In decades gone past, precision performance from rifles meant spending a considerable sum of money and investing in custom work. Those days are past us. Firearms technology is steadily advancing. Materials that were once considered to be exotic are now standard on regular factory rifles these days. Actions are often bedded to synthetic stocks, which is a major contributor to accuracy.
Back in the 1980s, it seemed that everyone was trying to attain the 1 MOA (one inch at 100 yards) standard. If the rifle wouldn’t shoot at least to that level, then it “had” to be shipped off to a custom gunsmith to bring it up to par. And back then, few rifles would shoot into 1 MOA without custom work and/or handloads.
The aforementioned advances in rifle construction have brought us a long way from the 1980s. Aside from that, though, bullet manufacturers have made huge strides in producing bullets. More consistency and better components have shot us ahead (no pun intended) in the field of accuracy.
These days, it’s not at all uncommon for factory rifles with standard ammunition to shoot under 1 MOA. In fact, it seems that we’ve become spoiled in this department!
Many sniper rifles now have sophisticated chassis. It seems that shooters “have” to have an adjustable length of pull (LOP) for their rifle stock, along with an adjustable cheekpiece.
These niceties are neat to have, but I really wonder whether they’re necessities. It seems the sniping community got along fine without a lot of the “necessities” that we have nowadays.
Sniper Rifle Uses
There are a couple of different types of sniping that come to mind when we’re on the subject. It can generally be broken down into two basic categories.
Military
Military snipers generally shoot out to 1,000 yards or more. They operate in completely hostile territory most of the time and usually face multiple threats. It’s common for them to use a semi-auto sniper rifle these days, although bolt actions are still used too.
If a military sniper misses a target, it’s normally not the end of the world. Their typical target is the torso, center mass.
Environments could be urban, desert, or jungle/woodland.
Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement snipers usually shoot at much shorter distances than their military counterparts. A lot of the shots they take are of the hostage rescue variety. Because of that, extreme precision is paramount. When I was a sniper, our primary target was the brain stem, the medulla oblongata. If we could hit that, it would shut down the bad guy even if he had a gun to the hostage’s head.
Missing was not an option because, in most cases, a good guy would die. Often, LE snipers coordinate with Hostage Rescue Teams.
The majority of our shooting took place within 300 yards. Frequently, it was much closer. When you’re shooting at a target that’s about the size of your thumb, it’s not going to take place at 1,000 yards.
Environments can be urban, desert, or woodland.
Affordable Sniper Rifles — What’s Available?
So what if we’re on a budget and want to put together a sniper rifle without going broke? Is that even a realistic proposition?
Happily, the answer is yes! We’re going to look at a few systems that should meet the needs of regular folks. Yes, regular folks might also want or need to put steel on target at long distances.
We’re not going to explore every rifle system out there, but rather list a few to whet readers’ appetites and illustrate that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get a decent smoke pole to get the job done. Without further adieu, let’s dive in.
Remington 700
Remington’s 700 has long been the gold standard, being the rifle of choice for many US Military sniper teams. To be fair, for most, it’s not a choice, as the 700 has been the issued rifle for many decades. Currently, there is a trend toward semi-auto sniper systems, but for bolt actions, the 700 is still a mainstay.
Not long ago, I was at the range with my daughter, who purchased a Remington 700 ADL at Walmart. At only a few hundred dollars, it was a particularly good bargain. It was a package deal and came with a 3-9x scope already mounted. Granted, the scope is not of high pedigree, but it works well enough. And scopes can always be upgraded later on.
This particular 700 is the ADL model, so it has an internal magazine that holds four rounds. The 5R barrel is carbon steel and is 24 inches long and this particular rifle is in .30-06. The receiver is machined from solid-steel bar stock. The overall length of the rifle is 44.5 inches and weight is 7.37 pounds (without scope).
The 700 can be had in a vast plethora of calibers, so chances are, you’ll find your favorite one among them.
The barrel is finished in a pleasing matte blue, while the stock is synthetic, matte black. All in all, the look is uniform and non-glare.
This is a no-frills rifle that will get the job done and you won’t have to worry about marring the beautiful finish, because it’s matte and business-like. In fact, were it my rifle, I’d give it a rattle-can paint job and call it a day.
A final word about this rifle’s accuracy: I was shocked! Groups came in right around an inch, perhaps a fraction smaller. And that was using standard factory ammunition, nothing fancy. Years ago, accuracy like that would usually only be achieved through custom work. Now we can expect it from the factory. And for the price tag of this “Plain Jane” rifle, it’s a great bargain. Don’t overlook this one!
As an aside, Remington also has rifles that are more purpose-built for sniping. The 700 PSS comes to mind, with its heavy barrel and recessed crown. It’s a great rifle and very accurate, but it comes at a bit higher price tag.
Ruger Hawkeye
Ruger has many rifles that fit the bill for sniping or long-range target shooting. A quick peek at their website revealed the Hawkeye.
The Ruger Hawkeye features a stock that’s speckled black/brown laminate. Some nice features are that the length of pull and the height of the comb are both adjustable, so shooters can get just the right fit.
The 26-inch heavy-contour barrel is constructed of alloy steel, is free-floated, and has a muzzle brake. Overall weight is 11 pounds, so it’s no lightweight, and its length is around 47 inches. A 20 MOA Picatinny rail sits on top of the receiver, so mounting a scope will be super easy. That 20 MOA cant offers extra elevation to reach way out there.
The Hawkeye offers some other attractive features, including a non-rotating, Mauser-type controlled feed round extractor with a fixed, blade-type ejector. The safety is of the three-position variety. The bolt is one piece and made of stainless steel.
The Hawkeye comes with an AI-style magazine that holds ten rounds. It comes in a variety of calibers that are great for long-range.
This one really looks like a winner in the quality and features department. Retail for the Hawkeye is $1,619, but it will be available for appreciably less in gun shops. This certainly is one of the more expensive rifles on our list, so that may put it a little out of reach of some of our readers who are interested in economy.
Ruger American Predator
This is one that I’ve written about before, but I just can’t leave it out for this article because it is perfect for the cause.
The American Predator’s name implies exactly what it is intended for—hunting predators. Released in 2016, it’s an interesting configuration of a rifle, in that it has a medium-heavy barrel. I like that configuration because it’s not too heavy, but yet is better than a barrel that’s too light and thin. The extra thickness adds rigidity, which can contribute to accuracy. An added plus is that the end of the barrel is threaded for attachments such as muzzle brakes or suppressors. The muzzle crown is recessed. Also, the barrel is free floated.
The safety is tang-mounted, which makes it very easy to operate. The bolt is three-lugged and operates smoothly.
As is the custom today with many rifles, there is a Picatinny rail system mounted on the receiver, which makes mounting a scope extremely easy.
My particular rifle was bought in a package that included a Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44mm scope. Initially, I wasn’t expecting much from the scope because it’s not high-end, but I have to say, it’s proven to be clear and accurate so far, and I’m very pleased with its performance. It offers good magnification and is bright. I do recommend the Vortex lineup.
Feeding is from a 4-round, detachable magazine. The stock is composite and functions well, though it receives criticisms from some for not feeling as though it’s a high-end piece.
The weight of the rifle, without the scope, is 6.6 pounds, which is very reasonable. The metal has a matte black finish, so shooters don’t have to worry about shine giving away their position.
One of the best aspects of this rifle is the trigger. It is adjustable, but considering that I find the trigger pull to be perfect, I haven’t messed with it. It’s just light enough to lend itself very well to accuracy, but not so light that it would be dangerous. It has an amazingly crisp break. Ruger hit a home run on this trigger.
Accuracy with this rig is phenomenal for a factory rifle. I can get groups just a hair over an inch at 200 yards using Hornady White Tail 129 grain 6.5 Creedmoor factory hunting ammunition.
Another huge selling point for this rifle package is the price: I paid around $550 for it, including the scope. Although it’s not officially a “sniper rifle,” it puts rounds on target with amazing accuracy at a great price point. And the 6.5 Creedmoor round is effective on both living targets and paper/steel ones while offering very little recoil. This one is a major winner. The American Predator is available in several calibers, so there’s a good selection available.
Conclusion
We’ve looked at some sniping requirements and levels here so readers can figure out what their needs are.
We’ve also examined a couple of viable choices at various price points. Although we’ve only looked at Remington and Ruger products, there are many others out there. Savage also offers some great choices for reasonably priced rifles.
Just because a rifle is not officially deemed to be a “sniper rifle” doesn’t mean it won’t fit the bill. A little research and digging around can turn up some very effective rigs that don’t have to empty your bank account.
The most important thing, once you’ve acquired your rifle, is to get out there and practice with it.
Good hunting!
