What would be a good medium range sniper rifle?
January 27th, 2010 by eranio
I’ve already got an AK, and an SKS. (Do you think my Yugo SKS might make a decent sniper rifle?) Now I don’t need a Barrett, but I’d like to get into something with a little more range, like a 7.62x54R, a 30-06, 303 british or maybe a 308. What are the best military-ish guns for long range accuracy?
The reason I mentioned 7.62×54 is because I alreay have a Mosin Nagant M91/30, but it’s beautiful, and still in full military dress, so I’m afraid of ruining if I tried to scope it. Also I have an older version of a 91/30 witch has a hex reciever and a wierd rear sight. I believe its called a Dragoon.
Posted in sniper rifle
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
The AK and SKS are fine guns but suffer from the round. The 7.62×39 does not have long range or power, as it’s really a carbine round.
Moving to a rifle round, any good bolt will get you good results at medium range. Considering you already have a nice soviet collection going, maybe a Dragunov sniper in 7.62x54r….
Also, any decent bolt gun in .308 or .30-06 with a good scope….GOOD scope….will do the job as many here have already suggested.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Sorry I don’t hunt snipe. Just kid’n In Michigan I think it may be legal to by a certain type of long range rifle but I’m not sure. I don’t hunt I fish.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
go with the 308 my dad has one and it’s get at long range targets
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
I’d stick with the more common American calibers like the 30-06 or the 308. Of those two, the .308 does have the reputation of a good sniper round. Not quite the power of the 30-06 but not the recoil either. The .308 is easier to find in a sniper or varmint style rifle. Savage makes their model 10 in a heavy barrel .308. That would make a nice, medium/long range shooter with a decent scope. Both Remington and Winchester have made sniper rifles for the Military. If, by the term, "military-ish", you mean a semi auto rifle, then you want to check out the Springfield M-1 or M-14.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Panther Arms’ lr-308 is IMO the best valued semi-auto .308 you can get. Excellent accuracy and quality for about $1200…I’ve looked for better deals (while keeping accuracy in mind), but I couldn’t find anything else better.
I have heard good things about the 7.62x54R, but don’t know too much about that.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Sniper rifles are generally bolt-action rifles with heavy, free-floated barrels and sometimes glass bedded actions. A good rifle would be based around the Remington 700 action. These rifles are capable of medium to long range. Otherwise, accurized m-16s and m-14s will do well for medium range. Both of those are semi-auto.
.308 is well known for long range accuracy, stopping power, and mild recoil making it an ideal sniping round. It is one of the most widely available cartridges with military surplus everywhere. The .30-06 is another great choice with balistics similar to the .308, just with a little more velocity and energy. The .300 win magnum is good for extended ranges as well as the .338 lapua. The .50 bmg is for long to extreme ranges and anti-armor.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Remington Model 700~ 30.06
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Depends on your definition of "medium-range" 300 to 500 meters might be considered "short," 500 to 800 "medium" and 800 to 2,000 "long." I consider 2,000+ "extra-long range"
Your SKS (when accurized) may make an ok designated marksman rifle for (very) short range but is no "sniper".
A bolt action rifle will almost always be more accurate than a semi-auto, but at ranges inside of say 600 meters the difference is not going to be too noticable.
.308 is going to be your best all around cartridge, plentiful, cheap, lots of loadings, and slighly more accurate than .30-’06 within 1000 yards.
A Springfield 1903 in .30-’06 or any Mauser would be a good, accurate, fairly cheap, medium range "sniper" rifle.
For Mauser you have your choice of 6.5×55, 6.5×68, 7, or 8mm. All great flat shooting cartridges with adequate power and range for at least 600/700 meters. And personally I find the Mauser action to be one of the sweetest ever designed. My father owns a 6.5mm Swedish, and she still cycles like a beauty.
Your Mosin would be a fine choice, if you decided to add a mount and scope. The sniper with the most ever kills, Simo Häyhä (542), used a Finnish manufactured Mosin.
A Springfield M1A (the civilian version of the M14/M21)
is a fine rifle for ranges of out to say 600/700 meters, perhaps more depending on your skill.
Most AR style manufactures also make rifles in .308, which make great targeting/marksmen platforms.
A Remington M24 (based off the Remington 700 series) is a great rifle for work out to at least 800 meters and the record for a kill with one is currently 1250 meters.
It is now available in .300 Winchester Mag as well which greatly increases your range.
In keeping with the Com-Bloc genre of what you already own, a Dragunov would make a good short/medium range rifle, good for at least 500/600 meters.
The "Dragunov Tiger" is a civilian import version, chambered in .308 Winchester, which would be a good option.
However accuarcy on these are not so great, less than 2 MOA with match grade ammo. The loose tolerances of the Kalashnikov design which makes them so reliable severly limits accuracy potential.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Bound’s hubby here:
First, in an age when the antis want to ban sniper-type rifles, you are hurting the cause looking for a "sniper rifle". Any rifle, if you know what you’re doing, can fill the criteria of a sniper rifle.
If you want an accurate rifle, for long range target shooting, forget most of the Eastern Bloc and Chi-Com stuff. If you have the patience to practice, if you get a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .308, and scope it, you will have a close version of the Marine Corps’ M40 sniper rifle. For long range accuracy, you want the benefit of the heavy barrel in order to produce tight groups at longe range. Do not expect tight groups and long range accuracy if you do not use target grade ammunition.
Good luck.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Whatever the military issues. Otherwise, stick to target shooting or hunting.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
To answer all aspects of your question, here goes. You would maybe want to get the 30-.06 caliber. However in the M1 and other military, older weapons, you’re talking good piece of change to get one.
The .308 is more popular, and is only slightly less cheap than the 30-.06 in military rifles.
The 7.62-54R is an excellent long range cartridge as are the above two. The only difference being that you can get a surplus Russian Nagant(7.62-54R) for under a hundred bucks. However maybe a bit more for one in excellent shape.
But of all the ones you mentioned, I would suggest the .303. This is just out of personal preference, price, accuracy, and history. When the british used it against the germans from five hundred yards out, the volley fire was so accurate they germans thought that the british had put machine guns. Surprise, nope. The army was using an excellent sniper rifle caliber for that range. Plus the price for a surplus one now, is around 150. or so.
Regardless of which one you get, now you know. And according to G.I.JOE, knowledge is power.
If you have any other questions or need clarification, feel free to email me and i’ll help ya more..No charge, lol..
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Ive always heard a springfield 03 bolt action is a good long range rifle… caliber in 30-06 i think u can get a ok shape one for around $400 …….. and a sks can be a good rifle out to about 400 yds
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Check out a 98 k Old Mauser Good Gun for the price. 30/40 Krag
January 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
look at the remington 700 its a tactical sniper but its very reliable has a 10 round clip umm i dont remember much about it but i would check it out