.308 entry level target rifle Question.

[4bycamper]

For a serious entry level target rifle, which of these would be a better choice for the 600 to 1000 yard game ?


FN PBR Patrol bolt rifle 308 cal. 24" barrel
Weatherby sub MOA Varmint rifle 308 cal.22" barrel "VSR308NR20"
Remington 700 SPS 308 cal. Varmint rifle 26" barrel

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[memilanuk]

I'm kind of partial to the Savage 12 F/TR myself...

No direct experience w/ those guns - I did have a Rem 700 VS in .308 that shot pretty well, all things considered.

Generally... if you really expect to shoot much @ 1k, a longer barrel is usually better. Not saying it can't be done w/ a shorter barrel, but it's usually a bit easier overall with the longer tube.

Good luck,

Monte

 

[billmo]

4bycamper, I just recently bought and set up a FN SPR. I changed the trigger and mounted a 12 X 42 NXS NF scope with DD reticle. I have taken it to the woods a few times,3 or 4) and it has not been a disappointment at all. I must say that I tried the new IMR-4007sc,45.2 gr.) underneath the SMK 168 with a Fed. 210 Match GM primer in Lapua brass and this thing is shooting less than .250 3 shot groups and well under .500 5 shot groups when I do my part. I have owned several Rem 700s in .308 and some of them shot good but I have not owned a 700 that grouped as consistant as this rifle. Looking back at my load data log sheet my best 3 shot group is .243 and best 5 shot group is .357 both shot same day out. These bullets are seated at 2.800 as I have not bothered to put them in the lands yet. Hope this helps. Bill

 

[M700]

Go for the Savage. The FN PBR is marketed as a bolt action police patrol rifle, not a true precision rifle. There are better FN's avail though.

The Weatherby and the Remington are varmint hunting rifles. All well and good - I had great luck with a Remington VS .308 that has since turned into a true tactical rifle. It was reasonably accurate from the start, and much better after a thorough work-over,new barrel, trued action, new stock).

The Savage F/TR is intended from the start for long-range F-class competition. If you want a competition rifle, start with a rifle built for the job. BTW - Monte might be too bashful to admit it, but he took 2nd at the F-class Nationals shooting a factory built Savage F/TR. It was designed as an entry-level target rifle that is very suitable for 1000 yard competition.

Regards, Guy

 

[billmo]

The Savage is a fine rifle too but I just don't like the 30" tube as personal preference. Bill

 

[BillPa]

The Savage is a fine rifle too but I just don't like the 30" tube as personal preference. Bill

Ah...a hacksaw and angle grinder will make that 30" a 26",or less) in short order

Bill

 

[billmo]

You got that right but the bullets might not shoot too straight with that "real nice crown" you gonna leave. Bill

 

[AlanWarner]

Savage is introducing a Palma rifle at the shot show as we speak.
Lighter contour 30", thumb wheel cheek, rail, and 3 way butt.

HTH
Alan

 

[rstreich]

The Savage is a fine rifle too but I just don't like the 30" tube as personal preference. Bill

You don't like a 30" barrel on a target rifle? That is what the original poster was asking about.

4bycamper, it looks like Savage has two very viable choices for you. What kind of target shooting are you interested in?

 

[4bycamper]

I don't mind the 30" barrel at all. Just brings the muzzle that much closer to the target. And heavy is good in a target rig.
The only thing that bothers me about the Savage is it's looks.
What's up with that laminated stock ?
Mebby I can get over that.

How heavy can a rifle be in F class competition ?

And Congratulations to Monte !

 

[memilanuk]

Al,

F/TR - 8.25kg, or 18.15lbs,18lbs 3oz.), including scope, bipod, and anything else attached to the rifle when you pick it up.

F/Open - 10kg, or 22#, again including anything 'attached' to the gun when you pick it up.

My 12 F/TR w/ Farrell steel base, Burris Sig. Zee rings, Harris BRMS bipod w/ Pod-Paws, and a NF 12-42x BR scope weighed in at ~17.5 lbs.

And thanks I should also mention a team mate of mine... Darrell Buell took 1st F/TR at the Spirit of America Fullbore Championships with another 12 F/TR, and 3rd F/TR @ the FCNC. The wind @ Raton left it pretty much wide open until the last shot of the day.

Monte

 

[dmickey]

Not that I complete,I don't!) but my money is put into a Remington 40XB Rangemaster with the thumbhole stock option! I like them so well that I have nine,9) of them. Unfortunately two of them do not have the thumbhole option,they were bought before that was an option!)

It is available in single-shot,my preference) or repeater versions.

 

[SooStan]

I only own 1 savage and it is a hunting rifle. I use 2 remingtons and they shoot great, but there are several savages at our club that all shoot very good out to 1k on a regular basis. For the money the savage F/tr is real hard to beat for an out of the box rifle. If you don't like it I think it would be easy to sell. I think they are making it in a 6mm BR but you would have to shoot open class. For just plain fun and accuracy I would go with a savage in 6mm br.

 

[Senderofan]

I would recommend the Savage F/TR...Great action, trigger and barrel. A close second would be the Remington 700 Milspec 5R. My Milspec was a wonderful surprise....I got consistent 1/2 groups at 100 yards with quality ammo...BlackHills Gold with 168 gr. Barnes TSX. I found the Milspec to be more accurate than its brother the PSS. I think the longer barrel of the Savage holds more potential for long range shooting...plus that Accu-Trigger is amazing.

Good luck on your quest,

Wayne

 

[Rust]

Having started off backwards with the 6.5 X 284 first, I decided to pick up a Remington 700P as a starter .308-F/TR rifle,deciding to stick with what I know and have all the gadgets for) and was pleasantly surprised as it is an accurate rifle by any standard,with a fair amount of handloading) and certainly the most accurate Remington I've ever had. The only flies in the ointment is the overly generously sized chamber and the uncomfortable palm swell of the stock.

That said I saw my first Savage competition rifle at the last match I made and it looked pretty nice, shot pretty well,it's brand new so it's still a work in progress for the owner) and all things considered if one had been hanging on the wall when I went .308 shopping I would have bought one instead of the Remington. Kind of different to have rifle I'm using in competition that costs less than the scope for a change.

 

[rhino]

http://www.legacysports.com/products/howa/howa_varmsup.html

I always like the way the Howa feels. Never have bought one, heard they shoot nice.

If you can find the M 595 master sporter. Now thats a find. You could always build one off an Tikka Action. The action is sooooo smooooootttthhhhh!


I got a m 695 in 6.5x55 and made me fall in love with the swede.

RHINOUT!~

 

[grahamfarmer]

well just to add my few pennys worth just aquired a new rem 700police in 308 g prefix serial number and it is a real tack driver from the word go only thing different from new is a new target crown was done when i had it threaded for moderator will admit to not being the best shooter in the world but even i can put ten holes in a inch square at 100 yds with factory magtech ammo and that has dropped to half that with a handload of 44 grns varget br2 primer and a lapau case with a hornady 150 grn soft point havent tried any target bullets yet but it could be mean on those groups

 

[WildBillC_NC]

I built my F/TR rig off a M700P I acquired real cheap on a trade. Knowing I was going to try to wring as much potential out of it as possible, and knowing they come with deeper throats than Marilyn Chambers, I posted the barrel for sale the day I shipped it off to my smith. The barrel lasted a whole 15 minutes at $100... Had a Rock 24" in a Sendero profile put on it and dropped it in a Manners MCS T1 with Badger M5 DBM, recoil lug, and 20 moa rail & rings. With bi-pod and Leupold VX III Tactical 4.5x14x50mm w/ USMC mil-dot reticle it came in at just a hair over 17 lbs. She has performed great so far, with easy sub .5 moa groups at 100, and on her last outing managed a well formed 3.75" group at 500 with some home rolled Berger 175 VLD's... Here she is with an SAS can,I have a Badger FTE brake & thread protector also so she gets to play in many arenas!!)

 

[mj2evans]

While I am by no means a competitor I have been playing with a Savage 10FP 308 20" barrel in a choate ultimate varmint stock. The action has been trued and bedded to the stock. Using Nosler 155 HPBT match bullets and RL15 I have gotten very good groups,5 shots under .75 at 100yds). While this is nothing special for most guys here I am still working on technique so I am pretty happy. I do think the barrel fouls more than it should,carbon and copper) but it is a factory barrel.