.300 vs .308 vs 30-06 vs.....

[Cigars&Scotch]

I am looking at getting a good long rifle. Something to target shoot with, something fun to shoot, pretty accurate, and packs a good punch. Might also be used for the always anticipated SHTF scenario.

Wanted to see what everyone thought about the different rounds that are out there. I dont want to break the bank shooting (shot some .50 BMG a while back, and while amazing, wasnt too keen on the $10 per round price!) The more common ones i am looking at are .300, .308, 30-06, and .270 are the main ones. I know there are others as well, 30-30, 7mm, etc. and would love any input on any of these rounds.

Throw in your favorite gun also if you want, I am looking hard at the Remington 700 SPS Tactical.

 

[SilvrSRT10]

I've heard some very good things about the FNAR. Suppose to me MOA right out of the box with good glass and shooter. Was told it's a 1000 yrd. gun. Shoots the .308 which I've been able to find even during the ammo feeding frenzy. M1A is suppose to be a good weapon in the same caliber too.

 

[kwo51]

Neat thing about a 30/06 is you can put a caliber conversion in it and shoot 308. You can get 30/06 any where. The blue hats will bring you 308.

 

[Cigars&Scotch]

What is MOA? And which one is the picture of?

 

[SilvrSRT10]

What is MOA? And which one is the picture of?

MOA is Minute Of Angle. A shooting acronym for accuracy. Basically it means that the gun will consistently shoot sub MOA groups with good glass and shooter.
And the picture is of a FNAR. The M1A is an older military weapon. Still very accurate and still very popular.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA2PZBD5Tjg]Understanding Minute of Angle (MOA) - Rifle Shooting Technique - NSSF Shooting Sportscast - YouTube[/ame]

 

[oppo]

A lot depends on just how far you want to shoot and if rate of fire matters to you. If rate of fire isn't an issue, a bolt action is pretty much the way to go. Which cartridge will depend largely on how far you want to shoot. As much as I like them, I wouldn't go with a 270 for really long range because there is a better selection of accurate, high bc bullets in .308, .284, & .264. Out to 1000 yards, you have several good choices. If you want 1,500 or so, your choices are fewer but the 300 mag is one that will get you there.

 

[hotrodpc]

The .300 Win Mag will reach out and touch someone way out there. But Ammo is a bit expensive IMO and got a pretty kick to it. Yes, the .308 SHOULD be available if SHTF, you might have to snatch off of a blue hat as mentioned. I always see plenty of 30/06 in different price ranges, so it's easily available and you have your choices of brands and weight grains too. That's what I'd go with. Then the .308 would be my 2nd choice. I have a 30/06 and a .300 Win Mag. I just don't shoot the .300 often cuz of the expense. I'd like to dial it in at about 800-1000 yards and then leave it alone for the long range purpose only. I will shoot and plink the 30/06 though cuz I know I can replace my ammo with ease, and it won't kill me financially.

You mentioned the Rem 700 SPS Tactical. NICE, but pricey. If you're in Austin, TX you have an Academy Sports nearby somewhere.
The Rem 700ADL is the same as the Rem700SPS, but this isn't the Tactial. If you compare prices of the 700ADL at Academy, vs the price of the 700SPS at BassPro or anywhere else, you'd see can save a couple hundred bucks or more. You might consider it, then the funds you save, purchashe the tactical gear and scope you want for a custom Rem 700ADL. As said, I've already got a 30/06 and a 300 Win Mag, my next rifle is going to be a Rem 700ADL 270 from Academy.

Here's the 30/06 if you want to take a look. Also has the XMark Pro Trigger. $379.99
Academy - Remington 700 ADL .30-06 Springfield Bolt-Action Centerfire Rifle

 

[oppo]

If I was building a dedicated long range rifle, here is what I would do.

Remington or Savage action
Good synthetic or bedded laminated stock
Adjjustable ttrigger, Jewel, Timney...
26"-28" bull barrel, Shilen, Kreiger, Lilha, Hart, Douglas...
The best glass you can afford
Reload your own ammo with high bc match bullets and lapua brass

If you reload, not only can you get better accuracy but ammo cost and availability get a lot better.

 

[Cigars&Scotch]

Good stuff guys, i appreciate all the input. I have looked at the M1 as well, i do like it, but damn is it pricey! After some research on the FNAR, i like it alot too, but again, pricey. I like the Remington 700 ADL, that one is on the short list for sure. In recent trips to Cabelas, i do still see some 30/06 as well as some .300 but not as much on the .308, one more thing......whats a blue hat?

Still fairly new to alot of the terminology.....thanks for your patience!

 

[oppo]

Blu hats = UN troops

 

[kwo51]

Read grasshopper!!!!!!!

 

[hotrodpc]

Read grasshopper!!!!!!!

That would be Grasshoppa !!! :shrug:

 

[Cigars&Scotch]

Gotcha. Well after a trip to Cabelas this morning to try for some 9mm (the guy in front of me took the last 5 boxes!)....i checked out the long gun ammo aisle. They were out of .308 (the guy said it has been very scarce), but they had plenty of .300 and 30/06. Like everyone said, the 30/06 was considerably cheaper and they had a ton of all different types and brands. I think thats gonna be my choice as far as caliber goes, especially after reading some of the articles that talk about the shortage lasting another 9 months or so. HotRodPC.......they had a 700 ADL with the Xmark trigger and a scope for $449....i liked it, that may be the one.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

What is you budget for rifle & scope? One thing to consider with magnum rounds is you won't want to shoot too many. They can kick hard. I have a SIG716 in 7.62/.308. I can comfortably reach out to 600 meters and with more practice and hand loads 800 meter is possible. Ammo was cheap and likely will be again once the madness passes. No problem going to the range and shooting several hundred rounds as recoil is minimal. 20rd magazine is good should there be a SHTF scenario.

Do some searching and look at some ballistic charts. You will see how different the various calibers are. Also there is a huge difference between an M1 and a M1A. One is 30.06 the other is 7.62/.308.

I think the most popular long range caliber is .308. If you want to dig a little deeper and be able to reach 1500 meters look at the .338 Lapua offerings.

 

[BrothersInArms]

I'd go with the Remington 700 SPS tactical in 308. We're building one for our "go kit". The Rem is such a good platform to build on, and 308 is a NATO round so you should be able to acquire ammo when the SHTF. It sounds like you're just getting into the long range/bolt gun side of the house. The SPS will be all the gun you need for a good while. If/when the time comes and you're out shooting the rifle, just bring it by the shop, and we'll get that thing hooked up

 

[Cigars&Scotch]

I'd like to stay under $1000 ideally...but we will see how that goes. What i really want is something i can shoot for fun, SHTF (which was why I liked the 20 round mag), wont compleatly break the bank, and can be pretty accurate at 5-600 yards. Not to mention something my cousins out in California can have a good time shooting when they visit....poor bastards cant have any fun. For a while at least, it will be my only long rifle, so a swiss army knife of sorts would be good. The ammo availability thing is pretty important too. I havent been hunting, but want something i could use if an opportunity arose as well.

 

[Cigars&Scotch]

BrothersInArms......funny you should post up. Just got your card yesterday from Central Texas Gun Works about getting some work done on my 870 (punching out the notches in the magazine to add a mag extension). I was going to call you guys today!

 

[hotrodpc]

Good stuff guys, i appreciate all the input. I have looked at the M1 as well, i do like it, but damn is it pricey! After some research on the FNAR, i like it alot too, but again, pricey. I like the Remington 700 ADL, that one is on the short list for sure. In recent trips to Cabelas, i do still see some 30/06 as well as some .300 but not as much on the .308, one more thing......whats a blue hat?

Still fairly new to alot of the terminology.....thanks for your patience!

Yeah, I see the 700 SPS Tactical is $699, and is the 700 SPS with the heavy short bull barrel. Then Bass Pro Stocks the Standards 700 SPS which is all the same specs as the 700 ADL down to the same stock and trigger for $599.99, then the 700ADL at Academy is $379.99. I am not positive, but I think the only the difference in the 700 SPS and the 700 ADL is that the SPS has a hinged Floor Plate, and the ADL is a fixed floor plate. Both my other Hunting rifles are fixed floor plates and I've never had a problem. Just don't go for the teaser cheaper teaser 770 set up with the scope. It's a budget rifle and not the same gun as the 700. I'd make the 700 ADL my up there on the short list of choices.

 

[Cigars&Scotch]

I am pretty sure it was a 700 ADL that had a scope on it, but i may be wrong. I know i dont want a "budget" or "cheap teaser" rifle, nor do i want one with a scope that i would end up replacing anyways. I will look into it a little more, and i may be checking a few Academy's in the coming weeks...

 

[hotrodpc]

I am pretty sure it was a 700 ADL that had a scope on it, but i may be wrong. I know i dont want a "budget" or "cheap teaser" rifle, nor do i want one with a scope that i would end up replacing anyways. I will look into it a little more, and i may be checking a few Academy's in the coming weeks...

At Academy it's the 770 that has the Scope on it. I'd avoid that one. I'd just do the 700 ADL and buy me a nice scope and sling for it and call it ready to go hunt.