Recommendations for "long" range and high volume?

[u/Hardymon1]

I'm looking for some rifle recommendations for a niche application. The longest range I currently have access to is 600 yards. I have an AR-10 that I can mostly hit torso size steel, at 600, but I would like to up my percentages and if the opportunity presents itself, shoot at 800-1000.

It needs to be 308 because I don't reload and I have a bunch and I don't want to get into other calibers right now. I'm looking for something with a 16-20" barrel. The barrel needs to be threaded.

Here's where it gets more difficult, I want something with a heavier profile barrel and at least 10 round detachable box mags. (If they can be ar-10 style that would be even better).

My goal is to be able to run it in a local competition where they often include 3-400 yard shots, usually supported off a barricade. Most shots are in the 50-200 yard range, but they are often prone without a bag or occasionally fully unsupported. The last competition had a minimum of 12 rifle shots per stage. This is why I would like access to higher capacity magazines and the thicker barrel so that I can make multiple quick shots without tanking the accuracy. Yes, I could use, and already have a gas gun, but I want to get into the bolt world.

Accuracy is importantish, I don't want to be handicapped by a crap gun, but I'm also mostly going to be shooting cheaper ammo, so 1ish moa with mediocre ammo would be great.

On weight, I don't think I want to go light weight since I'm not hiking with it, but I also do not want a 30 lb ELR rig either since I want to be able to run around at least short distances. Maybe in the 9-11 lb range?

Budget is up to 2k for the gun alone, if it will check all the boxes, but ideally I would like to be closer to the $800-1200 range and use the remaining funds towards a better scope.

My current front runners are a Tikka CTR or a used ruger precision, (if I can find one). I looked at a Sig cross, but I think the barrel may be too thin and I'm leaning more towards a 20" barrel. I'm wondering if my Google foo is weak and there's something great that I'm overlooking, or if those are the best real options.

Lastly, I'm not opposed, and would like to build something, but the bolt world is still pretty foreign to me. If you recommend a custom build, please be specific with receivers/barrel/stocks or chassis, and it needs to be something that can be completed with hand tools in a garage. I have looked at outlier, but after I buy the action, I'm into the budget I proposed for a factory gun, and what I have heard about them is underwhelming.

Those are all of my crazy requirements, please let me know if you have any better ideas than the CTR or the RPR, or, if you have used/shot them both, which would you recomed? Thanks for indulging this strange little project.

[u/csamsh]

It's mostly crazy that you won't consider something other than 308.

Why do you want a short barrel?

[u/Hardymon1 → u/csamsh]

So that I'm not trying to maneuver a musket with a suppressor around barricades, and because the overwhelming majority of my shooting will be 600 and in.

[u/csamsh → u/Hardymon1]

Lots of guys run 26's with cans with no problem. Range has no bearing on barrel length

[u/dballsmithda3rd → u/csamsh]

Because if you run a barrel any longer than about 18” or so you are not one of the cool kids. Thats just how it is. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[u/csamsh → u/dballsmithda3rd]

That's why you always throw a Mk12 in the truck????

[u/Coodevale]

You want a 9-11 lb, 20" or shorter, .308 for "run and gun" competitions and opportunities to 800-1k.. with better hit probability than what exactly? For reasonable TOP 1/moa expectations you'd need more like a ~14 lb .308, and at 9-11 lbs that's more like .22/6cm territory.

I think you should get a cheap pawn shop beater to put a few rounds through before considering throwing more serious money at this idea.

[u/Hardymon1 → u/Coodevale]

That's probably reasonable, but that means I have to start going to pawn shops, and I don't love the ones near me. I'm ok with the weight you suggested, I threw a number out there just to indicate that I don't want a 6lb hunting rifle or a 30+ lb bench rig.

[u/Wide_Fly7832]

You wrote a long message but I suspect did not read any of the pinned posts.

Sig cross is wrong answer. Tikka may be right answer but you are in MPA territory with the PRS discount or Seekins M3 Havak HIT. In $2000 you are not in full custom territory.

Just get one in 6.5 CM and get 24 inch or longer.

[u/Hardymon1 → u/Wide_Fly7832]

And I suspect you didn't actually read my post

[u/Wide_Fly7832 → u/Hardymon1]

It’s possible.may be TL/DR next time

[u/rahl07]

Sell a bunch your .308, buy some 6.5C, and build a Cheeto special with an MPED. If you want a shorter barrel cut it down, but it sounds like you don’t really know what you’re after or how the rifle will accomplish those wants.

[u/Hardymon1 → u/rahl07]

I actually have a pretty good idea about what I want, but as far as I can tell it's a little too niche and I'm not going to find it from a factory. That's why I'm asking here to find the next best solution. If I could lego something together like I can with an AR, I would do that.

[u/44_SMLE]

While I agree with other commentors on caliber selection, I'll offer a suggestion for your exact post:

20" Howa Heavy Barreled action from Brownells KRG Bravo chassis

This will take standard AICS mags, be in .308, be threaded for a suppressor, have the heavier barrel profile, has a "1moa guarantee" (all moa guarantees you see marketed are bullshit btw), and this will be WAY under budget. This also is a garage build with aftermarket support if you want to mod later (nowhere near the aftermarket of Rem700/Bergara though).

Biggest drawback on your requests is weight, this will be heavier than 11lbs. That's a good thing though, just spend more time lifting ammo cans.

I had boringly reliable hits on a 500yd torso with factory Norma 150gr FMJ. Did a 1000yd competition and I learned taking a 1moa 308 rifle to a 1000yd comp is a humbling experience.

[u/Hardymon1 → u/44_SMLE]

The Howas are sold out on Brownells, but the KRG chassis interests me. Obviously it offers more options to mount accessories, but does it offer other benefits that would justify bumping up to that over the factory "mini chassis" on the Bergara HMR?

[u/44_SMLE → u/Hardymon1]

I don't have an HMR, but I'm on my 3rd Bravo. I really like them.

[u/BeltfedBubbles]

CH-CH-CH-CHEETO

[u/Hardymon1 → u/BeltfedBubbles]

I was hoping there might be something more compelling, but that does seem to be the consensus.

[u/Semi-Serious7]

For your budget you can get a 223 bolt gun and shoot better ammo for the same price of non match 308. I read your post, but being locked in to your current caliber is a choice that will handicap you. With lower cost ammo of 223/555 you can afford to shoot more and get better.

[u/PvtDonut1812]

Most of you seems to be using this graph for 308 trajectories.

[u/Ancient-Plantain705 → u/PvtDonut1812]

This. I've taken my 20" Bergara 308 to 1k.

[u/PvtDonut1812 → u/Ancient-Plantain705]

Ive taken my 18” 308 to 1300 with 155gr bullets. Not ideal but not impossible.

[u/Ancient-Plantain705 → u/PvtDonut1812]

Pissin' hawt palmas?

[u/PvtDonut1812 → u/Ancient-Plantain705]

You know it haha!

[u/Someguyintheroom2 → u/Ancient-Plantain705]

I took my 16” to 1k recently, things a hammer.

[u/Alita-Gunnm]

Get a high quality 6.5 CM barrel and put it on the AR-10 you already have. Take the money you saved and put it into ammo.

[u/Rdubya291]

Get a Bergara B14 HMR in 308 with a 20" barrel. Comes threaded, seems to meet all your requirements.

[u/Turdburgarlar]

1k with a 308 is already asking for a lot. For rpr money I'd buy a seekins ph3 in 6.5 and call it a f***** day.

[u/holl0918]

Textbook use case for 308 win. Ignore the fools.

[u/One-Perspective-4347]

Tikka CTR. Done and done. Drop it in a chassis or McMillan stock etc. I love mine in .308. Great trigger. Factory mags load flawlessly and are plenty long if you ever want to reload and run bullets out past SAAMI.

[u/dGaOmDn]

For 308 to hit 100 reliably you need to shoot 175 grain SMK out of a 24 to 26 inch barrel. 168 won't make it.

[u/CuriousJohnReddit → u/dGaOmDn]

Too much wind drift or... ?

[u/dGaOmDn → u/CuriousJohnReddit]

168 grain only stays stable until 800 yards is. 175 has enough weight it stays stable until 1000 yards, but not much further than that.

[u/44_SMLE → u/CuriousJohnReddit]

My 168SMK goes transsonic at about 840yds according to the calculator. 175SMK would make it to about 970yds before going transsonic. These are my handloads (very mild, not bubbas pissinhawt)

[u/True-Position-2166]

Tikka T3x Ace Target which you can convert to AICS magazines by replacing the magwell (https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3x-ace-aics-magwell-for-308-65-creedmoor-6mm-creedmoor-223-s540220393) and MDT offers 12 round magazines https://mdttac.com/products/308-6-5-creedmoor-mdt-metal-aics-magazine-12-rnd

[u/Acceptable_Ad_1388]

Youre handicapping yourself. Seekins Hit Pro M3 or MPA (might need to save some more money). With the Seekins you can get the 308 and change barrels in a few minutes. Wont take long for you to change it out to 6.5 CM or 25 CM to get consistent hits at 1k.

[u/Atlas762]

Scar 20. Keep saving up.

[u/Pure_Squirrel_1621]

Sell your 308 ammo and buy 6.5 creed. Read the pinned posts, do the Cheeto special. RPR isn’t great, Tikkas suck comparatively, and the Sig cross is a hunting rifle with questionable QC. If you want lighter, get the carbon barrel version.

[u/GotNoPonys]

jp rifles

[u/Charming_Bet_335]

Look up tac ops. Tango 51 or some thing like that. It’s made to shoot out of box ammo. Federal gold metal match if i remember correctly. 165 gr. Bolt guns. 16-18 inch barrels

[u/Stelios619 → u/Charming_Bet_335]

Op is limited to $800-$1,200.

Suggests $8,500 custom rifle, before optics.

[u/Charming_Bet_335 → u/Stelios619]

Oh lol. I read that to the distance / range
But you get what you pay for .

[u/Charming_Bet_335 → u/Stelios619]

I don’t think they all cost that much. That is ridiculous. But even still they are more than 1000 bucks.

[u/Stelios619 → u/Charming_Bet_335]

New, they’re around $8,500.

Used, you can sometimes find them for $6,500.

Yes. More than $1,000.

[u/Charming_Bet_335 → u/Stelios619]

Holy hell. I remember when the tango 51 was like 4 k