Sub-MOA 300 Winchester Magnum Rifle Research

Considerations

• Lock Time - modern speed lock mechanisms on newer rifles are superior to slow lock times found on older rifles. with good shooter follow though the lock time speed is not as relevant.
• Barrel centering in stock barrel groove
• Shot grouping - MOA is an acronym for Minute of Angle, which is a way to measure accuracy. A minute of angle is 1/60th of a degree; it subtends 1.047" per 100 yards of range.
• Scope Mount Option
• Magazine vs floor plate - There are 3 basic configurations, 1) Fixed Floor Plate, 2) Hinged Floor Plate, 3) Detachable Magazine. Hunting rifles tend to have a hinged floor plate while tactical rifles tend to have detachable magazines. With a fixed floor plate the cartridges can not be dropped from the bottom to quickly unload.
• Tactical vs Hunting

CZ 550 Ultimate Hunting Rifle

The CZ 550 Ultimate Hunting Rifle is sold with a minute of angle accuracy guarantee to 600 yards. The fixed magazine holds 3 rounds. The rifling rate of twist is 1:12 in. The CZ 550 rifle resembles the Mauser 98 rifle series. {Manufacturer Link}

• Fixed floor plate
• Avg price $1700 - $1900

Howa / Legacy Sports 1500

Howa rifles, like modern Browning rifles, are manufactured in Japan. These are considered among the best entry level rifles on the market today. The popular Weatherby Vanguard Sporter rifle is built by Howa. The new Howa rifles feature a 3 position safety design that is considered superior to the Remington 700 model rifles. Hogue stock. Howa Machinery Ltd. of Japan manufacturers them. At Scheels they carry the 1500SMU Pkg for $630 which includes a Nikko Stirling Nighteater scope. 10-4590 1110426N.

Older Howa's were subject to a recall. There was a recall on model 1500, 1550, and 1700LS rifles made between 1970-1993 due to a design defect in the bolt. It had to due with a safety mechanism and Howa will fix this for free.

• Hinged Floor Plate
• 22" Barrel Length
• Avg price $530 - $630

H-S Precision Pro-Series 2000 Take-Down Rifle

This is H-S Precision's own action design, not a Remington or Winchester action. Stainless steel floorplate with detachable magazine Pro-Series 10X match grade stainless steel barrel.

• Avg price $4500

Remington 700 XCR Tactical Long Range

40-X externally adjustable trigger and 416 stainless steel barreled action with Black TriNyte® PVD coating. Barrel features wide tactical-style barrel fluting for rapid cooling. The 300 Win Mag version weights 8½ lbs, 26" barrel, 10:1 twist, and the barrel is free-floating. It is said Remington 700's require some fine tuning at a gunsmith to perform sub-MOA. Drilled and tapped for scope mounts.

The XCR is the best long range shooting option for a factory Remington in 300 Win Mag as the Model 700 Target Tactical is only available in 308 Win. It would require a custom job to combine the Target Tactical configuration with a barrel and parts for 300 win mag.

This is not the shorter barrel version called the XCR II.

There are many gunsmiths who build precision long-range rifles. The vast majority of these are based on the Remington 700 action, with real performance improvements done to them, and some frills.

• Hinged floor plate
• 26" Barrel Length
• Avg price $1100

SAKO TRG-42 (Beretta)

Sako is now part of the Beretta Holding Group.

Described as a long-range precision tool for special forces or competition. Fully adjustable aluminum reinforced composite stock. Detachable staggered 2-row magazine.

$3000

Tikka T3 TAC

The TAC is the tactical version, and its a tossup between it and the T3 Sporter. The Sporter has more of a bench rest shooting configuration, while the tactical is also well suited for competition. These have a 2 piece bolt and a plastic trigger guard. Detachable straight-feeding single column magazine. Tikka is considered Sako's cheaper line of rifles. Tikka was a Finnish company and is now part of the Beretta family. All T3 rifles come from the factory with a 1 MOA guarantee.

A 20" and 24" barrel is available on the T3 tactical. The T3 Tactical has a fully adjustable stock including an adjustable cheek-piece.

• detachable magazine
• Thorough review from Sniper Central
• Avg price $1455 - $1525

Weatherby Mark V TRR Custom Magnum

All Mark V's are guaranteed to shoot a 1 1/2" OR BETTER 3-shot group at 100 yards.

$2500

Weatherby Vanguard SUB-MOA

The manufacturer claims they GUARANTEED ACCURACY with .99" or less group at 100 yds in writing. 24" barreled action pillar bedded to a Monte Carlo, injection-molded composite PG stock. Fully adjustable trigger lets you achieve the most accuracy potent. The Sub MOA are hand picked where Weatherby selects a rifle whose test target measures .75 MOA or less. The barreled action is pillar-bedded in a strong, rigid Fiberguard stock (made of Aramid, fiberglass and unidirectional graphite according to the catalogue). The muzzle gets a carefully finished radius crown. The magazine floorplate is hinged, and the release is in the front of the trigger guard.

This model is not based on the well known Mark V action. There is a Vanguard Deluxe model available.

7.75 lbs. 3 + 1 capacity. 1:10 twist. LOP = 13.5". L = 44.5". Win. Mag

• Hinged Floor Plate (3+1 cap)
• Avg price $700 - $800