Inexpensive bench rifle/scope combo suggestions

[zwickeyman]

 i want to put together a bench/long range rifle. Open to suggestions on Caliber and Makes. This will not be used for hunting as I am covered there.

I was thinking 243, 260 Rem, 6.5 CM , 308. I already have a bunch of .264 bullets . I will be hand loading for it no matter what caliber. I get great deals on Leopold and Vortex. I would like to stick to a budget of 1200.00

Thanks in advance for all suggestions

[MtnMuley]

Roger American Predator 6.5 Creed and spend the rest on the scope of your choice.

[h20hunter]

Actually  . I've sat next to a forum member that did exactly that. Handloads and on that day shot a perfect looking qtr inch group at 100.

[wadu1]

Your statement "I was thinking 243, 260 Rem, 6.5 CM , 308. I already have a bunch of .264 bullets". You cant load the .243 and .308 with your .264 bullets. 

[zwickeyman]

Your statement "I was thinking 243, 260 Rem, 6.5 CM , 308. I already have a bunch of .264 bullets". You cant load the .243 and .308 with your .264 bullets. 

I get it. One reason Im leaning 260 or 6.5 CM but I have a lot of 30 cal too and I have a good source for 243 so still open to other calibers

[wadu1]

Your statement "I was thinking 243, 260 Rem, 6.5 CM , 308. I already have a bunch of .264 bullets". You cant load the .243 and .308 with your .264 bullets. 

I get it. One reason Im leaning 260 or 6.5 CM but I have a lot of 30 cal too and I have a good source for 243 so still open to other calibers

All is good then. I personally like the 6.5X55, so I would lean more the the 6.5 CM. I would also think the brass would be easier for find for it.

[Magnum_Willys]

6.5 or smaller.   

[Hilltop123]

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/savage-10t-sr-bolt-action-rifle
I have This rifle, paired with a Vortex PST 5-25x50. Chambered in 6.5CM. It will shoot legitimate 1/2 moa groups. With the right fodder. It has a heavier barrel than the RAP, longer barrel than the RAP and just designed all the way round for more of the shooting you are describing that the RAP.

[zwickeyman]

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/savage-10t-sr-bolt-action-rifle
I have This rifle, paired with a Vortex PST 5-25x50. Chambered in 6.5CM. It will shoot legitimate 1/2 moa groups. With the right fodder. It has a heavier barrel than the RAP, longer barrel than the RAP and just designed all the way round for more of the shooting you are describing that the RAP.

Thats one I am looking at. I dont think I would need to upgrade the trigger either. I will be buying only at Cabelas as I have 1441.00 in gift cards Bonuses from work. Scope I'll buy cash else where. Not a huge Vortex fan but I need to look through a few of them

[Bill W]

If you want a small hole poker I would go with a 6PPC for up to 300 yards.  If longer distance you'd have to go th wildcat route and get one based off the 6BR case.    Trying to limit yourself to 1200 would be like the time i didn't want to spend much for BR shooting and ended up with a gun I named Christine.  It shot sour apples but was in my price range.  The replacement gun I bought shot like I wanted but was outside my initial budget.

Now if you want I could find the current owner of Christine and see if he wants to sell it.  Everyone who had it and sold it always sold it for less than they bought it for.

[Hilltop123]

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/savage-10t-sr-bolt-action-rifle
I have This rifle, paired with a Vortex PST 5-25x50. Chambered in 6.5CM. It will shoot legitimate 1/2 moa groups. With the right fodder. It has a heavier barrel than the RAP, longer barrel than the RAP and just designed all the way round for more of the shooting you are describing that the RAP.

Thats one I am looking at. I dont think I would need to upgrade the trigger either. I will be buying only at Cabelas as I have 1441.00 in gift cards Bonuses from work. Scope I'll buy cash else where. Not a huge Vortex fan but I need to look through a few of them

I did nothing to the trigger, I found it to be just fine out of the box.

[carpsniperg2]

CM is harder to find cheap brass for if your loading in times like now. Way expensive if buying shells. We run a couple 260 and can find cheap cases and even ammo very often.

[zwickeyman]

CM is harder to find cheap brass for if your loading in times like now. Way expensive if buying shells. We run a couple 260 and can find cheap cases and even ammo very often.

Good advice right there

[zwickeyman]

If you want a small hole poker I would go with a 6PPC for up to 300 yards.  If longer distance you'd have to go th wildcat route and get one based off the 6BR case.    Trying to limit yourself to 1200 would be like the time i didn't want to spend much for BR shooting and ended up with a gun I named Christine.  It shot sour apples but was in my price range.  The replacement gun I bought shot like I wanted but was outside my initial budget.

Now if you want I could find the current owner of Christine and see if he wants to sell it.  Everyone who had it and sold it always sold it for less than they bought it for.

Thank you but I am using Cabelas cards so Cabelas it is

[zwickeyman]

Any scope suggestions under 900 retail?

Complete novice at dialing. My hunting scopes are Leupold with the CDS so Mil or Moa would be new to me

[bearpaw]

Leopold on sale at cabelas: https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/leupold-vx-3i-rifle-scope

There are some VX-5's too but they are twice as much?

[buckfvr]

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/savage-10t-sr-bolt-action-rifle
I have This rifle, paired with a Vortex PST 5-25x50. Chambered in 6.5CM. It will shoot legitimate 1/2 moa groups. With the right fodder. It has a heavier barrel than the RAP, longer barrel than the RAP and just designed all the way round for more of the shooting you are describing that the RAP.

Thats one I am looking at. I dont think I would need to upgrade the trigger either. I will be buying only at Cabelas as I have 1441.00 in gift cards Bonuses from work. Scope I'll buy cash else where. Not a huge Vortex fan but I need to look through a few of them

That rifle will work great and you can easily work on it and make improvements (if necessary), and the Gen2 PST 5-25x50 is all you need.  I have a LR .243 and another in 6.5.  Both are Savage.  The .243 started with a model 12 action and Benchmark barrel.  The 6.5 is the FCP-SR 24" barrel.  Both rifles have the same B&C stocks and the upgraded recoil lug and barrel nut.  The .243 is only as much better as it can be because of the 26" Benchmark barrel.  Both rifles sub 1/2" and produce plenty 1/4 moa, a few more with the .243.

Ive had 2 NF scopes on the .243, put the Gen 2 PST on the 6.5, liked it so much I sold the NF off the .243 and topped it with another Gen 2 so both rifles would give me a seamless grab and go.  Nice thing was, the money I had left over from selling the NF got me another rifle and scope.

Ive had the pleasure of being able to shoot plenty of scopes through Box2Bench Precision.  We did tons of tracking tests to include Leupold, Steiner, S&B, NF, and Vortex, plus others.  This is why I am a Gen2 PST fan.

I dont think theres a bad choice out there, just some better than others.  Good luck. 

[zwickeyman]

Thanks for all of the replies

How much better is the PST over the HST?

[buckfvr]

I have both......Gen 2 PST leaps and bounds better.  HST is good but nothing like the PST.

[zwickeyman]

I have both......Gen 2 PST leaps and bounds better.  HST is good but nothing like the PST.

I like the reticle better on the HST because its closer to what I'm used to on my hunting rigs

Whats better?
Tracking
Glass
Reticle

[buckfvr]

To be clear, Im talking second focal plane on the PST and features like the Zero stop on the PST to go along with a bit better glass and lower turrets.  Just go to their web page and compare features and watch vids.

[BULLBLASTER]

Its pretty hard to beat the ziess v4 for the money. 
Cabelas had the 4-16 on the site for a while. Maybe they will restock them.

[buckfvr]

Ya the Z4 looks like a great choice also.

[zwickeyman]

I ended up ordering a Savage 10T-SR in 6.5 CM and have brass and dies on the way. Still cant decide on a scope. Doing the same thing I always do, make a budget, then dont stick to it I cant find a scope I like for the 700.00 thats left over from the rifle

[Jason]

Some pretty dang good deals on Cameralandny.com

https://cameralandny.com/shop/athlon-optics-ares-btr-gen2-2-5-15x50-aplr3-ffp-ir-moa-scope-212003-athlon-ares-8x42-binoculars-112002-athlon-sunshade-213022s/b864e5c0-2d1a-0139-f682-00163e6c3713?variation=2894128

https://cameralandny.com/shop/athlon-optics-ares-btr-gen2-2-5-15x50-aplr3-ffp-ir-moa/09c2a860-f990-0137-81db-00163ecd2826?variation=2170908

https://cameralandny.com/shop/bushnell-elite-tactical-lrts-4-5-18x44mm-flat-dark-earth-ffp-g3/c32f12e0-363b-0138-8be7-00163ecd2826?variation=2153237

[zwickeyman]

Definitely good deals
Thanks

[Hilltop123]

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?promotionid=1283922&utm_source=hot-buy&utm_medium=email&utm_content=main-image-link&utm_campaign=crimson-trace-tactical
This just showed up in my email.

[Wanttohuntmore]

I ended up ordering a Savage 10T-SR in 6.5 CM and have brass and dies on the way. Still cant decide on a scope. Doing the same thing I always do, make a budget, then dont stick to it I cant find a scope I like for the 700.00 thats left over from the rifle

I have the same rifle,  it's a tack driver.  Look at Athlon optics.

[zwickeyman]

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?promotionid=1283922&utm_source=hot-buy&utm_medium=email&utm_content=main-image-link&utm_campaign=crimson-trace-tactical
This just showed up in my email.

I just looked through a couple of those I don't think it was those models. Didnt care for them but thanks

[huntnphool]

[zwickeyman]

Looks like I'm copying Hilltop

Ordered the 10T-SR in 6.5 CM and really leaning towards the PST 5-25 SFP

Buckfvr
You were right. Looked through a bunch today
PST
NST
Diamondback tactical
Strike Eagle
Nikon x1000
Burris Signature
A couple Sigs
A couple TRujicons

Actually the Nikon was pretty good for the price

Thanks for all the replies

[Hilltop123]

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?promotionid=1282429&utm_source=hot-buy&utm_medium=email&utm_content=main-image-link&utm_campaign=bushnell-nitro

[zwickeyman]

I did buy the Savage 10T-SR in 6.5 CM topped with a Vortex PST 5-25x50 with SFP. Have a couple ladder tests loaded up with IMR4350 and RL17 and 140gr Nosler RDF. Going to get it out on Sunday

Thanks everyone for you input

[Hilltop123]

Lets see it