So, you see a target. It’s a nice one, except there’s two problems. First, the target is 1,000 yards away, and second, this target has exactly zero holes in it. We can help you fix that!
Let’s look at a few excellent bolt-action rifles that can help you reach out and ventilate your target while staying under $1,000. There are a few considerations when shooting 1,000 yards that may not be as important at shorter ranges.
Stick around, and we’ll walk through what you should look for and why.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Budget
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Best Lightweight
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Best Rugged Rifle
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Best Trigger
Table of Contents
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How to Choose the Best 1,000-Yard Rifles
Accuracy
Accuracy is usually measured in Minute of Angle (MOA), or 1/160th of a circle. This correlates to roughly 1 inch at 100 yards (or 1.047 inches if you want to split hairs). So, at 1,000 yards, a 1 MOA gun/ammo/shooter combo would be shooting a 10-inch group. Life is rarely that simple, though.
Guns don’t shoot perfectly straight. Minute changes in each bullet, slight variations in the powder charge of each round, and even the slightly increased fouling in the barrel’s rifling after each round change the ballistic trajectory ever so much.
Imagine Tom Brady slinging footballs through a hanging tire at 50 yards. If all the footballs went through the tire, he’d be happy, but the reality is that none of the footballs went exactly where the others did. So, accuracy is useful to measure, but so is defining the necessary target.
Also, the gun is just one factor. Ammo, shooter, and environmental conditions are just as important, but this isn’t a weather or training article!
Stock
A rifle stock has two main jobs.
First, to be the comfortable interface between the shooter and a hunk of metal trying to accelerate violently backward. Second, the stock doesn’t just hold the rifle’s action; it has to do so in a way that maximizes accuracy potential.
Free-floating the barrel so it doesn’t touch anything other than the receiver is one example of what a good stock brings to the table.
Trigger
A good trigger brings out the best in a shooter. A crisp break, little-to-no creep, and a light pull weight all play a role in making every round fired as consistent as possible.
A trigger that works well with your shooting style is worth its weight in gold.
Value
All these guns come in under $1,000, but if they all did the exact same job, the price would be the tiebreaker, right?
Unless you have a custom build, there’s a good chance you’ll want to tweak some tiny details. More money in the budget means you can make it your own.
How We Chose the Best 1,000 Yard Rifles
This article is based largely on my experience, that of my primary long-range shooting partner, and a meta-analysis crowdsourcing many opinions on long-range shooting forums.
There will be a couple of omissions here because many of these lists are populated by the same guns over and over. I wanted to look at some lesser-known guns that still get the job done.
Any rifles mentioned with in-hand reviews adhere to a strict testing protocol requiring a minimum of 500 rounds through them with various ammunition to test accuracy and reliability. Rifles are shot from a rest to remove shooter error.
Best 1,000 Yard Rifles
1. Remington 700 SPS Tactical – Best Budget Long Range Rifle
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Accurate
- Robust aftermarket
Cons
- Trigger likely needs an upgrade
Specs
- Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor (other calibers offered include .308 Win, .300 BLK, .223 Rem)
- Barrel Length: 22″
- Overall Length: 4.75″
- Weight: 7.5 lbs
- Magazine Capacity: 4 rounds
Featuring 6.5 Creedmoor in its 22-inch barreled offering (and .308 in 20 inches and 16.5 inches), the 700 SPS Tactical is a budget builder’s dream. These heavy barrels aren’t fun to carry, but they’re extremely accurate even when the strings of fire carry on longer than expected.
The X-Mark Pro trigger is good (post recall anyway..), but that’s the one area I would really consider upgrading, which would still keep the rifle under $1K. One of these rifles (in .308) has been my go-to for years, allowing me to bisect flowers at 100 yards, make heart shots on deer to 400 yards, and ping steel easily to 800 yards.
Bumping up to 6.5 Creedmoor makes shooting at range a much simpler affair.
The Hogue stock definitely falls under the “budget” category; but is still very functional. Pillar bedding for the action and a free-floating channel for the barrel means that the stock won’t be holding you back until you’re a good enough shooter to know it.
The Hogue “overmolded” material that made them famous is featured here, which makes the stock pretty comfortable, too.
Some of the most impressive shots (and groups) I’ve made in my civilian career have been from a Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308. Despite that venerable (old) caliber dropping pretty vertically at 1,000 yards, this rifle still sends them off with style. Upgrading to 6.5 Creedmoor means gaining a ballistic advantage against gravity.
The threaded barrel for a muzzle break/suppressor is a nice touch, as is the robust aftermarket for all things Remington 700.
2. Tikka T3x Lite – Best Lightweight Long Range Rifle
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Good trigger
- 3-shot sub-MOA guarantee
- Lots of caliber options
Cons
- Finish can rust
Specs
- Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor (Lots of other caliber options)
- Barrel Length: 22″ and 24″ options
- Overall Length: 42.6″ (22″ barrel) / 44.5″ (24″)
- Weight: 6.6 lbs
- Magazine Capacity: 3+1 rounds
The T3x Lite brings 6.5 Creedmoor in 22-inch and 24-inch barrels, with other capable calibers also offered. The T3x is one of the least expensive rifles on this list, but don’t get it twisted…that doesn’t mean it’s less capable.
Tikka famously offers a 3-shot sub-MOA guarantee on these rifles. While other rifles will also be capable of this, the fact that Tikka makes this a mandate for every rifle they build shows a major commitment to excellence.
The trigger on the T3x is a light one-stage affair with a nice crisp break.
Other notable features include:
- Modular synthetic stock
- Upgraded recoil pad to mitigate felt recoil
- Redesigned ejection port that creates easier single feeding through the ejection port
- Improved rail attachment via an extra screw placement on top of the receiver for sturdier rail placement
- A robust metallic bolt shroud to cover and shield the rear of the bolt body and firing pin
- Steel recoil lug to decrease deformation even in larger calibers compared to the aluminum ones in use in T3 rifles
- Cold Hammer Forged steel barrel
Plenty of 1,000-yard shooters are shooting Tikka rifles and a whole lot of those are T3x for a reason.
3. Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical – Best Rugged Long-Range Rifle
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- MDT chassis is solid
- Very ergonomic feel
- Price is decent
Cons
- Not as many caliber options
Specs
- Caliber: 6.5 PRC
- Barrel Length: 24”
- Overall Length: 42”
- Weight: 9.4 lbs
- Capacity: 7+1 rounds
Did you expect to see the name “Mossberg” on this list? A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have.
The company is famous for its rugged, pistol-gripped shotguns and has evolved into an excellent precision rifle manufacturer. Don’t just doubt based on the name; talk to someone who’s shot a Patriot LR Tactical.
The gun starts with the MDT stock. This is an extremely rigid affair, with the aluminum bedding block securing the receiver.
The spiral-fluted bolt cycles smoothly, feeding 6.5 Creedmoor ammo into the 20-inch barrel. Sub-MOA is the standard for long-range shooting, and everyone I’ve talked to who’s actually put rounds downrange with the Patriot line has an experience that mirrors my own: the Patriot LR Tactical can achieve the standard.
Dropping rounds onto steel at a 945-yard range nearby was downright easy on a windless day.
When it debuted, we got an early look at the Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical. Check out our review or the full video below!
4. Savage Axis II Precision – Best Trigger
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
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Pros
- Exclusive MDT Chassis designed for Savage AXIS II platform
- Adjustable comb height and length of pull spacers
- 2.5-6 lb user-adjustable AccuTrigger
Cons
Specs
- Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor, .223 Rem, .243 Win, .308 Win, 30-06 Sprg, .270 Win
- Barrel Length: 22”
- Overall Length: 43.5”
- Weight: 9.89 lbs
- Capacity: 10 rounds
If you’ve been watching the bolt-action market in the last 10 years, seeing Savage make this list shouldn’t be surprising. They’ve made huge strides in the quality of their rifles while keeping them reasonably priced.
The Axis II Precision represents the pinnacle of Savage’s bolt-action offerings. Sub-MOA is routinely achieved from these rifles with factory ammo. The MDT chassis no doubt contributes to this, as does the free-floated barrel and Savage’s excellent user-adjustable AccuTrigger.
Other features include an adjustable comb height and length of pull spaces as well as a 22-inch carbon steel button rifled threaded heavy barrel with cap.
Rifles are provided with either a metal or polymer AICS magazine
Why You Should Trust Pew Pew Tactical
Learning more about the people behind the articles is always a good idea, so who’s in charge of this thing?
Leading the way is Pew Pew Tactical author Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer. A five-deployment veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Jens served with the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, where he earned his nickname. Jens has extensive experience with long-range shooting and uses that experience in written reviews and articles for Pew Pew Tactical and other publications.
Editing this article is Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings. With a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Jacki runs our experienced team of expert writers and editors. She has worked as a media professional for over 20 years and has specialized in gun media for almost 10 years. As Editor-in-Chief, she uses her expertise to set testing protocols and editorial standards across the site.
Final Thoughts
While plenty of factory rifles are sub-MOA capable, in calibers appropriate for 1,000-yard shooting, and coming in under $1,000, these are by far my favorites.
I know the Bergara and Sako fans are coming for me, and my only defense is that I haven’t been able to line up range time with those manufacturers yet. I’m always happy to revisit this topic in the future.
In the meantime, stay sharp and keep training!
What’s your go-to long-range rifle? Let us know in the comments below. Pair your rifle with the perfect scope by checking out our recommendations on the Best Long-Range Scopes.
Latest Updates
October 2024: Complete rewrite of this article with all new product recommendations and information.
67 Leave a Reply
Bad Math: one MOA is NOT 1/160 of a full circle ... it is 1/21600 of a full circle!
Mathing is hard. I think it's a typo for 1/60 of a degree.
savage 10 TR?
Thank you for the update on this article! Typo in Remington 700 overall length ;-]
Parker Hale M85 sniper rifle with 175 grain Sierra MK hand loads was hitting 15” wide steel plates at 1,238 yards. Read the British Army trials reports and this rifle was more accurate than the AI L96.
For budget accuracy, the Howa 1500 is hard to beat. I own a Tikka T3X, Savage, and Howa rifles. All three deliver great accuracy with good triggers. Put the right scope on a Howa and it will reach out with accuracy.
Steyr SSG
I regularly shoot my Savage Axis II rifle out to 600 yards, and on more than one occasion out to 1,000 yards. It’s the bomb! I regularly get sub-MOA groups and can compete with rifles that cost 2-3x. Pair it with a good scope and bipod, and you’re good to go!
Hi Jens... This is the first piece of yours I've seen... Nice to meet you. But. The Tikka actually takes all four spots. Hehe.
lol Creed, stick to airsoft my dude.
I build custom rifles and shoot them. If you look at the best longrange shooters most started off with a factory off the shelf or modified factory rifle. An example former F-class FTR national champion James Crofts statred out Shooting a modified Savage FTR rifle. To stay competetive he has since moved on to a custom rifle. Your article is somewhat misleading especially to the new or inexperienced long range shooter. A $1,000 1000 yard rifle is misleading in several ways. Yes, the factory rifles will shoot 1000 yards. 1 MOA at 1000 yards is 10 inches. There are many factors effecting accuracy at 1000 yards some are engineering, some are enviromental and the biggest is the shooters ability. To be competitive at 1000 yards one need to start out with a 1/2 moa rifle or better. Many 1000 yard shooters have custom stocks and/or chasis that cost more than $1000.00. Most shoot optics, rings and bases that cost between $2,000.00 and $3,500.00. most shoot off Bipods or Mehanical Rest costing up to $3,000.00. The adverage compitetive .308 target round cost around $4.00 to $6.00 each. That is not including the reloading equipment and time involved.
As I stated many factory rifles will shoot 1000 plus yards. Most shooters can't or have not ever shoot 1000 yards and for less than $1,000.00 is more of a myth than a reality.
Breh did you just call F class long range shooting?
His points are spot on, F Class rifles are expensive. Eric Cortina is f class and moved to prs shooting. Look up the 1,000 yard challenge on you tube, guys and gals come out with a variety of rifles. That will give you some ideas of the equipment you need to meet that challenge. You need a lot of skill the hit the mark with a budget friendly set up.
I shoot Ruger Rifles, nothing like a Ruger! 308 Caliber!
I sure wish that when emailing out an article that is three years old that you all would check the recommendations again. 3 of these rifle are saying discontinued! As someone expecting to lean about this for the first time, I've do e nothing but waste my time.
I just can't agree with the 6.5 Creedmoor. It is too light for the wind out to 1000 yards. Yes, it will do it but there are better options today. I agree with you on the Tikka, I have this rifle in 308 and it will put 4 bullets in a dime at 100 yards right out of the box and Match grade ammo is readily available. In regard to the caliber selection, I will recommend the 6.8 Western. It supports a longer and heavier bullet which will be much more stable over the distance.
Lol i take it you dont compete in 1000yd benchrest. I do in both light gun class with a 6bra shooting a 106gr bullet and in unlimited gun with a 7saum shooting a 183gr bullet. That 6bra shoots 10 shot groups as small as 3.5" on A good day. That being said, the first match i ever went to a 77yr old man kicked my arse who was shooting a 6.5creedmoor he built. I happend to be the guy who pulled his target and that group was right around 3" for 10 shots. Even guys in FTR prone win shooting small groups with 223rem.
Also all smallest group records shot from 600yd to 1000yd are held with 6mm cal cartridges with bullets weighing from 103gr to 109gr match bullets. 6.8western though a decent cartridge simply does not have the custom match bullets available in .277cal to stand with the 6mm, 6.5mm match bullets that we use made by vapor trail, barts, eps, ect. And 308win is a poor choice for 1000yd shooting as its very slugish and affected by wind worse because its simply slow, and the 30cal bullets in its preferred weight do not have near the coefficient to be slippery in the wind as the 6mm's and 6.5mm's. Its why no one uses it in 1000yd benchrest. Its only used in FTR prone where your only allowed a 223 or 308 which now days 223rem beats it frequently, or in palma match prone where you have to use 308win with 155gr bullet. Also just because a rifle will shoot in a dime at 100yds means nothing in long range as it does not mean it will hold tight on out. A lot of us fine tune at 300yds because a boat tail match bullet does not even start to do what its designed to do until it gets to around 300yds.
I'm a little late to the party. Surfing through some shooting stuff and found this post. William, I'm wondering if your statement is correct relative to the smallest 1000 yd groups by a 6mm. I grew up close to where the 1000 yd benchrest shoot started. That would be Bodines, Pa (north of Williamsport, Pa). My info on the smallest 1000 yd group of 10 shots I'm thinking goes to a .30 caliber. The 10 shot group might be somewhere close to 2.65". Those 100 grain plus are just too light to be consistent shooters. But what do I know? I'm an old US Army Vet who has been shooting since I was five years old and now finding myself 3 score and 10+. Correct me if I'm wrong. I can't be offended. Have a great day.
What about the 6.8 Western? I've been reading about that a bit and if info is correct I like it sounds to be flat shooter, hard hitter and long distance. Your thoughts??
ah, nice marketing ploy with the Sellier & Bellot 6.5CR at $15.50 per 20.
LOL.. I bought 3,000 rounds of these before all the prices got crazy off the internet.. S&G Ammo I think..Not sure..Id never shot any S&B before this purchase. I Bought them strictly because of cheap prices.
Now with that said I like SB ammo, Plus the brass is pretty dang good..Way better than the Hornady Brass.
The S&B I bought shot equally as good as Remington and Hornady Black.. So whats not to like.
HOrnady Black is HIGHLY overated. Especially in 6.5 Grendel.
Ask me how I know this !
your info is simply the best i have read it open my eyes about buying my first long range rifle thanks Spencer
I’ve been reading a lot of articles about these types of rifles over the last few days (birthday coming up) and I have to say this is by far the most informative and well written article I’ve come upon. Thank you Sir
Randy, I have a Ruger M77 Mark II stainless bull barrel and action 22-250 with a laminated stock.
I used to live in New Mexico where it's coyote plenty! The best that I can get on a kill shot is about 750 yards with 65 grain?(I think) green ballistic tip bullets which would still leave a hole the size of golf ball at that distance.
My question is that I can't seem to find that 10" pattern or get a closer group up to that 1000 yards.
Any ideas? Bullets?, Scope? Stock?
Thanks
Randy I would have to add two more rifles the that list, Howa and Ruger American Predator. I have both one in 300 PRC and the other in 6.5 Creedmoor, both guns are constantly on at 1000 yards. I will say that the scope makes a big difference as well. I have several years of shooting under my belt, I did 20 years in the Marine Corps, 5 of those as a PMI ( Primary Marksmanship Instructor ) and Small Arms Weapons Instructor teaching entry level and sustainment level.
Savage 10 in .308 ($550) is a good start. love the adjustable trigger. 2.5lbs is my sweet spot. i use a 20 moa base to get the needed elevation of around 38 moa on the 20" barrel. My first 1000 yd rifle, with glass and add ons at $850 total. Savage BA Stealth 24" barrel in 6.5 CM ($1100) with 20 moa base is also an excellent choice, but double the cost. Rounds are same price. For .308 the least expensive rounds fly the best. the hotter rounds have issues with the shorter barrel. They don't fly right. I like HPBT for both. in 6.5 the Hornady Black at $1/rnd from Academy all day long work great. The .308 i had to build a cheek rest out of 4 pcs of foam from a pool noodle, stacked atop one another and topped by a piece of PVC cut in half. Held on by an ankle wrap to get eye elevation correct. Might look cheezy, but it works awesome. BA has adjustable cheek rest. 6.5 flies flatter to 1000 so doesn't need as much elevation as the .308. But, I've proven it can be done for $850. ALL factory. The guys I proved it to? Bill Davison from Tac-Pro, former british special forces, and Mike the SWAT trainer for Fort Worth PD. Bill didn't think it could be done. My glass? $139.00 6-24x44. Hit sub moa, 7" below dead center on 2nd shot. They were stunned. Actually, so was I. Didn't know if it would get there, but it surely did. I'd never shot to that distance before. Never beyond 200 yds. It's more on them than me. I just did what they taught me to do, and viola. Nailed it!
That's what I call shooting out to 1000 yards for UNDER $1000. It's glass included! Beat that. Oh, and to end the day, I nailed a 4.5" clay target from 1000 yds. Less than .5 moa shot!
What about the Savage 110 High Country?
Savage took a buy out hit like Harley Davidson did with that AMF deal way back when and about the same time to but I always heard that like HD Savage was bought back by POs that didn't like what had become of there once great product and for some time now Savage is if not the most accurate out of the box tracker it's in the big three of them. SWAT and police depots buy and use them anymore. They are VERY fairly priced and the 110/111 actions are hard to beat IMHO.
I have one.
My wife won a raffle from a local firing range and with the gift card I purchased one. Have scoped it with a long-range option and also added a wonderful sling. But due to the pandemic and, at 69 years, I would like to live to fire it......I've not fired it.......waiting.....waiting.....waiting.
It's the definition of frustration for this Ex-Marine. But then, we Marines know that life's a b*tch and then you die.
I hope you've had a chance to shoot it by now my brother. Times seem tough anymore, but putting a few rnds down range can free the mind. All the best!
Good basic advice on the getting started with PRS style shooting. To many people get all hyped up about buying accuracy without learning to shoot well; and then working until you can shoot really well. But you failed to mention the rimfire style of PRS. When you can hit 10 for 10 on a 3 inch target at 300 yards with a 22 long rifle, you have really accomplished something. And certainly spent a lot spent a lot less time and money. Next up, try a smaller target...
Yes, that's a 1 moa shot. Too many get tied up in long range which can get very expensive, very quickly. I love shooting out to 1000 yds and beyond, but i also love shooting my .22 at mid range. Takes the same breathing, trigger control and all the rest, but at a FRACTION of the cost. My Ruger 10/22 ($180) with a tactical stock from ATI Outdoors ($80), the upgraded Ruger 2.5 lb trigger ($75), a $16 bipod, and a bug buster 3-9x32 scope ($80). So, for about $450 I utilize the same exact principals used in shooting out to a mile, but at a fraction of cost. At .06/rnd for .22 compared to .308 and 6.5 CM at $1/rnd you can have a day of fun on the cheap and still work on ALL of your skills with that 3" target. I hang 5 - 3" round steels side by side, with a 7.5" x 12" tall torso on a small DIY rack at 200 yds. You MUST get the Ruger 2.5 lb trigger upgrade. The factory trigger is horrible. 7 lbs of scratchy nastiness. And if you're shooting larger calibers, you're gonna wanna have the lighter trigger anyway, so DO IT NOW! You won't be sorry. Then go out and have a blast !!!!!
Another great article, but I opted for the buy once cry once. 100% custom build Bighorn Action, 28" 6mm Creedmoor Bartlein Barrel, MPA Chassis, Nightforce ATACR 5-25, Jewell Trigger, and of course a TBAC Ultra 9 screwed onto the end. This gun is a precision machine, I had as much fun researching the build and "nerding" out on all the components as I do shooting it. I couldn't agree with the author more on choosing what you want or can afford and stick with it, next year it will be a new caliber, scope, chassis, or ballistic app the PRS guys are using. Don't chase the shiny object. Once you build it shoot, shoot, and more shoot. Go to a class on long range, I am planning on a trip to the Whittington Center near Raton. Regardless of whether you do budget or custom be proud of this style of shooting hobby, it is definitely NOT for everyone.
I think it should be pointed out the USMC M40 is not a Remington 700. Sure the action is a 700 short action but that's it.
The current M40a5 has a trued action, Schneider heavy barrel with a Surefire muzzle brake, badger ordnance bottom plate with detachable mags, and a McMillan A4 stock all custom built by USMC armorers. That rifle is over $5,000. A long way from a 700.
I have been looking into getting my feet wet with long range shooting. I am really interested in the Tikka T3x CTR in 6.5 Creedmoor mentioned in the article however an opportunity came up for me to purchase a used Tikka T3x Lite in 7mm-08 at almost half the price of a new CTR 6.5. Would there be that huge of a difference in the two that could warrant the higher price tag? Or since I am newer to the long range game, the used one will suffice for my needs? I will also note I would plan to hunt with the rifle as well, nothing bigger then deer. Thanks!
7mm-08 is a great round! There are going to be two downsides though 1) The Tikka T3x Lite is "lite" because of the lightweight barrel. Generally, lightweight barrels for long range precision are not great. They have can harmonics issues and they heat up quickly. But if this is also a hunting rifle, then not lugging around the extra weight will be nice. 2) 7mm-08 is very much a hunting cartridge. Finding precision ammo and especially precision plinking ammo can be hard to do. It is also a bit more pricey on average.
As an example, the "cheap" 7mm-08 ammo I've found is PPU 140gr Soft Point for around 88 cents per round. PPU is good plinking ammo, but it doesn't really cut it for long range practice ammo and it being soft point hurts even more for precision. But when you look at 6.5 Creedmoor, there are a LOT of options for match grade ammo and practice ammo such as Hornady American Gunner 140gr BTHP for 87.5 cents a round. Cheaper, better ammo, with a longer barrel life.
I think it comes down to what you want to do with the rifle most. If this is primarily a hunting rifle that you want to dabble with long range on, then the Tikka Lite in 7mm-08 is a great option. But if you want this to be a long range training rifle that you might take hunting a couple of times, then a Tikka CTR in 6.5 Creedmoor will be better in the end.
Great article but I think you should have picked the new Savage 110 tactical instead of the 10 BA stealth. It's a much cheaper and really just as capable rifle.
Initially I liked the Remington 700, then I was going to step up into the HMR but read they had some problems with the Remington parts, so as I wanted the 300 wm looked at Tika, then eventually found the Sako A7 Roughtech Pro I on sale for less than the Tika T3X. The Sako 3 lug bolt is not the same as the Tika bolt. Once I had the Sako, I replaced the plastic trigger guard with metal and now have a rifle that fits my goals. It's light enough to hunt with, strong enough to handle field work, powerful enough to stop just about anything and accurate enough that I can't blame the rifle for a miss. And the recoil doesn't bother me on the range.
I got a fat grip of that S&B 6.5 Creedmoor when they were $11.99 a box at PSA... SCORE!!!!
Which one has a better ballistic coefficient than the 224 Valkyrie? Does anything fly flatter or faster? How about windage?
.224 Valk is designed for the AR-15 and is limited due to that platform. For long-range, in an AR-15, it is a solid choice - but I would favor 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC. If you're willing to move outside of the AR-15 then your options become huge with 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, 300 PRC, and a whole lot more.
If you want an easy answer - yes, there is a lot that flys flatter and faster than .224 Valk. I would recommend our Ultimate 6.5 Creedmoor Guide!
Valkyrie suffered instability when shot from what was the standard twist rate. A new twist rate seems to have them spinning better, so hopefully they have fixed it... but beware of the early Valkyrie barrels with the wrong twist rate.
We cover that and more in our .224 Valk Guide ;) Even with the newer twist rates, results are hit and miss within the community. .224 Valk still has its issues to be worked before it becomes a major contender. That's why I like 6.5 Grendel for AR-15 long range shooting, well-proven cartridge with a bit more oopf.
I'd also like to give an honorable mention to the Howa APC (Australian Precision Chasis) rifle. I bought one in .308 Winchester for about $850 from Bud's. I topped it with a Leupold VX-5HD 3-15 x44 for the longest local range I have nearby. It comes with a free-floated and threaded 20" bull barrel. I put an American Precision Fat Bastard brake on it. A Luth AR MBA-4 stock rounds it out. I love it. It's a tack driver.
I will put either of my Browning A-Bolts with the BOSS against any of these rifles.
Some comments are a bit harsh for not including Howas. I was at the gun show in Del Mar Ca. land of the anti-gun nuts. I wanted a bolt action .223 and found it. A CZ 527. The Nikon scope that came with it isn't the best but it's good enough. What a great rifle for under just $700. The trigger pull is a two step that makes it super light when you're ready to fire. The hard wood stock is excellent....I imagine the 557 is too.
Tikka CTR in 6.8. Changed out to a heavy Manners stock and have Vortex Edge scope. First nice rifle I bought. Easy to shoot with low recoil. Even my wife loves to shoot it !!!!!!!
I love my 1982 700. It's actually a LH PER 1903 in 06. Yep, stamped 1903 right below the front scope mount. She came with an inch longer barrel with a hooded front sight. An M40 bbl was installed by my armorer along with a custom synthetic stock. Both the rifle and stock came out of my pocket. It's all a very long story. My armorer lost it misplaced the original bbl. I still have the rifle. When I got out I sent the receiver and safari stock to Remington with a note " ....when you get around to it." Months later UPS delivered my rifle. Opening the original box there was my 1903 just the way it left the shop in 82 with a a list of all they did. At the bottom of list was a hand printed N/C and a note. "Thanks for your service and choosing Remington as your service rifle.". Tom CUSTOM SHOP.
" Even shooting at very long ranges, out to 2500-yards, can be done with conventional cartridges as long as your round stays super-sonic."
Wrong! Take what you know about a 30-06 and where she drops out, and leaves that white puff. That puff will let you know you are likely on target before the round reaches it's destination.
Care to really test your shooting skills? Lose the scope, know the parabolic curve, and the proper barrel placement to add for each 200yrds of drop and drift..
I just did some testing with my father's Ruger American Predator in 6.5. This is an entry level gun (sub $300 on sale). With a Vortex Viper 6.5-20 and factory Hornady ammo the gun shot repeated 1-hole groups at 100 yards. With hand loaded Sierra Match Kings, same result, same POI. He also installed a Defensive Edge brake so it is easier shooting for my young nephew and niece.
We then walked it out on a private range and recorded first-rounds hits at 430, 620, 710, 830, 900 and 1015 yards. We used the Shooter Ballistic App.
So, for less than $800, all in you can get started in the long-range hobby and have consistent results.
Lapua All the way
Enjoyed and appreciate this article. Very well done. I am 68 and been shooting since 12. Bought a Stevens single 16 at 12 years and a 1903 at 14 years old. The only question asked both times if it was ok with my Dad. The 1903 could hit anything aimed at within reason. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much James!
You are forgetting one of the largest aspect of any 1000 yard rifle. It's the build that makes or breaks the gun not the brand. Very few, from personal observations of the last 1000 shooters I have worked with, use a factory stock on a rifle designed to shoot 1000 yards. You mention Remington 700P, stating it has higher quality parts. In reality every 700, other than each different generation of triggers, and prehaps a change of the bolt handle is literally the same action and bolt. In some occasions the stocks are different but very rarely is that the case and only because companies try to replicate what most operators who shoot 1000+ yards already do; they take the stock off, make changes the trigger, and always replace the stock and occasionally the barrel. If you want a rifle capable of shooting past 1000 yards don't pay more for a different series of the same rifle. What you should do is find a cheap usable rifle like Cabelas Savage 12FV for 360 (-100 rebate) and use the extra money to buy a after market stock that works well for you. If you insist on a 700 then go for a cheap ADL on sale and do the same as you would to the savage. Always buy the least expensive brand and model of the action you want and then use your savings to purchase an after market stock (130 to 850) , trigger (100 to 200), scope base (45 to 200), adjustable check rest (45 to 90). That savage long range hunter is really a 250 dollar action + a 350 stock +50 scope rail and a 700 markup.
5 or 6 years ago I bought a Remington 700ADL .223 (bull barrel) from Dick's Sporting Goods for around $350 (special deal at the time). I was able to shoot clover leafs consistently at 100 yards with my own reloads. After 3500 +/- rounds down the barrel I finally wore out the throat. Instead of replacing the barrel I bought another Rem 700ADL when they were on sale at Cabela's before Christmas. I out shoot many of the "old timers" that bring their Cooper and other BIG $$$ rifles with $2500 scopes. Love to watch their disbelief when we retrieve our targets. Good shooting skills and finely tuned reloaded ammunition wins the day in my neck of the woods.
My son bought a Savage 11 LRH in .308 and several loads shot under an inch at 100. Put it on the chronograph and got it sighted for 1000 yards (about 33" high at 100 yards. Went to a MidSouth Marksmen competition where the guys were very helpful and encouraging. Long story short he did not win the match but his first shot hit the target and he did not finish last either! As noted above - So grab a gun, get to the range, and shoot!
pretty happy w/ DPMS .308 /7.62x51 and 3-9x50 Nikon. only out to 400 so far but like the set up. has a jard trigger. original was very gritty.
I settled on the Savage 111 LRH in 7mm Rem Mag.
Choosing a telescopic sight for the same price range as the rifle was a challenge. I got the Leupold 4.5-14x50 with side focus and illuminated reticle (which I have yet to need). The sight was finally mounted on a Weaver Picatinny rail with four-screw Weaver Skeleton rings in order to get a correct sight picture. Then, I modified the adjustable Monte Carlo so the bolt could be removed with the cheek piece installed. I found the AccuStock was not free-floating the barrel and had to modify the channel for correct clearance. I have almost gotten the brass fire formed and we'll see what my "Plinker" can do with my Kustom Krafted ammunition..
I have to 6,5 creedmoor rifles one a ruger one a savage. They both will shoot half inch groups with factory ammo at a 100 yards. The savage has a trigger you can take down to 6 oz. The Ruger down to about 3 pounds. The Ruger cost around $ 1200 and the Savage around $1000.
Thanks for the article.. I think it says 'pick a weapon and go'.. :)
Ruger RPR skipped.. Ummm, why?
The gen 2s are running sub-1k at least in .308. The 6.59mm (I won't get started on questioning why 6.5 isn't covered as a very viable option) is barely $1100. All the cool add ons for 1000yrd shooting. All the things the Failmington.. eeerr quality control failbus aka Remington... 700 of just about any production model lack at the price point.
-Detachable mag.. PMAGS at that
-20MOA integral rail on the receiver
-Shooter Tunable trigger
-Freefloat barrel and AR pattern handguards, youre not stuck with the factory decided chassis or having to spend another 800 for a decent one
-Threaded barrel with a decent break
-larger than average (that's what she didn't say) bolt knob
-VERY adjustable stock, with cheek rest
-Folding stock
-sub-MOA all day long with factory baarrel and decent ammunition
-barrel changes are simple
You will be closer to $2000, more like $2500 to get there wither the 700 platform
You cannot get all of this out of the box with any of these "recommendations" .... seriously, who missed The objective boat when this article was passed through review? Cause I'd sure like to take their job
Where are the Howas?
Bunch of shit. This should be loaded with Tikka's, Bergara's, and Howa. Maybe a Savage. None of the rest.
As a fellow looking for my first axe to start working on longish range shooting, I'm very interested in your published article on the subject.
Look at grabagun.com they have the Ruger Precision 6mm creed and 223 rem on sale for 799 a thievery at that price. I can get dime size groups at 200 yards with factory Hornady 6mm creed and even tighter with my reloads. Also have the Savage LRH in 6.5 284 and it's a tack driver as well.