Long range hunting gun suggestions?

[u/ComposerImaginary388]

I’m looking for my first longish range hunting rifle. I want something of good quality to last a long time, maybe around the 2k range.

I won’t be doing crazy intense mountain hunts but I don’t want to limit myself, I really want to start learning long range shooting and spend some good time plinking. Probably looking at .308 caliber.

I was looking at some Sako, like the s90 but my friend is convinced I should get a Bergara but I read some reviews of how it’s hard to get moa and find the right ammo that is accurate.

[u/ozril]

Tikka t3x is a pretty common rifle for your wants. I love mine.

[u/BuyRelevant1000]

Remember: repeated long range/range day shooting you want a heavy, bull barrel. Hunting you want a thin, light barrel to carry. 

The Bergera has the HMR (literally Hunting / Match Rifle) for this exact reason. 

I love mine. Amazing for the range, little heavy for carrying hunting but I'm not trekking any mountains. 

[u/ComposerImaginary388 → u/BuyRelevant1000]

Glad you like yours! No issues with getting it sighted in and shooting tight groups?

[u/BuyRelevant1000 → u/ComposerImaginary388]

It's an absolute laser. Bergara quality is top tier. 

[u/looloopklopm → u/ComposerImaginary388]

There is a reason it is the most recommended gun on r/longrange. People take their 6.5cm out to 1100. 800 with a 308.

[u/sdr26]

What do you consider long range? What do you plan on hunting?

I have a Tikka T3X in .308 and it is great. Have to let the barrel cool if shooting it a lot at the range though.

[u/ComposerImaginary388 → u/sdr26]

I def looked at tikka. Seems nice too! I guess not super long range, for like max 300-400. Mainly deer but I want to be able to hunt moose and elk too

[u/LongRoadNorth → u/ComposerImaginary388]

Not to be rude but majority of hunters are not good enough to be ethically killing game past 200 yards.

Even those that are really good it's hard to say you're ethical when start to stretch out past 300

[u/StairwayHiker]

Hunting ethics simply suggests that you should kill an animal as close to you as possible.

The average hunter limit is 200-300 yards.

[u/TescoValueSoup]

.308 has an effective range of 800-1000m. Half of what you think you'll be doing.
Hitting vitals in the field at 1000m is beyond most people.
2000m is not going to be an ethical kill or a responsible shot I misunderstood 2k range to mean distance.

Most hunters don't shoot beyond 300yards. A few will push to 700y with the right conditions and terrain.
I don't know that you can really do $2k for good quality once you build in glass.

[u/ComposerImaginary388 → u/TescoValueSoup]

2k just rifle. Not glass. Ok to spend a bit more but I don’t want to shoot much more than 300-400

[u/swift_gilford]

T3x lite, superlight, roughtech all off the shelf perfect hunting rifles and easily light enough to trek with.

If you're not going to be doing treking/stalk hunting, that is, if you're driving and walking 5 minutes to a deer stand or blind, a CTR will double as a great range toy due to the thicker barrel taking on my heat before having to stop shooting.

[u/NorthwindX7]

Can't go wrong with a tikka t3x in .308. it's what I started on years ago when I just listened to my friends advice. After years of researching and practice I've seen everywhere it's a highly liked rifle and .308 is arguably the best cartridge for lethality, recoil, effective range and affordability.

Sako is the "upgraded" tikka, but personally I don't think it's cost effective, it's better to buy the t3x and find a stock you like later as it's the biggest upgrade for accuracy. The stainless t3x is roughly 1200$ and an mdt field stock is 300$. Use the rest and a bit more on good glass.

I await other's three-oh-hate comments 😁

[u/h3IIfir3pho3nix]

Saw in your other comment that you're expecting 300-400 yard shots. A Tikka T3x with the right ammo is more than sufficient for that, they're incredibly accurate rifles.

Spend the remainder of the money on ammo and practice to make sure you're comfortable in taking those shots ethically.

[u/Mirin_Gains]

You'll need to practice at a range to do .308 at 300 or further because of wind calls.

The dope is the easy part with calculators these days. I took an elk at 330m last year but it was a 0 wind situation.

[u/Omega_Shaman]

Ruger American Gen II. Its cerakoted, accurate, light, and takes detachable mags. Best bang for the buck.

Then buy a bolt action 22lr for the range. Something like a Savage MkII FV. Accurate as hell. That way you can practice on the cheap when your 308 barrel heats up.