Need some help

[RyanJohnson86]

So I would like to get some feed back on what my options are for my budget long range rifle build.
It's a rem 788 chambered in .308, it's been trued, has 18 inch hunting barrel with old school boss compensator on it. I know it's a econo rifle and people hate it but It shoots like a dream and I am in love with it.

I would like to start shooting for fun out to ranges of 1000yrds, I have currently only shot out to 500yds. I would like to keep it chambered in .308

Question what barrel manufacturer and length, contour should I use? What glass?
I'm not lookng for a custom $6k rifle. I just want to have a blast punching holes in paper.
Any feed back positive or negative is appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan

 

[DennisH]

First, I think 1,000 yards is pretty tough to start out shooting, especially with your current rifle.

I would start at 600 first, pretty well master this distance, then consider going 1k.

A heavy 26" ten twist barrel will do the job well @ 600 yds. Some use a shorter barrel, some a longer.

I would order the heaviest barrel your Remington 308 will handle, 26" length, 10 twist barrel and I know you can start having a little fun.

I am afraid if you want to get real serious, you will need to consider a different approach. For the money, Savage makes some very accurate guns right out of the box. It's sometimes cheaper to go this route vs building a new rifle.

I have two Remmy 700 custom builds and they are nice.

I have seen several Savages on this site for sale that would be great starter guns in my opinion. And some of them are not much more than a new barrel plus installation cost.

I have a FCP Savage 308 which I skim bedded the stock and tweaked the accu-trigger. Still to date, it's has shot one of my highest 600 yard scores. I could probably replace the barrel with a 30" 10 twist and it would shoot at 1k yds. As of this date I have built a few custom rifles with Savage Target Actions that will shoot 1k yds. Different calibers, mostly 6mm's, I love my BRX.

But at this distance, it's more the shooter than the gun! Believe me, 600 yards will teach you this especially on windy days.

Glass: NightForce BenchRest is the only glass I would recommend to anyone, it's the best for the money, IMO.

Good Luck, let us know how it goes.

 

[Larryh128]

Length & contour depends upon whether it's done hunting or not. A #4 is a decent compromise if you're using it for both. 26" is about minimum length. Shilen, Hart, Pac-Nor, Krieger, Rock,Brux. The list goes on depending upon how many $ you want to spend.

 

[NateHaler]

I would like to start shooting for fun out to ranges of 1000yrds, I have currently only shot out to 500yds. I would like to keep it chambered in .308

Ryan, you're asking questions that have been answered hundreds of times before. Use the search function. The answers are already out there. Set a budget, and stick to it. It's not as much about equipment as understanding ballistics and shooting fundamentals.

Borrow a chrono, and find out what your current ammo for 500y shooting is doing. Maybe it'll get you a good bit farther without changing anything. If your barrel won't provide the needed velocity to reach 1,000y effectively, then the most cost effective "budget build" is likely just buying a rifle (Savage or Rem) that has a 26" barrel from the factory.

 

[RyanJohnson86]

I am not new to shooting I have been shooting for 16 years as I was a avid hunter, I have shot out @500 yards but that is the best I have attempted iI am curious as to what it will do with better optics. I do not want to buy a new rifle I have an attachment to this rifle. I siffted the forum for a couple hours, it is just easier to ask rather the. Read hundreds of comments that to be honest don't even pertain to the o.p. question.

Thanks dennis for your thoughts much appreciated.

 

[NateHaler]

Read hundreds of comments that to be honest don't even pertain to the o.p. question.

Hundreds of comments related to "what scope" and "what barrel" don't pertain to your situation? Sure they do. It just takes some effort. :

What you need to understand is ballistics. It's not about better optics until/unless you know what the bullet is doing at distance. The difference between 500y and 1,000y shooting is a LOT more than double the paces to the target.

 

[jonbearman]

The only downfall to your project is the 788 reciever. In the old days they used them in competition and sleeved them to stop all the reciever stretching.I have owned a few and they all stretched the case so much that after a couple loadings they all had the ring around them just above the extractor groove which means they will suffer incipient head seperation which is dangerous. I seriously think you should leave your rifle as is and get a savage or another used remmy and work with that.The 788 is a fine rifle but putting money into something with inherent defect is a waste of time and money.If you do decide to build it,send it to a well known riflesmith and ask the same questions about the reciever stretching due to the rear lug set up.

 

[DennisH]

Nate, it's was his first post and we would have gotten around to advising him on places to search. We all started somewhere. I do agree on your equipment recommendation.

Ryan, we will guide you to the correct places for information. YouTube has many good informative videos on shooting, our sponsors like Midway has a wealth of information and video's on it's main page. As stated, it would be cheaper and better to start off with a new/used rig to properly shoot @ 600 yds. 1,000 yds is another challenge as well. Skills come in to play moreso than equipment. And to shoot 1k yds, you will probably spend more on Optics vs the Gun to shoot that distance. Also, you will find the 308 will do the job @ 600 yds, but probably you will change to something different to shoot @ 1k yds. I am building a 284 as we speak to shoot @ 1k yards. Master the 600 yard range first.

German Salazar' maintains probably the best 30 caliber website out here:

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/

If you need information from A to Z he will probably have a section for you to read. I have spent hours in his website, just go to his main menu and find a subject that interest you. Believe me, you will be there for hours.

Ryan, keep searching. Just go to the home page and look towards the bottom and you will see links to articles like, "Guns of the Week". Start there, read the articles on some of the 1k rifles. The equipment and articles sections are nice as well. Tons of info right here will keep you busy for months!

Also, if you just put your questions in a Google Search bar, many links will show up including many from this website. This is usually what I do and this is how I found this site. SavageShooter.com maintains a good site also and you will find tons of info on Savage rifles.

But again, if you have a question, don't hesitate to ask. I have become friends with many people here and we talk on the phone a lot to discuss some issues too long for this board. You will get there, just takes time.

I don't know where your from, but you are welcome to shoot with us. With winter being around the corner, not much shooting will happen unless you are hunting!

Good Luck, Dennis

 

[PALarson]

Hi Dennis, Paul Larson here your action will do a great job at 600 0r 1,000. The barrel that you choose is important. Any of the well known manufactures will produce a good barrel, best length is to finish at 30 inches. Don't get one to heavy, you need to get used to holding it up for up to 30 minutes at a time. Twist is important, check with the bullet manufactures as to what twist for the bullet you want to shoot. Heavy bullets recoil more, but ride the wind better. As for scopes I have 3 Nightforce, they are the best for the mid price, I also have Bushnell Elete and Nikon each has up to 32 magnification and 1/8th minute moa, each of them are good up to and at 1,000, I am a mid range and long range high master and I am not feeding you a line.
Paul Larson

 

[RyanJohnson86]

i have been going back in forth on what i am going to do. I'm not sure I'm going to go the 788 route as i was looking at new Remington 700 5r in .308 and its only $1K and we r looking at about 6-7 to re-barrel my 788. I talked to a reputable gunsmith in Vegas and he said he could re-barrel and make my 788 capable of hitting 1000 yards but it would cost some serious $$$. he recommended getting a rem 700 in a more suitable caliber. and he said the 700 has better options.

i also have a winchester model 70 in 30.06 if that is a better platform to build on.......

i figure my 788 is 33 years old with the original barrel and still holds sub moa at 100yards, i probably should just leave it as is and not butcher it.

any suggestions? i don't know to much about calibers as all i have ever shot is .308 and 30.06 its all i know.

paul : i would like to get a nightforce but its way out of my budget, i was thinking of getting a millet, bushnell, or a nikon with target nobs in 1/4 clicks. the thing i liked about the nightforce is the bdc recticle as i have zero experience in using the nobs to dial in yardage, all i know how to do is zero a hunting scope. i guess you could say im "green"

 

[LHSmith]

i

i figure my 788 is 33 years old with the original barrel and still holds sub moa at 100yards, i probably should just leave it as is and not butcher it.

EXACTLY........once it's been modified, there's no bringing her back to original. Long Range is a tough game.....don't make it more difficult than it has to be. You want a rifle that you can trust to tell you that the last shot went out because of conditions....not the quirkiness of the shooting platform....and as pointed out although the 788 has collected a lot of wood in 100-300 BR Hunter Class......it has it's share of weaknesses. I would get a used proven rifle from classifieds such as found on this site. You don't want to be wasting components....(and good components ARE expensive)on a rifle that gives you false feedback.

 

[dansig]

your best option would be to buy a used rifle that is built for long range, $1000-$1500 without scope.

here are a few for sale..

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3799022.0
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3797523.0
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3798815.0

 

[RyanJohnson86]

so i have been reading many posts on the forums lately and i think im going to take the advise of many... crawl b4 you walk and walk before you run. i think im going to purchase a used remmy 700 or savage in 308 and focus on 600 yrds and if i can master that then move up. im very confedient with the 788 to 300 yards but after that, like 500 yrds it is very tough with this rifle.

with that said im going to be lurking the forums until i find what im looking for.
i have seen a few rifles but they are already sold. also have seen a website link for remmy 700 actions already trued for $500, sounds reasonable
my budget for this is $1500 give or take. i perfer a sythetic stock as i do not like the flashy laminate or nicey stained wood stocks.