Best rifle choice for this purpose

**ASH556** · 10-30-13, 14:58

Purpose:

Precision (1-2MOA w/match ammo) out to 800 yds for at least 10 shots.
More energy/ballistic performance than 5.56
Lightweight (7-8 lbs loaded w/glass)
Short (20" or shorter barrel, 16" ideal)

In my head, I want a Remington Model 7 in .308 with a synthetic stock and maybe a Vortex 2.5-10x32. I don't know if that is accurate enough, though.

I currently have a 1976 MFR wood-stocked Ruger M77 in 30/06 with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40. There isn't much of a real need for a precision rifle in my area, which is why I've owned two and let them go...they never get shot because there's nowhere to shoot them. Both were heavy-barreled Remington 700's in HS precision stocks and both shot very well, but were a pain to hunt deer with because of their weight. The problem with the Ruger is accuracy. 3 shots and it's done. 100yd groups open up from 3 rounds stacked to 6+ inches after that 4th or 5th shot.

So, what's your best recommendation for a "walking sniper" rifle?

ETA: I know this is in the bolt action section, but what about the Smith M&P 10 for the purpose described above?

**tylerw02** · 10-30-13, 15:56

That's going to be a tough criteria. The Model Seven is going to heat up and string as bad as your Ruger past three shots.

Frankly, it sounds like a strange course almost tailored to a concept rifle somebody wants to sell. I saw a post on Sniper's Hide a few months ago with similar requests.

Man, I'd hate to shoot a .308 in that weight range for a 10-20 shot string.

I honestly don't know of anything other than pencil-barrel hunting rifles that will come in that weight range and you're going to have REALLY light glass to accomplish this. For a light rifle, what I have is a 700 with Rem varmint contour at 20" in a B&C stock and Leupold 3.5-10x TMR/M5 knobs. It comes in over your weight requirement (8 pound range without bipod), but meets your accuracy needs. You couldn't lighten up the concept a bit more with aluminum bases/rings, a 16.5" version of the barrel (which is going to hurt your 1-2 MOA criteria at 800 yards), and a good muzzle-brake to tame it.

**C-grunt** · 10-30-13, 16:41

Id look into one of the 20 inch 700 like the SPS Tac. Get the barrel cut to 16 inches and fluted. Add a decent stock and that PST and it should be close to what you want.

**taliv** · 10-30-13, 16:50

you're going to look at me like i'm from mars or something, but it sounds like you want a contender/encore style pistol, which lots of people get in rifle calibers, put bipods on, and shoot at long range.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cont...w=1600&bih=703

it ain't 'tactical', but you can certainly hit steel and hunt with it

that said, i think your requirements for a 'walking sniper rifle' are way off. all the snipers i know, which quite a few, hump 15-30 lb guns as far as they need to.

**VIP3R 237** · 10-30-13, 17:35

Have you looked at the Tikka T3 rifles? They are very light and have a box magazine, as well as an excellent trigger. My .308 with the Vortex Viper PST FFP 4-16 mounted with opti-loc rings weighs in at 8.6 lbs, with a lower magnification optic or shortening the barrel you can shed some weight. This rifle is a sub-MOA shooter with FGMM, but where it is a lighter barrel it does open up after a couple shots, but not as bad as one would think.

**brown3345** · 10-30-13, 17:47

Originally Posted by taliv

you're going to look at me like i'm from mars or something, but it sounds like you want a contender/encore style pistol, which lots of people get in rifle calibers, put bipods on, and shoot at long range.

Like these? In all fairness, the top one is a 460 and isn't a long range pistol but the bottom one is. I had that chambered in 7mm-08 Ackley Improved and is my long range hunting pistol of choice.

**kevN** · 10-30-13, 18:48

If you have the money, a carbon fiber wrapped barrel from Proof and one of their carbon fiber stocks makes for a very accurate and lightweight package.

Caylen from Magpul Dynamics has a PROOF built 6.5 creedmore that shoots lights out and scoped is probably 8-9 lbs.

**ASH556** · 10-30-13, 19:32

Originally Posted by C-grunt

Id look into one of the 20 inch 700 like the SPS Tac. Get the barrel cut to 16 inches and fluted. Add a decent stock and that PST and it should be close to what you want.

I've had one in the past with a Leupold MKIV...great gun, shot lights out, but way too heavy and cumbersome for hauling around.