OK!
I got some spare cash coming in soon and it's already burning a hole in my pocket.
I was initially thinking to dump it all into a full auto of some kind.. but the NFA headaches and how much the stuff costs has deterred me.

So instead I'm leaning towards a super fancy bolt gun.

Currently the range I go to caps out at 500 meters.
The multiple .308's I have can easily handle that.
However the range owner is in the process of making a 1200 meter range.

I'm strongly considering picking up something in .338 LM.
Did some thinking about 6.5 creedmore - but that seems to mostly cap out (effective) at about 1000m.

Edited to update title

Question:
So this brings us to "OMGWHATGUNDOIBUY?!"


Comments/advise/experiences are highly encouraged!

Choices:
DTA SRS A2
Barrett MRAD
FN Ballista
Other (explain)

 

This message has been edited. Last edited by: creslin,

I vote other.

I think you need a Sako TRG 42 in your life. They shoot lights out and the factory trigger is quite superb. The bolt is silky smooth, plus they are detachable mag fed. The stock ergonomics are quite nice as well.

Consider your money spent.

You're welcome.

Voted for the SRS, but why not go HTI as well ?

My vote is the MRAD. Love mine, and it's a 2011 model. The current gen is even better. Norway I believe just bought several for their military. Excellent adjustable trigger. AR grip and style/length controls. If you are comfortable with an AR the MRAD will feel right at home. Stock is well thought out and side folding.

I wanted to like the FN but it has a weird grip safety (think 1911) that was a turnoff.

Heres mine with a PVS 30 mounted for shits n gigs

quote:

Originally posted by Andyb:

I wanted to like the FN but it has a weird grip safety (think 1911) that was a turnoff.

Is that what that is?!
I saw it on the pictures (from the side) and was confused - thought it was just a trick of the light or something.


Damn... the ballista was the front-runner in my mind.
But that weird grip safety...

quote:

Originally posted by Andyb:
My vote is the MRAD.

Is yours 338?
What optic is that on there? NXS? ATACR? BEAST?

quote:

Originally posted by CandyMan.45:
Voted for the SRS, but why not go HTI as well ?

HTI does not come in .338

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:

quote:

Originally posted by Andyb:
My vote is the MRAD.

Is yours 338?
What optic is that on there? NXS? ATACR? BEAST?

Yup, 338.

Scope is an ATACR 5-25x56

So many questions should be answered first. I'm on a tight schedule, heading off to an ELR match for a few days.

What's your total budget? Rifle, optics, brake/can, bipod, case, magazines, optics mount

What rifle platforms have you shot? What did you like and dislike? Are you looking for a traditional stock, pistol grip-type stock, lots of size adjustments in the stock?

How do you feel about having recoil that is 2 or 3 times as much as your 308?

Do you hand load or do you rely on factory ammo? What are you willing to spend per round of ammo? Depending on your answer, there are a whole lot more effective rounds than both 6.5 Creedmoor and 338LM for you stated distances.

Are you concerned with barrel life? And of course the cost to rebarrel. A true long distance round eats barrels compared to your 308.

Is shooting at 1,000 yards an beyond going to be a day-after-day thing, or just a once in a blue moon thing?

Do you expect to compete against others in the LD game, or will the rifle be just a range toy?

I wouldn't buy a factory rifle for such purpose, but rather choose the components and have a talented 'smith assemble the gun.

When I read this thread last night, my first thought was "build your own."

By the time I got to a keyboard this morning, fritz had already made the comment after a series of excellent questions, so I am happy to echo firtz's statement. Choose your components, spec out the rifle to your exact needs and desires and get it built.

The satisfaction of shooting a rifle that you spec'ed out and had built for you just makes everything that much better. And when you also roll your own ammo, well, that's the cherry on the Sundae cup.

I would buy the Sako TRG and all the accessories that are available for it! Get some nice glass and go to town.

HK Ag

Total budget is fairly fluid.
Up front cost (rifle/optic) budget is somewhere around the 8k mark.
Other stuff is (mostly) low cost and can be scavenged from existing stuff or filled in as needed.
I’ll very likely have a can on it eventually - but I’m not factoring in that cost for now.

With regards to stuff I’ve shot..
Handful of Rem700s.. Scar20...
I’ve shot a 6.5 Creedmore once.
The vast majority of my experience is .308 or smaller.

I strongly prefer pistol grip stocks over traditional.
(note: so this means the sako suggested is out)

I’m not super concerned about recoil.
I’m still in my 30s and not frail in any way.

I do not hand load - so I would be relying on factory ammo.
I’ve looked up 338LM prices...
Looks like it’s about $4 per round for decent stuff.
I would not be shooting this thing every day all day.
This is way more likely to be a “take it to the range every other month or so”
So with usage like that.. ammo cost won’t be too crippling.
Neither should be barrel life.

I do not see competition in my future.

Where do you shoot 500 yards around Cary? I lived in Cary over 30 years ago and at that time, there were not many rifle ranges. I see that Butner is not very far and they go all the way to 1000 yards. It's north of Durham, west of Creedmoor, (maybe that's an omen.)

I realize you're not looking at competition, but they have some great shooters at Butner. I run into them at the Nationals every year or so.

$8k is a pretty good budget for a solid rifle with excellent optics. If the range you go to is building out to 1200 yards and that's your motivation, I would check to see what caliber limitations they have, if any.

6.5CM is excellent at 1200 yards, and excellent factory ammo is available. Some of the other calibers that would do well at that distance are more handload than factory. If your goal is to get really good with the rifle, the only way to do that is to shoot, a lot. At $4 a pop, unless someone pays for your ammo, you're going to be spending a lot.

There are many great 6.5CM or .300 Winmag, or similar rifles out there, if you don't want to build your own. Then put on a top tier optics with a 20 MOA ramp, buy lots of ammo and go have fun.

I voted "other", but of the offerings you are looking at, I'd go Barrett MRAD.

As for voting "other," I'd contact our own jelrod at Modacam Custom Rifles here and have a rifle built just for me.

If I was spending that kind of coin, I'd want to pick and choose what was best for me, while being guided by a real pro. These guys do beautiful work. Hopefully, some day, I'll be buying one of their pieces.

FWIW, I shoot a good amount of this 250gr S&B stuff. Most of the time I just bring the MRAD out for others to shoot at the farm and I'll shoot a couple mags for fun. New production and good quality ammo. Doesn't shoot quite as tight as the more expensive stuff but short of any serious use/competition it works very well. $2.40 a round

https://www.sgammo.com/product...o-sellier-bellot-sb3

What others have said makes sense. If I was going to compete I would absolutely have a custom gun done. I'll freely admit I bought the MRAD originally for the simple reason I wanted a big military style 338 and have always been a fan of Barrett stuff. I have plenty of fun with it for my intended use and the Silencerco BB does a great job.

quote:

Originally posted by NikonUser:
Where do you shoot 500 yards around Cary? I lived in Cary over 30 years ago and at that time, there were not many rifle ranges. I see that Butner is not very far and they go all the way to 1000 yards. It's north of Durham, west of Creedmoor, (maybe that's an omen.)

Woodys
http://whr.club/

They opened up about 4-5 years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Andyb:
FWIW, I shoot a good amount of this 250gr S&B stuff. Most of the time I just bring the MRAD out for others to shoot at the farm and I'll shoot a couple mags for fun. New production and good quality ammo. Doesn't shoot quite as tight as the more expensive stuff but short of any serious use/competition it works very well. $2.40 a round

I did see some of that stuff and would very likely use it (or something similar) for initial zero (and for other people like you say lol)

quote:

Originally posted by Andyb:

I'll freely admit I bought the MRAD originally for the simple reason I wanted a big military style 338 and have always been a fan of Barrett stuff.

Not gonna lie... same lol

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:


HTI does not come in .338

That was the point... for the price of practice rounds let alone match grade. You could shoot 50 all day...

quote:

Originally posted by CandyMan.45:

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:


HTI does not come in .338

That was the point... for the price of practice rounds let alone match grade. You could shoot 50 all day...

Ah! Didn't understand the comment before.
Currently the local range does not allow anything higher than .338
That may change when the 1200m range is done - but I don't know that for a fact.

I saw a brand new M82 the other day for around 6.8k. I paid a little over that a year ago and thought I scored then.

Prices are great on those currently