.308 and 1,000.00

**Positive Displacement** · 03-06-12, 07:44

I am looking to step up from .223 and am looking heavily into .308 or .338LPM. I looked at some Remington's and honestly they were priced from 400.00 to 800.00, the cheaper of the 2 felt like a throw away gun. So, with the experience here what is recommended? I would like at minimum 800-1000yds and any experience is appreciated.

**ICANHITHIMMAN** · 03-06-12, 09:15

Originally Posted by Positive Displacement

I am looking to step up from .223 and am looking heavily into .308 or .338LPM. I looked at some Remington's and honestly they were priced from 400.00 to 800.00, the cheaper of the 2 felt like a throw away gun. So, with the experience here what is recommended? I would like at minimum 800-1000yds and any experience is appreciated.

Do you hand load? For an off the shelf 308 win under 1000 dollers you have to look at the best bang for the buck. You want a rifle of know quality and a good stock you will not have to upgrade. Right off the top of my head I would say get a Savage from the LE series it will come with an HS stock. Or the Remington PSS also comes with an HS stock also there is the Sendero slightly better barrel than the PSS.

Second option is to buy the cheep Tikka, Howa,FN PBR or Savage for under 500. Then spend another 500 on a new stock from Manners, McMillan, HS precision, Bell and Carlson etc

**The Surgeon** · 03-06-12, 09:40

The 338LM has a lot of potential but it is expensive to shoot. It has a ton of recoil even with a break. The 338LM has been accurately shot to 1 1/2 miles.

The 308 is about a 1,200 yard gun. There has been guys who have taken it out to 1,300+.

If all you are seeing is $400 to $800 dollar Remingtons, you are not looking that hard. Rems will run all the way up to 17 grand from the factory.

Your post is a bit vague. What is the max range? How do you feel about recoil. Do you have a budget? What optics are you looking at, that will handle the distance you will be shooting at? Do you intend to reload? Do you intend to have smith work done to the rifle i.e. blueprinting the action?

Precision 1,000 + yard guns are no accident. If $400-$800 is your price range, you are going to be hard pressed to find an accurate gun that will meet the 1,000 yard minimum. Regardless of what manufacturer you buy. The MOA is just not there. These price range guns will do it, don't get me wrong here. But you will have to make upgrades.

**Positive Displacement** · 03-06-12, 11:28

Originally Posted by ICANHITHIMMAN

Do you hand load? For an off the shelf 308 win under 1000 dollers you have to look at the best bang for the buck. You want a rifle of know quality and a good stock you will not have to upgrade. Right off the top of my head I would say get a Savage from the LE series it will come with an HS stock. Or the Remington PSS also comes with an HS stock also there is the Sendero slightly better barrel than the PSS.

Second option is to buy the cheep Tikka, Howa,FN PBR or Savage for under 500. Then spend another 500 on a new stock from Manners, McMillan, HS precision, Bell and Carlson etc

Originally Posted by The Surgeon

The 338LM has a lot of potential but it is expensive to shoot. It has a ton of recoil even with a break. The 338LM has been accurately shot to 1 1/2 miles.

The 308 is about a 1,200 yard gun. There has been guys who have taken it out to 1,300+.

If all you are seeing is $400 to $800 dollar Remingtons, you are not looking that hard. Rems will run all the way up to 17 grand from the factory.

Your post is a bit vague. What is the max range? How do you feel about recoil. Do you have a budget? What optics are you looking at, that will handle the distance you will be shooting at? Do you intend to reload? Do you intend to have smith work done to the rifle i.e. blueprinting the action?

Accurate 1,000 + yard guns are no accident. If $400-$800 is your price range, you are going to be hard pressed to find an accurate gun that will meet the 1,000 yard minimum. Regardless of what manufacturer you buy. The MOA is just not there. These price range guns will do it, don't get me wrong here. But you will have to make upgrades.

Thanks for the information and that is exactly what I was looking for, I went to bass pro shops and just looked, wasn't too impressed. I don't have any loads worked up, eventually though I want to start reloading. I have two 'black guns' my Remington .223 VLS and a few others. I want the .308 to 'round it out' and have the capacity to compete and make that 1000yd shot eventually.

I really like the options that savage has and they seem to be priced well also. I understand that upgrades will eventually come, I'm trying to research though and make the best possible informed decision. When I do get off the fence, my budget will be about a grand maybe more if I see something. Optics are still uncertain at this point too, the amount of information from this forum is alot to take in digest, that said it is some of the best 'free advice' one can get.

Thanks Gentleman.

**mstennes** · 03-06-12, 22:49

Originally Posted by The Surgeon

The 338LM has a lot of potential but it is expensive to shoot. It has a ton of recoil even with a break. The 338LM has been accurately shot to 1 1/2 miles.

The 308 is about a 1,200 yard gun. There has been guys who have taken it out to 1,300+.

If all you are seeing is $400 to $800 dollar Remingtons, you are not looking that hard. Rems will run all the way up to 17 grand from the factory.

Your post is a bit vague. What is the max range? How do you feel about recoil. Do you have a budget? What optics are you looking at, that will handle the distance you will be shooting at? Do you intend to reload? Do you intend to have smith work done to the rifle i.e. blueprinting the action?

Accurate 1,000 + yard guns are no accident. If $400-$800 is your price range, you are going to be hard pressed to find an accurate gun that will meet the 1,000 yard minimum. Regardless of what manufacturer you buy. The MOA is just not there. These price range guns will do it, don't get me wrong here. But you will have to make upgrades.

This, a good 308 first, than a 338LM. The 338 is a awesome round, but as said it kicks, and pushes hard, and quite frankly will wear you down, the 308 is a good round for allot of uses, and one is training with vs spending a bunch getting good with the 338 alone. I have both a Sako TRG in 308 and 338, pretty much set up identicle for the fact I can stay good with the Sako, without the $$$ spent to do it.

**North Dakota Shooter** · 03-07-12, 00:14

Originally Posted by Positive Displacement

Thanks for the information and that is exactly what I was looking for, I went to bass pro shops and just looked, wasn't too impressed. I don't have any loads worked up, eventually though I want to start reloading. I have two 'black guns' my Remington .223 VLS and a few others. I want the .308 to 'round it out' and have the capacity to compete and make that 1000yd shot eventually.

I really like the options that savage has and they seem to be priced well also. I understand that upgrades will eventually come, I'm trying to research though and make the best possible informed decision. When I do get off the fence, my budget will be about a grand maybe more if I see something. Optics are still uncertain at this point too, the amount of information from this forum is alot to take in digest, that said it is some of the best 'free advice' one can get.

Thanks Gentleman.

My suggestion is to get a decent rifle, but invest in a quality scope, you can easy find a $600- $1000 Remington or savage in .308 that will fit your needs nicely, then put a good scope on it, and you should be able to shoot out to a 1000 yards pretty easy

**mkmckinley** · 03-07-12, 00:36

If you want to shoot 1000m and get hits consistently in different environmental conditions you're going to have to practice. Unless you're independently wealthy you're not going to be able to practice that much with something like a 338LM. Pick a round you can afford to practice with and get the best equipment you can afford. You want to know that last flyer was you and not your equipment.

For $1000 I'd look into a Remington 700 5R or maybe one of the lesser models as long as it comes with a stock that can be bedded. However be ready to spend the same amount or more on good glass. It's more important to have repeatability and reliability than to have good glass but all of it is important to some extent. Leupold Mk IV is often touted as the bare minimum in terms of quality but I understand Super Sniper (NOT, NOT to be confused with "Countersniper) scopes are good, bare bones scopes for the money. You also want a decent bipod, scope mount, and rings. It's an expensive discipline but can be very rewarding.

**anthony1** · 03-07-12, 05:13

Just get a 308. 338LM is retarded unless you need it for hunting or shooting REALLY long range or just like paying 5$ a shot. l've shot 308 out to a mile with ok results if it isnt windy.

As far as rifles Savage 10fp or rem7sps are in youre budget, both would need a stock upgrade at some point, probably a trigger too.

Dont forget about a scope, its more important than the rifle for long range shooting. Honestly 1k $ isnt much of a budget for a precision rig but dont get discouraged, l've hit man sized targets at 1000yds consistently with normal hunting rifles if l put a good scope on it, l'm sure anyone else could too.

**BIGUGLY** · 03-07-12, 09:59

Remington VSF, has a HS Precision stock, medium contour fluted barrel. Mine has been very accurate with match loads, only downside was a 26inch barrel. But if you want to get all the velocity you can I guess the 26 inch barrel isn't too bad.