Target - Hunting crossover rifle?

[straightshooter]

Whatever factory rifle you choose, in order to have some semblance of competitiveness at longer ranges pick one with a long heavy barrel. Preferably at least 26" long and a straight taper and without fluting.
Careful consideration of your scope and mount will also be necessary. Either go for a scope with a very wide adjustment range which will restrict you in the maximum magnification available or go to a tapered mount. With the tapered mount the scope will also need enough adjustment range so you can zero for 100 or 200 yards for example.
The various 6.5mm cartridges are the current fad calibers but that said who knows what the fad will be in a couple of years time.
I would suggest that the mundane, boring 308 would be the better option.

[Vicko]

Thanks folks, few answers to catch up with:

I don't think I'd want/need to much go beyond 350m for foxes/pigs/deer as I work my way up.
Bear in mind that I do have access to a light 30-06 as a stalking shorter distance rifle.

I'd been leaning to 6.5 over 308 as they're inherently more flatter and more accurate and can do everything up to Sambar.
And as an entry point into long range stuff I'm assuming it will be easier for me to learn on. Happy for opinions though!

I've fallen a little bit in love with these GRS laminate stocks btw.. droooool - https://www.grsriflestocks.com/rifle-stocks/grs-hybrid
They're around the $800 mark.
Wonder how much it would cost to drop the Lithgow 102 or Tikka Tac action into that..

I see a glass GRS stocked 26inch Howas for under $1400.. and Bravos for a bit less.
That seems tempting. If I budget for about the same on glass that'd be a reasonable setup wouldn't it?

[sungazer]

Sorry mate the 6.5 doesn't quite make the 270 cal or greater could find yourself on the wrong side of the law there. The Police and Ranges can be very active in the Deer habitat as well so be on your toes.

The Flatter part is also a bit of a stretch at 500 yrds it is like 0.5 MOA and at 1000 3 MOA in 27 so you are always going to be tweaking the turrets and either have a good memory or a DOPE chart.

[Vicko]

Not intending to go outside of reg's - I had been told it was only Sambar that was restricted by the 270 thing but I just checked and its 270 and up for Sambar, Red and Rusa here in Vic which pretty much only leaves Fallow. I know there's Fallow where I am, but I'd be keen to go after Reds and Rusa's too. My mates place up near Eilldon has plenty of those on it (and Sambar). I do have the 30-06 to fall back on. But you make a fair point. I could keep the 30-06 as a stalking/pig rifle with a smaller aimpoint...

I just checked again and you're right its not much flatter, gets a bit less wind drift and reaches past 1000 more easily before dipping into the transonic window. Certainly recoil is only about 2/3rds of the 308. Having not done any long range stuff I'd have thought that would make a pretty big difference. As mentioned I'm completely new to this stuff. Plenty of spotting foxes and bunnies so far, but not much else.

[SCJ429]

What is a tapered scope mount Staight shooter? I didn't follow what you were saying there.

Were you saying he should get a canted pic rail?

[SCJ429]

I think a boring 223 will do much better than a boring 308 for someone starting out with some distance shooting. With a 1:8 twist barrel and some 80 grain Bergers you can do very well from 500 to 1000 and show the 308 shooters how it is done.

No you shouldn't use it for deer but foxes find it pretty objectionable.

I have never been beaten by a 6.5 when shooting a 6mm. The problem with factory rifles is not many of them offer a 1:8 twist barrel for the 6mm offerings.

[Vicko]

Yeah.. take deer back off the list. I can use the 30-06 if I really want to go after them. (I didn't really follow the taper comment either so I'm glad you asked SCJ).

I hear ya on the 1:8 thing - that seems to be repeated by a lot of people.
Lots of folks banging on about the 6.5PRC too.. fmd another one to consider...

[SCJ429]

The good thing about the Creedmoor and 260 is you can buy Lapua brass. In the Creedmoors favour you get brass with a small primer but you can make 260 brass from 308 Palma brass which gets you a small primer too. With the PRC you are stuck with Hornady brass which sucks.

If you want a Magnum sized case you could consider a WSM but all of these cases will be much harder to shoot than the puny 223. If you could find yourself a Tikka Varmint, some Lapua brass and some Berger projectiles, you would have a lot of success.

[Vicko]

So I paid the LGS another visit today. Shouldered a few rifles and checked out actions. Thoughts below.

Tikka T3 GRS. Bull barrel. Heavy overall, but nice stock. Soft grip feels nice. Shape is good. Reckon the laminate version would be mint... Action feels nice. Well built (as it should be for the price)

Howa 1500 Varmint barrel. Cant remember the model, synth brown heavy stock with dark flecks. Weight was ok, action was pretty ordinary though. Felt sloppy and cheap. Built quality a big step down from the Tikka.. but it's less than half the price.

Ruger Hawkeye forest laminate sporter barrel. Super light. Wasn't really the weight that I'm looking for but I just wanted to feel the stock and action. Stock was lovely. Action didn't impress me to be honest. Felt only marginally better than the Howa.

Lithgow 102 synth. Felt the best quality and action to me. Impressive. Massive bolt size.. that bastard aint going anywhere... Big varmint barrel too. Weight felt ok. By the time a decent scope and bipods are added it'll have some heft to it. Not sure a 105 would be that usable for spotting if its another 1.5kilo.. so I ight give that a miss. Stock design doesn't really do it for me though. So I'll look for some options. Seems MDT and Lucky 13 are already doing chassis stocks to fit, I dunno if anyone os doing laminate ones (which I think I'd prefer). Might ping a note to Boyds and GRS. But I'd expect those chassis setups would improve the accuracy even further than the factory stocks yeah?

[SCJ429]

Admittedly the Tikkas I have worked with have all showed excellent accuracy with the factory Tupperware stocks, all well under 1/2 at 100. But they retained their accuracy when mounted in GRS Bifrost and various chassis.