the hard one to beat and lately 30BR is making big splash in the 30BR world.
To ask what's the best bench cartridge is like to ask what's the best beer?..... All depending on who you ask and when will you be drinking it.
 
the 6BR and 6PPC from what I have seen at the last few matches over the summer,..have all but been eclipsed by the 30BR. The 30BR was 95% of the guns in competition. Reason being,..the 30cal hole makes for a better chance at "nicking" the next ring and gaining a 10 instead of a 9,..or an "X" instead of just a 10.

6BR is still doing some great things at 600yds and even 1000yds, where the 30BR just can't compete. (too much bullet,..too little powder)

I have not decided whether I am going to run a 6BR or some "improved" version of it on the next rig for 600-1000yds or if I may just continue working with the 6.5x55AI as I have gotten some VERY tight groups with this chambering at extended ranges. Maybe a 30BR tube for 100-300yds and a 6 or 6.5 something for 600-1000yds.

Just too many variables to say that one is better than the other. The rifle and the shooter are FAR more important.
 
I am having a 6.5-284 put together. The smith recomended a Rem VLS. The stock and the action was the reason of his request. A Savage could work also he stated. I went for the Remington.
Jim
 
I'd recommend buying a Christmas present for your friend.

"PRECISION SHOOTING at 1000yds" by Brennan. Sorry I may have the authors name spelled wrong.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...&hasJS=true

There may be other books on the topic, but I just finished this one and there is plenty to make you think. From 22s to the 338's, from 100 yards to well past 1000 yards.

It all depends on how far you want to go, and
How big is your wallet?
 
Quote:
Nesika offers a benchrifle I guess you can say is out of the box. Benchrest rifles are all hand built and handloaded. I don't shoot benchrest but know lots of guys who do. On caliber I was told this once. "You either shoot a 6ppc or wished you had!"



Nesika got bought out by Dakota Arms and they do build custom varmint guns on a Nesika action. However, Dakota Arms is in Chanpter 11, so give them a deposit on a gun that you won't see in 9 months will make you a fool.
 
Striker
I shoot benchrest and the best way to answer your question would be have you friend call kelby's and have a rifle built if he wants true benchrest style. there are many custom actions on the market that are very good i prefer the panda actions that jim kelby and the boys make. Oh yeah 6PPC is a must have to compete with just my opinion tho!!!

If he is not wanting to compete but wants something to cut tiny bugholes in paper and hunt some yotes or varmints with then my advice is do what i did and build a 22BR off a tuned rem 700 action. after some fine tuning its a real shooter. thru the chrony it will shoot faster than the 22-250 and thru a balistics program the trajectory seems to be flatter. Now i am not taking anything away from the 22-250 its a good round and one of my favorites but that little 22 BR has killed just as many varmints around my place at the same extended ranges as my 22-250.
 


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