Thinking about a "tactical" bolt action in .308

[Jarhead]

Are you dead set on .308 / 7.62 FULL METAL JACKET (sorry. couldn't resist) or might you be better served by something a little flatter shooting such as .300 Win Mag?

The point being what might be what you think you need today won't be good enough as you 'outgrow' the .308 in the future, and wished you had opted for something 'a little better' but not into the realm of the uber expensive .338 Lapua Magnum.

Just something to think about, while not trying to make your pending decision TOO much more difficult.

6.5 Creedmoor or .260

[Wild West]

Why would you ever want to go backwards?

Exactly!! lol!!

The 700 is my far the best choice for starting a build.

[Shakey]

Set on 308. Trying to keep caliber commonality so I don't have to stock more calibers.

Gotcha.

Not set on factory gun, just figured I'd get more bang for the buck that way, since I thought custom guns were more in the 5k range

Might be worth looking into custom - you probably can fit it into $2k, and it's the only way to get the barrel/chamber you want.

Another gun to consider is the Tikka T3 Sporter. I'm suggesting it because it comes with:
- adjustable cheekpiece and 2-way adjustable buttplate with adjustable LOP spacers.
- 24" heavy profile barrel.
- ~10lbs, weight is good for a bench gun.

[Packy14]

Tikka. Owned TWO 5R's and they would not shoot to my expedpctations even after a bunch of upgrades.

I owned a Tikka Tactical and a Sako TRG-22 at the same time. The Tikka held the edge on accuracy...not by a lot mind you....but it did shoot just a wee bit better then the TRG. Pretty disappointed after spending what I did on the TRG-22 only to have a lowly Tik Tac outshoot it.

Plus the Tikka makes a great platform to build off of if you want to go full custom with it down the road.
The receivers are extremely strong. Rarely need trueing. The bolts already have a Sako extractor.

But that's just my opinion having owned the above rifles, plus HS Presion, Surgeon, BAT action based rifles, etc., etc.

Had a 5r and felt the same. Glad I dumped it.

[Jarhead]

http://www.snipercentral.com/remington-700-milspec-5r/

[cc426]

there's no such thing as a "tactical " bolt action. :-) there's long range bolt action sniper rifles, as long as you've got along some autorifle armed backup men. But for anything inside realistic distances (ie, 500 yds), you'd be way ahead with a good AR autoloader.

Which is why tactical is in "quotes"

I have a m&p10 which I've done work on and shoots roughly 1 moa 5 shot groups. Which is part of why I want 308 since it makes it easy for me to load and stock

I also have a built ar15 spr with a FN barrel that shoots about 1/2-3/4 moa 5 shot groups. Which does make me a bit biased towards the fn bolt gun as I know they make smoking barrels

But I want more accuracy, something in the 1/4-1/2 moa range

[cc426]

Are you dead set on .308 / 7.62 FULL METAL JACKET (sorry. couldn't resist) or might you be better served by something a little flatter shooting such as .300 Win Mag?

The point being what might be what you think you need today won't be good enough as you 'outgrow' the .308 in the future, and wished you had opted for something 'a little better' but not into the realm of the uber expensive .338 Lapua Magnum.

Just something to think about, while not trying to make your pending decision TOO much more difficult.

Trying to keep caliber commonality. I have a few 308 rifles

Also have a 7mm mag hunter which although very flat shooting, I don't enjoy shooting as it's not as accurate as I want it to be and I prefer the milder recoil of 308

If I really want to step up someday when I have access to 1000 yard plus ranges I'll pick up a 338 lapua

[cc426]

Maybe he's misguided?

Very misguided

[cc426]

Gotcha.



Might be worth looking into custom - you probably can fit it into $2k, and it's the only way to get the barrel/chamber you want.

Another gun to consider is the Tikka T3 Sporter. I'm suggesting it because it comes with:
- adjustable cheekpiece and 2-way adjustable buttplate with adjustable LOP spacers.
- 24" heavy profile barrel.
- ~10lbs, weight is good for a bench gun.

Yeah, I was looking at the different tikka rifles... Are they all the same action and barrel with just different stocks?

If they are I was thinking maybe pick up a cheaper tikka and drop it into a McMillan stock and still come in under $1500 or so

[cc426]

http://www.snipercentral.com/remington-700-milspec-5r/

1/2-3/4 moa. I'd ideally like to cut that in half...

The FN A3 has a 1/2 moa guarantee with FGMM so with the A1 all is have to do is fully bed it and I'd have an A3...

Right now I'm leaning towards the FN with consideration for the Tikka...I just don't have any experience with anything tikka

[vliberatore]

the point is that you cant UTILIZE better than 1 MOA accuracy in the field You won't HAVE your sandbagged benchrest, is that hard to understand. Vegetation, steep inclines, etc, often preclude prone with bipod, too. Sitting, with your backpack frame as a rest, is about the best that you can count on and you wont do better than 1 Moa from such a firing postion.

On top of that, you're far more likely to need rapidfire than you are to need more precision. you can bump into" enemies on the WAY to or from an INTENDED target area. REAL easy, especially after firing a NOISY shot.

Just because you can FANTASIZE about everything going your way does not mean that it will. There can be sand storms, heat mirage gusty wind, rain, fog, snow, the target can be half hidden, moving, etc. If you CAN choose not to fire, then by definition the shot did not have to be made. In which case, why are you THERE, hmm? The fact is, you'd better close to sub 300 yds, and have rapifire and have a silencer, along with a concealable, take down rifle.


The bolt action is the step backwards, not the auto. Being able to shoot 1 MOA groups does NOT mean thaat you can reliably hit 1 moa targets. The wind, mirage, target movement can easily mean that your entire group is 2 MOA off target (ie, you miss) And then you'll have stirred up a hornet's nest and didn't even get your hit.

Good thing none of this has a single thing to do with the question in the OP.

[TMB 1]

I see a good number of votes for the savage, but nobody has really said anything about it...I have a savage 110 hunter in 7mm mag (non-accutrigger/non-accustock/non-bedded) and it's fine for hunting (1-2moa) but lacks the 1/4-1/2 moa accuracy I'm really itching for from a bench rifle.

Is the 308 with the precision stock that much more accurate?

Trigger and stock can make a difference in group sizes.

Some people just shoot better with smaller cartridges that have less recoil.

[FromTheGrave]

the point is that you cant UTILIZE better than 1 MOA accuracy in the field You won't HAVE your sandbagged benchrest, is that hard to understand. Vegetation, steep inclines, etc, often preclude prone with bipod, too. Sitting, with your backpack frame as a rest, is about the best that you can count on and you wont do better than 1 Moa from such a firing postion.

On top of that, you're far more likely to need rapidfire than you are to need more precision. you can bump into" enemies on the WAY to or from an INTENDED target area. REAL easy, especially after firing a NOISY shot.

Just because you can FANTASIZE about everything going your way does not mean that it will. There can be sand storms, heat mirage gusty wind, rain, fog, snow, the target can be half hidden, moving, etc. If you CAN choose not to fire, then by definition the shot did not have to be made. In which case, why are you THERE, hmm? The fact is, you'd better close to sub 300 yds, and have rapifire and have a silencer, along with a concealable, take down rifle.


The bolt action is the step backwards, not the auto. Being able to shoot 1 MOA groups does NOT mean thaat you can reliably hit 1 moa targets. The wind, mirage, target movement can easily mean that your entire group is 2 MOA off target (ie, you miss) And then you'll have stirred up a hornet's nest and didn't even get your hit.

Did you ever stop to think maybe someone is more interested in shooting groups at the range and having fun rather than preparing for some SHTF scenario like you're arguing?

[cc426]

Did you ever stop to think maybe someone is more interested in shooting groups at the range and having fun rather than preparing for some SHTF scenario like you're arguing?

We should all only own silenced AK pistols and worry about all the bad people walking around 300 yards away

[LBDamned]

why the hate on rem700 thou? anything wrong with the platform or just preference?

I suspect it's a mental thing - going against the grain, not wanting to get what everyone has... I'm the same way about Glock - I've never owned one and never will... not because it's a bad gun (I've never shot one) - I just get turned off by all the hype... I think the anti-Rem 700 might be the same concept.

I doubt you'll ever get a definitive explanation regarding fault of the platform.

Right or wrong, it's personal preference that is only right or wrong for the individual.