Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

[lapua338]

In a side-by-side test with a .260 Rem or a 6.5x55 SKAN (all practical-type guns with heavy profile barrels, similar specification scopes, blah, blah, blah) there is no doubt that .308W can be described as inadequate. Well, perhaps that's unfair. Let's just say lacking.

You have to be shooting a .30 calibre 7.62mm 200-220 gr. HPBT to match or better the ballistic efficiency of a 6.5mm 139-142 gr. HPBT.

The 6.5's are a pleasure to shoot. My 6.5x55 SKAN (long action of course) is stunningly accurate.

.308W/7.62 NATO is not in the same league. It's an undeniable fact.

[DW58]

Here we go, pi55ing contest ahead.

[Grahamcs]

Bit of background

I am 'allowed' one rifle by the wife. She won't know how much it costs!

Plus a .22 plinker fun gun probably

Calibres are one thing I don't really know about.

My knowledge and understanding is currently limited to a basic understanding of the following:

.22 LR
.17 HMR
.223
.243
6.5 Grendal
300 Blackout
308
300 win mag
338 Lapua mag
.50 bmg

and a quick lesson on the 7 08 Remmington I think?

I have been advised to get a Tikka T3 by the club which to be fair seems bloody good advice.

[WelshShooter]

Bit of background

I am 'allowed' one rifle by the wife. She won't know how much it costs!

Plus a .22 plinker fun gun probably

Calibres are one thing I don't really know about.

My knowledge and understanding is currently limited to a basic understanding of the following:

.22 LR
.17 HMR
.223
.243
6.5 Grendal
300 Blackout
308
300 win mag
338 Lapua mag
.50 bmg

and a quick lesson on the 7 08 Remmington I think?

I have been advised to get a Tikka T3 by the club which to be fair seems bloody good advice.

Graham, could I suggest something? If you're only given permission to buy "one" rifle then why not consider a rifle with exchangeable barrels? See link for Barrett MRAD. I don't have experience with it but you can get them in 300 winmag, 338 lapua mag and 308 Winchester. Might be worth a look?
https://www.barrett.net/firearms/mrad

[DW58]

Well, as I've suggested to you the Tikka T3 is a very versatile platform with a lot of very good after-market products available, probably second only to the Remington 700 in terms of bolt action rifles.

As for calibre, you must bear in mind that some calibres are not allowed on some ranges - in particular .338LM and .50BMG, and that others are covered by HME restrictions (most belted magnums and the heavier WSMs for example) which will restrict you.

Depending on what you intend to do, it's probably best to go for a calibre - or group of calibres in a change-barrel rifle - which suit most medium range (i.e. <1,000yds/m) purposes:

• .308 Win
• 6.5x55mm
• 6.5x47mm
• .260 Rem
• 7mm-08

And perhaps one or two others such as .223/5.56x45mm and others based upon that platform.

I've used .308 Win for the past 26 years with great satisfaction and good results, but as we've heard above, some look down upon it ... ... ... but ask yourself this, how many confirmed sniper kills have there been at 1,500m with .260 Rem/6.5x47mm etc., etc.?

At the end of the day it's up to you - plus you can always re-barrel it later.

Another consideration is which range(s) do you have access to, what calibres are allowed there, not much point in having a calibre you can only use a couple of times per year by driving half the length of the country.

[Grahamcs]

I looked at the mrad but it's more expensive than the ax!!!

I will have access to a 100m range at my club and live 30 miles from diggle

I know that 300 win mag and .338 lm is allowed on my local 100 m range

[Dellboy]

its about £3500

[DW58]

I looked at the mrad but it's more expensive than the ax!!!

I will have access to a 100m range at my club and live 30 miles from diggle

I know that 300 win mag and .338 lm is allowed on my local 100 m range

You're very fortunate in that respect, although I wouldn't advise either in a first rifle, but ... ... ... and it's a big but ... ... ... one of the advantages of a change-calibre rifle is that you can add such calibres later. That aside, I'm still not sure I'd go in that direction. I have a change calibre rifle with two barrels, yet I haven't used the second barrel in years, although I am considering obtaining a third barrel for it perhaps in one of the 6.5mm calibres.

[lapua338]

Here we go, pi55ing contest ahead.

Not a particularly helpful statement tongueout

but ask yourself this, how many confirmed sniper kills have there been at 1,500m with .260 Rem/6.5x47mm etc., etc.?

Irrelevant. Squaddies shoot what they're given. 7.62 NATO wouldn't be so popular if it hadn't been forced upon us. We had a lovely 280/7mm, which would have been very handy with a modern powder.

I've shot .308W for the past 4 years and it's very good when the conditions are ideal but it struggles in unfavourable weather. OK, I accept that I could read the wind better but I don't shoot TR or F-TR and therefore have no desire to keep a .308W/7.62 NATO chambered precision rifle. For me, it's so much easier with a 6.5x55 SKAN. Hence why the .308W is being rebuilt as another 6.5mm.

In the 2013 US Precision Rifle Series final, there was zero 30 calibre in the top 20 finishers. The top shooters are fond of 6mm and 6.5mm. The 6.5 Creedmoor was the most popular cartridge overall.

DW58 talks common sense with respect to the Tikka T3 (I had one and wished I kept it for another project), choosing more appropriate calibres suitable for the type of shooting that you're going to participate in and more importantly, having access to suitable ranges for those calibres. What's the point in shooting 300 Win Mag or 338LM on a 100m range? That's nonsense because you'd more than likely have a 300m zero. That's like owning a race horse and having it run around a schooling pen once a week.

If you're going to reload your own ammunition then think about the cost of components too.

[Sim G]

I have a fondness for cartridges that aren't regarded as "target" here in the UK. I've had .22-250, .220 Swift, and I'm currently running a 7mm-08. My favourite was the very "ordinary" .243 Winchester....

As soon as I can find a suitable RPA, I'll be shooting it again!