Rifle / glass combo for under $2k. Where to spend the money?

bushido23 · March 27, 2013, 03:59 PM

So I have about a $2k budget for my rifle and scope and trying to figure out where to put the money. I could go with a Sako and spend a little less on the scope, or I could go with a Savage and have more to spend on the scope. Or I could go right down the middle with about $1k each.

I'm looking for an accurate long range rifle for target practice mostly. I do not do much hunting. Also looking for a .308 chamber.

Any thoughts?

Paul

AllenJ · March 27, 2013, 04:39 PM

I guess if it were me I'd buy an easily upgradable rifle like a Savage or Remington and spend the majority of the money on good glass. The nice thing about the rifle is you can put better parts on it as money allows, something you can't do with the scope.

hooligan1 · March 27, 2013, 04:55 PM

Savage Palma rifle, Vortex Pst.

model70fan · March 27, 2013, 05:36 PM

9 times out of 10 I spend approximately 1.5-3 times more on the glass than the rifle. As Allen said, the rifle can be modified fairly easily as $ allows, glass is fragile

You can pick up a pretty nice Savage or Rem 700 for a reasonable price that can be "accurized" later if the need is even there. I've got a couple out of the box rifles (rem, savage, and suprising to some, ruger) that are 1/2 MOA with virtually no additional work (new trigger in everything I buy

) Go with the glass, you can't hit what you can't see

FrosSsT · March 27, 2013, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Savage Palma rifle, Vortex Pst.

+1

bushido23 · March 27, 2013, 08:32 PM

Thanks for the input. Yea, I've seen a number of reviews where they talk about the guns/gunsmithing today and how getting to MOA is much more common out of the box.

I'll start looking for that $1.5k glass and wait for the right gun to go on special at Gander or Cabelas.

I may have to hide this one from the wife. Don't think she would understand. She'd say "Don't want you want to wait until the zombies are 100 yds away before blowing their heads off!"

bushido23 · March 28, 2013, 12:05 AM

Expanded my glass search to $1.3k. That sure opens up a new category. I'm gonna have spend another week analyzing those options. A few more manufacturers/models pop into play like Leupold Mark 4, Nikon Monarchs, Nightforce, and others. Time for some more fun.

Saltydog235 · March 28, 2013, 10:55 AM

You can get a Remington 700 or Savage for $500-600.00 opening up a ton of aftermarket products to add as you go. Spend as much as you can on the glass within reason. There gets to be a point where the use of the rifle and the price of the glass have diminishing returns, ie the juice isn't worth the squeeze. I used a Weaver Tactical on the latest rifle I put together and couldn't be happier. Got about $1700.00 in it total and it shoots really tiny groups.

ronl · March 28, 2013, 10:29 PM

Do not forget such things as mounts and rings, which are most important, and could cost $200 and up. I surely wouldn't go cheap on such things, you could soon regret that.

reynolds357 · March 28, 2013, 10:50 PM

Meopta R1 4-16X44 30mm tube mildot reticle, Savage 12 FTR

March 27, 2013, 03:59 PM	#1
bushido23 Junior Member Join Date: March 27, 2013 Posts: 3	Rifle / glass combo for under $2k. Where to spend the money? So I have about a $2k budget for my rifle and scope and trying to figure out where to put the money. I could go with a Sako and spend a little less on the scope, or I could go with a Savage and have more to spend on the scope. Or I could go right down the middle with about $1k each. I'm looking for an accurate long range rifle for target practice mostly. I do not do much hunting. Also looking for a .308 chamber. Any thoughts? Paul

March 27, 2013, 04:55 PM	#3
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	Savage Palma rifle, Vortex Pst. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

March 27, 2013, 05:36 PM	#4
model70fan Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2007 Location: WI, MT Posts: 247	9 times out of 10 I spend approximately 1.5-3 times more on the glass than the rifle. As Allen said, the rifle can be modified fairly easily as $ allows, glass is fragile You can pick up a pretty nice Savage or Rem 700 for a reasonable price that can be "accurized" later if the need is even there. I've got a couple out of the box rifles (rem, savage, and suprising to some, ruger) that are 1/2 MOA with virtually no additional work (new trigger in everything I buy ) Go with the glass, you can't hit what you can't see __________________ Armed citizens, keeping America free from tyranny since 1776 Rights are like muscles... without excersise they will deteriorate and eventually cease to exist

March 27, 2013, 04:39 PM	#2
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	I guess if it were me I'd buy an easily upgradable rifle like a Savage or Remington and spend the majority of the money on good glass. The nice thing about the rifle is you can put better parts on it as money allows, something you can't do with the scope.

March 27, 2013, 08:32 PM	#6
bushido23 Junior Member Join Date: March 27, 2013 Posts: 3	Thanks for the input. Yea, I've seen a number of reviews where they talk about the guns/gunsmithing today and how getting to MOA is much more common out of the box. I'll start looking for that $1.5k glass and wait for the right gun to go on special at Gander or Cabelas. I may have to hide this one from the wife. Don't think she would understand. She'd say "Don't want you want to wait until the zombies are 100 yds away before blowing their heads off!"

March 28, 2013, 12:05 AM	#7
bushido23 Junior Member Join Date: March 27, 2013 Posts: 3	Expanded my glass search to $1.3k. That sure opens up a new category. I'm gonna have spend another week analyzing those options. A few more manufacturers/models pop into play like Leupold Mark 4, Nikon Monarchs, Nightforce, and others. Time for some more fun.

March 28, 2013, 10:55 AM	#8
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	You can get a Remington 700 or Savage for $500-600.00 opening up a ton of aftermarket products to add as you go. Spend as much as you can on the glass within reason. There gets to be a point where the use of the rifle and the price of the glass have diminishing returns, ie the juice isn't worth the squeeze. I used a Weaver Tactical on the latest rifle I put together and couldn't be happier. Got about $1700.00 in it total and it shoots really tiny groups.

March 28, 2013, 10:29 PM	#9
ronl Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Posts: 1,100	Do not forget such things as mounts and rings, which are most important, and could cost $200 and up. I surely wouldn't go cheap on such things, you could soon regret that.

March 28, 2013, 10:50 PM	#10
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Meopta R1 4-16X44 30mm tube mildot reticle, Savage 12 FTR