Build me a rifle.

[Hyde]

Since you are a lefty (so am I), a custom rifle is just about out of the question.  Your factory rifles are limited too.  Get yourself a Rem 700 BDL in 7mm Rem Mag (you can find one for $500 if you watch Gunbroker, or the other sites).  If you want a little more range, a gunsmith can turn it into a 7mm STW for under a hundred dollars.   As for scope, I like Leupold.  Model would depend on how fat my wallet was at the time.  I like the plain old VX3 in 3.5x10. 

There are a lot of guys here that praise the Tikka.  They offer a lot of caliber options for lefties.  Savage has a good lineup as well, but for me, it's the 700 Rem. 

[coop2424]

Personally i went with a remington 700 in 7mm stainless new used.  Got the gun for $350 and then i upgraded the trigger $120 and got a nice HS precision stock $200 and made sure the barrel was floated and action bedded.  Then i added the dnz rings.  I am right at your $700 mark without scope.  Should be getting the scope in the coming weeks and will be working a load up for the gun and I think i should be able to get some good distance depending on my shooting but may need to do more work on it to be really accurate at the longer distances.

[rem700300]

Remington 700 chambered in 300 Winchester magnum.Topped with Leupold VX3 6.5-20 x50.Hand loaded Berger 185 grain.

[ing]

Is any of the major firearms companies building .338 Lapuas yet?

Weatherby is chambering it in their Mark V now, but its well over $700.

[ghosthunter]

ok gentlemen we have

700 Rem in 300 WM
Tika 6.5x55
Tikka T3 Swede
Savage
.308
30.06
Rem BDLin 7mmRem Mag.

Conquest scope or Leupold.

And Super glue is good for wounds.

So given only those options lets vote.  What will it be?  Rifle under 700.00.
Top your 700 or less rifle with a scope. (I am a little near sighted )

And how far out would your choice be good for?


I thank each and everyone one of you for your comments.

[Bean Counter]

I dont know much about the 7 Rem but except for the 300 win mag you should probably stick to 600 yards with the rest if elk and bear will be your target.

Also since $700 is your budget for just your rifle (it wasnt clear from the OP), I would consider a Leupold fixed 12x with mildots since this is goi.g to be a dedicated long range rifle and not also used for beating the brush on the wet side.

[JackOfAllTrades]

ok gentlemen we have

700 Rem in 300 WM
Tika 6.5x55
Tikka T3 Swede
Savage
.308
30.06
Rem BDLin 7mmRem Mag.

Conquest scope or Leupold.

I hate remington rifles, but this one with better glass should do the trick. Have fun finding a lefty though.  http://seattleguns.net/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=64328

LH Savage in 308 or the LH Tikka in 6.5x55...  You said you're recoil shy so that cuts out the magnums.
Pillar/Glass bed the factory stock. Adjust the trigger. Put a good Limbsaver recoil pad on it.
Either a Conquest or Leupold scope with micro turrett for elevation is possible for near moa at +500yds with hand loads from sand bags with practice (with a shooting coach). Any farther than that, you're wanting better glass and a heavy barrel. 

-Steve

[Bob33]

Is any of the major firearms companies building .338 Lapuas yet?

Weatherby is chambering it in their Mark V now, but its well over $700.

Savage is also.  They offer it in three different rifles.
Search by caliber.
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/finder/

[Curly]

Ghosthunter, consider a Savage Long Range Hunter 11/111 in 7mm Rem mag or 300 Win Mag.  It has a muzzlebreak so you should be able to handle the magnum recoil.  You might find it for around $700.

[Skillet]

Guys you are over thinking it. Dont worry about all the other stuff. What would you use for rifle and scope.?

Thank you for your input.

I'm afraid you're under thinking it.  You've gone from starting the conversation by citing an 800 yard rifle combo and asking for equipment suggestions based on that to saying "what's your favorite" and telling you what range it would be good to...  I used to drag race and worked for a year at Super Shops, and this has that familiar "bench racing" stench all over it.  You need to know that a "longer range" rig is a tuned system, not just an assembly of parts.  Just like a performance vehicle.  You an slap a supercharger on your small block 1974 Plymouth Duster but it won't get you a fender ahead on a school bus if you're still running an open differential and stock 2.55 gears...
You say don't worry about all the other stuff?  I say don't waste your time until you decide that worrying about the other stuff is going to make as much of a difference as your caliber selection.
 

[Skillet]

Ghosthunter, consider a Savage Long Range Hunter 11/111 in 7mm Rem mag or 300 Win Mag.  It has a muzzlebreak so you should be able to handle the magnum recoil.  You might find it for around $700.

For the used $700 rifle, I like this idea in the 7mm.  It's a heavier gun, too. 

[Pathfinder101]

Since you are a lefty (so am I), a custom rifle is just about out of the question.  Your factory rifles are limited too.  Get yourself a Rem 700 BDL in 7mm Rem Mag (you can find one for $500 if you watch Gunbroker, or the other sites).  If you want a little more range, a gunsmith can turn it into a 7mm STW for under a hundred dollars.   As for scope, I like Leupold.  Model would depend on how fat my wallet was at the time.  I like the plain old VX3 in 3.5x10. 

There are a lot of guys here that praise the Tikka.  They offer a lot of caliber options for lefties.  Savage has a good lineup as well, but for me, it's the 700 Rem.

You just described my setup, except that I got the VX3 with the CDS knobs on it.  Shot it out to 700 yards this summer accurately.  My CDS tops out at 800.  Shooting 168 gr Berger VLDs.

[ghosthunter]

Guys you are over thinking it. Dont worry about all the other stuff. What would you use for rifle and scope.?

Thank you for your input.

I'm afraid you're under thinking it.  You've gone from starting the conversation by citing an 800 yard rifle combo and asking for equipment suggestions based on that to saying "what's your favorite" and telling you what range it would be good to...  I used to drag race and worked for a year at Super Shops, and this has that familiar "bench racing" stench all over it.  You need to know that a "longer range" rig is a tuned system, not just an assembly of parts.  Just like a performance vehicle.  You an slap a supercharger on your small block 1974 Plymouth Duster but it won't get you a fender ahead on a school bus if you're still running an open differential and stock 2.55 gears...
You say don't worry about all the other stuff?  I say don't waste your time until you decide that worrying about the other stuff is going to make as much of a difference as your caliber selection.
 

Easy big guy. I am just looking for a starting point. I have lots of research to do.  And there will be lots of other folks to talk to. But it gives me some points to discuss. Guys on this forum recommended this or that what do you think. It is all a process  No one says I am going with the most popular gun or scope. It is all food for thought.  if you had your choice what would it be?
If over half people here say this rifle and that scope than I will look at that rifle and scope for starters.

[ghosthunter]

"I just read  in Fish & Fur about a guy who made up a Wolf hunting rifle to shoot out to 800 yards."

I did not ask for rifle to shoot 800 yards, I read about a guy who put one together.

I am intrested in a rifle for longer distances, longer than 200 yards out to 800?? ok

Thank you all for your input. I like to here the different veiws.

[wraithen]

Having no actual long range experience, my vote is still for super glue!