Rifle & Scope for Newbie, $3k budget

[urbanrifleman]

Mack Bros action, Magpul hunter stock or chassis from my store, Timney trigger from my store, and I have a 6xc Tubb prefit barrel with threaded 5/8-24 muzzle sitting here ready to go.

Ballpark
Mack Bros $775
Magpul Hunter $300
Timney $150
Barrel $389

 

[mtncwru]

Mack Bros action, Magpul hunter stock or chassis from my store, Timney trigger from my store, and I have a 6xc Tubb prefit barrel with threaded 5/8-24 muzzle sitting here ready to go.

Ballpark
Mack Bros $775
Magpul Hunter $300
Timney $150
Barrel $389

That's a thought. How's the factory ammo availability for 6XC?

 

[urbanrifleman]

That's a thought. How's the factory ammo availability for 6XC?

Tubb ammo is 2 bucks a shot. Dtacs, h4350 and Peterson brass.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Tubb ammo is 2 bucks a shot. Dtacs, h4350 and Peterson brass.

And probably get 50 cents back a round for the once fired brass.

 

[urbanrifleman]

And probably get 50 cents back a round for the once fired brass.

I've seen David's machine that he uses to make ammo and you literally cannot make ammo equivalent to what he can do with his machine without spending a lot of money. He throws powder to one kernel. And I've also shot with David when he just shot the rejects off his machine and the rejects off of his machine shot like other people's ammo or better.

 

[mauser284]

With a budget of $3000 you can rule out super high end optics.

So for 1000 yards tops and 500 as the norm get an SWFA SS 12X or 16X Mil/Mil Mil Quad scope for $209 and get one right now while they still have some. You can thank me latter!

That leaves $2700 for the rifle! I would have you consider a Savage 12 F T/R model which is a single shot 30 inch barrels, heavy stock solid top Savage action designed for 1000 yard competition. Those tend to run about $1700

That leaves you $1000 to spend on either cases of Match Grade 175/185gr Match Ammo or to purchase reloading equipment and brass and powder and primers.

If you reloaded I would have you look at their F-Class in 6 Norma BR or 6.5-284.

Last I checked the F-TR and F-Class rifles are blue printed at the factory that saves you easily $175 to $300 having a non-factory blue printed action blue printed after purchase. You also get the Savage Target AccuTrigger which can be tuned down as low as 6oz up to 2.5lbs.

People have actual won F-Open and F-TR with Savage factory box stock rifles and many have won many competitions with Savage actions as the foundation for a custom build. You can rebarrel it for far less than a gunsmith would charge you in tools.

 

[mauser284]

12 F/TR | Rifle for Long-Range Competition | Savage Arms

The 12 F/TR is built for long-range accuracy and competition with a 30" full-profile barrel, adjustable Target AccuTrigger, and single-shot Target Action.

savagearms.com

 

[mauser284]

Looks like the price is back to $299 for the SWFA SS series of scopes. Just 2 days ago they where still at the sales price of $209. Looks like they have a lot of back orders.

If I could not get an SWFA SS I would think about an Arken optic not the one for $279 I would go witht he one at $479.

If you have really want a lot of power than a Sightron SIII 36X for about $899 would be my pick but if your not used to competition shooting and high power magnification 36X is a lot for the average amauteur shooter to tolerate since it will make the mirage and barrel heating and sighting in the target difficult. Plus at that level of magnification your pulse becomes very apparent!

Good Luck! I can not tell you how much you get when you get a Savage that has been blue printed at the factory and you get the Target AccuTrigger! It will blow your mind and has to be the absolute best value in a factory rifle!

 

[mauser284]

David Tubb's is a true national treasure. If there is an ambassador to the shooting sports it is David! He is such a nice guy. I have not been in business with the man but as a competitor and customer in the past I have zero complaints!

 

[mauser284]

I am still running IMR4350 I still have 8lbs. left from what late 1990's early 2000? It was my goto for 300WM hunting ammo! I had 16lbs. and I am down to 7lbs. or 8lbs. I still have bags of unopened 300WM brass from Gander Mountain WInchester 300WM Brass $16 per 50 pieces. Oh how I miss the good old days! LOL

 

[Chiquita]

You can start on Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 with SWFA or Vortex optics. Excellent factory ammo choices. RPR shoots sub half MOA.

 

[CharlieNC]

Mack Bros action, Magpul hunter stock or chassis from my store, Timney trigger from my store, and I have a 6xc Tubb prefit barrel with threaded 5/8-24 muzzle sitting here ready to go.

Ballpark
Mack Bros $775
Magpul Hunter $300
Timney $150
Barrel $389

I would do something along this line as well but in 223 for the stated 500yd purpose, and further. For the money the Arken in ffp is a much better option than swafa, etc. Many load options and availability!

 

[Dimner]

One thought... can a tikka action do a heavy contour straightish aftermarket barrel at let's say 28-30 inches and not have problems/perform well? That would be my only concern for growing into something semi-competitive using the tikka action.

 

[joshb]

One thought... can a tikka action do a heavy contour straightish aftermarket barrel at let's say 28-30 inches and not have problems/perform well? That would be my only concern for growing into something semi-competitive using the tikka action.

Yes

 

[mike a]

I’d go with a 22LR. More than enough for Snipe hunting.

 

[slm9s]

My only advice is to buy used. Much more rifle for his dollar. If he buys a new Savage for example, he will either A. be wanting to upgrade within a year, or B. not enjoy shooting it and will want to sell it and he'll lose a bunch of $ when he does.
With a quality used rifle he'll be more likely to get hooked on the sport or if he sells it he won't lose much money, if any at all.
Good luck.

 

[farmerjohn]

Keep an eye on the classifieds here. Creedmoors are fine, I myself would not be afraid of a 260 or 308 for what your buds after.
I have seen some good prices on barreled actions here. KRG bravo chassis, an Arken or Sightron optic, would be quite budget friendly.

What he says... John
You can always resell it and get most of your investment back till you figure out exactly what you want, main thing is get to shooting....

 

[mauser284]

You can start on Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 with SWFA or Vortex optics. Excellent factory ammo choices. RPR shoots sub half MOA.

I have heard good things but no real experience on Ruger Precision Rifle. I do have experience on Ruger American. The RPR is just a pimped out Ruger American so I can not say anything negative about the RPR.

 

[FNSafari]

I’d go with a 22LR. More than enough for Snipe hunting.

You can’t legally hunt snipe with a rifle or pistol. They are a migratory bird. Also non toxic shot only. I know ur being facetious but someone might take you comment for real.

 

[JSH]

With a budget of $3000 you can rule out super high end optics.

So for 1000 yards tops and 500 as the norm get an SWFA SS 12X or 16X Mil/Mil Mil Quad scope for $209 and get one right now while they still have some. You can thank me latter!

That leaves $2700 for the rifle! I would have you consider a Savage 12 F T/R model which is a single shot 30 inch barrels, heavy stock solid top Savage action designed for 1000 yard competition. Those tend to run about $1700

That leaves you $1000 to spend on either cases of Match Grade 175/185gr Match Ammo or to purchase reloading equipment and brass and powder and primers.

If you reloaded I would have you look at their F-Class in 6 Norma BR or 6.5-284.

Last I checked the F-TR and F-Class rifles are blue printed at the factory that saves you easily $175 to $300 having a non-factory blue printed action blue printed after purchase. You also get the Savage Target AccuTrigger which can be tuned down as low as 6oz up to 2.5lbs.

People have actual won F-Open and F-TR with Savage factory box stock rifles and many have won many competitions with Savage actions as the foundation for a custom build. You can rebarrel it for far less than a gunsmith would charge you in tools.

My first step into longer range shooting than I did on a casual basis was with a very lightly use FTR in 308. I was around several Savage haters back then. I finally sold that rifle a few years back as it had not seen daylight for a number of years. I lost ZERO on it, sold it for what I paid for it some years before, and after putting 500-1000 155 Palmas down range, upsetting numerous Savage haters along the way.
Fellow I sold it too with my loads took some wood on his first outing. He swapped barrels last year, only to put the factory barrel back on because he felt it shot more consistent past 1000.

I replaced it with a 6BR factory rig and am happy with it as well.