sniper rifle
I would like to build/ buy a good sniper rifle that can reach out to 400 yds. with good accuracy. 50bmg is out of my budget, but am thinking .308 or 6.8. Opinions on these two cartridges for this purpose? Also, what would be a good choice for the rifle. Looks like the Remington 700's seem popular for bolt guns. What about building a 6.8 on an AR platform? Thanks.
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308 or 30-06 in a Remington or Savage would be very adequate.
6.8 in an AR would work OK.
Brass will be more for the 6.8.
CP0 -
Dollar for dollar, I would do a Rem 700 in 308. Components are readily available, and you would have money left over for a great scope. 0 -
Well 400 yards is not really that far. Army trains to 300 meters open sights with the M16 and the USMC does the same to 500 meters.
The .308 round is easily good to 800 and beyond.
I dont know much about the 6.8 so I cant speak on it.0 -
a Well set up 6.8 AR carbine is a good option inside 400-600 meters no problem, in a gas gun you get less recoil and quicker follow ups verses a M1A, And handleing is much better plus you have the option 17/25 mags. My 6.8 carbine chrono's at 2700FPS with hot 115grain loads.
It is a good compromise between the 5.56 and 7.62x51, and is a bit better then the russian 7.62x39mm.
As for a barrel contour I'd suggest a high quality 18" barrel. Noveske and pac-nor agree... Noveske makes the Good Stuff.
http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bin/imcart/display.cgi?cat=3
If you are interested in a Noveske rifle, look no further then the auction side for what you want, You may well find it there for a good price.
As TSR states a DPMS LR-260L Or LR-30L are good options as well.. Something like that would be great to, JMHO. I have a LR-308 that shoots better then I do most days.0 -
Best bang for the buck is a Remington 700 or Savage. There are several variations of each that will suit your purpose. I would go 308, but if you want better performance, go with the 260 Remington.
If you want a real accurate semi auto, then the DPMS LR 308/260 is the way to go. I had a 308 version that would hold 1/2 MOA or better with good ammo.
Best0 -
While pretty much *ANY* medium caliber round *could* work, .308 is still the global standard sniper round.
Its accurate, reasonably powerful, and readily available as a NATO standard round in most of the world. Brass and bullets are readily available for reloading. Ammo could be usable in a variety of other relatively common rifles (eg M1A, AR-10 type guns, FAL, etc).
There are a good variety of dedicated sniper-type rifles built around this cartridge available, including the Remington 700 based guns that you have mentioned. (EG why re-invent the wheel?). So that's where I would go, given the choice.
But sure 6.8 could work too. Historically, 30'06, .300 Win mag, .303, 7.62x54R, 8mm, and a bunch of others have been used for sniping at distance. All of these are still viable, and ultimately, your skill with the gun is going to be more important than which exact caliber. The real question is what exactly do you want to do with this thing, and how much do you want to spend doing it?
If you want to be "hip", there is a growing trend to use the magnum-like .338 lapua round as a sniper round. The rationale is that its midway in between the .308 and the monster .50BMG. So you get more range and power (eg to defeat light armor) compared to the .308, without having to lug around one of those 30+ pounds .50BMG monsters.
There are a number of good purpose-designed sniper rifles available in this caliber if you wanted to go that route (which personally I wouldn't).0 -
All of the above answers are good, BUT I must add this....A sniper
rifle is used for one thing ONLY. To kill a person. If you are going to
use that rifle for anything other than that, it is a target/ sporting/
hunting/ gun. If you are going to build a sniper gun, forget the shiny
stock, nice blueing, etc, etc. Plan on spending $2000 to $3000 for the scope alone. If not in .338 L. go for the 7.62x51 nato caliber. A good Mauser type action with the best heavy barrel you can find is a good start. Bob0 -
Just start with the &)) in .308 or .30 06 cal. 0 -
I would go with a .308...400 yards for a 50 BMG is nothing. Snipers in the middle east have killed the enemy at ranges over 2000 yards. 0 -
Reminton 700 is a great gun. I shot the one I had at 500 yards. The only thing that wasn't stock was the barrel. Mine was in .308, a .223 works fine but not as weel at 400-500 yards. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Farmer Brown
I would like to build/ buy a good sniper rifle that can reach out to 400 yds. with good accuracy. 50bmg is out of my budget, but am thinking .308 or 6.8. Opinions on these two cartridges for this purpose? Also, what would be a good choice for the rifle. Looks like the Remington 700's seem popular for bolt guns. What about building a 6.8 on an AR platform? Thanks.
There are a dozens upon dozens of options for what your after.
For myself, I go with inter arms Mark x large ring Mauser actions.
I bought up 6 of them years ago, and still have two bare actions yet to be built.
They are very very good actions.
There are a lot of other actions out there that will work as well.
The common theme is to build it from the ground up. babun has given you good advice as well, forget the flash and concentrate on function.
My basic build incorporates as a minimum the following:
All parts materials positively identified for material (PMI),
Lap the bolt thoroughly, PT before and after,
Receiver trued PT before and after,
Thoroughly dimension everything down to the spring diameters/final twist etc,
Macroscopic surface exam of sear engagement surfaces, bolt face, and lugs.
Air gage and volume test the barrel bore before, during and after final reaming/crowning and turning threads etc,
PT Before and After all metal work on the barrel.
Final test all metal parts (including screws) to a class 3 sensitivity PT,
Final tested everything to a class one x-ray
This is after destructive test of the first two actions.
What did I get for all that expense and trouble?
A rifle I can stake my life on.
Most of that btw was a page taken from the military, they do a lot more than what I do, but they have a larger budget.
I have two of them built, both in .308/7.62x51
Neither has a spec of flash. To the naked eye they look rather plain, with nothing really standing out until you get up close and shoot it.
Mark x has been off the market for some time, but I believe the charles daly actions being put out by remington, that are made by Zastava works which made the Mark X actions.
My opinion for what it's worth.0 -
You can just about buy anything off the shelf in bolt action that'll get you to 400 yds. Now, if you want to go farther, then the game begins in which you need better and better equipment. But, for most applications most any off the shelf bolt rifle will hit within ten inches @ five hundred yards.
As far as caliber, .308/7.62x51 is pretty much the NATO standard with .300 WM following it up and .338 gaining ground for popularity with the military. 6.8 SPC is being used but it's range is limited to being competitive (notice how I didn't say effective) within 400 yds. It takes lighter bullets and zings them fast for a .277 cal but it won't push the heavier, higher BC bullets fast enough. If you want to get into higher BC bullets, 6.5mm 7mm and 6mm lead the pack. .25 cal (6.35) follows that up with some good ones but not as many as the other three.0
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