[moos420]

i was looking at getting a sako 85 s/s in a .308 with a leupold vx-L 3.5x14-56mm. i am just looking to use the rifle for mid game hunting. moose would be the largest thing i would thing of hunting.(when i go to visit my relatives in Canada) i live in Australia and there is no real big game here.i would like to do some target shooting around and up to 600yrd for now.
i think that i will like to build a long range custom sniper rifle as my second rifle when i am more experienced and have more money and time to spend on it. my grandpa was a sniper for the air force and i would like to be able to shoot like he could(1000yrd+). i have around $3000 to spend on gun and scope. any advice or experience you could pass on to me would be rather grateful.

thank for your time
moos420

[nathangdad]

as you have included moose I feel the .308 is not adequate.
Game such as moose are more for the .338 Winchester Magnum or perhaps the .340 Weatherby cartridge. Actually, some people do use larger and more powerful cartridges for this purpose.

1,000 yard shooting requires much more than $3,000.00 to begin. I suggest you contact some people into this type shooting as a beginning point for research.

Have a great day.

[Palladin8]

Well First I would like to welcome you to Gun and Game. Secondly I would say that the .308 will be an accurate cartridge in most any rifle you buy. My friend has an older Remington pump action that would hit the 1000yd steel gong fairly consistently. He had practiced and practiced with the rifle and knew the rifle well. Now his rifle isn't a competition rifle but with the right ammo he could shoot some very nice groups. I am not sure what the prices and what brands are available for rifles there in Australia, but we do have many members from Australia that can help out.
As far as the .308 being enough gun to hunt Moose I would say that it would work within closer ranges. Are there better cartridges out there? Sure but the .308 with a good bullet will do in a Moose.