Want budget long range rifle advice

indecentspeeds · 12-22-2006, 06:29 PM

Hey new guy here, i need some advice. I currently hit the range about twice a month to shoot handguns, mostly rent, sometimes i get a friend to loan me his but i'm getting bored. The rangemaster says i got a really good shot, for me its easy to hit targets at the indoor range. I buddy of mine took me shooting his rem. 700 with a scope and i flipped out. I had such a good time shooting long range i want to get a rifle of my own. I'm on a Extreme tight budget but i want something that shoots straight, i don't hunt and something maybe like a .22 would be nice for the cheap ammo. I want a scope and i want something just to start off, if i get serious i'll buy a better gun, for now i just want to get out there and push some rounds. What guns should i be looking at, Bass Pro Shops here in south florida recomended a Remington 710, felt nice and seems to be a really good gun, little high on price but i might be able to muscle enough. Any insight guys would help hard to trust a salesmen!!!

thank you

jungleworker · 12-27-2006, 02:19 AM

Ah yes, the ultimate question!

Not really but it's asked often enough to be.

You've basically got 2 choices here. Match the round to the action or match the action to the round.

In other words, do you want a semi-auto or a bolt action or a lever action or a pump or a single shot?

Since you are wanting to test the waters out without a big cash outlay I'd suggest looking at pawn shops first. You can find good deals at many of them. I'd also look at gun shows in town. You can often find new and used guns there at good prices too.

I'm only speaking for me but I'm not a big fan of the 710. It's cheaper than many other bolt actions, but it's not as reliable as others too.

Over the years I've seen way too many guys buy one only to curse the thing after it either wouldn't feed properly, eject properly or just shoot worth a flip.

Try and determine what you've got a real desire for and try and shoot before you buy. You'll save money and headaches in the long run.

good luck.

samuel · 12-27-2006, 04:32 AM

Do you like spray&pray or accuracy?

I dont like the 710 because it has a hard working bolt,and right beside it,for just a few $,s more are Savage,Winchester,and Weatherby which I have purchased and they did great.The .223 in out of the box rifles are all 1in12 twist and .22-250 are 1in14 usually meaning you are restricted to 55gr and under in bullets which restricts the range.I have a Ruger MK2 with a Douglas supreme stainless 26" barrel that only stabilises fbsp,s in 55gr or anything lighter.The long body hp,s and polimer tips need a faster twist.To shoot this 400-500yd range a .22 needs a 1in9 twist at least so you can stabilise up to 70gr bullets and shoot sub-minute groups.I will probably get arguments on this and that is great but this is my experience in lots of range and hunting experience.A slow twist wont stabilise long bodied bullets.A faster twist usually stabilises shorter bodied bullets.Heavier bullets maintain speed much better than light bullets.And it costs a lot of money to shoot past 400yds with .22,s. samuel.

lefty o · 12-27-2006, 07:27 AM

i'd also stay away from the 710. the savage's, winchester mod70, or remington 700 are all decent rifles.

Calvin · 12-27-2006, 11:00 AM

For a few dollars more than a 710, you can get one of the new Stevens bolt rifles. They are underrated and will shock you when you see how well they shoot. A friend of mine has one in .308 and it holds its own against his 700 BDL any day of the year.
I would buy one myself, but I've got another toy in the making right now. But, once the funds are available, I am getting one myself.

silentknight · 12-27-2006, 03:36 PM

I would think about a 17 HMR, relatively cheap ammo and a whole lot more accurate than 22LR. I'm planning getting one some time this year, I will either be getting a Marlin 917 or a Savage 93R17BTVS. If you want to step up into the world of centerfire then I would look at a Tikka T3 in .223

Jay68442 · 12-27-2006, 03:49 PM

For a tight budget I would suggest a military surplus rifle.
mosin nagant
sks

very cheap at gun shows and ammo is cheap as well.

.22guy · 12-27-2006, 04:40 PM

I would recomend the .17HMR as well. Or a .22LR. The .22 is much harder to shoot at 100 yards, but you could practice a lot for not that much money. There are so many caliber and gun choices out there, it's hard to know which one to pick.

freakingout · 12-27-2006, 11:11 PM

I also have to recommend the .17HMR. I own one myself and love it. Ammo's only a few bucks more than the .22 and I've had great accuracy with the little round out to 200 yards. Past that is pushing it though. As many have said before, Savage makes a great gun for a great price. Good luck!

Despoiler · 12-28-2006, 03:32 AM

Take a look at the Stevens or the Savage, basically the same rifle, the Savage comes with the accu-trigger. In my opinion the best factory trigger on the market.

Stevens Model 200 Short Action

Savage Arms Package Series Model 10GXP3

The next choice will be what caliber, I am sure there will be lots of advice on that too.

mikedb · 12-31-2006, 05:46 PM

You are right not to trust a salesperson. I have found over 40 years of shooting that they are generally not that well informed and for some reason dont want to say they dont know. A lot of good ideas have been posted above. You need to spend some time readyng and asking questions before jumping at something. This is especially true if money is tight. The best info is n the net. Gun mags are also biased towrd their advertisers. First look at rimfires. 22s are a good start, cheap ammo. 17 HMRs are good; more expensive ammo but more accurate.

Moving on to centerfires the cost goes up. Look at ammo prices before you decied on anything.

fordruid · 12-31-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay68442

For a tight budget I would suggest a military surplus rifle.
mosin nagant
sks

very cheap at gun shows and ammo is cheap as well.

Absolutely!!!!!
For $250 you can have a NICE weapon AND 2000 rounds of ammo.

myarmor · 12-31-2006, 06:18 PM

If your wanting a firearms that you can mount a scope to right off the bat and be on a Budget I also suggest a Savage/Stevens or an NEF/H&R. With a NEF/H&R you can switch out barrels much like a TC contender and have a new caliber in just a moment. And barrels are only about $100 or so, so they don't break the bank, plus they are offered in many different configs. from Superlight barrels to long 26" barrels -25-06 and 280, to 24" Bull Barrels in 204, 223, 22-250, and 243. Even 45-70's, 38-55's and new to 07' a 444Marlin and 45Colt. Lots of choices.
H & R Firearms
H & R Firearms: Customer Support

toolman · 12-31-2006, 07:09 PM

You can get a Mossberg ATR 100 @ Wally-World for less than $250

bigandrich44 · 12-31-2006, 07:31 PM

what about a used .30-06? Surplus blasting ammo is cheap, able to reach to 1000 yards, ammo is everywhere, any gun you want is in .30-06, and if you ever decide to go hunting you have a gun for every animal in North America.

12-22-2006, 06:29 PM	#1
indecentspeeds Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1	Want budget long range rifle advice Hey new guy here, i need some advice. I currently hit the range about twice a month to shoot handguns, mostly rent, sometimes i get a friend to loan me his but i'm getting bored. The rangemaster says i got a really good shot, for me its easy to hit targets at the indoor range. I buddy of mine took me shooting his rem. 700 with a scope and i flipped out. I had such a good time shooting long range i want to get a rifle of my own. I'm on a Extreme tight budget but i want something that shoots straight, i don't hunt and something maybe like a .22 would be nice for the cheap ammo. I want a scope and i want something just to start off, if i get serious i'll buy a better gun, for now i just want to get out there and push some rounds. What guns should i be looking at, Bass Pro Shops here in south florida recomended a Remington 710, felt nice and seems to be a really good gun, little high on price but i might be able to muscle enough. Any insight guys would help hard to trust a salesmen!!! thank you

12-27-2006, 04:32 AM	#3
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	Do you like spray&pray or accuracy? I dont like the 710 because it has a hard working bolt,and right beside it,for just a few $,s more are Savage,Winchester,and Weatherby which I have purchased and they did great.The .223 in out of the box rifles are all 1in12 twist and .22-250 are 1in14 usually meaning you are restricted to 55gr and under in bullets which restricts the range.I have a Ruger MK2 with a Douglas supreme stainless 26" barrel that only stabilises fbsp,s in 55gr or anything lighter.The long body hp,s and polimer tips need a faster twist.To shoot this 400-500yd range a .22 needs a 1in9 twist at least so you can stabilise up to 70gr bullets and shoot sub-minute groups.I will probably get arguments on this and that is great but this is my experience in lots of range and hunting experience.A slow twist wont stabilise long bodied bullets.A faster twist usually stabilises shorter bodied bullets.Heavier bullets maintain speed much better than light bullets.And it costs a lot of money to shoot past 400yds with .22,s. samuel. Last edited by samuel; 12-27-2006 at 05:36 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

12-27-2006, 03:36 PM	#6
silentknight Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,125 Images: 3	I would think about a 17 HMR, relatively cheap ammo and a whole lot more accurate than 22LR. I'm planning getting one some time this year, I will either be getting a Marlin 917 or a Savage 93R17BTVS. If you want to step up into the world of centerfire then I would look at a Tikka T3 in .223 __________________ Sic Vis Pacem Parabellum

12-31-2006, 05:46 PM	#11
mikedb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2	Many many choices You are right not to trust a salesperson. I have found over 40 years of shooting that they are generally not that well informed and for some reason dont want to say they dont know. A lot of good ideas have been posted above. You need to spend some time readyng and asking questions before jumping at something. This is especially true if money is tight. The best info is n the net. Gun mags are also biased towrd their advertisers. First look at rimfires. 22s are a good start, cheap ammo. 17 HMRs are good; more expensive ammo but more accurate. Moving on to centerfires the cost goes up. Look at ammo prices before you decied on anything.

12-31-2006, 07:09 PM	#14
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,566 Blog Entries: 22	You can get a Mossberg ATR 100 @ Wally-World for less than $250 __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

12-27-2006, 02:19 AM	#2
jungleworker Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 25	Ah yes, the ultimate question! Not really but it's asked often enough to be. You've basically got 2 choices here. Match the round to the action or match the action to the round. In other words, do you want a semi-auto or a bolt action or a lever action or a pump or a single shot? Since you are wanting to test the waters out without a big cash outlay I'd suggest looking at pawn shops first. You can find good deals at many of them. I'd also look at gun shows in town. You can often find new and used guns there at good prices too. I'm only speaking for me but I'm not a big fan of the 710. It's cheaper than many other bolt actions, but it's not as reliable as others too. Over the years I've seen way too many guys buy one only to curse the thing after it either wouldn't feed properly, eject properly or just shoot worth a flip. Try and determine what you've got a real desire for and try and shoot before you buy. You'll save money and headaches in the long run. good luck.

12-27-2006, 07:27 AM	#4
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,785	i'd also stay away from the 710. the savage's, winchester mod70, or remington 700 are all decent rifles.

12-27-2006, 11:00 AM	#5
Calvin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,996	For a few dollars more than a 710, you can get one of the new Stevens bolt rifles. They are underrated and will shock you when you see how well they shoot. A friend of mine has one in .308 and it holds its own against his 700 BDL any day of the year. I would buy one myself, but I've got another toy in the making right now. But, once the funds are available, I am getting one myself.

12-27-2006, 03:49 PM	#7
Jay68442 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 35	For a tight budget I would suggest a military surplus rifle. mosin nagant sks very cheap at gun shows and ammo is cheap as well.

12-27-2006, 04:40 PM	#8
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,140	I would recomend the .17HMR as well. Or a .22LR. The .22 is much harder to shoot at 100 yards, but you could practice a lot for not that much money. There are so many caliber and gun choices out there, it's hard to know which one to pick.

12-27-2006, 11:11 PM	#9
freakingout Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Opelousas, LA Posts: 118	I also have to recommend the .17HMR. I own one myself and love it. Ammo's only a few bucks more than the .22 and I've had great accuracy with the little round out to 200 yards. Past that is pushing it though. As many have said before, Savage makes a great gun for a great price. Good luck!

12-28-2006, 03:32 AM	#10
Despoiler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Occupied Territory of California Posts: 2,232	Take a look at the Stevens or the Savage, basically the same rifle, the Savage comes with the accu-trigger. In my opinion the best factory trigger on the market. Stevens Model 200 Short Action Savage Arms Package Series Model 10GXP3 The next choice will be what caliber, I am sure there will be lots of advice on that too.

12-31-2006, 06:18 PM	#13
myarmor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southwest ,VA Posts: 1,147	If your wanting a firearms that you can mount a scope to right off the bat and be on a Budget I also suggest a Savage/Stevens or an NEF/H&R. With a NEF/H&R you can switch out barrels much like a TC contender and have a new caliber in just a moment. And barrels are only about $100 or so, so they don't break the bank, plus they are offered in many different configs. from Superlight barrels to long 26" barrels -25-06 and 280, to 24" Bull Barrels in 204, 223, 22-250, and 243. Even 45-70's, 38-55's and new to 07' a 444Marlin and 45Colt. Lots of choices. H & R Firearms H & R Firearms: Customer Support

12-31-2006, 07:31 PM	#15
bigandrich44 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,013	what about a used .30-06? Surplus blasting ammo is cheap, able to reach to 1000 yards, ammo is everywhere, any gun you want is in .30-06, and if you ever decide to go hunting you have a gun for every animal in North America.