I agree with go smaller and cheaper first, develope your shooting skills, wind reading skills etc first and before going large shoulder pounding flinch causing expensive rounds , part of that is practice, practice, practice. if you plan to reload ammo, highly suggested, you want a round that is ez to shoot, low recoil, highly available brass, proven accurate and efficient. expect to shoot 1000's of rds to become very good with the rifle, cartridge, and your skills.
I've found even the 243 winchester is a vary viable and affordable long range option, lots of good 6mm projectiles, plenty of good cheap or expensive brass, and capable of reaching out to 1400 yards before transonic/subsonic. the 260 winchester would be similar . other options but alittle more expensive brass wise and not as much cheap ots ammo is 6 creed, 6.5 creed, 6x47 lapua, 6.5x47 lapua , 6mm remington, 6 or 6.5x284
dont expect long barrel life from any long range cartridge pushing over 3100 fps. but compared to other cost in the long range game 350$ barrels are not a large expense, there a consumable just as the bullets and powder are. just my 2 pennies worth.
by the way I shoot 6mm slr, a improved 243 long range wildcat. slr stands for super long range. its made by die forming, not fireforming like ackley improved or other similar wildcats. it just uses standard winchester or remington 243 brass. run it thru sizing die, ready to shoot.
why limit yourself to a off the self gun, ? for about the same money building from either a remmy 700 action or a savage10/110 action you can build a better/ more accurate and consistent gun for similar money. find a used savage at a pawn shop, get a good laminated stock like boyds, bobby hart, a quality prefit barrel, true the action, trigger job if needed, bed it, scope it , shot lights out on the cheap. or remmy 700, extra cost because requires a smith to rebarrel, but after market options are endless for it.
