friend wants LR plinker

[4xforfun]

I have a friend who is quizzing me on a LR plinking gun. To show where he is at with firearm and shooting knowlage....he told me about a great deal he found on a 416 WBY!! He is a go big or go home kind of guy. I talked him out of his find (thank god) and started quizzing him. He does not reload but may want to learn, he doesn't hunt much, he doesn't shoot much. He won't go with any kind of custom. He DOES have some good property to shootfrom!!! He simply wants big, LR fun. Can't fault him for that!!!

Anyway, my advise to him was to stay away from the HUGE magnums like the 338 Lapua or 338-378 wby. I told him (IMO) that he should go smaller to start....way smaller, like a 243/ 260/ etc. Less recoil. Not going to happen. So I'm now thinking that he will finally settle on a 300 Win Mag on my advice. Admittedly I am a 300 WBY fan, but ammo prices and availabilty win the day. Lots and lots of factory offerings at a reasonable price. I am also a Remington fan.

The question I have is that it looks like there are a BUNCH of suitable 700 platforms to choose, and I haven't baught a factory bolt gun in 20 years.,,,out of touch!!
1) XCR tactical and Tactical chassis
2) Sendero SF II
3) 3 different 5R's.

If it were you choosing and someone else paying, which 700 would you choose? Of course accuracy is the main criterion.

Thanks,
Tod

 

[Phil]

I`m not a Savage fan, but they have a 6mm BR, i think i`d start there.

Better yet, build him a 6mm BR on a Rem, or clone action.

 

[ebb]

Sendero or 700 long range

 

[dkhunt14]

MAGNUM- 300 WSM
MEDIUM- 260 Ackley
SMALL- 6BR Dasher or 6.5x47
Matt

 

[22BRGUY]

Don't overlook Tikka rifles. Out of the box they are excellent and the actions are smoother than most and as smooth as some customs IMHO.
Good Luck

 

[snert]

convince him to buy something you would own in several years...that has worked for me several times!

 

[jdh47]

The magnums have their place but they do have some quirks. For instance 300WM cases are a lot different in capacity from manufacturer to another. It is a little different to load for. Recoil is greater and barrels don't last quite as long.

Personally I went with the 6.5 Creedmoor and I am happy with my choice. Any of the 6.5's or 6mm's would be good. 308 barrels last a long time. I put together a Remington 223 stocked like my Creedmoor to practice with and it is fun.

Just my musings.

Joe

 

[Fast14riot]

Get him a 30-06 in a 6 pound sporter rifle, will be more than enough recoil for him to handle, especially with 180s or heavier.

 

[MrBottleneck]

Not a Remington fan anymore so, I will throw out two other options.
Savage model 12 LRP in 6.5cm (also offered in .260/.243) or the Ruger Precision Rifle chambered in 6.5cm (also offered in .308) since going custom is off the table.
Also, have him look at the Thompson Center and Tikka line if he just wants a good quality rifle.

 

[Wjesswheel]

I`m not a Savage fan, but they have a 6mm BR, i think i`d start there.

Better yet, build him a 6mm BR on a Rem, or clone action.

I have a savage ftr was banging 18 inch and 12 inch steel pretty consistently at 1000 yards with 168 grain 308 federal gold match first day out actually hit a life size steel ground hog a couple times at 1000 yards that day. 308 has a lot of bullet options, pretty easy to reload, probably not the best or most accurate for a serious comp shooter. But lots of fun for a plinker

 

[joshb]

375 H and H

 

[4xforfun]

I don't think you guys read my entire post. No.6 BR'S, no.260's, no Savages, no 6-pound rifles. He wants what he wants, and that's going to be at least a 300 win mag or bigger. We talked about the 300 WSM but ammo choices are a lot more limited than the win mag.

I get it that he's going to be way better off with a smaller caliber but it's just not going to happen. I also get it that you guys have your favorites and some of them are not Remington's. But for this exercise let's limit it to the five or six choices I left you. My thoughts are the Sendero is the way to go...... and, it's a rifle I wouldn't mind owning In a couple years. lol

Thanks again,
Tod

 

[John from MN]

Odds of getting a good shooter will be about the same in any of the 700's being considered. Choosing the one that has a stock that feels good to him might be the best bet.

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

I don't think I've ever seen "300 Win Magnum" in the same sentence with "plinker".

"He wants what he wants".....sounds like the guy has his mind made up.

 

[4xforfun]

I don't think I've ever seen "300 Win Magnum" in the same sentence with "plinker".

"He wants what he wants".....sounds like the guy has his mind made up.

My 338 Edge is a plinker. Now that I don't compete anymore and it is neer imposable to get a deer tag, every rifle I own is considered a plinker. I have spent the last couple years doing nothing but plinking steel with everything from my Dasher to my EDGE.

 

[CJ6]

I'd look at Noslers 7mm on a Rem or Stiller action with the 180-195 class bullets. Recoil would be less than the larger 30 and up class 210-230 weights or the 338's 250-300 class.

 

[Intheshop]

Sendero.But is your friend handloading?If no,then you're better off picking a factory loaded cal. that is offered in reduced loads.....IMO,you plink with less than full power.Working on field craft,trigger pull,etc.....

But,to each their own?

 

[Zero333]

Best bang for the buck is that new ugly Savage 10 Stealth in 6.5 Creedmoor or the 110 Stealth in 300winmag.

Those rifles are gonna shoot descent size groups.

If it was me, I would go for the 6.5 Creedmoor because Match ammo is very available compared to 300winmag match ammo, that only Federal Premium FGMM 190gr is the only choice.

Barrel life is better and cost of ammo is less for the 6.5cm as well.

I have a 300winmag LR target rifle and I shoot it a hellovalot less than my 243win target rifle.

The recoil on my 300winmag is almost non existent because the rifle weights 18+ lbs and has a big ass muzzle brake. And I still don't shoot it that much because the muzzle blast give me a headache and a concussion after 30 rounds. Those are the pros and cons of a very effective muzzle brake.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Told, I read your entire opening post. .300WM..... I'm not a Remington fan, but the Sendero would work for him. You can find decent comp ammo.


Don Dunlap

 

[jdh47]

The 300 WM is a fine round and if that is what he wants then I'd go for it. The 7mmRM is very good as well and the Sendero is a fine choice.

Joe