The thousand yard conspiracy

[Aglifter]

You may want to consider an IOR Valdada -- I liked mine -- I ended up not liking having a fixed 10X scope, and sold it, but it was well made. A nightforce is going to take a big piece of that budget -- so will the IOR, but not as much. If you end up getting stuck, and I can find it, I have a Leupold Rangefinder somewhere that I could probably kick in -- I think one of the newer models which accounts for incline would be more useful for hunting, but it shouldn't matter for shooting at a range.

[Combat Controller]

What about a Lapua?

[Combat Controller]

Thrill kill.

[BadgerVet]

The Mad Orge just had a post about the 300 Short Mag. as I recall. He claimed more accuracy and less recoil than the 300 Win Mag.

I have a 300 Win Mag. that really likes 165 gr. Hornady bullets. Mine is a hunting rifle though, not a long range match setup at all.

[Aglifter]

I don't know -- Dad has a Kimber Montana (lightweight stock) in 300 WSM that hurts like heck to shoot, IMO. Of course, I think it weighs ~6.5lbs w. scope, so that could be part of it... But I much rather shoot my 375 Ruger.

[HTRN]

24" is too short - you want at least 26" at the minimum.

Actions for a Lapua aren't hard - Stiller sells a "Tac 338" and "Predator-X" both of which are designed for the .338 Lapua for under a grand.

Barrels are about as hard to get as any other barrel, which is to say, not at all.

The cost of the brass though.. 2 bucks a case is pricey, especially for a target rifle where you want a coupla hundred, even if only to weight sort..

You might want to consider a .300 WSM. They're really starting to take over in Light gun. For actions I'd look at Stiller Predator or Tac action - great bang for your buck. Both drop into Remington stocks, so if you can find somebody to put a barrel on for you, you can assemble the rest of the rifle yourself. Another option is Sturgeon, which will also uses a remington pattern, but has an integral recoil lug. They then use the extra length for a longer barrel thread.


HTRN

[Highspeed]

I've got a long discontinued Tasco 6-24X50 World Class Plus - you could call it a 'classic' - outstanding Jap optics, tracks like a champ. The Tasco brand has produced mostly crappy optics, but there are some real gems in their back catalogue if you know what you are looking for.
Yours for free if you want it, just owe me one.

[AZMARK]

If time might be a factor, FN has ready to go systems. They got Leupold scopes and are avalibile in .300WSM.

[AZMARK]

Something else, seems Bruno's here in town keeps BAT actions in stock.

[Whirlibird]

Remington 700 magnum action.
Krieger barrel, no taper straight barrel. 26/28"
KDF muzzle brake.
Shilen competition trigger.
Sunny Hill tac triggerguard assy.
Holland recoil lug.
Bell and Carlson varmint/target stock.
Warne tactical rings and 20moa base
Scope of your choice.

7mm STW, at 13-14lbs it doesn't recoil that much but will strip the paint off your eardrums.