I have a little money saved up for myself and I think I'm going to buy a good long range rifle for some target/groundhog practice. I'm thinking a good 308 would do the trick nicely, but I have found a good deal on a 30.06, a Remington I believe, with a 15x tasco scope and a bipod, composite stock, for $389. Any thoughts on a good long range, bolt action setup?

-Flea

 

I've got the remmington .270 autoloader, as does my Dad. My brother has the 30.06 pump. Both are great guns. the autoloader does require a little extra care but is fun to shoot. Both are very accurate. The good thing about .308 is you can usually pick up mil surplus ammo cheap at a gun show, but quality can sometimes be questionable. I would also buy gun and scope seperate. If your really going to shoot long distance the 15X probably won't cut it. if the remmington is new and under 400 it isn't a bad deal but depends on stock type etc... I think Walmart carries that gun for in a synthetic stock for less than that though. GEt out to the gun shops where you are and compare prices, you can get good deals at gun shows if you know how to look evaluate the condition of a gun. Better yet bring an expert with you who won't be emotional about it (thats what I did). I picked up my 270 for about $250 used. it had a few scratches in the wood stock but was mechanically sound. First thing I did as break it down clean and checked out the trigger mechanism before I fired it. Decide on what you want then goe look for the best deal.

 

The 270 is a good allaround gun
you may want to consider a older
Ruger mod 77 in a 25.06, The gun
is a little heavy but veary flat
shooting and veary accurate.
Of course a good scope is a big
plus also.

 

Ive got 2 AR-15s that i target shoot with. I bought one as an assembled Colt, and the other one i put together myself using a DPMS lower receiver and a mix of DPMS and Bushmaster upper parts.

 

How do you like those two? It'd be nice to have an AR-15 or a nice M-16 A2, but it's a matter of availability and cost.

 

If I was getting something for a lot of long range plinking (be it targets or groundhogs) I would have to look long and hard at something in a .22-250 (or .223 as some mentioned). For putting a lot of rounds downrange, I wouldn't want something with as much recoil as a .30-06 or .308. My deer rifle of choice is a .270 (Browning A-Bolt) which I love - but after an extended range session or two I realized that it does well as a meat tenderizer!

 

I love ARs. The only rifles i have ever wanted. You can buy a bushmaster AR, or put one together for around $800. Now a M16 with the class3 stamp and all is going to be at least in the $5000-6000 range.

Heres a little collage of my favorite guns. On top is my colt AR-15, the one standing is the DPMS, and my concealed carry Glock23 .40cal.

 

Here is me shooting my DPMS.

AR-15

and a different type of gun

Sten

 

While not quite in the same class as the AR, an affordable alternative (IMHO anyway) is the Ruger Mini-14. Pricewise, I know you can pick a new one up at Wal-Mart for $500, and I have seen a couple of used ones in good shape in the $375 range. Of course - this isn't a bolt action like you asked about, but WAY MORE FUN!

 

I had a mini14 about a year and a half ago. I liked it ok, but i couldnt get the iron sights dialed in right. I like shooting at about 100yds without a scope, so thats when i changed over to the AR.

 

AHH how I love my 7 Mil Remington Mag with the 6x18x50 bushnell banner scope. Cost About 350. I wont blink @ a 500 yard shot.

 

You mentioned .308, this might be a tad much for a varment rifle. If you like this caliber a FAL would also be a good choice in this caliber. A little like an AR15 with a bit more umph to it. I like both of thes rifles very much.

 

Yeah, but how does your shoulder feel after about three boxes from the prone position?

 

oh its got some kick. but let me tell ya....Everyone in the woods knows when i shoot

 

Hehe - yeah, I think I heard you last season when I was down in south Arkansas.