Poll: I want a sniper rifle what should I get

[McNinja]

I want to get a new sniper rifle

Which one should I get?

The Barrett M82A1 50 Cal. - Overpowered, maybe. But that engine block 2 miles away needs to be destroyed. ($2 per round)(retails for $3200) http://www.vincelewis.net/rifle.html

The Bravo51 7.62x51mm - Much more sane in power. Highly accurate and a lot cheaper to fire than 50 Cal ($0.50 per round). Also the rifle itself is cheaper. (retails for $1200) http://www.snipercentral.com/bravo51.htm

These are the 2 main ones I am looking at but any American sniper rifle might go on the list that I will look at. http://www.snipercentral.com/rifles.htm

I am 26 years old and all of these are legal in the state of Kansas.

Why? what purpose would they serve? Are you collecting, or preparing for the zombie apocalypse? You included the cost of ammunition for the .50 Cal, are you planning on using it often? Have you even fired one before? Do you know basic gun safety rules?

 

[Fidelias]

You should buy one that is reliable but cheap to fire, unless you just want to display it in a gun case or something. Between the two, get the Bravo.

Edit: Another reason you should NOT get the .50, is because the bullets can cause a LOT more damage, so if you miss, then REALLY bad stuff happens.

Double Edit:And what's with people automatically assuming you're going to be a mass murderer if you buy a high-powered rifle? That's like saying if you pay for porn you're going to be a rapist. No basis whatsoever on fact.

 

[Gilhelmi]

snip

Ya, 50 cal. is a "possible" war crime on human targets. Also, I no shoot people (if I can avoid it).

 

[Marik2]

snip

Ya, 50 cal. is a "possible" war crime on human targets. Also, I no shoot people (if I can avoid it).

Well then "WHAT ARE YOU GONNA USE A SNIPER FOR!?"

 

[Arcane Azmadi]

Don't be a fucking idiot. There is NOTHING you could possibly need a sniper rifle for other than brutal, cold-blooded murder and why the FUCK should we advise you on how to do that?

Give me ONE good reason why you'd need a sniper rifle, and I'd call you a liar (and a psychopath while I'm at it).

For hunting, the animals can not smell you a half a mile away.

Bullshit. People were hunting hundred of years ago with friggin' MUSKETS and their livelihoods and sometimes their LIVES depended on it. If you'll just be hunting "for sport" then why the hell would you need a piece of military hardware to do what your ancestors could do with a simple bangstick? You might as well hunt with a helicopter gunship.

Sorry, but I'm convinced the only thing you'd need an actual sniper rifle for is killing humans. Grow up.

 

[Kwaren]

I have a custom made .50 BMG rifle that weights in at 47 pounds. It cost me $3000. My wallet goes "Why are you doing this to me?" every time I fire a $7.50 round. I would add a pic but I am not at home.

Dang $7.50 a round. I might go with the Bravo51 just so I do not go to the poor house every time I go to the range. (but I bet it fires like a dream)

It is beautiful. I know it thinks I am too because the first time I fired it it moved 3 inches backward making me scope myself then it fell over onto my pinky finger making me bleed quite bad. If my weapons don't draw my blood at some point in time it makes me think they don't love me. I'm strange, so what?

 

[Aur0ra145]

Seriously? Make a custom rifle.

Okay, I'd say base your rifle off of the Remington 700 series of actions. I'd say go with 7mm Remington Magnum for a cartridge, it's got a flat trajectory and it's a very fast round. You can find yourself a nice fluted barrel for not a whole lot, but how heavy a barrel you'll need will depend on the type of shooting you're planning on doing. Also, the length of your barrel will have a lot to do with knock down power at range, the longer the barrel the more 'power' you'll theoretically have at range. http://www.cpcartridge.com/7mmB.htm

Next is the stock, I'd recommend a McMillan stock that supports a free floated barrel, which will help with long range accuracy and holding a zero. http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillan-stocks-tactical-stock-list.php#a5

Stuff like trigger jobs and bipods are something else to consider which will make your rifle a thing a beauty. In my personal experiences you WILL need a custom trigger job for shooting out past 500 yards.

You can DuraCoat the rifle after completion to give it your own look. http://www.lauerweaponry.com/

Finally you'll need to consider optics. I'd recommend a SWFA Super Sniper, I've heard nothing but good things about these scopes and for $300 you can't go wrong. I've talked to lots of guys who use these scopes out the the 1000 yard range and they say it handles those distances wonderfully. But Leupold, Nikon as well as John Unertl all put out quality scopes but they'll cost upwards of a grand. http://swfa-ss.com/

Btw, word of advice, I've never seen a M82 for less then $8,500 and I live in Texas. One more thing, I see that you're pricing out ammunition for these rifles. I realize that a .50 BMG is alot more expensive, but with match grade rounds for even a .308 Winchester will still run you quite a bit of money. Not all ammunition is equal. In regards to weight, grain and consistency with each cartridge.

Personally the furthest I shoot on a regular basis (5 times a year or more) is out to 600 yards. But I have done some work out to the 1000 yard line. I don't know how much shooting experience you have, but you'll need to be pretty damn good to hit consistently out to 800 yards.

why american? try putting a scope in an old and trusty SMLE

I've got a No. 4 Mk. 1 and it shoots a 2 MOA group out at 100 yards, not worth trying to go at range with that much sway in the accuracy.

 

[Gilhelmi]

snip

Why? what purpose would they serve? Are you collecting, or preparing for the zombie apocalypse? You included the cost of ammunition for the .50 Cal, are you planning on using it often? Have you even fired one before? Do you know basic gun safety rules?

Yes,

Spoiler: said it before not zombie but viral

Not a zombie apocalypse, that is just silly. But many of the same principles would apply. Most towns and people have enough supplies for a week without outside help. In the event of a massive plague, say 40% of the US population is killed. That is 40% fewer people to deliver food, 40% fewer police, 60% fewer medical (they were hit harder being first responders), 100% more panic, especially if the plague continues for any length of time. The sick looking, begging, for help and you know if you help them you might get infected. Think about it, an infected person coming towards you and your family, the only way to save yourself and your loved ones might be to shoot. Not a pleasant thought, but when people say 'zombie apocalypse' this is what I think.

I do not know if I could shoot a plague victim, and I pray that I never have to make that choice. I also pray that I am just paranoid and will die of old age with cartons of food and ammo in my basement that went unused.

But on a sunnier side, my 3 emergency plans have between .5% to 5% chance of happening

Cost is making me lean toward the Bravo51. Yes I have shot one before, less kick than expected. and Yes, I grew up with guns, do not point at anything unless you want it destroyed, do not assume it is unloaded, always clean after every use, do not point at anything unless you want it destroyed (said it again most important)). Took several hunter safety courses and the Conceal Carry course (I can legally carry concealed). and I am in the Army, trust me when I say safety is emphasized there.

I also found a safe nice place to shoot 1 mile plus targets.

 

[Wintermoot]

why fo you want a sniper rifle? unless you want to prepare for a zombie apocalypse they are
pretty useless
EDIT: also the chances of a pandemic are very small

 

[Gilhelmi]

Seriously? Make a custom rifle.

Okay, I'd say base your rifle off of the Remington 700 series of actions. I'd say go with 7mm Remington Magnum for a cartridge, it's got a flat trajectory and it's a very fast round. You can find yourself a nice fluted barrel for not a whole lot, but how heavy a barrel you'll need will depend on the type of shooting you're planning on doing. Also, the length of your barrel will have a lot to do with knock down power at range, the longer the barrel the more 'power' you'll theoretically have at range. http://www.cpcartridge.com/7mmB.htm

Next is the stock, I'd recommend a McMillan stock that supports a free floated barrel, which will help with long range accuracy and holding a zero. http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillan-stocks-tactical-stock-list.php#a5

Stuff like trigger jobs and bipods are something else to consider which will make your rifle a thing a beauty. In my personal experiences you WILL need a custom trigger job for shooting out past 500 yards.

You can DuraCoat the rifle after completion to give it your own look. http://www.lauerweaponry.com/

Finally you'll need to consider optics. I'd recommend a SWFA Super Sniper, I've heard nothing but good things about these scopes and for $300 you can't go wrong. I've talked to lots of guys who use these scopes out the the 1000 yard range and they say it handles those distances wonderfully. But Leupold, Nikon as well as John Unertl all put out quality scopes but they'll cost upwards of a grand. http://swfa-ss.com/

Btw, word of advice, I've never seen a M82 for less then $8,500 and I live in Texas. One more thing, I see that you're pricing out ammunition for these rifles. I realize that a .50 BMG is alot more expensive, but with match grade rounds for even a .308 Winchester will still run you quite a bit of money. Not all ammunition is equal. In regards to weight, grain and consistency with each cartridge.

Personally the furthest I shoot on a regular basis (5 times a year or more) is out to 600 yards. But I have done some work out to the 1000 yard line. I don't know how much shooting experience you have, but you'll need to be pretty damn good to hit consistently out to 800 yards.

Thank you for the information I will be looking up these sites. And your right about the ammo, I was looking at the cheap stuff (did not realize it until another said $7.50 per round). If I am going to seriously shoot I will probably load my own ammo.

 

[The3rdEye]

I am planning for that, only I call it "emergency plan 1: Viral outbreak"
"emergency plan 2: World War -enemy invasion"
"emergency plan 3: US government goes crazy" (least likely, only if they completely ignore the constitution)

Couple kinks there (and I don't know why I'm bothering but I'm bored):
1) You need to sleep some time
2) If anyone else knows about you owning some kind of "maximum deterrent" they're going to be quite happy to kill you for it since they value their life more than yours
3) If there were some kind of armed insurrection, and you fired on them, they could just as easily mortar your ass, not to mention possessing overwhelming odds
4) In any of the scenarios you better have a huge stockpile of ammo and access to proper gunsmithing equipment for repairs. Considering what you've said so far money is obviously an issue, so there goes your stockpile. And since you quoted "Animals can't smell you if you're shooting from half a mile away", you don't have the competence to stand downwind or operate the necessary machinery so there goes your maintenance.

Double Edit:And what's with people automatically assuming you're going to be a mass murderer if you buy a high-powered rifle? That's like saying if you pay for porn you're going to be a rapist. No basis whatsoever on fact.

Using your logic, snuff films = rapist would make more sense as opposed to regular porn, in which case yeah, I'd entertain thoughts that I was speaking to a rapist. There are grand differences between being sexually aroused by pictures of the naked human body and seeing that same body killed with the same reaction, just as there are grand differences between owning/knowing how to fire a rifle and seeking out the rifle that can do an insane amount of damage to any target of reason.

 

[blankedboy]

http://www.snipercentral.com/pm_sm.htm

This one.

Out.

http://www.steyrscout.org/general.htm
That's my contribution, I don't know much about snipers.

 

[Gilhelmi]

snip

Ya, 50 cal. is a "possible" war crime on human targets. Also, I no shoot people (if I can avoid it).

Well then "WHAT ARE YOU GONNA USE A SNIPER FOR!?"

Taking out vehicles and recreational practice. But at this point quiet a few people have told me how much the 50 cal round costs, and I am going for the Bravo51.

 

[Ironman126]

I don't feel that anyone who seriously uses the term 'sniper rifle' when mentioning buying guns should be allowed to buy guns.


Take your CoD, your Bad Company, and stick with the games. They're a helluva lot safer for you.

I'm glad SOMEONE gets this.

And for the record, firearms are not toys. I don't fucking care how old you are. This isn't an FPS. You can't stand behind a rock and wait for your limbs to grow back or tape a health kit to your leg. Buy an air-soft gun. They are much safer.

It's people like you that scare the fuck out of people like me. This is coming for someone who owns a Model 99 Savage .308, by the way.

 

[superbatranger]

I really don't see any good reason to own something like a sniper rifle. But, if you must, go for the Bravo.

 

[Custard_Angel]

Why would you ever need a sniper rifle?

I sense a public tragedy coming on...

 

[Luftwaffles]

Id say the Bravo. Get the expensive option when you are comfortable with more expensive stuff. Good luck with it.

 

[jdun]

I'd say anything but the .50 cal.

Seriously, that's a little...overpowered, not to mention expensive. Also, if you hunt, the Barret is a lot heavier, therefor harder to carry and run around with.

you don't hunt with a .50 cal
first off its not legal in most states to hunt with any rifle bigger than .30'06, i know in Massachusetts its not legal to hunt with a rifle bigger than a .22 so to do any real hunting you need to use a 20 or 12 gauge and as we all know slugs arn't exactly accurate.

Massachusetts is fucking stupid. .22 are too small to hunt big games. In fact pro hunt states ban them because it is inhuman (for big games).

Lots of people hunt with .50 caliber it called black powder rifle.

 

[jdun]

I don't feel that anyone who seriously uses the term 'sniper rifle' when mentioning buying guns should be allowed to buy guns.


Take your CoD, your Bad Company, and stick with the games. They're a helluva lot safer for you.

I'm glad SOMEONE gets this.

And for the record, firearms are not toys. I don't fucking care how old you are. This isn't an FPS. You can't stand behind a rock and wait for your limbs to grow back or tape a health kit to your leg. Buy an air-soft gun. They are much safer.

It's people like you that scare the fuck out of people like me. This is coming for someone who owns a Model 99 Savage .308, by the way.

The vast majority of kids are stupid. Most of their firearms knowledge comes video games and TV/movie shows. None of it depict real knowledge of firearm uses.

Kids, if you really is interested in shooting there are a lot of people that is more than willing to help you. Any local gun club will take the time and effort to teach you marksman skills. When I say gun club I do not mean pay range. Gun clubs are clubs and they have private members. Their range isn't open to the public but members will more than happy to teach you how to shoot. Most gun club have kids programs. These programs are free, they lend you firearms, free ammo, free targets, and free lessons.

Most gun clubs will provide free/pay lessons for people that want to learn how to shooting.

It takes hard work to become good at shooting. That means lots of ammo and lots of free time. Here what you do.

Go buy a ruger 10/22, any .22lr rifles, or conversion kit. .22lr ammo is cheap and because of that you get more training out of it. Understand gun safety. Find someone that can teach you or go to an appleseed project in your area for your basic training.
http://appleseedinfo.org/as_schedule2.php

I actually train using .22lr ammo. I have a conversion kit for my AR15 and it save me tons of money.