New rifle suggestions...?
 

I'm looking for a new rifle - primarily to be used for 100 - 300 yard target shooting. I'd like it to be as accurate as possible - obviously - but not too much kick so my wife can shoot it too. (I currently have an old Winchester .270 - a little more kick than my wife prefers.)
I hear that a .308 is one of the best calibers out there for long-range accuracy, but I've never shot one before and I'm wondering about the recoil relative to a .270...
Anyway, so far I've been looking at Sakos and Remingtons in .308 and .243. Any suggestions on both manufacturer and caliber?

Thanks,

- Aaron

RE: New rifle suggestions...?
 

.270 and .308 is a wash with respect to recoil. In the same rifle blindfolded I couldn't tell you which was which when fired.

I would lean more toward the .243 that you mentioned or something in the same vein like a 25-06. light kicking flat and still capable of taking deer sized game if you choose to make it do double duty.

What's the budget like for rifles?

RE: New rifle suggestions...?
 

If you want to use it for target shooting then why not get a heavy barreled .223?
Almost zero recoil, fun to shoot and inexpensive ammo too.

Something like a Remington VS.

RE: New rifle suggestions...?
 

I think I would go with a 6mm PPC in a Sako. Good luck.

RE: New rifle suggestions...?
 

The .223 is a good choice and the ammo is reasonable..

RE: New rifle suggestions...?
 

i have a tikka t-3 lite in 25-06 that is an absolute tackdriver. not much recoil at all. i originally bought it for my fiancee who is now my wife. the gun is just a little long for her, but she went to the range with me and shot it. (first time she ever shot a high power rifle) she liked it and said that it didn't kick as much as she thought it would. but that it was a little long for her. long story short i have another deer rifle, and she is waiting for one.:D

RE: New rifle suggestions...?
 

I'm surprised that the .308 has the same recoil as a .270 since the cartrige looks so much smaller... and the action size on the Sako .308 is the same as their .22-250, .243, and 7mm-08 - and smaller than their .270, and .25-06.
It would be nice to have a rifle that's versatile enough for medium sized game if necessary, but the intention really is 100-300 yard target shooting (maybe longer if I can find a range that accomodates!)
I'm not affraid of a lite-to-medium recoil, but I have a bad back so I don't want anything too heavy or ornery
And regarding price, I'd like to keep the price at or below the $1200-range. (I plan on keeping it forever!)

So that being the case, what's the flattest, most accurate 100-to-300+ yard target rifle?

Thanks to all the experts for your advice!

- Aaron

RE: New rifle suggestions...?
 

A good .223 is pretty hard to beat for accuracy. The .308, 30-06 and 270 all have pretty much the same recoil. The .308 may be a smaller cartridge, but it does shoot a heavier bullet on average than the 270 and short action rifles are lighter than standard actions, so the recoil is pretty much equal.

RE: New rifle suggestions...?
 

Thanks, Briman, for the good advice - and for the huge laugh at your signature!! (I love the beret and the surrender-flag!)
So you think the .223 is the way to go... If the recoil is about the same on something a little bigger - like a .22-250 or a .243 - I wouldn't mind paying a little more for ammo if it gets me more versatility with similar (or better?) accuracy.

- Aaron

RE: New rifle suggestions...?
 

arobacker:

The 6 mm PPC is considered the most accurate round ever made in some bench rest circles. Recoil is not intense, so your girlfriend should not have any problem shooting it. It is a excellent round for varmints, and medium game. Sako 75 Varmint Stainless Laminated Rifle is one of the only Factory 6 mm PPC rifles made. It has a heavy 24" barrel with recessed crown, all metal is stainless steel, laminated wood stock with beavertail forend. MSRP $1,448.00 (Some of the above information found in "Gun Digest 2004"). If you look around, you can probably find it for less than MSRP. Sako makes a 70 gr. SP Factory Load for the 6mm PPC. I have always wanted a 6mm PPC I just haven't been able to save enough money for one yet.

There is an excellent article in the "Handloader's Digest 1996 15th Edition" on "The 6mm PPC In The Field" by Sam Fadala. He states "THE MOST ACCURATE cartridge in the world is the 6mm PPC".

Good luck.