rifle in .308

[quattrokid73]

So i've been looking at guns again. this time i am pretty sure i want something in .308.

There are a few routes I can take...This is what I've been considering.

Low cost: Remington 700 with Trijicon Accupoint optics

Medium cost: Springfield M1a (synthetic) with Aimpoint or ACOG

High cost: Savage 10 BA with Trijicon Accupoint optics

I've got no friends that shoot rifles, so I'm kind of in the dark. I want a gun I'll keep forever. Home defense will be for my 9mm or possibly a 12ga in the future.

This is for long range target shooting and a SHTF situation.

I'm wondering if a M1a Socom would be as a great jack of all trades weapon? With a 4x scope it could do a whole lot. That said, 16" is a short barrel. Perhaps a std M1a synthetic?

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[Maniacal Pete]

I really like .308, I have two.

For your purpose I would suggest a Remington 700 vsf in .308 - IMHO the most accurate "off the shelf" .308 produced.

A bolt action, synthetic stock, heavy floated barrel rifle that can compete with custom offerings costing much more.

Like they say in the ads: "That prairie dog had it coming."

I can shoot 3" groups at 300 yards with mine (and I'm not a great shot), I love it.

I use a 10-16x scope with bullet drop compensator reticle, but if I had it to do over, I would probably prefer a quality 10x fixed magnification scope so that I could always be certain of sighting in at the same magnification.

It IS a beast.

Check it out.

pete

[xbxb]

You might want to consider a lightweight hunter. I also reload anything from a 100 gr. to 200 gr. bullet. Great gun for small or large game. It will do it all------- great choice.

[mk77]

How far is long distance to you?

[NorCalMtn2]

The Springfield M1A 22" bbl is the most versatile of your three choices. It is capable of good accuracy, heavy enough to shoot well but not too heavy to carry a distance. The design also facilitated fast reloading and a good rate of fire if required.
I wouldn't even consider the SOCOM because the 16" barrel minimizes the capability of the .308 cartridge too much. The Scout Squad could be a consideration at 18" if compactness and portability is important.

The Remington 700, while not as versatile as the M1a, could be a good choice if range is a strong criteria. If you choose the Remington I suggest a 26" bbl or you really won't be gaining much over the M1A.

I wouldn't even consider the Savage 10 BA simply because it's too specialized and lacks versatility and mobility. At 16+lbs with a scope and bi-pod it would be completely impractical for many situations.

[dsmegst]

I like the Savage model 10 in a synthetic stock. The combination of the accu-stock and accu-trigger is pretty darn good in a factory rifle. I have no complaints about my Rem 700 but I can't help wonder if I should have gone with the Savage.

[dttomcat]

If you go with the Remington I would make sure to check the year of manufacture of the gun you buy. 2008 or later would be preferred. Get one with the newer trigger system and not the Walker. JMHO. In some cases the gun you buy could have been built many years earlier.

[DNK]

Low cost: Remington 700 with Trijicon Accupoint optics

Medium cost: Springfield M1a (synthetic) with Aimpoint or ACOG

High cost: Savage 10 BA with Trijicon Accupoint optics

This is for long range target shooting and a SHTF situation.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Wow your medium cost seems pretty high to me. Used M1As are running around $1200-$1300 for a basic rifle. You can get a Norinco for about $1000, but it may or may not need some work before it's a decent shooter. A new M1A is running $1400 for a basic gun and around $1650 for the shorter versions. Depending on which version of the trijicon or ACOG you get I think you're looking at roughly $600-$1000. So you're around $2,000-$2200 for the M1A option. I don't know much about the 10BA but it looks like its running around $1700, so you're looking at 2300-2700 there (with optics). The Savage 10FP is widely regarded as one of the best bang for your buck .308s with great out of the box accuracy. They run around $600. That plus your trijicon or a Leupold Mark 4 and you have a sweet long range shooter for around $1600. It has a 4 round internal mag. If you want something with a detachable magazine, go with a good used M1A. My 2 cents.

[mtwarden]

depends...

if you want long range capability and not the weight/length of a full out sniper rifle, take a peek at the Remington LTR (light tactical rifle)- w/ factory ammo (good factory ammo ) it's a sub MOA out of the box- fluted heavy 20" barrel, aluminum bedded, kevlar/fiberglass H&S Precision stock, nice trigger (which can be made even nicer ), etc

it was made w/ urban sniper's needs in mind, but is plenty capable to longer ranges- the lighter weight and shorter barrel also make it doable for a sporing rifle; I use mine to hunt deer and antelope

[Black-Jacket]

im a big remington 700 fan since i own a couple,

but the new

Savage PC10 in .308 has caught my eye

[mtwarden]

^ nice looking rifle- looks like Savage's answer to the LTR

[rick melear]

Big Savage fan here.

[InfidelShootist]

Savage is a great gun for the money and a great bolt but it seems to me you're looking for a SHTFG which to me is not a bolt gun.
Already have an AR I'd say get the Savage.The M1a is nice but is outdated now.
I say this LaRue Tactical Stealth OBR (Optimized Battle Rifle) Complete 7.62 Rifle is a top choice if you have the money.POF makes a nice one as well and the DPMS is supposed to be good for the money.

[glee]

Savage is a great gun for the money and a great bolt but it seems to me you're looking for a SHTFG which to me is not a bolt gun.
Already have an AR I'd say get the Savage.The M1a is nice but is outdated now.
I say this LaRue Tactical Stealth OBR (Optimized Battle Rifle) Complete 7.62 Rifle is a top choice if you have the money.POF makes a nice one as well and the DPMS is supposed to be good for the money.

Really? I'm sure many would take issue with that statement. What about the HK91 or the FNFAL?

[mtwarden]

The M1a is nice but is outdated now.

not necessarily

[quattrokid73]

not necessarily

That gets my goat.

How accurate would a std barrel length M1a be with a 4x ACOG, say at...300 yds?

[knifenut1013]

More accurate than you

[malago0]

Instead of getting the Remington in .308 get the Howa m1500 it is more accurate off the shelf than the Remington and the synthetic stock is better in my opinion.

[Les Snyder]

Quattrokid73...my M1A with open sights (NM hooded rear and .062 front sight) would shoot 8inch plates at 300y with good light about 50% of the time... I never could get a repeatatable scope mount for it... the best was the 3rd generatiion side mounts that locked thru the stripper clip slot and I attached a stationary stud in the receiver rather than use a cap screw, and this was before the Picatinny rail mounts you show in the picture so I shot it open sights which was deadly.... my 16inch flat top in .223 (55grain) with a 4x32 TA01 ACOG can hit clay birds at 500m with about 60% accuracy, with approximately 9inches of holdoff for wind (the 420m target this year at Ft Benning required between 16 and 20 inches of holdoff for a 10inch Flash target). I don't have the M1A any longer but my AR10 carbine (16inch non floated) will shoot the 500m clay birds with about 3inches of wind hold off... a friend's AR in 300WSM with a 5.5 ACOG smacks the 1000y target pretty regularly

[59Bassman]

Personally, if I'm looking for a SHTF rifle, I'm carrying an AR-platform.

If I'm looking at a .308, I'm looking at a more precision rifle, and would probably consider it as my primary hunting rifle. Not a whole lot of game in North America that you can't take with a .308. In that case, my .308 would be a bolt gun, and just from the standpoint of parts availability, I'd probably go with some flavor of a Remington 700. Great rifles, lots of them out there, and pretty much everyone can either work on them or get parts for them.

I've got nothing wrong with the .308 battle rifles like the M1A, but if I'm building up a general-purpose arsenal, mine would look like:

Handgun - M1911 style
Shotgun - Remington 1100, Remington 870, or Mossberg 500
Rifle (SHTF, short range) - AR-15 or AK-75
Rifle (Long range, hunting) - Remington 700 in .308

Others may disagree.