Been lurking in this forum, reading up on LR stuff when work is slow and thought I would throw out a recommendation request for all the experts in here to skool this noob.

Let me throw out some thoughts, ideas and parameters for you to chomp on.

I recently got into competition shooting (3 Gun) as I was tired of just poking holes in paper and I’m enjoying it. My wife likes to shoot to but 3 Gun really isn’t her thing. She might get into Tac-Rifle but she would really like a nice long range/precision rifle. Likewise, as a novice prepper, I thinking having something that can reach out and touch someone would be good to have in the stable. You know…for when the zombies come

I’m looking at a 12month research/procurement timeframe. (I researched my AR for about 3 months before plunging and it took about another 5 months to get it done). My wife just finished school so getting our finances to stabilize a tad is a priority first, so I’ve got some time on my side.

I’m a buy once/cry once type of guy.

From what I understand there are a lot of great round choices, I want to stick with a .308 round. From my understanding, 7.62NATO will work with that (maybe not so much vice versa—kinda like .223 and 5.56 but in reverse) and once the zombies are done eating the faces of all the army guys, there will be plenty of ammo around. (I’m kidding about the zombie thing….sorta). Also, from what I understand is that will put me with a short action vs long action. Since my wife is 5’3 and I’m a towering 5’6, I ‘think’ that is good for people of our stature.

This won’t be a bench gun. Shooting prone and moving with it will be on the requirements list so I don’t think an epically long barrel is in order. I am open to suggestions though on what length would be a good fit under these various parameters.

Rolling back to the competition aspect, I think my wife (and maybe myself) would like to show to the matches on occasion but more to hone our own skills and learn than be out there to win. (hence, even though I buy once cry once-I don’t need the most advance rifle on the market)

I would like to have a threaded barrel for a suppressor down the road but that is not on the 12 month timeframe. Would it be simpler to remove that option and just worry about getting it threaded or remove/replaced down the road?

I’m heavily leaning to magazine fed just for the prepper aspect of the purchase. Thoughts?

I really don’t think this will matter but my wife shoots lefty and I’m a normal person.

Obviously looking at Remington and Savage but is there a better way?

Range? I want to be able to hit the moon! Ok, really, I think it depends on my price point (further below), ammo and range time so really, I’m not looking for anything amazing out the door but something inexperienced shooters can grow in to.

I’m getting a bit overwhelmed at all the glass options (and costs; see next line). Good info in this thread: http://www.ar-15.co/threads/88319-Be...dvice-on-glass I’m leaning towards mils vs. moa and FFP other than that, I’m still digging.

Ok, so down to the limfac here—I’m thinking about the $2500 range +/- $500 (smoking crack?). I figure I’ll need a lot of other things other than just a nice gun and scope…like ammo, rangefinders and other necessities that don’t come free.

Any thoughts from the crowd? Feel free to answer one, some or none (I mean all) of the points as you feel. Or tell me what questions I didn’t ask!

Thanks guys....