Originally Posted by schoolcraft

left handed bolt?.....I've been through a bunch of them trying to find the one I like the best.

Ruger - Left hand Hawkeye in either wood/blued steel OR laminate/stainless.

Remington - Model 700 CDL wood/blued steel

Browning - A-Bolt Stainless Stalker, Hunter, or Medallion (if you can still find them. They were discontinued)

Savage and Tikka - Never owned any of these, and while less expensive, are considered by many as the new standard for "out of the box" accuracy.


Caliber? Long Rang caliber without clavical stomping recoil?

I've asked way to many questions on this forum about rifles and calibers to give you an "experienced" answer, but my opinion would be something like a 7mm. Rem. Mag. I don't consider it's recoil harsh at all....others may feel differently. The .284 bullet diameter has excellent flight characteristics.
I guess "long range" is a very relative term. Long range to Ridge Runner might be 1400 yards.....to most others it might mean 300-400 yards.
In a 300-400 yard "long range" "lighter recoil" rifle, you might consider the previous posters recomendation of the .280 or even the ol' .30-06.