Is there a cheaper way to build a long rang rifle?

[wickedblkgt]

I want to build a long range rifle but don't want to pay full price. My question is has anyone built one cheap, like buying the guts of a Remington 700 and piecing one together? How much do you all think it would cost to build a .338?

[svauto-erotic855]

The cheapest way is to simply buy a 40x instead of screwing with a 700. That is what I did and will never try to build a bolt rifle again.

[Pokulski-Blatz]

Buying a .338 rifle is the cheap part.

[ceyko]

Define long range please.

[YALE]

How much do you shoot now?

[wickedblkgt]

500+ yards. I don't shoot any long range, but would like to start.

[ceyko]

Yeah you need to think about optics on top of that. I know guys with 400-700 dollar Rem 700s with 1000+ dollar optics on it.

Then you'll need a decent spotting scope which is not cheap either.

Maybe we should first think about what is considered "cheap"? Maybe cheap to you is expensive to me.

I will advise you of this, unless you have places you KNOW you can shoot at whenever you want - I'd just let it go. I had a couple of long range guns, but realized I could not easily get out shooting far and not as often as I wanted. So now I stick with 300 and under yards at a few friend's places. Which is doable with a lot of options for sights and optics.

[YALE]

500+ yards. I don't shoot any long range, but would like to start.

No man. How often do you shoot? What do you shoot? The reason I ask is, decide what it's worth to you. For instance, I'm $2k in parts into my 700 build, and I still probably owe a few hundred more to the gunsmith. I'll probably be a similar amount deep into a scope when I finally put big daddy glass on it. When it comes time to feed it, it'll cost about $1.50/rd (loading it myself no less), and it's a .280AI, not a .338LM. That ammo can be easily over $5/rd. It's 100% a pay to play situation, and don't let someone tell you otherwise.

[Cooter]

do you even shoot, bro?

[YALE]

do you even shoot, bro?

Not enough, lol.

[CJ]

I would start with a savage w/ accutrigger and not a remington 700. Easier to do the work and cheaper. Also a high quality trigger. You better be ready to drop a grand or more on optics or we shouldn't even start talking long range.

[dee]

I cringe when I add up what I have invested in mine. I would shy far from a 338 for a beginner rifle. You need to start with something a bit smaller to work on basics at shorter distances before just slinging lead way out there. The farther you get out the form and small things matter a lot. Like stated above the ammo cost is another factor in the equation once you get over a certain size of calibers. The Savage guns are a cheaper option but in the end there aren't as many after market options for them as there are 700's.

[CJ]

I cringe when I add up what I have invested in mine. I would shy far from a 338 for a beginner rifle. You need to start with something a bit smaller to work on basics at shorter distances before just slinging lead way out there. The farther you get out the form and small things matter a lot. Like stated above the ammo cost is another factor in the equation once you get over a certain size of calibers. The Savage guns are a cheaper option but in the end there aren't as many after market options for them as there are 700's.

Agreed. I'm suggesting Savage due to his primary concern - cost.

Another thing I would personally add is if you want to shoot long range, you really need to get some experience hand loading. Without that you're going to be paying through the nose. Long distance shooting is the culmination of just about all angles of shooting.

[YALE]

Entry level Savage:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62_974/products_id/76653/Savage+110FCP+338LAP+HSP+STOCK

This is as cheap as it gets. Remington's cheapest 700 in .338LM is going to be a few hundred more.

[svauto-erotic855]

I would shy far from a 338 for a beginner rifle.

No shit there. A clients neighbor was coming home from the range while I was there and he showed me his new rifle in .338LM and was very proud of how well it shot at 100 yards; 30 shots into a group that both of my hands could not cover. His heart is in the right place but he has SOME work to do.