Looking to build!

I am in the market to build a long range rifle. I will be shooting between 800 and 1000 yards and maybe more. I am looking for suggestions as to a caliber and a make and model of a good starter. I do not have a lot of experience in this field. I have mostly dealt with brush guns and rimfire. Should I be looking to build or should I buy one built? I would rather build it so I know what I have. My budget for the gun and components minus the scope is $2500. I will be hunting moose, elk, mule deer, and white tail with this gun. Please help.

PM MSTrophyHunter. I would also recommend he build it for you.

jbpmidas wrote:PM MSTrophyHunter. I would also recommend he build it for you.

This 100 times over.

+1 for Mstrophyhunter at Dixie Precision Rifles
Check out their page 1000yardhunter.com or dixieprecisionrifles.com
Now if you have an old savage or Remington 700 action/rifle laying around that has not been used for awhile I would start with it.
If its a Remington long action I would get them fellas to build me a 338 Remington ultra mag like the one in my "AT&T with thump" thread. If its a short action I would go with a 7mm wsm. If that works in a short action. I'm not sure.
They can take an old rifle and rebarrel it using an old action or they may have an action you can purchase from them to start the build on.

I would have one built. I shoot a 30-338 lapua. I have had ultra mags...a 338 lapua, etc but the 30-338 lapua has great ballistic performance with 210 and 230 grain bergers. I just came back from a hunt in New Mexico last month. It is hard to find a guide that will let you take game that far but it is possible. PM me your number Ill try to put you in contact with a local long range guru.

Savage chambers some guns in .338 lapua now and would be a good start. Check out you tube and their are some guys on there shooting out to a mile with it. If you want to go cust I would look at Dixie Precision also. I wouldn't overlook the .338 edge either if you go custom, dies and brass are cheaper and it's a little faster than the Lapua. Here is a link for the savage http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3013621&#Post3013621

Thanks for all the input. After much consideration, I took the advice of a buddy who is a marine. I know a great deal about computers and he did not. He came to me and asked me what he should buy. I asked him what he wanted to do with it and he said he was unsure. I told him not to go out and spend a great deal until he figured out what he wanted out of a computer. He recanted this tale to me and said since this would be my first ranged rifle that I would be better starting with something of good quality chambered in a common caliber. He recommended the .308 or the .30-06 as the ammo would be less expensive. He also said that the Remington 700 was a good start as I could build it into something else later on if I so chose to. Prior to this I had been a shotgun and brush gun man. The longest range gun I owned, other than a .22 WSM, was a Marlin chambered in .35 Remington. I bought a Remington 700 VPS and mounted a Nikon scope on it. I have been out shooting and I love the gun. With his assistance, I got it sighted in at 300 yards and have put 30 rounds through it. I absolutely love it. Again, thank you all.