Thinking about building a .308 sniper rifle advice?

[coop68]

Since i started getting into shooting and competing with high power service rifle match's. Ihave always wanted a long range tactical .308 bolt gun.

My question here is would i be better off building it from the ground up? or buying over the counter like the remingtion XCR tactical long range is one i have in mind or the police model. If i where to build it i was planning on using a 700 action as a starting point, any advice or suggestions always helps. Im looking into it as my next project and or item to add to the collection.

[SA Friday]

http://www.gaprecision.net/

260 Rem or 6.5 Creedmore. Never look back.

AI's ain't bad either.

Getting a Rem 700 is essentially getting an action and eventually building around it after a gunsmith trues everything up. This isn't a bad way to go if you are acquiring parts slowly for a build, but finding a used gun in 308 cal action size and chucking everything else is cheaper.

Last, put good glass on it.

[Hoser]

Since i started getting into shooting and competing with high power service rifle match's. Ihave always wanted a long range tactical .308 bolt gun.

Whats your budget?

[coop68]

http://www.gaprecision.net/

260 Rem or 6.5 Creedmore. Never look back.

AI's ain't bad either.

Getting a Rem 700 is essentially getting an action and eventually building around it after a gunsmith trues everything up. This isn't a bad way to go if you are acquiring parts slowly for a build, but finding a used gun in 308 cal action size and chucking everything else is cheaper.

Last, put good glass on it.

thanks for the advice i will look into that. i plan to put a good scope on it not a problem.

my budget kind of depends! i work off and on with dick sporting goods in flatiorns when im home from school. vendors some times have prodeals where we can order rifles at cost or a deal of some kind. so im expecting to spend at least 2000 dollars maybe less just depends. i know im looking at about 1000 for the rifle maybe more depending on the company and model.

[BPTactical]

Dont overlook a Savage rifle. Out of the box I have seen quite a few that would run circles around a comparable Remington.
Typically they are a bit cheaper to accurize.

As far as buying vs building it all depends on how far you want to go. You can pick up a used 10FP or 700 for about 5 bills if you look. Then you can take your time and only make the changes you want as you can afford them.
If you are just starting in the bolt gun/distance game it will take you a loooooong time to really see the benefits of a tricked out build.
You are going to be a bigger variable than a stock vs built rifle at first.
Get a box stock rifle, put a decent trigger in it, put on a decent set of glass and save the rest of your money for ammo. The only way you will get good is with practice. Then you will start to decide what upgrades you want on your rifle.
I have seen newbies to the distance game go and spend big bucks to have a rifle accurized, re-barreled and such only to see them get frustrated because their new tricked out rifle isnt putting 10 shots through the same hole at 600 yards.

It aint the rifle.

If you want to start drag racing you arent going to go out and buy a Top Fuel car are you? No- you are going to start out with a slower car and perfect your technique.

[cowboykjohnson]

Bought a Rem 700 police in .300 win mag. The gun can shoot sub moa out past 400 yds if i do my part. Have taken 1 bull and 1 buck with out past 400yds and hit exactly where i wanted both times.

[Colorado Osprey]

Bought a Rem 700 police in .300 win mag. The gun can shoot sub moa out past 400 yds if i do my part...

For a dedicated long range shooter the Sendero SFII has the same length but fluted barrell. Almost the same HS Precision Stock and is usually cheaper. (MSRP$1360---$1000 retail vs. $1500 plus for the 700P retail)(minus the second sling swivel stud)
http://www.remington.com/products/fi...ero-sf-ii.aspx
The military has already started rechambering all their M24's to 300 Win Mag as well. (if it has not already completed this)

Dont overlook a Savage rifle. Out of the box I have seen quite a few that would run circles around a comparable Remington.
Typically they are a bit cheaper to accurize..

Look at the Savage 12 Palma ($1600-1700) and a Remy from the custom shop has trouble competing. (Have you seen that commercial where they are shooting at 1169 yards??)
You shouldn't need to do anthing other than add optics.http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/12%20PALMA

I also agree that in most cases the common Savage will outshoot a common Remy... out of the box.

[coop68]

Dont overlook a Savage rifle. Out of the box I have seen quite a few that would run circles around a comparable Remington.
Typically they are a bit cheaper to accurize.

As far as buying vs building it all depends on how far you want to go. You can pick up a used 10FP or 700 for about 5 bills if you look. Then you can take your time and only make the changes you want as you can afford them.
If you are just starting in the bolt gun/distance game it will take you a loooooong time to really see the benefits of a tricked out build.
You are going to be a bigger variable than a stock vs built rifle at first.
Get a box stock rifle, put a decent trigger in it, put on a decent set of glass and save the rest of your money for ammo. The only way you will get good is with practice. Then you will start to decide what upgrades you want on your rifle.
I have seen newbies to the distance game go and spend big bucks to have a rifle accurized, re-barreled and such only to see them get frustrated because their new tricked out rifle isnt putting 10 shots through the same hole at 600 yards.

It aint the rifle.

If you want to start drag racing you arent going to go out and buy a Top Fuel car are you? No- you are going to start out with a slower car and perfect your technique.

thanks for your info i have not taken savage out of the picture yet.

i do alot of small bore rifle shooting in the winter for practice for highpower, i shoot min once a week at 50 yards indoor with A-23 targets. so i understand where you are coming from as its the shooter not the rifle most of the time. i use a bolt gun for this an H&R M12 .22LR great gun i love it. could not agree with you more, thank you for your input BPtactical i will look into more of what you said.

cowboykjohnson:
thats good news glad you got your bull and buck with the rifle. i have been considering eather the .300 win mag as a choice or the win .308 as i hand load all my ammo i been looking at the balistics and also what is going to be reasonable for ammo cost.

Colorado Osprey:
the 700 you posted i did look at that model, but for the XCR model i can get it for 1140 at jensens and 879.00 i think for the police that is there retail price right now for the rifle they seem to have the best prices for what im looking for i will check and see what that other rifle is going for from them. if i go that route

[Colorado Osprey]

The XCR is a nice rifle but just a weatherized sporter SPS in a "Special" finish to prevent corrosion. The factory Hogue stock is not really in the same catagory for precision work as the ones found on the P, Sendero or VS models.
The XCR Long Range Tactical has the cool 40X trigger, but a Bells & Carlson Stock (not in the same catagory of a Mcmillan or HS) with a higher MSRP than the Sendero and VS but slightly less than the P.

If price is a main factor, the SPS Varmint (my opinion put it equal with an XCR) will do almost everything the VS or P shoulld do in 308 with a cheaper Hogue stock. I think it is a comperable rifle to the XCR at almost 1/2 the price. You can always upgrade the stock later to improve the groups. Now if you were looking at the XCR Tact, that 40X adjustable trigger is cool, but with a B&C Stock it is still cheaper to buy an SPS and upgrade the stock and trigger and be a couple hundred dollars ahead.

If the adjustable trigger is your goal, that Savage starts to look mighty good.

[coop68]

The XCR is a nice rifle but just a weatherized sporter SPS in a "Special" finish to prevent corrosion. The factory Hogue stock is not really in the same catagory for precision work as the ones found on the P, Sendero or VS models.
The XCR Long Range Tactical has the cool 40X trigger, but a Bells & Carlson Stock (not in the same catagory of a Mcmillan or HS) with a higher MSRP than the Sendero and VS but slightly less than the P.

If price is a main factor, the SPS Varmint (my opinion put it equal with an XCR) will do almost everything the VS or P shoulld do in 308 with a cheaper Hogue stock. I think it is a comperable rifle to the XCR at almost 1/2 the price. You can always upgrade the stock later to improve the groups. Now if you were looking at the XCR Tact, that 40X adjustable trigger is cool, but with a B&C Stock it is still cheaper to buy an SPS and upgrade the stock and trigger and be a couple hundred dollars ahead.

If the adjustable trigger is your goal, that Savage starts to look mighty good.

that brings up some very good points to consider. so many choices its hard to pick.