Building a Long Range Rifle

Tfarough · November 5, 2012, 12:57 AM

Hey everyone I'm looking at building a Long Range Rifle. Mostly for shooting around 300 yards but wouldn't mind if it could reach out farther. I'm on a lower budget of around $900 - $1500 Obviously lower in the range the better BUT I also understand sometimes you get what you pay for. I'm open for some ideas. Currently I'm looking at a Remington 700 or an AR-15 build. I've also looked a bit at Savage 10 BAS/110 BA. I'm also thinking a .308 caliber as I might do some deer hunting with it and it's not a caliber to hard to find. I'm hoping this price range can cover the gun, a good scope, and a new stock and or buttstock. I've recently found a Remington 700 SPS tactical .308 for $597 and a Remington 700 SPS VAR .308 for $571 both have synthetic stocks and heavy barrels. Again I'm open for ideas and suggestions on any and all aspects of the build. Thanks in advance for any advice.

MB21 · November 5, 2012, 01:55 AM

Well for starters, you can probably get a good bolt gun for cheap. I have a Ruger M77 that I got used for about $600 in 30-06. I would suggest that or a .308. If you are looking at the AR platform, then DPMS has some nice rifles, Windham Weaponry might have some good range rifles for a little more. Odds are, getting a long range AR will run you close to a thousand, but that is with little to no research.

Metal god · November 5, 2012, 01:59 AM

If your looking for Precision then you would want a bolt action . ARs are cool but the light bullet moves around alot . I own a few and have shot them 300yds but I like shooting my bigger bolt guns at the longer ranges .

I don't want to be one of those guys that ask you more questions then I answer . However we are early in the conversation.

Will this be primarily a range/bench/plinking gun ?

When hunting do you plan to carry it all day on your shoulder .

I ask cus I would not want to be carrying a 9 or 10lbs heavy barreled rifle all day hiking around looking for something to shoot at But it is exactly what I would want to shoot off a bench or shooting prone with a bi-pod .

As for guns and calibers . The 308 works for me just fine at the ranges your talking about .

The 700 tac is very good and you really can't go wrong with a 700 .

Savage has a new Model: 10 Precision Carbine in 308 that looks pretty nice . It comes with the accu-stock so there should be no need to replace it . I also like the Model: 10 FCP-K it come with the accu-stock , heavy flutted threaded barrel and a muzzle brake .

Howa 1500 heavy barreled guns are nice for the money . They come with a nice hogue over molded stock that I really like the feel of .

Others will give you some more good ideas . There is alot of guns out there in your price range . you need to go get you hands on as many as you can and start weeding out the herd . Find what feels good to you , meets all your criteria and is in your price range .

What I'm looking to get for long range shooting 600+ yards is a 7mm Mag

alex0535 · November 5, 2012, 02:16 AM

Been considering a similar build.

The Remington 700 makes a great platform to start, and you don't have to jump in all at once with it. Out of the box, they shoot pretty well as far as most are concerned.

I was considering building mine around a left handed .270 Winchester. Going to describe what I want to build. This build could be made much cheaper with less expensive stock and non fluted barrel, but this is a rifle I will have as long as I live if I ever end up building it.

Left Handed Remington 700 SPS -$550
Timney Trigger -$130
McMillan Tactical Stock -$650
Send action off to Krieger Barrels for truing $100
Fluted Krieger Barrel chambered and installed $700

Probably a little overkill. and honestly once a new trigger and stock are on the rifle I will probably be pretty happy with it as it is. Basically I want a left handed .270 for target shooting and hunting that is bench-rest accurate.

alrekr · November 5, 2012, 11:58 AM

I don't think one could go wrong with the 700 series Rem. for a distance shooter. My personal choice was the 700 5R (10th ann.) in .308 and found it to be a very good rifle. I have not spent additionnal money on trigger or action refinement but I do spend for good optics and rings. Leapold mark 4 ER/t 8.5-25x50 TMR with high quality Leapold rings. Before investing more in the rifle I would learn what you can accomplish with it by attending a good long range class where 300 yrds is a warm-up. I have spent time as a range officer in the Marine Corp and can honestly say that most rifles can out shoot the person holding them. I am in no way implying that your rifle skills are not honed but I have never out shot my rifle.

Tfarough · November 5, 2012, 05:18 PM

"Metal God - I don't want to be one of those guys that ask you more questions then I answer . However we are early in the conversation.

Will this be primarily a range/bench/plinking gun ?

When hunting do you plan to carry it all day on your shoulder .

I ask cus I would not want to be carrying a 9 or 10lbs heavy barreled rifle all day hiking around looking for something to shoot at But it is exactly what I would want to shoot off a bench or shooting prone with a bi-pod . "

I do plan to start hunting again soon so I probably will use this long range build to do so. Where I live I'll be hunting deer but I'm always in a stationary position so I wouldn't be to worried about weight. I also will be playing around with it at the range for fun and experience. The current range I go to has a bench setup and I could also go prone. Pretty new in this but I've been reading and learning a lot. I've always wanted to build a long range rifle but just now getting to where I can financially. After research I've been leaning toward the Remington 700 .308 and after reading some post I think it's the right choice. The one I'm leaning toward will have a heavy barrel. Now just to get some ideas and suggestions on add-ons: Scope, scope mount rings, bipod, stock, buttstock, trigger. Of course some guns don't need much to help the perform!
These are the 2 I've been looking at:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/m...actical_308win

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/m...tic_var_308_26

November 5, 2012, 12:57 AM	#1
Tfarough Junior Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Posts: 3	Building a Long Range Rifle Hey everyone I'm looking at building a Long Range Rifle. Mostly for shooting around 300 yards but wouldn't mind if it could reach out farther. I'm on a lower budget of around $900 - $1500 Obviously lower in the range the better BUT I also understand sometimes you get what you pay for. I'm open for some ideas. Currently I'm looking at a Remington 700 or an AR-15 build. I've also looked a bit at Savage 10 BAS/110 BA. I'm also thinking a .308 caliber as I might do some deer hunting with it and it's not a caliber to hard to find. I'm hoping this price range can cover the gun, a good scope, and a new stock and or buttstock. I've recently found a Remington 700 SPS tactical .308 for $597 and a Remington 700 SPS VAR .308 for $571 both have synthetic stocks and heavy barrels. Again I'm open for ideas and suggestions on any and all aspects of the build. Thanks in advance for any advice. __________________ GOD BLESS

November 5, 2012, 01:59 AM	#3
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	If your looking for Precision then you would want a bolt action . ARs are cool but the light bullet moves around alot . I own a few and have shot them 300yds but I like shooting my bigger bolt guns at the longer ranges . I don't want to be one of those guys that ask you more questions then I answer . However we are early in the conversation. Will this be primarily a range/bench/plinking gun ? When hunting do you plan to carry it all day on your shoulder . I ask cus I would not want to be carrying a 9 or 10lbs heavy barreled rifle all day hiking around looking for something to shoot at But it is exactly what I would want to shoot off a bench or shooting prone with a bi-pod . As for guns and calibers . The 308 works for me just fine at the ranges your talking about . The 700 tac is very good and you really can't go wrong with a 700 . Savage has a new Model: 10 Precision Carbine in 308 that looks pretty nice . It comes with the accu-stock so there should be no need to replace it . I also like the Model: 10 FCP-K it come with the accu-stock , heavy flutted threaded barrel and a muzzle brake . Howa 1500 heavy barreled guns are nice for the money . They come with a nice hogue over molded stock that I really like the feel of . Others will give you some more good ideas . There is alot of guns out there in your price range . you need to go get you hands on as many as you can and start weeding out the herd . Find what feels good to you , meets all your criteria and is in your price range . What I'm looking to get for long range shooting 600+ yards is a 7mm Mag __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again . Last edited by Metal god; November 5, 2012 at 02:06 AM.

November 5, 2012, 05:18 PM	#6
Tfarough Junior Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Posts: 3	"Metal God - I don't want to be one of those guys that ask you more questions then I answer . However we are early in the conversation. Will this be primarily a range/bench/plinking gun ? When hunting do you plan to carry it all day on your shoulder . I ask cus I would not want to be carrying a 9 or 10lbs heavy barreled rifle all day hiking around looking for something to shoot at But it is exactly what I would want to shoot off a bench or shooting prone with a bi-pod . " I do plan to start hunting again soon so I probably will use this long range build to do so. Where I live I'll be hunting deer but I'm always in a stationary position so I wouldn't be to worried about weight. I also will be playing around with it at the range for fun and experience. The current range I go to has a bench setup and I could also go prone. Pretty new in this but I've been reading and learning a lot. I've always wanted to build a long range rifle but just now getting to where I can financially. After research I've been leaning toward the Remington 700 .308 and after reading some post I think it's the right choice. The one I'm leaning toward will have a heavy barrel. Now just to get some ideas and suggestions on add-ons: Scope, scope mount rings, bipod, stock, buttstock, trigger. Of course some guns don't need much to help the perform! These are the 2 I've been looking at: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/m...actical_308win http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/m...tic_var_308_26 __________________ GOD BLESS

November 5, 2012, 01:55 AM	#2
MB21 Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Posts: 77	Well for starters, you can probably get a good bolt gun for cheap. I have a Ruger M77 that I got used for about $600 in 30-06. I would suggest that or a .308. If you are looking at the AR platform, then DPMS has some nice rifles, Windham Weaponry might have some good range rifles for a little more. Odds are, getting a long range AR will run you close to a thousand, but that is with little to no research.

November 5, 2012, 02:16 AM	#4
alex0535 Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 908	Been considering a similar build. The Remington 700 makes a great platform to start, and you don't have to jump in all at once with it. Out of the box, they shoot pretty well as far as most are concerned. I was considering building mine around a left handed .270 Winchester. Going to describe what I want to build. This build could be made much cheaper with less expensive stock and non fluted barrel, but this is a rifle I will have as long as I live if I ever end up building it. Left Handed Remington 700 SPS -$550 Timney Trigger -$130 McMillan Tactical Stock -$650 Send action off to Krieger Barrels for truing $100 Fluted Krieger Barrel chambered and installed $700 Probably a little overkill. and honestly once a new trigger and stock are on the rifle I will probably be pretty happy with it as it is. Basically I want a left handed .270 for target shooting and hunting that is bench-rest accurate.