OK lets try this, are you trying to BUILD a long range rifle or wanting to BUY one set up already?
as both can be done , as there are ways to BUILD it yourself or with some,help from a smith
and then there is BUYING one set up already!
as if long range is your plans, then having the right set up matters to be honest
YES you can use a plain jane at times to make longer shots , but if your looking to shoot 500+ yards often, then you SHOULD spend the time/money the FIRST time and get something that will work better at things
if BUILDING, you can start off with a USED rifle to get an action, add a better barrel/chamber and then a stock, and from there optic's( can also do trigger work too)
But at a $1000 this gets tricky IMO
and then you want a scope?
GOOD scopes that are proven to hold repeatable zeros from making a LOT of adjustments for LONG range work, tend to cost a BUNCH of cash and they cost what they cost due to there proven to work!
the average hunter never used there scopes adjustments often, and that's why so many can get away with less optic's NOT just glass, but the actual build of the scope's insides!
as most sight in at "X" range and LEAVE things there for yrs and yrs, minus MAYBE some slight adjustments as they change loads or bullet's
so there internals are NOT in as much need as repeated zero holding and accurate adjustments!
something you MAY wish to think about is, looking at USED custom build long range rifles, there are TONS out there typically for sale, from owners that built and NOW want something else or found out the fun of shooting FAR isn;t all it was thought to be, or the costs are higher or??
and many custom rifles DON"T hold the value the owner PAID to have built, as most folks want to have THERE OWN BUILT! and just won't pay much for used one's others had built!(like adding mods to vehicles and such, you seldom get back what you sank into things)
if your NOT willing to go this route, then there are again, factory rifles , more these days than ever, that are targeted at LONG range shooting
about every rifle maker has at LEAST one model, some have many
Savage makes a bunch and are proven to be pretty accurate and a lot of aftermarket items for them!
Rem, has its share of models, as again do many others and the Rem 700 action are about the top of the heap in custom built long range rifles, so NO shortage of aftermarket mods out there for them!
other newer brands have rifles son the market now too, Berger has a very nice one
BUT there going to be at the 1000 dollar mark, MINUS a scope!
SO< pending your ;goals, you maybe need to add more to the budget and save up and , as they say, buy once , cry once!
or really look for a decent used rifle set up as is!, and then work on it from there
MOST folks NEVER wear out a barrel, and the MAIN reason is COSTS to do so!
so buying used, isn;t as bad a thing, that some folks make it out to be!(I had a gun shop and sold close to 20,000 guns based on forms filed on sales, so I have some actual experience in this info)
getting on some long range shooting forums, will get you access to used custom built guns for sale too if your willing to consider them, as are many other gun sale sites, like armslist, guns america and so on!
I know we all live on a budget, so I get this, please don;t think I don't
but just cause one WANTS to pay less , doesn;t mean its always possible, things cost what they do for reasons at times and its NOT just about paying more, most times you get mroe for your $$, and when dealing with LONG range, SMALL details matter even more so!, as its small things that make a miss or a hit at a far distance!
if your looking to stay under 500 yards, about ANY GOOD Factory heavy barrel rifle will work FINE too, once you find what it likes in ammo/bullet/powder!
but once you get farther, again, them small better parts come into play!
shooting far and getting GOOD at it, is NOT a cheap venture!