I want a new gun.
 

I want a new gun to shoot long ranges with, I know I want something that would look similar to a sniper style rifle with the heavy barrel, and that type of stuff, my biggest concern is in the caliber I'd choose. I was thinking something like a .223 or .243 or .22-250 something like that? Any suggestions, This picture is something like what I have in mind, anyone have any suggestions about what gun I should look into getting, like a make and model, and how much Id be looking at spending for something like that?

Thanks a lot
Ryan.
Attachment 6255

Are you going to hunt with it, or just punch paper?

What do you consider "long range?"

What's more important to you, that the rifle look tacti-cool and impress your friends, or that it'll actually shoot?

How much money do you have to spend on the rifle AND scope?

How much experience do you have shooting centerfire rifles?

Do you handload or will you be dependent on factory ammo?

Your answer to these questions will allow us to better answer yours.

Mike

long range, 1000yards?

Some classic long range cartridges to consider...
.308
6.5mm-284 Norma
.223rem

or perhaps...
7mm WSM
7mm-08
6mm-284
any of the ackley improved's.....243AI, 6mm Rem AI, .223AI, .22-250AI, .25-06AI

do you reload?
looking to hunt with this cartridge? if so what?

typically the 6.5mm and 7mm cartridges are known for their high BC's and long range performance.

btw when you think long range, you think accurate catridges....how fast etc...doesn't matter much if at 1000yds your groups are the size of a barn...

Savage makes some long range model rifles etc....might not look much like a sniper rifle though, perhaps you could get one dipped though to look like one.

check out ed brown rifles as well, he makes a marine sniper rifle or something similar in name...

check this out. I was in the same boat as you. I want a good long range gun I can hunt with that will do mid to long range. Thought was bolt action till I really thought about this one.
This spring I will have one even if it ends up being bolt. http://www.dpmsinc.com/firearms/firearm.aspx?id=19

The farthest range we have around here is 300yards. So that's what I'm plannin a 500 yard shot isn't out of the question either. I'll probablly be hand loading, I want a heavy barrel gun I'll probably hunt small stuff with it and I do want a bolt action. I was thinking a .223 but someone said about a 6mm remington and a 7mm which I own a 6mm but it isn't quite what I'd call a solid gun. As far as money goes, I'm no millionaire. I make minimum wage so if I can save money and not go all crazy then I'd prefer to do that.

Ryan.

So this makes it a little easier.

300 yards is, in terms of a small bore centerfire rifle, mid-range. As such, I think that you're on the right track with the 223 Remington. As for 500 yards shots, if the farthest you have to practice is 300 yards, then the farthest shot you can ethically take is 300 yards, IMO, when shooting at a live animal. As a hunter you owe it to the animal, and other hunters, to take only shots that you are confident are within your ability. Taking pot shots at an animal can easily result in a wounded animal that dies a slow death, and also paints other hunters and hunting in general in a bad light.

You say you want to hunt "small stuff." If you're talking about small game then the 223 is actually going to be a bit overkill, since only a precise head shot will leave much in the way of edible meat, and shooting a 223 up into the air at a squirrel is dangerous. For small game, I'd recommend a 22LR or a shotgun. Now if you're talking about varmints like groundhogs, coyotes or prairie dogs, then the 223 is the ticket.

You didn't really give us a specific budget, but if you make minimum wage you're probably going to be pretty limited unless you plan to save a long time. I don't know if you live with your folks, or if you're on your own, but I'd be inclined either way to say that you might be better off putting your money toward a more productive end, like saving for college or a down payment for a house. I can't tell you how to spend your money, but I've made a lot of mistakes with money in the past and many still haunt me to this day. The issue is that you want a heavy barrel "sniper style" rifle, implying that you want a super-accurate rifle with bells and whistles. The problem is that these don't come cheap. Probably the least expensive rifle that would meet these criteria would be the Savage 10FP. It's a plain jane, entry level "tacti-cool" rifle, with an MSRP of $719. The street price will probably be in the low to mid $600's.

The other thing to consider is that the rifle will need a scope. Most folks make the mistake of spending 90% of their budget on the rifle, and then buy the scope as an afterthought. If you are serious about "long range" precision shooting, then good glass is not an option. Since you want the whole "sniper" experience, you're probably going to want a scope with an adjustable objective, target turrets and probably a mil-dot reticle. Scopes with these features, that are also offer accurate, repeatable turret adjustments, start in the $300-400 range and go up in price (WAY up, in many cases) from there. Don't forget the top end tactical rings and picatinny rail bases that a true "sniper rifle" should wear (another $150-200). And if you don't have a reloading setup, you're looking at, bare bones, $150 including dies.

I'm not trying to dissuade you, honest to God. I just don't really think that you understand what you're looking at. A decent deer rifle is a whole different animal from a long range tactical rifle, and if you want the cool toys you have to pay to play. If you're as young as I think you are, I'd say forget the wiz-bang tacti-cool rifle for now and save your earnings for college. If college isn't in your future, then put that money toward a home and establishing yourself first. The rifle will wait for you.

OR, if you want to forgo the wanna-be tactical rifle, you could enlist in the United States Marine Corps as an 0311 (infantry rifleman), then work your way toward becoming a Marine Corps Scout/Sniper. Then you get to play with the real deal, on Uncle Sam's dime. Of course, with STA, there's no guarantee you'll make the indoc, and will wind up just being a normal grunt, but that's the risk you take.

Mike

I would think at 500 yards you could get a little closer. Way to many variables if you ask me. Basically your looking at a 5" group that is going seriously spread with wind,angle and so on. Whats the furthest you've ever shot a deer in PA?

Hahahahaha. Okay okay okay. Let me clear this up.

There's no way in heck I'm shooting a deer at 175 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 ect yards, no way. 150 is my limit on a deer. I don't want to wound it. Plain and simple period no exceptions. The furthest I've ever shot a deer in my life was under 75 yards. And prior to that one the furthest was only like 55 its just not how I hunt, period. I don't sit when I rifle hunt and if and that's a big if, I do rifle hunt I usually just walk around jump something track it out and bang, days over. I usually don't need to however considering my bow hunting success as of late.

Ok. 500 yards is punching paper for me. Now 300 is when we fox/coyote hunt. And I do a lot of fox hunting/coyote hunting and we're going to be switching to hunting big fields here soon rather than banging in the thickets with 12gagues with 3.5 inch mags.

Anyhow. I'd like to get a gun and I've got zero zero problem saving for it. Its a thing that I want so no worries, I'll get the money. I don't only do the minimum wage 40 hrs a week deal, but I do work at night and do work for friends work on cars and do drywall you name It I'll give it a shot for the right price. I don't want to have a million dollar gun but I want something decent that I can have fun with. There's no use for me to shoot 1000 yards either cause I won't ever shoot that far, that's way too far to walk ;) I just want to get a gun going that I'll like to shoot and is a good all around firearm, and yes before someone asks, I can shoot.

Hmm what else. Oh yeah, I have a rifle reloading press I'd just need to buy some books on reloading and get that thing out of the box, its an rcbs complete kit new in box never used. (Was my paps before well... yeah) and after I read the books I'm sure I can figure it out, I reload shotgun shells sometimes for my own enjoyment so.

(I'm not trying to make anyone mad by what I say just to clear that up, its just my personal preferance is all, I don't knock anyone who can shoot better than me but for me a 1000 yard shot is outside my skill level)

Ryan.

HE makes a good point. I doubt you will touch a 500 yard gun for less then 800 bucks. I was looking at a similer setup. 400 for a new 700 400 for a good scope and your at 1100. I think it can be done for less though your not going to get a 500 yard gun for 300 bucks.
What do you want to spend.