whats a good inexpensive sniper rifle?

[toolman]

The original poster has been gone for a long time.

[billy]

yeah but we just got started!

[Powderman]

Originally Posted by bheiser

i have an enfield, i just want something that looks mean and is accurate

Looking mean (in a rifle, that is) is not important. Hitting the target is.

Consider this question: would you rather have an average trained person, shooting at you with a .308 AI with all the goodies, including a US Optics 5.5-22 T-PAL at 500 yards.....

or Carlos Hathcock taking a crack at you at the same distance with a Winchester Model 70 and a 3-9 Weaver?

Didn't think so.

It's not the gear, it's the shooter. Period. Having the best equipment helps--but knowing how to use it makes all the difference.

Mil-Dot scopes are all the rage--but probably 99% of the people who buy them do NOT know how to use those pesky little dots. They spend umpteen dollars to get the latest auto-ranging scope--not knowing that the proper use of a mil-dot scope can put you within 20 yards, plus or minus, of your target.

And even then, if you don't know how to put in your dope--come-ups, minutes of deflection for wind, calculating the proper cosine for shooting up or downhill--you still might not hit your target.

Bottom line--for the amount of money you suggested, get a good used Remington, Winchester or a Savage rifle, put some decent optics on it, and concentrate on the basics at 100 yards. When you can shoot sub MOA, worry about the longer ranges.

Now, if you really--REALLY--want to know what the magical, secret world of a sniper is like, here ya go. This is my first actual deployment with my Department. (Note--this is LE precision rifle, definitely NOT military.)

____________________________________

I wanted to relay my experience with (drum roll, please...) my first ever CALL OUT! (Insert bells, whistles, and cheers!)

It seemed that at our High School (note: I think that this could only happen in Indian Country), which is a Tribal school, we had a bunch of really savory characters who were coming to graduation to see "their kids" graduate, to wit:


Local Crips and Crips-affiliated gangs, 3 ea.

Local Bloods and Bloods related gangs, 2 ea.

Local wannabees, with attitude, 1 ea.

1% motorcycle club, 1 ea.


(No, I'm NOT joking.)


Since these groups usually don't play well with others (even among themselves) the decision was made to make a proactive stand to avert violence. A metal detector was installed at the door, and SRT was called out.


The rest of the team members got to sit in an auxiliary building, in gear, with air conditioning.


Yours truly went to the roof.


I was pumped up! Here I was, ready to go on my first call-out! I was ready.


My optimism waned somewhat, starting with the roof access. Up many flights of stairs, culminating in a 30-foot ladder climb. I slung my rifle by its nice leather sling across my back, and started to climb.


First observation: A 12 pound rifle, with optics, dragging itself around to hang from your neck by a broad leather strap, thus severely reducing the capacity of your airway, is NOT fun. (First note to self: Get a 3 point sling!!)


Of course, the two extra boxes of GM Match, binoculars, notepad and two water bottles in my cargo pockets did not help too much, either, at they tried their level best to make me lose my balance each time I advanced a rung. Rounding out the picture was the complete set of duty gear with all the accoutrements.


Another officer had gone up before me, and was standing at the access hatch offering words of engagement. These words of engagement usually consisted of snickers and every now and then, a "Dude, are you OK?" My reply was usually sharp, acerbic and witty. Unfortunately, it always came out sounding suspiciously like "urk" and "gaack".


I finally made it to the roof. Awright! Here we go!


I quickly settled into the prone, setting the rifle beside me on its bipod, and started ranging known points of engagement.


On a black rubber roof.

In a black jumpsuit.

In full gear.

On a 75 degree day.


The novelty wore off within 15 minutes, as I laid there simmering in my portable sauna. I felt like a dying cockroach--all I could do to alleviate the misery was to wiggle a bit now and then.


A passing bird chose to mock me unmercifully by landing near my head and chirping merrily. I cast a baleful glaze at it, knowing that it could fly away into the wonderful breeze which taunted me occasionally. To vent my increasingly foul mood, I imagined it on a spit, slow roasting.


After 4.5 hours of cooking, I was finally told to stand down and to come off the roof. I thought for a while about just rolling off the edge, laying down in the grass and sprinkling myself in spices, because there was surely cooked pork that day. I did not do so because the fall would surely have hurt my rifle.


Lessons learned:


1. Get a mat. And a drag bag. Preferably both. Blackhawk makes a combination that holds rifle, ammo, data book, binos, and even a CamelBak, which can be had for about $110, give or take a few bucks. It easily converts to a shooting mat.


2. The most important job of the sniper/precision rifle is gathering information BEFORE you have to take the shot--if it ever comes to that. While there on the roof, I did not chamber a round, and the covers stayed on the scope. But I established commo with my team leader, advising him and the others of every potential threat that came onto the grounds. I was also able to take some real neat group and individual photos for our gang intel books.


So, there you have it--the glamourous world of the police sniper.


Yours,

Powderman (about 15 lb. lighter)

[just_a_car]

ROFL!

Powderman, thank you so much for that story. It made my day. Your vivid descriptions of the scenario made me giggle as I pictured them in my mind's eye.

Do you ever make it out to the local IDPA matches? I attended my first one this last Saturday in Renton and we had a semi-auto rifle side-match. Quite a few folk ran their AR's and I ran my AES-10 (AK-variant) and my mosin nagant 91/59 "Svetlana".... Yes, that's right, I ran a bolt-action at a semi-auto match. It was a 30 round minimum where you had 10 paper targets, 3 rounds each. Start in the "house", take three targets through the window ports, then move to the doorway, take three targets, then out the doorway and take two targets on the move to cover behind a barrel and take two more. There was a 20 round maximum in each magazine, requiring at least one reload. Man, was that a fun scenario! Admittedly, my mosin ran 240.20 seconds (after penalties), whereas my AK ran 85.54 seconds (after penalties). The 5.56 competitors ran between 50 and 92 seconds while the 7.62 competitors ran between 50 and 106 (not including my bolt-action 240), after penalties.

If you're interested in competing, let me know, I'll send you a link.

[Rex in OTZ]

The other day I was passing thru the gun shop and checking ammo prices & new optica, one the hospital staff came thru "RowanAtkinson lookalike" asked if his new sniper rifle was back from the gunsmith's I was subconciesly thinking what you doing with a sniper rifle? and where do you live incase ya flip out and the bullets fly? I tend to avoild the use sniper as its a trigger word like Natzi, jew, Split tail you get the idea, I tend to refer my scoped & more accurate rifle as a target rifle or sharp shooter rifle "a horse is still a horse no matter what name you give it", I just use a less inflamatory discription in public you never know who hears what you say and what is passed on to the cops!

[billy]

PRECISION RIFLE

MINE ARENT EVEN TACTICAL.
they are precise though...................

[SwedeSteve]

Thanks for the chuckle Powder!

I have 2 extremely accurate, scoped rifles.

[billy]

Originally Posted by SwedeSteve

Thanks for the chuckle Powder!
I have 2 extremely accurate, scoped rifles.

yes but.....
are they black and scary looking extremely accurate scoped rifles?
or are they the "good to your mother" kinder,gentler camo ones?

[just_a_car]

Originally Posted by billy

yes but.....
are they black and scary looking extremely accurate scoped rifles?
or are they the "good to your mother" kinder,gentler camo ones?

You forgot the "antique-style" wood stocked ones.

[billy]

Originally Posted by just_a_car

You forgot the "antique-style" wood stocked ones.

oh yes
the warm n fuzzy grampa style ones.....

[just_a_car]

Originally Posted by billy

oh yes
the warm n fuzzy grampa style ones.....

Yeah, those.

[big shrek]

Inexpensive...it strikes me that an old Mosin-nagant might be the most inexpensive "Sniper" rifle...but ouchie, the ammo cost...lol

[Niko911]

ammo isnt expensive for the mosin nagat at all. I bought 200rounds for $70 bucks

[Deersniper]

My Stevens 200 .308 with a 4x15x40 scope fits the bill as a great hunting rifle. 400.00 total. We gotta quit using those terms, if we are going to show a contrast compared to the antis. This wording just feeds them.

[gandog56]

Originally Posted by big shrek

Inexpensive...it strikes me that an old Mosin-nagant might be the most inexpensive "Sniper" rifle...but ouchie, the ammo cost...lol

Reloading cures all such nonsense. Isn't any more expensive than a 30.06.

[gandog56]

Originally Posted by gandog56

Reloading cures all such nonsense. Isn't any more expensive than a 30.06.

But milsurp is still cheaper.

[Chris61289]

Originally Posted by bheiser

under 500 with ability to hit at 500yds

Since you want to stay under $500, I'd recommend a Kar 98k, Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk.III, or No. 4 Mk. 1 as a bolt-action sniping weapon. I have used them with a scope before and was amazed by the accuracy.

as for semi-auto sniping, I love my M1 Garand with a scope, but that may take you over $500. Maybe an SR-25 or even a SR-25SD.

[billy]

those enfields are great shooters alright .
i just cannot bring myself to deface mine by installing a scope.
besides ive already got black and scary looking extremely accurate scoped rifles.

[BugEater]

Czech K98 8mm $250.00. Redfield turrent mount and rings $65.00. Timney trigger $125.00. Used Leupold 10X MilDot scope $250.00. Assorted high quality coatings $40.00.

You asked for a recipe for a "sniper" rifle. I would creep with this rifle. Dependable action proven design and accuracy. You could save money by using a lesser scope. The difference between a good scope and a bad scope has little to do with price or name brand. A good scope holds zero and does not fog, regardless of the name. A Swarovski that fogs up and doesn't hold zero is a lousy scope.

[Jersey Jailer]

Any of the WWII calibers will be good for you, if you want to shoot 500 yds. To stay within your budget a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 or a Yugo. VZ-48 in 8mm Mauser would be your best bet (inexpensive) put the rest of your budget for a scope mount and scope, just put your money for the best scope you can get. If it has target turrents so much the better. Try cdnninvestments.com for the scope, cheaper than dirt, or any of the other places that are mentioned on this site for C&R dealers.

If you dont want a military rifle then keep looking for a bolt gun with a bull barrel. I don't think you will be in your butget. A used rifle on a Mauser 98 Large ring may be your only option there and the to get a varmint rifle in 30 cal may be difficult.

good luck on your quest