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Good Bolt Rifle and Caliber? Need Schooling.

I'll buy a athlon or riton over the low and mid end vortex now. Had too many issues with crappy tracking unless you are buying premium vortex and at that point I'll move to a european scope
 
Please provide specific makes and models for rifles and scopes. I have no idea what's what.
 
What you are wanting to do, isnt really asking much. Should be pretty easy to put a few toys together

BDK said:
Please provide specific makes and models for rifles and scopes. I have no idea what's what.
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Do some research bud. Start looking for what scopes track accurately, and hold zero. The warranty is the least important part of a scope fyi.
 
BDK said:
Please provide specific makes and models for rifles and scopes. I have no idea what's what.
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You can put togeter a very accurate sub moa rifle with decent glass for under $1k very easily. I did a ruger american in 6.5cm with an athlon argos 8-34x56 ffp scope for under $800. The scope was just over $400 on amazon and the rifle was on sale at the lgs for just over $300. It will hit 12" at 1000yds easily, I shoot as well with it as I do my surgeon.

It really just depends on what you want to spend.if you got a fat wallet spendit if not, you dont need to.
 
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BDK said:
I am, irate research. Thats why I asked for specifics.
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It's been covered pretty well. Tikka, cz, howa, Ruger American.

Tikka for example on makes 1 real model - the t3x. They have different trims with stock styles, stainless, camo, etc. But it's one friggin model. Past that it's on you for what stock feels best and what color you want it.

Anything in any of those 4 lines is fine.

Scope - just buy what you can afford. Budget at least the same on the scope as the rifle.
 
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Generally scopes on those package deals are pretty low end stuff. While I'm far from a glass snob, I wouldn't want that on any of my rifles.
Nothing wrong with the ruger american stuff. Cheap rifles that are more accurate than they should be.

That said, they are a $450 rifle, at best. No way would I pay more than that for one of them, when you can get a Tikka T3 lite for around $700. And can buy them used of the forums in the $500-$600ish range.

No flies on a setup like this either..

www.brownells.com

1500 308 WIN 20" THREADED HEAVY BARRELED ACTION | Brownells

Howa 1500 Barreled Actions are the perfect platform for a quality precision rifle build, at an affordable cost. Every Howa Barreled Action features a hammer forged barrel, bottom metal and precise HACT two stage trigger. The receiver and bolt are ...
www.brownells.com www.brownells.com
kineticresearchgroup.com

Remington 700 Chassis Bravo | Kinetic Research Group

If you’re looking for your perfect balance in Remington 700 Chassis, Bravo is exactly what you need. Browse your options here!
kineticresearchgroup.com kineticresearchgroup.com
www.swfa.com

SWFA 10x42 SS 30mm Riflescope

SWFA 10x42 SS 30mm Riflescope Details SKU: SS10X42MQ Finish: Matte Reticle: MIL-Quad Tube Diameter (mm): 30 Elevation Knob: Exposed Target (.1 MIL) Windage Knob: Exposed Target (.1 MIL) Parallax Setting: Rear Focus Focal Plane: Second
www.swfa.com www.swfa.com
 
Weasel said:
So on budget glass, Arken decent for the money? They have a sale on now for a LVPO
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Well my newest one took a shit after less than 100 rounds of 22lr:laughing:

Cant even zero the gun now. POI is moving all over the place. Changing the magnification moves POI as well. You can actually watch the reticle move sideways as you crank up the power:lmao:

Not sure of I'm goona send it in, or toss it an just consider it a lesson learned.
 
Riton or athlon for budget optics. Vortex mid grade and up for the next level (forget their crossfire shit). Leupold or euro glass after that.
 
If I hadnt blew my fun money I woulda bought a couple 5-20 swfa's for the $600 they were selling them for a month ago

Turrets and how much twisty stuff you do, really narrows down the scope options
 
kf4zht said:
Riton or athlon for budget optics. Vortex mid grade and up for the next level (forget their crossfire shit). Leupold or euro glass after that.
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Id love to recommend the Leupold but I can't really find any with AO under $1000. I was looking and all are fixed parallax which is ridiculous. I'm still shooting my old vari-X III on my anschutz
 
I’m not going to read all three pages, but I’ll give you some of my experience.

Get comfy with your set up. Eye relief is huge in scopes. I need something with close to 4” for comfort. I had a Vortex Diamond Back 4-12x40 and the relief is 3.1”. Flat out sucked.

I like to be able to simply pull up, aim, shoot. I hate having to move around or be in perfect bench or prone position. The lower relief scopes demanded that.

I’ve got a savage 110, 6.5cm with a Vortex Crossfire 4-12x44AO and the fucker shoots lights out. Clover leaf groups at 100. I don’t target shoot past 100c but I’ve killed 2 deer past 250 and my shot hit where I aimed… My cost on rifle and scope was just under $600 with tax.
I shoot Hornady American Whitetail ammo.

I’ve got a few bolt guns. I don’t hunt or shoot enough to warrant multi thousand dollar gun/scope combos.

This is a hobby. Go out and look at every single gun mentioned. Hold ‘em, feel em. Pull em up. Cycle em. Buy what you can afford and then keep upgrading as need be…
 
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I've been looking at different rifles, thinking I might go with a Ruger 7.62x39 or 5.56 bolt rifle for starters. They are priced good, and I have a ton of ammo in those calibers. Then, after using it for a while, moving up to a .308 bolt rifle.
 
Texas97 said:
Id love to recommend the Leupold but I can't really find any with AO under $1000. I was looking and all are fixed parallax which is ridiculous. I'm still shooting my old vari-X III on my anschutz
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Side focus for $500 MSRP, 6-18

www.leupold.com

VX-Freedom 6-18x40 CDS Side Focus Tri-MOA

The VX®-Freedom® 6-18x40mm is the perfect scope if you're looking to test the limits of any rifle in your safe. With a host of features you would expect in a higher price-point scope, like a 30mm maintube, exposed adjustments, and 18x magnification, this scope can make your long-range dreams...
www.leupold.com www.leupold.com
 
BDK said:
I've been looking at different rifles, thinking I might go with a Ruger 7.62x39 or 5.56 bolt rifle for starters. They are priced good, and I have a ton of ammo in those calibers. Then, after using it for a while, moving up to a .308 bolt rifle.
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You’re going to be limited in accuracy for both of those rifles with military type ammo. I built an AR I expected to be accurate and was disappointed when it shot 2.5 - 3 MOA with Federal American Eagle. Shot some of that through my bolt gun that’s consistently sub-MOA with hunting ammo and it shot about the same.
 
Gatorgrizz27 said:
You’re going to be limited in accuracy for both of those rifles with military type ammo. I built an AR I expected to be accurate and was disappointed when it shot 2.5 - 3 MOA with Federal American Eagle. Shot some of that through my bolt gun that’s consistently sub-MOA with hunting ammo and it shot about the same.
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The rifle and ammo will still outshoot 90%+ of new shooters ability (actual, not what they think their ability is)

There is better ammo for when you get to the point of that being your limit. You can get decent 5.56 for 50-75cpr, vs 308 cheap stuff starting around there.
 
Steve300xcw said:
I wouldnt plan on a $500 leupold to track for shit
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That may be true, I’ve only got two of them with turrets. Generally shoot them at the range and use a drop chart, dial what it says, fire. Not trying box tests, beating them through a PRS competition, or for serious use. Had one of them lose zero when it fell over from leaning up against a truck, I went with a Zeiss V4 on my serious hunting rifle after that.
 
kf4zht said:
The rifle and ammo will still outshoot 90%+ of new shooters ability (actual, not what they think their ability is)

There is better ammo for when you get to the point of that being your limit. You can get decent 5.56 for 50-75cpr, vs 308 cheap stuff starting around there.
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Just hitting steel at 100-200 yards, I’d agree, but off sandbags on a bench it’s not challenging to shoot sub 2 MOA, new shooter or not. It’s annoying when the ammo won’t even hold that, you effectively can’t zero the thing.

5.56 has way more “accurate“ options than 7.62x39, but it’s worth considering based on the statement about having “a lot” of those cartridges.
 
Gatorgrizz27 said:
Just hitting steel at 100-200 yards, I’d agree, but off sandbags on a bench it’s not challenging to shoot sub 2 MOA, new shooter or not. It’s annoying when the ammo won’t even hold that, you effectively can’t zero the thing.

5.56 has way more “accurate“ options than 7.62x39, but it’s worth considering based on the statement about having “a lot” of those cartridges.
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To me getting good involves shooting in a lot of different positions, with time limits, with wind challenges, with barriers to work around.

I'll take a shoot who can hit an 8" gong off a dozen different shooting positions on the clock vs the guy who can show off their amazing half moa groups while the rifle is locked in a rest on a bench at known range while they have their latte and press the bang button.
 
BDK said:
I've been looking at different rifles, thinking I might go with a Ruger 7.62x39 or 5.56 bolt rifle for starters. They are priced good, and I have a ton of ammo in those calibers. Then, after using it for a while, moving up to a .308 bolt rifle.
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I’ve got the 5.56. I haven’t shot it yet. It’s cool, it’s short but I wouldn’t call it nice. That’s why I bought it though. I wanted something I wasn’t worried about dragging around. This pic is next to my sons Savage compact 243.
 

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Wish mine had came with the DBM. I cant make myself spend the money on it now:laughing:
 
I picked up two Riton Optics, 1Primal 4-12X50 IL,MOA reticle scopes. 1 sits on a rimfire build, and the other a Ruger American .300 BO. More than enough magnification for my BO. But, aim small, miss small. It's great for popping 'dillos after haying a field. With the rimfire, they jump up in the air and runoff, the BO makes it like shooting a tire. Done deal.
 
I 90% sure I have a plan. Get a decent Ruger in a common caliber I'm familiar with and a good scope. Relearn my distance skills for a while, then step up to a .308.

So, let's talk calibers:

Between the 7.62x39 and the 5.56x45, I've read several comparison articles. The 5.56 has a much flatter trajectory for a much farther distance, and also seems to do better in wind. Ballistically, they also seem to be about the same over 100 yards. Is seems like it would be a fair statement to say 5.56 is a more accurate round at distance. The largest critter I would possibly be shooting with it would be a coyote, and even then it would have to be a nuisance animal. Both calibers are priced similarly enough that it's not a factor. Availability is also not a issue, but the 5.56 seems to have a slight edge. I have lots of ammo for both, but most of it is surplus quality, so I would be purchasing better ammo for either caliber. When I say "lots" I don't want to get any more specific than that. Still live in California and don't want someone reading this to decide I have "too much" ammo and must be a danger to society.

If I'm correct with my above comparison, I think the best caliber for me is 5.56x45 (.223).

In looking for a bolt rifle in 5.56x45, which Ruger should I go with? I've been looking at the Hunter series just because it seems more versatile and in a few years this rifle might end up as a all around medium distance shooter when I move up to a .308.

Comments?
 
Hate to complicate it more. But alot of times the bullets you are using make more of a difference than the caliber. Expecially at a distance. When I was first getting into it. I was amazed to learn that a .223 with an Amax, would pass my 243 and its standard 100gr hunting bullet. Toss a 105gr into the 243 and shit changed:smokin:

My experience with the 223 Ruger American mags was not good in any way. I heard they have changed them, but I dunno. So I would go with one that takes AR mags or better yet AICS style mags. The latter can be modded to take some pretty long bullets.

I dont see the ruger american hunter in .223?
I prefer short barrels, so I would go with the American ranch

An for fucks sake, call it a .223 like every other person on the planet:flipoff2:
 
Looking at these .223 bolt rifles;

Ruger American® Rifle Ranch Bolt-Action Rifle Model 26965

ruger.com ruger.com

Ruger American® Rifle Predator Bolt-Action Rifle Model 26944

ruger.com ruger.com

Both are priced the same at $699.00. Only real difference is the barrel length and weight (Ranch 16", Predator heavier 22").

Ruger American® Rifle Vortex® Crossfire II® Riflescope Bolt-Action Rifle Model 26951

ruger.com ruger.com
The Vortex appears to be a Predator with a Crossfire scope. Since the Crossfire scopes are under $200, the price of $919.00 reflects the scope and rings. I've read good and bad reviews about these scopes. Most of the bad reviews seem to be the focus being blurry at distances. It seems some of you like the Crossfire, some of you don't. My only real experience with scopes is with a Springfield Armory 2nd Gen Government 4-14x56 that I purchased with my M1a. I've only used it maybe a dozen times because I like that rifle's match iron sights, the scope/mount loses zero when it's removed, and it makes that large heavy rifle uncomfortable to shoot anywhere but on a rest.

I'm guessing I would be happy with the Vortex model, but I also like compact rifles and the Ranch model seems like it would be more versatile and would be a nice mid-range rifle if I eventually move up to a longer-range round/rifle. Everything online I have found about comparisons of the two state the Predator is much more accurate.

If I could find a local shop that had both I could decide by just handling them. All three take AR style mags and I have 10 round Pmags since, California.

Decisions, decisions.....
 
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