New forum member Wanting a new rifle

[Bigcountry8530]

The only centerfire rifle I currently own is a Remington 700 adl in 243 with a burris 4.5-14 fullfield 2 scope. With that said I am looking to get a good heavy barreled varmint/coyote rifle. I am on a limited budget less than 2000 for the setup. I would like some suggestions as to what you would buy.
Thanks

 

[bozo699]

BigCountry8530,
Welcome to the forum, Buy a heavy contour Krieger or hart barrel in a 1:8 twist a H.S precision, hunter benchrest stock and a Jewel or rifle basics trigger, take your gun to a very good smith and revamp the gun you already have, you will probably have around $1200 or so in it, your scope is plenty good to get started with. Use the remainder of the money left to buy some redding and or Wilson dies, assuming you already have some reloading tools if not you will need a basic reloading kit as well powder,primers and bullets. If you already have some experience reloading have the smith chamber it in .243AI that will reach the way far willie coyote, hope this helps.
Wayne.

 

[5spd]

Savage Predator Hunter & you will be all set.

 

[DennisH]

What exactly do you have in mine?????

 

[Bigcountry8530]

I am not sure what I want to do. Been looking at new varmint rifles than found this sight and started looking at custom rifles. I know the gun I have will work But have always wanted a true long range rifle. I do not reload so I was looking for a standard caliber. I know reloading is the best way to get the best performance from any gun but have not got into that yet. The reason I have not got into that yet is because I don't know were to start. I just found a range close by so testing new loads will be alot easier. Right now I am driving two hours back to my parents house on weekends to shoot and hunt ground hogs. The range is only 35 minutes away. My question is should I buy a factory built gun or save my money and get a custom gun built. If factory gun which one and way.

 

[dh308]

My advice would be get a savage varmint rifle. Lots of different calibers and styles to choose from, reasonable prices, accutrigger is very good. Best thing about a savage is later on you can change barrels, calibers, stocks whatever you want. You can do all this youself without a gunsmith. If you do take it to a smith most dont charge as much as other guns. As far as factory guns go stick with a savage or a remington. They have lots of aftermarket parts for both. Also you can find some good deals on scopes at www.samplelist.com. you can take the rest of your money and get into reloading. Good luck.
Don.

 

[DennisH]

I know you already have a 243, but

a Savage VLP 243 will get the job done on ground hogs, probably out to 500yds pretty easy!..

Custom guns can get addicting! I love my 6br, 6.0x47L, 6.5x47L. The first two are 6mm/243 caliper!

The 6.5 I believe is a 264

All I can tell you is I have several factory guns and several custom guns. As far as a new varmit rifle, my Savage VLP 22-250 and VLP 243 gets the job done. The 243 will shoot 1/4 groups with just about any Federal factory ammo!

Starting out and maybe on a budget, I will stick with the VLP 243. It's one good gun that shoots 55gr NBT's or 105 AMax's!!!!

I also have a Savage FCP 308 that shoot factory ammo pretty tight. I have shot it several times on our 600 yard range with factory ammo and scored pretty decent! In fact, one of my best 60 shot scores ever is with this gun and factory ammo. If I am long range deer hunting, this is the gun I bring.

All depends on your budget . . . . How much shooting are you actually going to do? If were talking around 250 per year, factory is the only way to go!

Custom rifles are nice! I have a tight neck 6.0x47 Lapua (Kreiger barrel-8 twist) that is probably my most accurate long range gun shooting 105grns! I have a Nightforce Benchrest Scope mounted on it! You can buy the Savage VLP 243 complete rifle for just about the same price as I paid for my custom 6.0x47L barrel!!!!!!! We won't get into the SSS stock, Savage PTA action, trigger, bedding, custom bolt, etc.! I don't bring this gun on any hunts! It's strickly dedicated for long range matches!

 

[DennisH]

PS: I found the below Picture. My factory Savage VLP 243 Shooting Factory Federal 55gr Nossler Balistic Tips.

It shoots all Federal NBT's pretty tight!

 

[moparman]

+1 for bozo699. If you are wanting to shoot extended ranges you can always have the chamber throated for the heavier bullets. There are very accurate factory rifles on the market but its really hard to beat a good custom barrel in the contour of your choice.

 

[bozo699]

If your going to buy a factory gun and don't want to reload buy a Savage BVSS or one of there heavy varmint rifles or a Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 or .308 as the ammo is relatively cheap and abundant usually. I personally would opt for the .223 in probably the Tikka but my factory model 12 BVSS in 6br is very accurate and a easy rifle to shoot but your probably stuck buying expensive Lapua ammo if you go with a 6br, however you wouldn't have any problem selling your spent cases here on classifieds as there highly sought after
Wayne.

 

[Josh11]

Or you could save up a little more money and get a gun that is garenteed to shoot 3/8 inch with factory ammo fro say g a. But I would go with a custom barrel in your action and buy a better stock. Get it bedded. The with the 1000 or so left , buy a better scope or bullets, ect. Unless you want to just upgrade to a new gun. More the merrier.

 

[Rock Knocker]

I was in your shoes several month ago. I wanted custom and i wanted it for a reasonable price. I was thinking savage the while time, then i foud Jim Briggs of Nortland Shooter Supply, and i couldnt have been happier with the prices and the results.

Under $1200 and ive got a Savage target action, 30" criterion barrel and H-S Precision stock. Its chambered in 260AI. I just got back from a ladder test where i got 46.5gr H4831sc and 140gr Amaxs shooting under .5" at 300 yards.

His number is 763-682-6098, I found out about him asking the same thing you are askin right now.

 

[BoydAllen]

Let's keep things in their logical order. Learn to reload....well, for the rifle that you have. While you are at it, do the research and pillar bed the stock. If you have to, more than once, if that is what it takes to get it right. Once you have those skills, you should be most of the way through your current barrel. THEN, you can send the barreled action off to have the action fully blueprinted and barreled by a top benchrest smith (They are no more expensive.), and order a new stock and trigger (Jewel). Start at the beginning. You need the basics. Oh, and while you are at it, pick up a real rest and bag setup, if you don't already have them, and make something to serve as wind flags. I would suggest a fast twist 6BR.

 

[Rock Knocker]

I forget my reloading spiel, most rifles arent going to show top performance with any kind of factory load. You need to start reloading. For this long range stuff it really isnt even an option.

 

[bozo699]

Let's keep things in their logical order. Learn to reload....well, for the rifle that you have. While you are at it, do the research and pillar bed the stock. If you have to, more than once, if that is what it takes to get it right. Once you have those skills, you should be most of the way through your current barrel. THEN, you can send the barreled action off to have the action fully blueprinted and barreled by a top benchrest smith (They are no more expensive.), and order a new stock and trigger (Jewel). Start at the beginning. You need the basics. Oh, and while you are at it, pick up a real rest and bag setup, if you don't already have them, and make something to serve as wind flags. I would suggest a fast twist 6BR.

Boyd,
I think I pretty much said that in reply # 1 anyway your post is spot on my friend.
Wayne.

 

[BoydAllen]

Wayne,
I figured that if he heard if from more than one of us, it might have more effect.
Boyd

 

[bozo699]

 

[Bigcountry8530]

What brand of reloading stuff would you suggest? I have always wanted to reload my own but did not want to screw it up. I did do shotgun shells when I shot sporting clays that is dumby proof though.