ideas for a long action rifle

[strong89]

im lookin for ideas on a rifle. i want to build a nice precision rifle. WINCHESTER model 70? remington 700? and also size??

 

[curraheeguns]

Price range?

 

[strong89]

under $1000

 

[42769vette]

For under 1000 bucks you have to do a savage action. unless your doing the machining yourself, and that wont get you into a scope either.

caliber will decide action length for you.

It could also depend on your definition of build, to me your not building a gun unless you buy a barrel, thread it, and mate it to your action.

Some folks consider a Build if you put a scope on it.

 

[melensdad]

Define LONG RANGE.

Are you talking 200 yards? 600 yards? 1000 yards?

Savage action would be the budget choice. Do you reload? Are you willing to wildcat? Is this for some type of competition?

I'd take a 6.5mm or 7mm over a 30 caliber in most cases. 260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5x284 would be excellent choices, in that order. Even the 7m-08 is a very good choice if you want to stay out of the magnums. All will best a 308 out to 1000 yards.

 

[avboiler11]

Why a long action? Do you reload? What calibers are you interested in.

Sub-$1000 budget won't get you much in the way of a "build".

If I were trying to do what you are, I'd build a 284 Winchester on a Savage 110 action.

 

[strong89]

500 yds+.... and im talking about a full build. ive heard great things bout .300 win mag, but ive hear even more bout .338 lapua. i do not reload but a buddy of mine does and he will do it for me until i get everything i need. also i know that ya need to spend atleast what you have in the gun on the optics. so im sayin $1000 for just rifle.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

is $1000 your TOTAL budget - or just the budget for the rifle minus scope/rings/mount?

If it's your total, hunt up an inexpensive $500 rifle and spend the rest on optics.

-J-

 

[avboiler11]

i will be machining certain parts if it would be more cost effective.

Such as what?

If you snagged a Savage 110 long action for $250, and got a Criterion barrel & NSS recoil lug for $350, you'd have $400 left for a stock/trigger/bottom metal/magazines in order to hit your $1k budget.

Yes you can build a Savage for under $1k...just depends on what you want, what your expectations are, and your interest in eyeing multiple forum classifieds for deals on used gear.

Also, you don't need a magnum for 500yd+; a 260 or 6.5 Creedmoor will easily make 1000yd and beyond.

 

[42769vette]

for 500 yards I would not consider the 300 winny, or the 338 lapua. I would look at the 260, 243 area of calibers. Since you dont reload the 308 has good factory ammo options so you might look into that.

So you need a short action and I would go with a savage, so

action 250
barrel 350
stock 200
trigger 100
bottom metal 50

total 950

 

[avboiler11]

An example:

You can buy a Savage 11 short action package gun or a Stevens 200 for $350 or so. Sell the factory barrel and stock, and let's say you've got $300 in an action.

Then call Jim Briggs @ Northland Shooters Supply and buy a Criterion barrel in the caliber of your choice (I'd recommend 6.5 Creedmoor if you don't reload yet) and NSS recoil lug...roughly $350 to your door.

Then buy a Bell & Carlson A2 Medalist stock from Red Hawk Rifles...roughly $250 to your door.

That puts you at $900...but you'll need a barrel nut wrench and a go-gauge for the barrel swap which will put you pretty near $1000.

 

[strong89]

thats all well and good but what about when i reach out to 1000 yds+ ? a 260 or 243 gonna reach?

 

[42769vette]

thats all well and good but what about when i reach out to 1000 yds+ ? a 260 or 243 gonna reach?

No problem what so ever. The 260 is one of the most popular 1000 yard match rifles out there, and the 243 is probably in the top 10.

 

[42769vette]

would anybody post pictures if they have built one?

Your not going to get this for your budget but here is my stiller 260

Your not going to do this for 1000 either but you will be closer than the first rifle. It is a model 70 358 bfg I did. Since the pics I threaded the 358 for a VIAS brake

 

[avboiler11]

The following is at 500' ASL elevation, 59F, 29.92" Hg, 10mph crosswind, 1000 yards

308, 175gr Matchking @ 2600fps:
11.8mil (425.4") drop, 3.0mil (109.2") drift

243, 105gr Berger Hybrid @ 3000fps:
7.6mil (273.0") drop, 2.0mil (70.4") drift

260 or 6.5 Creedmoor, 140gr A-Max @ 2810fps:
8.6mil (308.3") drop, 2.0mil (72.4") drift

7mm Rem Mag, 162gr A-Max @ 3000fps:
7.1mil (257.3") drop, 1.7mil (61.5") drift

300WM, 208gr A-Max @ 2850fps:
7.8mil (282.3") drop, 1.7mil (62.2") drift

 

[avboiler11]

Savage 10FP w/ Criterion 260 barrel (stock has been painted khaki and barreled action black)

Same rifle in a Manners T2 stock

Savage 110 long action with Criterion 260 barrel in 112BVSS stock

 

[avboiler11]

...and my favorite sleeper 1000yd rifle

Savage 110 long action with Criterion 22" 1:7 223 Ackely Improved barrel

80gr A-Max @ 2900fps has better 1000yd drop/drift ballistics than military 7.62 M118LR.