.308 Rifle

[elvolcan 0]

Hi

 

I am going to get a .308 rifle some time in the near future.

I would like it to be as far as possible a multi purpose rifle, so Id like to shoot long range targets at 1000m (not well but adequatly) and also use it for deer stalking.

I know ideally I should get 2 rifles one for target and one for deer, however this one needs to be a compramise of the 2.

 

So I thought it should have a heavy (varmint) barrel, so it can perform better at long ranges, but still it should be ok for use in deer stalking.

 

The options so far (based on good reviews) in the price range Im looking at (sub £500) are these:

 

Remington 700 SPS Varmint (£580 Continental Shooting Supplies)

26" barrel

8.5 lbs weight

1 in 12" twist

 

Howa Lightning 1500 Varmint Black (£455 Highland Outdoors)

24" barrel

9.1 lbs weight

1 in 12" twist

Free Floating Barrel

 

 

Which one is better? Does the Free Floating Barrel on the Howa make it alot more accurate than the Rem700? I know the Remington 700 is the base of the M24, so it cant be bad right?

Or could you suggest a better one in the price range required? Would quite like it to be brand new. Could get second hand if the deal was v good.

So once again it needs to be a .308 rifle that is a good compramise between long range target shooting and deer stalking

 

Thanks

 

 

Edited May 18, 2009 by elvolcan

[Mr_Logic 5]

You won't make a good stab of 1000 yards for cheap, but from what I can find you should be able to get setup to have a go.

 

Of the two, the Remington is the one being used as a platform for customisation, and it's every bit as good as the Howa, so get that.

 

You will then need a scope with repeatable adjustments, and a lot of range too. Bushnell's Elite 3200 10x40 would do, has 100MOA, reasonable optics and a nice price tag. Or possibly Falcon Optics, but I think you will find the ret very cluttered when stalking.

 

Don't scrimp on the mounts - get a Picatinny rail if possible, or decent Weaver bases and rings otherwise. Burris make some pretty good rings, I've tried Leupold and they're OK but the Burris ones are better.

 

You won't do the setup for much less than a grand, maybe a bit less but not a lot.

 

And remember that you will need to have different ammunition for hunting to target - 308 at 1,000 yards needs a bullet with a high BC, and a softpoint simply will not do. You are legally required to use expanding ammo on deer, so therefore you HAVE to use different bullets.

[gluebeam 0]

yea the 700 would be a good choice, you can always add an aftermarket stock like a mc millan or hs, which would make it a good shooter.

[Country Life 0]

Mr Logic has hit the nail on the head.

 

The remmy is your best bet but for those 1km shots you will some special upgrades in the custum shop matey.

 

John

[flytie 1]

Elvocan, I know that you really want a new gun, but leaving you some money for a scope does not give you much of a budget. The Remingtons will do for a project, upgrading as you go but I wondered what you could get secondhand that will get you shooting now.

 

I have read on a Varminting web site about the love affairs going on with secondhand Mauser actioned Paker-Hale .308's, they do seem very accurate from what people are saying.

 

You could also try guntrader, there is a nice heavy barrelled Sako on there;

Gun Details[This gun was for sale as of 13:36, 05 May 09]Sako .308 75 Action 1 Varmint Wood Blued heavy barrel Bolt Action second hand Rifle (R/H), £500 @ US$759/€562

Licence: Firearm

Serial #: 352644DescriptionReally nice rifle. Has been used for shooting long range targets only, hence excellent condition. Supremely accurate rifle. Reloading dies and ammunition also available.

 

Atb, ft

[elvolcan 0]

Hi

Thanks for the replys,

I should've been clearer though, the £500 budget is for the rifle only. (I have more set aside for the scope/bipod/mod etc)

It doesnt need to be good at 1000m shooting just adequate. I'll probably be target shooting at 600m most of the time anyway.

Wooden stocks I really dont like the look of, it will need to have a synthetic stock.

Also is it alot better to have a free floating barrel or a varmint (heavy) barrel for long range target shooting? Which one is most important , or do neither matter that much?

 

Keep the advice coming thanks

Edited May 18, 2009 by elvolcan

[flytie 1]

Hi

Thanks for the replys,

I should've been clearer though, the £500 budget is for the rifle only. (I have more set aside for the scope/bipod/mod etc)

It doesnt need to be good at 1000m shooting just adequate. I'll probably be target shooting at 600m most of the time anyway.

Wooden stocks I really dont like the look of, it will need to have a synthetic stock.

Also is it alot better to have a free floating barrel or a varmint (heavy) barrel for long range target shooting? Which one is most important , or do neither matter that much?

 

Keep the advice coming thanks

 

Try this link; http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_barrel.htm

 

And this one; http://hunting.about.com/cs/guns/a/float_bed.htm

 

It explains it better than I can.

 

 

ft

Edited May 18, 2009 by flytie

[SNAP SHOT 194]

the heavy barrel will need to be free floating also to shoot well at 600 - 1000 yards,

 

A second hand mauser 98 or parker hale, will be project and take time to finish if your on a tight budget but they WILL be shooters,

 

of the 2 you chose, the remmy would also be my choice, aftermarket parts are made by all leading brands for the remmy, you can do a little at a time as you go,

 

trigger would be first on the list..... the stock etc....

 

your budget won't stretch far but look at secondhand quality optics they can be had at reasonalbe prices if you keep your eyes open....

 

 

Snap.

[Mr_Logic 5]

How much are you planning on optics? Remington's your choice for the rifle

[skany 0]

Id say the howa over the remmy out of the two your looking at!

 

dont hear many bad things about em but remmys can be a bit like the lottery!

 

two of my shooting buddys DID use remmys & both were poor shooters so i gues they were fairly unlucky as some obviously shoot!

 

the best shooting 308's ive seen have all been parker hales so i joined & got one myself & havent been disapointed!

 

 

not me shooting it but another forum user

 

cant say i like wood & blue much but i love this rifle!

 

Andy

[provarmint 25]

Id say the howa over the remmy out of the two your looking at!

 

dont hear many bad things about em but remmys can be a bit like the lottery!

 

two of my shooting buddys DID use remmys & both were poor shooters so i gues they were fairly unlucky as some obviously shoot!

 

the best shooting 308's ive seen have all been parker hales so i joined & got one myself & havent been disapointed!

 

 

not me shooting it but another forum user

 

cant say i like wood & blue much but i love this rifle!

 

Andy

 

Excellent shooting

[skany 0]

Id say the howa over the remmy out of the two your looking at!

 

dont hear many bad things about em but remmys can be a bit like the lottery!

 

two of my shooting buddys DID use remmys & both were poor shooters so i gues they were fairly unlucky as some obviously shoot!

 

the best shooting 308's ive seen have all been parker hales so i joined & got one myself & havent been disapointed!

 

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/And...phgroupsjpg.jpg

not me shooting it but another forum user

 

cant say i like wood & blue much but i love this rifle!

 

Andy

 

Excellent shooting

 

 

Hi

thanks mate it was!

Just a shame it wasent me behind the trigger really

 

was a mate off uk varminting who convinced me i needed a PH (jamie aka silentsoleshoots308holes)

 

this however was me @400yds

 

 

the bigger group is about .8

 

cheers Andy

[provarmint 25]

Id say the howa over the remmy out of the two your looking at!

 

dont hear many bad things about em but remmys can be a bit like the lottery!

 

two of my shooting buddys DID use remmys & both were poor shooters so i gues they were fairly unlucky as some obviously shoot!

 

the best shooting 308's ive seen have all been parker hales so i joined & got one myself & havent been disapointed!

 

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/And...phgroupsjpg.jpg

not me shooting it but another forum user

 

cant say i like wood & blue much but i love this rifle!

 

Andy

 

Excellent shooting

 

 

Hi

thanks mate it was!

Just a shame it wasent me behind the trigger really

 

was a mate off uk varminting who convinced me i needed a PH (jamie aka silentsoleshoots308holes)

 

this however was me @400yds

 

 

the bigger group is about .8

 

cheers Andy

 

Phew !

[varminter 10]

I have read on a Varminting web site about the love affairs going on with secondhand Mauser actioned Paker-Hale .308's, they do seem very accurate from what people are saying.

 

 

 

Atb, ft

 

Hi mate ,

The above quote is very true!!!! ;)

I have been fortunate to shoot 3 different Parker Hale TX1200s , a M83 and skanys M84 and all i can say is that they shoot fantastic!!!! :D

 

All the best.................

RAY.........................................................

Edited May 21, 2009 by varminter

[Deker 3,478]

Hi

 

I am going to get a .308 rifle some time in the near future.

I would like it to be as far as possible a multi purpose rifle, so Id like to shoot long range targets at 1000m (not well but adequatly) and also use it for deer stalking.

I know ideally I should get 2 rifles one for target and one for deer, however this one needs to be a compramise of the 2.

 

So I thought it should have a heavy (varmint) barrel, so it can perform better at long ranges, but still it should be ok for use in deer stalking.

 

The options so far (based on good reviews) in the price range Im looking at (sub £500) are these:

 

Remington 700 SPS Varmint (£580 Continental Shooting Supplies)

26" barrel

8.5 lbs weight

1 in 12" twist

 

Howa Lightning 1500 Varmint Black (£455 Highland Outdoors)

24" barrel

9.1 lbs weight

1 in 12" twist

Free Floating Barrel

 

 

Which one is better? Does the Free Floating Barrel on the Howa make it alot more accurate than the Rem700? I know the Remington 700 is the base of the M24, so it cant be bad right?

Or could you suggest a better one in the price range required? Would quite like it to be brand new. Could get second hand if the deal was v good.

So once again it needs to be a .308 rifle that is a good compramise between long range target shooting and deer stalking

 

Thanks

 

 

 

I don't see you doing both (1000 yards and deer stalking) very well with the same rifle, long deer stalks with heavy rifles are hard work and the 700 was never designed as a 1000 yard target rifle...it just doesn't work!!

 

It is a big compromise in both areas, even customising is not going to produce one gun "good" at both, only adequate at best, and by the time you have spent all that money customising you could easily have bought 2 different guns to do each job better!!