Alright I'm trying to get into long range/ competitive shooting and trying to buy my first rifle for this. Ive hunted my whole life so I've been around guns and have taken shots up to 300 yards while hunting but i want a gun that i know will be consistent at that range plus. Ive shot a few friends rifles that they use in comps but i just need help getting the ball rolling. Im familiar with .308 win and know a little about .257 AI due to owning both. Im trying to decide between staying sorta "basic" with a .308 or try some of the 6.5mm rounds. Ive read a lot lately about the 6.5 creedmoor and the 6.5x47 Lapua and 6.5x284, what would be best round to sorta get started and where to begin. I have some knowledge of reloading I'm still learning. Any help or suggestions will be appreciated
Beginner
- Thread starter JohnMike
- Start date
Tooling for a new round will dictate recommendations. You're already started down the right path; what components can you get readily? Brass, bullets, ammo, powder will determine what would be a good recommendation. Likewise, what rifle set-up and for what purpose. The more you.Have that defined; the more the answer will make sense.
-Mac
-Mac
The Creedmoor is a good round and what I chose. Lapua is going to make brass for it this year. The 6.5x47L is a great cartridge and virtually identical to the Creedmoor. The Lapua's edge was their good brass. The 308 is the defacto norm for Hi-power competition and national match.
My advise would be to go and shoot some of the different cartridges to see which you prefer. Your choice will depend largely on which discipline you are wanting to compete in. F-class is going through a Dasher phase and LRP has a great following in the various 6mm's. The Creedmoor is still competitive there. 6.5-284 is well suited to LR benchrest as the various big 7mm's.
Different choices for different competitions. It's all good.
Joe
My advise would be to go and shoot some of the different cartridges to see which you prefer. Your choice will depend largely on which discipline you are wanting to compete in. F-class is going through a Dasher phase and LRP has a great following in the various 6mm's. The Creedmoor is still competitive there. 6.5-284 is well suited to LR benchrest as the various big 7mm's.
Different choices for different competitions. It's all good.
Joe
If I was a
New shooter or a far as that goes a experienced shooter I would get a 6 mm BR
Proven winner and plenty of information and products available . Larry
New shooter or a far as that goes a experienced shooter I would get a 6 mm BR
Proven winner and plenty of information and products available . Larry
Im really not 100% sure what i want to compete in. Ive gotten out several times with some friends and shot their rifles and I've shot several different rifles from 6.5x47 lapua and 30 gibbs and 264 win mag. I've narrowed my starting base down to a remington 700 action. I just want something versatile that i can go to the range and shoot max right now about 600 yards cause thats the furthest i have shot with them and due to range limitations where I'm at, and i would like to be able to hunt with it as well. I've sorta pushed the 300 win mag and .338 out because of cost and i have no need for that much gun. I really like the .260 rem and several of the 6.5s just having a hard time of narrowing down. I don't have a ton of reloading knowledge as in fire forming brass so I'm trying to find something that i can find brass i have equipment to shave and can get equipment to resize different necks. I have some old reloading info on .260 that my grandfather had before he sold his rifle.
Tim Singleton
Gold $$ Contributor
When you say long range competetive shooting.
What type of competition have you seen or heard that has your interests?
To actually compete and be some what competitive.
I don't think the rifle will double as a hunting rig.
Does the range you shoot at hold some type of matches you aren't interested in?
What type of competition have you seen or heard that has your interests?
To actually compete and be some what competitive.
I don't think the rifle will double as a hunting rig.
Does the range you shoot at hold some type of matches you aren't interested in?
I guess I'm looking for light weight. I've seen guys at one of the ranges I've been to with guns that weigh a lot and are just way over the top for what i need. The guy i shoot with as he calls it is like a tactical long range just bipod and rear bag he doesn't have the huge rests like bench rest has. I'm not planning on shooting every weekend in competitions because of my job and limited resources. i just want to have a gun i can practice with and learn the sport before i get in too deep. It just spiked my interest the first time i shot a decent group at 500 yards and got me chomping at the bit to build a rifle to learn and have fun with
If you want to get started now...and not have to reload (even if you plan on it later), I would choose the 6.5 Creedmoor. It has great factory ammo options, is easy to find a load for if you reload, can be competitive at 600yds and can easily shoot out to 1000yds. It also makes a very versatile hunting round with many great factory options. SWD mentioned all the great options but another point about the 6.5 Creedmoor is that if you decide it is not the caliber for you or you change direction later, you can sell it rather easily as it has a great market.
Tim Singleton
Gold $$ Contributor
Precision Rifle Series may be up your alley
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/precision-rifle-series/
With a lot of factory rifles offered now for the Precision Rifle Series
One of these in a 6.5 creedmoor would be my choice
http://precisionrifleblog.com/2016/01/09/ruger-precision-rifle-review/
There are multiple manufacturers with out of the bix rifles designed for the precision shooting series
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/precision-rifle-series/
With a lot of factory rifles offered now for the Precision Rifle Series
One of these in a 6.5 creedmoor would be my choice
http://precisionrifleblog.com/2016/01/09/ruger-precision-rifle-review/
There are multiple manufacturers with out of the bix rifles designed for the precision shooting series
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Remington makes decent products but in my opinion they are challenged by management having a tin ear when it comes to what people actually want. The msrp's on some of their long range offerings is pretty ambitious for what you get.
If you are willing to broaden your horizons a little some really good things can be had. Howa makes some accurate rifles in some fine calibers. They offer260 and 6.5 Creedmoor as well. Tikka is another good one. Their stuff is smooth and light. The Ruger American is making some waves and is offered in some good calibers and it's the cheapest of the three. All are good for accuracy from what I have heard.
You can also get a good used rifle from someone with some judicious searching. You have a lot of options. Take your time and check out some competitions before you leap. You might just get the bug to shoot F-class or LRP. Attend some matches and you will get lots of good information at no cost from those that know.
Joe
If you are willing to broaden your horizons a little some really good things can be had. Howa makes some accurate rifles in some fine calibers. They offer260 and 6.5 Creedmoor as well. Tikka is another good one. Their stuff is smooth and light. The Ruger American is making some waves and is offered in some good calibers and it's the cheapest of the three. All are good for accuracy from what I have heard.
You can also get a good used rifle from someone with some judicious searching. You have a lot of options. Take your time and check out some competitions before you leap. You might just get the bug to shoot F-class or LRP. Attend some matches and you will get lots of good information at no cost from those that know.
Joe
swd
Silver $$ Contributor
Yes it would be tough to top the 6.5 Creedmoor for versitilty especially with Lapua coming out with brass in the very near future. A great all around cartridge!
Well I am just kind of day dreaming here because I have not built the gun I am describing ,but I think it would do what you are looking for and avoid some mistakes I think I have made.First consider a long action.I have 308,6.5 284, and 260 AI on short actions. As I learned more about long range shooting , I gravitated more to heavy bullets and fast twist barrels. The 6.5 284 is a dedicated benchrest single shot so a short action is fine but I think a short action repeater confines what all three can do.
My recent 308 and 260AI barrels ,also on bench guns, have been long fast twist, long freebore barrels.I am amazed at the performance . It allows you to effectively use heavy for caliber bullets at decent velocity .One 308 barrel gets around 2600 fps with 215 hybrids.I shoot the 260AI with 140's at around 2900, which is not much less than where I shot my 6.5 284 but with about 8 grains less powder and a shorter barrel(27").
In either one , the bullet would be too long for the magazine in a short action repeater.A short action leaves many using lighter, lower BC bullets in 260's and 6.5x47's.
My second point would be to use the right reamer.It has taken some time and extra money to finally learn to get the chamber set up right from the start.You will see discussions about velocity with certain calibers ,and then realize you are never going to get there with the bullet taking up too much space down below the neck shoulder junction.Unithroaters have made these mistakes less serious, but freebore is important in optimizing long range performance .
My recent 308 and 260AI barrels ,also on bench guns, have been long fast twist, long freebore barrels.I am amazed at the performance . It allows you to effectively use heavy for caliber bullets at decent velocity .One 308 barrel gets around 2600 fps with 215 hybrids.I shoot the 260AI with 140's at around 2900, which is not much less than where I shot my 6.5 284 but with about 8 grains less powder and a shorter barrel(27").
In either one , the bullet would be too long for the magazine in a short action repeater.A short action leaves many using lighter, lower BC bullets in 260's and 6.5x47's.
My second point would be to use the right reamer.It has taken some time and extra money to finally learn to get the chamber set up right from the start.You will see discussions about velocity with certain calibers ,and then realize you are never going to get there with the bullet taking up too much space down below the neck shoulder junction.Unithroaters have made these mistakes less serious, but freebore is important in optimizing long range performance .
Lapua40X
California Hunter Education Instructor
Given the details you've provided, this would be my choice.
X2 What Tim said.
Go to your local club and check it before you buy anything.
The choices are vast to say the least, keep it simple at first.
I love the availability of the 308 but the Creedmoore is great. Almost no recoil and just a pressure to shoot. I would pick the CM because it is getting easier to find the ammo- it's almost everywhere.
JMO
JMO
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