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Here's what I'm looking for: I'd like a bolt action rifle in .30 caliber that can reach out reliably and repeatably to ranges of 800 yards. The stock must be as impervious as reasonably possible to weather, temperature, humidity, etc.

The cartridge should be able to reliably put down a 250 pound animal.

I'd like this weapon to come in under 9 pounds if possible, without scope or mounts for same.

I'll admit that the only Ruger products I own are a couple of 10-22 rifles. But I do consider that product to be an absolute essential before one purchases almost any other firearm.

Which of your line would you recommend and in what caliber?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Well, the only real question here would be whether to get a 30.06 or a .300 Win Mag. A 30.06 will shoot 800 yards but what do you have when you get there? A .308 will shoot almost as well as a 30.06, but I wouldn't rely on it on longer ranges. Under 500 yards you can't really tell much difference. If you really NEED 800 yards then the bigger the better. I wouldn't limit myself to a .30 cal. Look at the .338 win mag. A synthetic stock takes care of the weather and the weight is whatever it is with a scope and rings. Even 5 rounds of ammo in the magazine may weigh a half pound or so in larger calibers. When you get to these upper calibers, a little weight is welcome. The weight is whatever the weight is unless you get into exotic metals and stocks. Also you may look at a 28 inch bbl instead of a 24 inch for the longer shots. Costs you in the weight dept.

A 30.06 will take a 250 lb deer at 800 yards if you can hit it. A miss is as good as bringing a knife to a gunfight. The bigger calibers will generally shoot about as flat when you get the right bullet coefficient and it will hold a little more knock down down range.

If you are determined about the 800 yard shots and keeping it to .30 cal, then go with a .300 Win Mag with synthetic stock and spend the remainder of your money for a scope. Another option would be to get closer before making the shot. I sight in @ 200 yards and go from there. At 800 yards I would have to get out my book and write the different bullet drops for different ranges for my loads. You may have to allow 2-3 feet for 800 yards, I don't know I don't have my book in front of me. In .30 cal, generally the 165grn BT has the best bullet coefficient. If you use a 150 grn thinking it will go farther with less drop, then you end up with less horse power at the end. If you shoot 180 grn BT, it has more knock down at the end but drops more. The beauty of .30 cal is there are dozens of choices over other calibers. The 7 mag would be another cheap alternative.

Rugers are all about the same price until you get to the longer throw magnum calibers. They may add a few bucks for the .338 and bigger. Browning makes fine stuff but I don't see how you could stay in the $1000 range even if you bought used. The new Savages may get the job done if you get the right trigger. SAKO and Weatherby will definatly be over budget with a scope. Then there is always Remington./sarc. I have to mark it sarcasm because some here are wound up so tight they can't see any humor in anything.

Just as an aside, I really think you should re evaluate your perceived need for an 800 yard shot. Even hunting Colorado at altitude above a valley I probably wouldn't shoot more than 600 yards. Just seeing it doesn't mean you can hit it. Frankly, I probably wouldn't take it unless I had artillery like a .338 or bigger. The reason I bought a 30.06 is it will take any game animal in North America if you can hit it. Have you ever made an 800 yard shot? Trained snipers with spotters have difficulty with 1000 yards. I'm not talking about shooting his leg off or hitting him in the butt, but a real kill shot in the heart/lung area. Shooting a 4x8 sheet of plywood at 800 yards would tell the story about what you are asking yourself to do. If you could hold a pattern as small as a pie plate, you might be able to hit the kill zone at 800 yards. I've been shooting all my life and have a 600 yard shot to brag about, but not much else. I've even made a 300 yard shot with open sights with my M1A and was proud of that. An 800 yard shot is a whole nuther kettle of fish. Even with rests and a bullet drop sheet, it's tough. If you have a box of bullets and a half day to dial it in, you can get pretty good at shooting long shots, but most of us have to bring certain ammo and a rifle sighted in at 200-300 yds and guess at the longer ones. If you got dialed in at 800 yards, great, but what to do at 100yds? The military uses stuff like a .416 and a .50 cal bolt action and it's still tough. If you are ex military with training, that's great, but for most Joe six packs, that's pretty big thinking. I would get a .30.06 and make shorter shots. Cheap gun, cheaper ammo, and more meat in the freezer. Some of the ammo for these other calibers cost above $40 a box. I'm just wondering how firm the 800 yard figure is in your thinking. Otherwise it's a simple thing.