Best rifle/scope combo for $1,500

Ok, I’ve got a buddy (not on this forum) that has a $1,500 budget to get a rifle and scope that he can run out to 1,000 yards. Given the budget, what would you pick and why? He wants to stick with a MOA scope. Ready? Go!

Used Remington 700 5R in 300 Mag or 308, add Timney trigger and top with a Vortex Viper.

Used Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5CM or 308 topped with a used Vortex Viper.

Bergara HMR and a Strike Eagle 4-20x Larue mount.

Tikka 7mm-08
Burris XTR II 4-20X

CTR with SS fixed power of choice. Leaves money for good rings.

Anything SIX.FIVE CREEDMOOR

Might wanna check the math on that combo.

I think you're rolling the dice when buying a factory chambered rifle IMO when you're talking about 1000yds. Save some coin and use one of your rem700 actions and have a smith blue print, get a good barrel and have him chamber it, get a jewel trigger or something comparable, get a good stock and bed it then, focus on the optic.

Ruger American Varmint in caliber of choice (provided it’s capable of reaching that far)
Athlon Midas TAC

B14 HMR, SAVAGE GRS , RPR, or Tikka CTR in 6.5 Creedmoor ($1,000). SWFA 16X Fixed MOA ($300). SWFA 30MM rings ($40). 5 boxes of Hornady 140 ELDM ammo ($160) or $160 worth of Chad's ammo)

Ruger Precision 6.5CM with a 16X SWFA SS MOA Quad in SWFA rings. Easily under $1500.

not everybody can just "save more". some folks have a hard cap on what they can justify spending on a hobby, even if they are saving up. now, that being said, that hard cap hes putting on himself may mean that he cant get a combo capable of what he wants to do.

What his buddy probably doesnt realize is, if he wants to learn to consitently shoot long range and be really good at it, hes going to spend alot more than $1500 on range time and ammo.

A lot of people think it's as simple as buy a rifle and a scope with turrets.

Are you really rolling the dice with a production rifle? I’m no expert, but there are a lot of production rifles today that are quite capable. I think it’s plausible that an individual equipped with a Begara, Tikka CTR, RPR or good Remington with the right optics, and plenty of practice can make shots at 1,000.. I think it’s somewhat about the arrow in this scenario and a whole lot about the Indian.

I get if somehow has disposable income and wants a custom rig. I say more power to that person, but that’s not for everyone.

$400 Savage 243, $150 Boyd’s stock, $500 SWFA setup and $100 worth of ammo got me there. It can be done on a budget.

Good thread, lots of info for someone in the same boat.

I know the math.

I failed to say used scope.

No roll of the dice with the "right" factory rifle. It just needs top of the line ammo. But any thousand yard shot does.

^^right

Personally I'd get an RPR in used RPR in 6.5CM and add a used Burris XTR II 4-20 with MOA reticle. Easily under $1500 if you buy used. $600 for the scope and $800-$900 for the rifle.

If you had just a few hundred more, I'd go with the SWFA HD 5-20 and a Tikka CTR, both used. Should be around $1700, and both are an upgrade from the $1500 setup.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a custom rig under any circumstances where budget is a consideration. You can easily customize factory rigs and the difference in accuracy is not nothing, but it's not much.

If you want a rig set up a certain way and you have unlimited funds, then custom is great. Otherwise, a Tikka CTR likely shoots as good or better than you can. JMHO

I almost did it around Thanksgiving, but the prices have gone up a little on the gun since then. Midway was running their Rem 5R Gen2 in 6.5 CM with 24” fluted and threaded heavy barrel & HS stock for $799 with a $75 Remington rebate on top of that. (Got it in the Mail last week).
So the rifle ended up being $725. (Grabagun.com appears to have the best price now at $850)
Scope was $565 Burris XTR II 5-15x50 at Natchez Shooting Supply
25 MOA Burris rail $65 from Midway
TriggerTech trigger $125 from Midway (love this trigger)
NF 34mm ultralite rings $190

So that’s just over the budget coming in at $1670, but dang it shoots good. I’d put it up against just about anything. I shoot true 1/4” groups with it at 100 yards with factory ammo.

Your buddy also doesn’t have to get those rings as they were pretty high dollar. Jason told me something pretty smart though in that it's nice to be able to throw a 1/4” ratchet up there to take it on and off. Especially if he might be using the scope on another gun like I have.

$699 for the Tikka, less if you go with blued.

A new Burris can be had for around $850 if your buddy is a Veteran or LEO (check out ExpertVoice).

This combo, along with good ammo and a good bit of practice, and you will be consistently hitting steel at 800-1000 with a sporter rifle. It is fun to watch the PRS crowd at the range look at you cross-eyed when you do it too. They can't believe it can be done with rifle that doesn't weigh 15 pounds and shoots something other than a .30 cal or 6.5.

I bought a Savage Model 12 at Cabelas. $400. Put a Boyd's at-one stock on it. $200. That leaves $900 for scope of his choice. I bought a Vortex scope, but there are better options for that $ amount.

Yep, lots of great deals on XTRII's on eBay too. I've bought two of the 3-15x scr mil scopes from eBay for under 700, lightly used, lnib condition.

https://cameralandny.com/shop/bushn...0137-15b2-00163e90e196?variation=1995546

https://www.eurooptic.com/Tikka-T3x-Lite-65-Creedmoor-Synthetic-JRTXE382.aspx

+1

The following is where I think I'd be right now with actual pricing, plus some leftover: Tikka varmint (all the long range features necessary without any frills) is underrated/under-mentioned. I'd do savage as a rifle alternative, but the scope I'd be much more open to other options.

https://www.eurooptic.com/Tikka-T3x-Varmint-65-Creedmoor-2433-1-8-Rifle-JRTXH382.aspx

https://www.opticsplanet.com/trijicon-accupower-4-16x50-30mm-riflescope.html

The Varmint is the way I'd go but they got proud of them lately. I would never buy a scope for 1000 yards that had capped turrets, though.

My first question to the buyer is do you want a conventional style rifle with a wood or synthetic stock or will one of the AR-style "modern sporting rifles" be an acceptable choice?

Think he wants to go the more conventional rifle route. He already has an AR.

I get it, the scope certainly doesn't have everything I want. But when it comes to scopes, i now know how much I'm willing to give up for what feature. The clarity of the Trijicon easily makes it a great value at this price. Stuff like first focal, the turret configuration and even reticle are very secondary to tracking repeat-ability and clairty.

This is what I came up with for a true budget friendly 1000 yard set up.


Savage 110 Tactical 6.5 Creedmoor - it comes with an adjustable stock, 20 MOA base, and an adjustable trigger. Or for the same price substitute the Savage 10T SR which will give you 5R rifling, but you'll lose the 20 MOA base. $450

Bushnell Forge 4.5 - 27 - SFP, Zero Stop, MOA adjustments, 60 MOA of elevation combined with the 20 MOA base will provide more than enough adjustment to get to 1000 yards $850

Seekins Precision Rings - Don't scrimp on the scope rings, they've got to work right or the entire set up is useless. $130

Add some decent ammo running 140 - 147 gr match bullets, preferably handloads, and he'll get there.

Then my next question would be do you really and truly want a rifle that will reach 1000 yards? I say this because IMHO, guys sometimes let their egos lead their decision-making process when in reality, they'll never actually have a need for what they think they've just got to have. It's much like the guy who wants a sports car that's capable of doing 180 mph only because it strokes his ego to know the car is capable of it and not because he has a need to drive that fast.

If there is a true need to shoot out to 1000 yards, then I would do as Fireman suggests and choose the ammo first and then work your way back to the rifle and scope with the necessary features needed for making accurate, 1000 yard shots. Then it becomes a mater of choosing a rifle that meets the need with an overall appearance that pleases the owner. This will also allow your friend to benefit from what the ammo maker and other gun buyers have learned from their own quests to make 1000 yard shots. But again, only if there is a true and legitimate need to drive 180 mph.

You're no fun at all.

Gun porn time. All of these have gone out well past 1000 yards. Only the first one is a "hunting" rifle that I might actually "need."

Tikka CTR in .260 Rem - all factory


Savage 10T in .308 - all factory


Savage 12 action in .260 Rem with a bunch of aftermarket parts and aftermarket girlfriend


Savage 116 action in 7 Rem Mag with a bunch of aftermarket parts

Wait, I’m confused....the girlfriend has aftermarket parts or the rifle

Don’t answer that, I just couldn’t resist.

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight with a Leupold Variable scope!

I own a Model 70 Featherweight and feel that while it's a beautiful rifle, I question if the barrel is heavy enough to produce consistent, 1000-yard accuracy. In fact, it probably has the lightest barrel of any center-fire rifle that I own. It points to why I mentioned if there is truly a need for a rifle that can make 1000-yard shots with great consistency. Greater accuracy requires a heavier barrel with added weight. I mean, how often do you find thin-walled barrels at shooting matches.

Someone didn’t even read the original post, and answered from 1987.

The rifle can reach 1000. The scope cannot. And in the event of a first round miss, due to wind, you'll get one, maybe two correction shots and now the barrel is too hot.

Remington 783 Heavy Barrel FDE 24-inch 6.5-Creedmoor $360ory

Timney Trigger $140

Seekins Rings $100

Now he had $900 for a scope and there are some really great options he can find for that!!

=============
After his rifle budget spend on this:

Chad's Speedmoor Ammo (140gr ELDM)

Jason's Class (we ran the above combo out to 800 yards.... 1st round hits all the way)

remmy 700 PCR in 260, sig sauer 6.5-20x52 Sierra. With a little negotiation that is around $1500-1600 before tax.

There is a 700 5R in the classifieds for $750. That would be a good start. Find a used SWFA 3-15 and some SWFA Rings and a Picatinny Base.

1000% disagree. There are a PILE of factory rifles in production today that will do this for you, no problem. I have a Ruger American in 6.5cm that does it.

If it was me, Id go Tikka T3x in whatever caliber (6.5cm makes it easy) and pick up a used Viper PST to top it with. Hell, I'd get both used without a second thought for probably $1200 or less, plenty of money for a base and a GOOD set of rings