Which one would you rather have.

[sgreen3]

I would buy a .308 WIN. & not look back, cause the ammo is cheaper to shoot, a larger selection, & it kicks less

Also something to consider, thanks

 

[Bullfrog80]

.308 all the way... The others are fantastic rounds but unless you reload they are very expensive. You can pick up nato .308 to plink a lot inexpensively and get good.

 

[sgreen3]

Im leaning twords either the .308 or the 7mm rem mag. I do like the fact that the .308 is redily available any were you go an is a cheaper round(Also seems that the match grade rounds are a little cheaper) but the 7mm is a little flatter shooting.

 

[sgreen3]

What is the recoil difference between the .308 vs the 7mm rem mag?

 

[redpitbull44]

.308 all the way... The others are fantastic rounds but unless you reload they are very expensive. You can pick up nato .308 to plink a lot inexpensively and get good.

Uhh, no. Not in a precision rifle you don't. Its pointless. You set your scope and rifle for a specific lot of ammo, or a specific load if you reload. You make a log of every single round you fire, your scope settings, all your environmentals, the range, your impact, etc. Shooting some random surplus **** out of your gun is going to be #1 inaccurate (comparatively speaking) #2 will force unnecessary wear on the barrel (in general, for no gain in accuracy) and # 3 each time you change ammo, you will have to re-zero for it, wasting time just "shooting" when you are working backwards because you have hindered accuracy with a lesser quality round. The idea is to become as accurate as possible with that rifle, optic, cartridge combo, not just go out shooting.

In an FAL, G3, Saiga .308 or even a $400 wal-mart special, go ahead and shoot that surplus ammo. In a precision rifle, you want to shoot match, match, and only match. Or hand loaded equivalent. The surplus has less quality control as far as bullet weight, cartridge overall length (COAL), case thickness, crimp pressure, bullet seat depth, and powder charge. Match ammo is FAR MORE CONSISTENT than surplus, or commercially produced "hunting ammo".

When you reload, you can control EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of that cartridge, right down to how the bullet engages the rifling (which is very important). Some guys will also tell you if you use the same brass in the same bolt gun, you don't have to resize the brass. That means you get a lot more shots out of one case.
I don't want to seem like an A-Hole, but there is a lot of misinformation out there on the internet, and it's up to you to sift through it.

What is the recoil difference between the .308 vs the 7mm rem mag?

In my opinion, .308 is considerably softer recoil.

 

[JByer323]

I wouldn't hamstring myself with either.

But if I didn't reload it'd be 308.

Very much this.

If I was serious about 1000m shooting, I'd be looking at 6mmBR.

 

[redpitbull44]

Very much this.

If I was serious about 1000m shooting, I'd be looking at 6mmBR.

AFAIK 6mmBR is not found in a whole lot of rifles, is expensive to shoot, and pretty much HAS to be reloaded. It is not for the guy just getting into LR shooting for several reasons. There is a ton more ballistic and reloading data out there for the .308, and the .300 Win Mag. This guy is on a slight budget from what I've been reading. It is important for a new guy to be able to open a reloading manual, Google page, or manufacture general ballistics table to determine what your load should be doing. Not try to develop your own table. IMHO, 6mmBR is pretty frickin' exotic for a new to long range shooter, and would cost him more in accessories to support the cartridge than it will the others mentioned. Not to mention the cost of a rifle chambered in that round. 6mm BR is more of a "dream world cartridge".

 

[JByer323]

Savage chambers four rifles for 6mm Norma BR, which is 6mmBR with a longer throat. As I happen to be downstairs, I checked, and three of my reloading manuals have 6mmBR sections, and Midway has dies from five different makers.

There are entire websites devoted to the 6mmBR family of cartridges. Since it's the cartridge that wins, people tend to use it.

Sounds like frickin' exotic black magic to me.

 

[Fordtough25]

I would go 308, it's worked for many people and many army's for years.

 

[ViperJock]

Why not go with the Barret MRAD? (Well, you know, besides price...) Then you could switch between 308, 300 WM, and 338 Lapua!

 

[sgreen3]

It seems that the .308 is the best place to start. A relitivley cheaper round, and you can find them anywere. I dont really need anything to exotic. Like was stated, wanting something to get into the LR shooting sport. Maybe in 5 yrs or so after I get better an a more specialized rilfe is needed, i can get one then. But as of right now up to 1000yrds is going to be prolly the limit and if a .308 will consistantly get me there, that may be the way to go.

 

[Mordred]

I have a R700 SPS Police in .308 and its more gun than i need. Now i know the military is going to the 300 Mag for their sniper rifles but you are talking about shooting targets at over 1000 m range. Im going the other direction with it...i want to trade my .308 for a .223.

 

[sgreen3]

I honestly considered the .223 but I think that would be to light a bullet to get out that far accuratly( i may be wrong). Got the GF talked into going to the gun shop next week to check out some rifles. hope to have a better descion then

 

[drmikeyj]

308 is a good all around cartridge (I am more partial to the 30-06 though)

 

[sgreen3]

ive thought about the 30-06, but seems like all the shops around me never have anything chambered in that round. Told buy one shop owner a while back, that he never really sells them, so he dont keep them in stock any more.

 

[sgreen3]

Well I have finally made up my mind,lol. I have decided I want a .308 chambering, but I have been going back an forth on whitch rifle to get. I know I want a detachable box mag, and would like to have a muzzle break, but the only savage that has those things starts out a over 900 bucks, so im tore again. I guess you dont always get what you want. Although Mossberg has a nice rifle with everything I want and a good price but no one has it available always sold out. So stressfull gettin trying to get a new rifle

 

[sgreen3]

Welp goin to go place my rifle order after work looks like Im goint to get one of the savage AXIS models in .308. Now just to wait for it to come in!

 

[Fordtough25]

Sweet, I don't think you can go wrong with a .308. I like the 30-06 quite well myself but you're right about ammo being easier to find in .308. Can't wait to see the rifle and good luck!

 

[sgreen3]

Sweet, I don't think you can go wrong with a .308. I like the 30-06 quite well myself but you're right about ammo being easier to find in .308. Can't wait to see the rifle and good luck!

Yea i wanted something i could afford to shoot,lol. i think this rifle is a perfect blend of quality and value. I think With practice and quality glass I can get it out to my 500yd mark.

 

[Fordtough25]

I shoot a lot of large calibers but they are all World War 2 era rifles, and I use iron sights so it's not the same as what you are setting up for. Sounds like you picked a good choice! I have shot Savage rifles before and they were quite nice.