What is a good long range rifle?

Question

I am looking at buying a long range rifle but don't know what to buy. I recently bought my first gun, a Mossberg Persuader short barrel 12 ga. Now I want a rifle, I am not sure what caliber or brand I should get. I am looking for something under $500 and whatever I get should be able to pick off a person at 200 yards. Don't worry, I am not going after anyone. I am just thinking in the off chance war ever made it to America, I could pick someone off from a somewhat safe distance. I know some come with a scope out of the box and I consider that a plus. Let me know what you think =)

Ok...I just want to add a little bit to issue some peoples answers on here.

1) The people that tell me I shouldn't own a weapon....I was in the US Army for 5 years, I shot numerous weapons from an M16 all the way up to a 50 cal and grenade launcher. I was also deployed to Iraq in 2004. So all of you that say I shouldn't own a weapon might want to know a little more about me first.

2) I understand that 200 yards isn't exactly long range, I was about to leave the house and I guess I didn't really put much thought into the distance I guess. Now that I think about it I was hitting targets at 300 yards with an M16 without a scope.

3)Even though I have shot many weapons while in the Army, I ask this because I have not been around guns much in the civilian world. With all of the control that is in the military, I felt really wierd buying a gun and walking out of a sports store with 50 rounds and a shotgun.

Answer 1

Since you are already familiar with the M-16 and probably maintenance, sighting, etc... why not spend a bit more and get a Bushmaster XM15 or similar? Find a good deal and you can probably get a A2 with 20" barrel for about $700. I am sure you would find it more accurate with better fit and finish than what you had issued in the military. ZERO learning curve it might be perfect for you.

I agree with the Savage recommendation. I have shot the 10FP in .308 and it is a good accurate rifle. I found the stock cheap, but you can replace that. The important thing is the action barrel and trigger and those are solid. Savage has many more models now and some with great adjustable triggers. I actually have a Remington 700 Police model in .308 which used to be called the "PSS". It is also good but out of the price range, and you aren't getting much for the money in the way of accuracy, though it does have a tough ridgid HS Precision Kevlar stock with aluminum bedding... I think the stock alone sells for $300+. Either one of those would be good with a good scope, which is just as important. 200 yards is not very far... and you could do that with open sights easily especially on larger targets. I would shoot one of my accurate Mosin Nagants (like my M39), or my 8mm Mausers (like my $40 Turkish 38 with 30" barrel) out as far as 300 yards without magnification, but it depends on your eyes - mine are probably average.

Even a Savage rig with good scope is probably going to run at least $600... but will be capable of powerful hits at 500+ yards in larger calibers like .308, 30-O6, or 300 Win Mag, or 7.62x54R for that matter. The Russian rimmed 7.62 cartridge is very powerful. Most of the hot surplus 8mm rounds get out to 500 yards as well.

If you are only shooting 200 yards... there are lots of great semi-auto recommendations as well. The Keltec SU-16 is under $500 if you get a good deal. The SU-16 is in between an AR-15 and Mini-14 in accuracy, which is pretty good. Unlike the Mini-14 it uses AR-15/M-16 mags so no problem with reliable mags.

Answer 2

For that purpose, I have a Savage 10FP, which is available in both .223, same as the M16, or .308, same as most NATO battle rifles, as well as M14 and some U.S. sniper rifles. It's available in packages that include a scope, better stock, bipod, and even a hard case if you'd want. They're very accurate, and will outshoot an equivalent Remington 700 in the same price range. I got mine used for about $300, and it's been good to me since then. If you're looking for something that's powerful and relatively accurate, you might want to take a look at the Mosin Nagant M44. There's loads of them from war surplus, and they're a good shooter, sending a 7.62x54R round down range with a good oomph! Surplus ammunition is pretty easy to come by, as well as some of the steel core surplus, which could come in handy in an apocolypse situation.

I know I'm going to get a lot of thumbs down now, because a Remington 700 is the only rifle that can hit anything past 200 yards, and anyone who says anything else has no idea what they're talking about. Or so believe some of the kids on here.

Answer 3

200 yards is not a long shot at all. Any centerfire rifle can pull it off. I personally picked up a savave tacticle (not the new accutriger one of the old adjustable ones) in 300 win mag with a fixed 12 power scope and a harris bipod for $530 after some negotiation. If you were in the military then I would say to go with what you know and get a ar-15. DPMS and Olimpic arms both make decent quality rifles that would suite you intended purpose.

Answer 4

Don't really have an answer for ya', but I spent my time in Nam (Plieku/Central Highlands) and my primary weapon was an M-16 (mos 11 Charlie 20)... Our son is Special Forces ( 4 deployments to Iraq and 1 Afghanistan) and we discussed some of the technology of modern day weapons the military forces use today in comparison to the Viet Nam era ~ the M-16 was replaced by the M-4. My question: if you say that you put in a 5 year stint in the military (Iraq?) how and why were you still "packin' " the M-16?? I ain't no, "Child of life" (60 years) so please open a door that I'm completely unaware of ~ why the M-16??? One last thing, I would think that'd you'd have a better knowledge as to the capabilities of a weapon, then say the average person? No pun intended ;)...

Answer 5

Why are you worried about killing a person at 200 yards?

200 yards is not that far I shoot varmint out past that.

You not going to get much for under $500 The scope on my 308 cost that much and it is a mid-range scope.

If you are looking for a long range rifle then Look at the Remington Model 700 Sendero SF II in 7mm Rem. Ultra Mag. For this rifle I would top it off with a Leupold VX-III 6.5x20-40mm 30mm tube scope. This is way out of your price range of $500 seeing as the scope alone run $700. But that is the long range rifle I would get.

Answer 6

OK..Thank you for the additional info....To be honest on a budget of just $500 you are really limiting yourself on what you can afford. It isn't uncommon these days to spend $700-$800 for the Rifle and as much if not more additional for quality optic's.....If your funds are limited I would suggest you look at the Savage 110 series Bolt Action Rifles w/Scope Combinations. I would also suggest you look at something in 308 Win or 30-06 caliber. Savage makes a decent rifle for the money and they come with a scope in some instances. With your Persuader for "inside" and a Savage Bolt Action for "outside"...you have all of the bases covered..Good Luck!

Answer 7

200 yards is not long range.Almost any bolt action centrefire will kill at that range.

In other words pick pretty much anything you want.

From an old exmilitary 6.5mm swedish for a couple hundred dollars, to any modern manufacturers economy class gun in .257, .270, 308, the list goes on.

If you want serious long range for that price I would probably try the weatherby vanguard in 300 weatherby. You can learn to shoot that gun out to 400 yards if you want.

Answer 8

I shoot a 3030 marlin Winchester style with a 2x8 scope paid around 350 for it. used redid the stock 300 yards max for killing power. I also own a mac-90 assault rifle 150 yards legal with 5 round clip have 2 clips but also have 4 30 round clips just in case. Now I hunt mostly with a compound bow carry a 44 python as back up as well as large pepper spray [works on bears up close] some times too close. but that's me. Might enjoy a good 308 or a bolt action 30 06 have used one in the past good solid weapon but kick the you know what out of you.Some of my hunting Budd's have switched too a 9mm rifle haven't shoot one my self but most of them are law enforcement people. hope this helps. PS 82nd air born 69-74

Answer 9

If it's going to be a "just-in-case rifle", a NEF Handi-Rifle in .308 is what you need. Accurate out to long ranges and tons of ammo avalaible. Since this rifle does not cost much, you can spend the rest on a nice scope and ammo.

Answer 10

200 yards isn't very far i can hit small game with my 22 at that range. any centerfire rifle can do this without a scope. i would get the Remington model 700 in 7.62x51 or a 8mm Mauser. for your intentions i would not buy a rifle for this purpose and if there every was a war in the U.S. you wouldnt be the one doing the fighting.