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Long range precision rifle |
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Bolthunter
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/13/2018 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Posted: August/13/2018 at 21:20 |
I am interested in purchasing a long range precision rifle and have researched it quite a bit. I have narrowed the field down to the Ruger, Weatherby and Thompson Center and leaning toward the Ruger. I am not sure I want to go the custom or semi-custom route but have decided to purchase premium optics in the event I do want to upgrade. Any thoughts would be appreciated on both the rifle and optic. Thx in advance.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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To do what, exactly?
The ruger precision rifle is a decent setup. I’ve used the 308 and 6.5creedmore and would recommend either, though the 6.5 is easier to shoot well. I wouldn’t do Weatherby, and don’t know anything about Thompson. What you mean by “precision” comes into play as well. Truth be told, most shooters do just fine with a Remington 700 with a varmint barrel in a caliber they can handle. On optics, it gets far more complicated and we’ll need more details, else it will be generic recommendations that might not do exactly what you want. |
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Bolthunter
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/13/2018 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Truthfully nothing more than shooting targets and having another rifle added to my collection that is different from most I own. It’s funny you ask what I mean by precision rifle. Really nothing more than a rifle with a chassis that is marketed as such. I have pondered the same as I own many traditional bolt action rifles of various calibers capable of less than 1 moa and some much better right out of the box and some after being minimally accurized. Thus, I simply want a rifle in that style. I just find them interesting. I have an addiction to bolt action rifles as well as firearms in general.
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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What’s your budget??
I’ve never owned a custom shop rifle but the most accurate rifle I’ve owned capable of long range (I guess precision) shooting was a Remington Sendero, that was a fine rifle. Edited by mike650 - August/14/2018 at 10:01 |
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Okay, that helps. The RPR is a decent setup and gets you into a chassis gun that shoots well and needs nothing out of the box. As it is a paper puncher, you want flat shooting, easy-to-find ammo, and nothing stupid expensive and unnecessary. To that end, I would get a 6.5CM, ammo is everywhere, options are plentiful, it is a mild shooting caliber, and you probably don't have one already. On optics, it gets a bit tricky. Do you want FFP or SFP, do you want locking turrets, do you want mil or MOA reticle and turrets, do you want light weight, do you want a certain brand? And budget for optic? (That's a big one. Scope recommendations can come in at $600 on the bottom to $4000+ on the top,so be realistic on this, and know you need mounts too.)
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22287 |
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Oh boy. Where to start? I wanted a range queen rifle to shoot some steel and/or bowling pins at my local range out to 600 yards, but I didn't want to break the bank. I ended up with a heavy barreled Savage in a Bell&Carlson stock with a 4.5-14X50 Zeiss Conquest scope. If I used match or hand loaded ammo, and I did my part, I had no trouble hitting what I wanted to. Now I wouldn't call it a precision rifle, because I think of that as a long range precision match rifle used in long range matches. Since the Savage has a blind magazine, I don't think of it as a match rifle, but it is a fun range queen that will explode golf balls at 340yds. If your interested in long range competition (LRC) then I would recommend either the Ruger LRP rifle or the Savage version. As for scopes, your budget will determine what you can get, but I think the scope is as (if not more) important as the rifle, and I would be willing to spend at least as much on the scope as the rifle. I would probably start with the SWFA 5-20x50 Tactical scope, or the Vortex Razor 3-18x50 depending on my budget. If I was wealthy and serious then a custom rifle and alpha glass would be on my shopping list. but I'm not.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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My other recommendation would be a Tikka T3 CTR and swap to a chassis if you want. I got into a Whiskey 3 chassis early on, the damn things are hella expensive now, but they are well built. My favorite long range goof-around gun is a Tikka T3, rebarreled in 243AI and bedded in a Whiskey3 chassis. It is crazy accurate, easy to shoot well, fun as hell, and has been smooth as butter right out of the box. For actions, it don't get better than Tikka, they are butter smooth and much, much stronger than Remington 700 actions. That said, they are all long action, so not super convenient in that way, but if you handload, that ain't a bad thing. For convenience and ease and okay price, Ruger is a good option. If you really want an awesome chassis gun, the price climbs, but there are some really cool options now. And, the obligatory disclosure: I am not a chassis fan. I am old school, M40A1; however, I get that military forces need intermediate range weapons that are more modular and that look more like M4s. The thing about a chassis I don't like is how much they set up like a gas gun. If you want to make your bolt gun feel like an M16A2 service rifle, a chassis will do that. I still like traditional stocks, but it is all personal preference. When it comes to technology, newer is not always better, as my iPhone X continues to reinforce every day.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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Tikka has a chassis gun already built. I would buy that over the Ruger. Tikka CTRs are sweet rifles. Mine will shoot 10 shots 3/4" no problem. |
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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It is about $500 more, or seems, with the prices I have seen. But it does look like a sweet setup.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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My biggest complaint about most chassis guns is you cannot reach the safety when you are in your firing grip because they all have pistol grips. Same thing if you put a pistol grip on a Mossberg shotguns. Just a pet peeve of mine.
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
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Bolthunter
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/13/2018 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Thx for all of the feedback. I too have typically been a traditional stock kind of rifle guy, but for some reason find myself attracted to this set up. I have not been attracted to “black rifles “ either and own only one ar15 that I bought when the ban was lifted long ago for fear of it being reinstated. Other similar rifles such as the Weatherby Vanguard modular chassis, Thompson Center LRR, Seekins (Havak Pro Hunter PH1 and Pro HP1) and Bergara b14 HMP have all been considered despite the last two not being a true chassis rifle. 6.5 Creedmoor can be had in all but have considered the 6.5 PRC and 6.5-300 Wby realizing that both are barrel burners and more expensive. The issue of being a barrel burner is mute to me as historically I have never come close to putting enough rounds through a rifle to do so. In addition, replacing a barrel is cheaper than changing calibers and barrel if you are happy with that caliber (realizing that a caliber and barrel change can be done relatively easy and inexpensively with a Savage and some others). None of these are offered in the 6.5-300 Wby and only the Seekins Pro Hunter is available in the former. I have had a fair amount of experience with 6.5 projectiles n the 260 Remington and 6.5 Remington magnum in a Steyr Forrester and Remington 600 scout. Love 6 mms with a 243 being one of my favorites. 308 and 300 win mag gets consideration also.
As far as optics would like to stay below the 1200 USD mark. All the scopes mentioned I have considered but would like to know if anyone has any experience with Athlon Helos and up, Maven, German Precision Optics and Leupold (VX3i and VX5d). I do not own any FFP scopes so I think would like to me to go that route. I love the turret stop on the Leupold mark 5 scopes but assume that feature of a similar or better format is offered on the others. MOA or Mrad is fine. One last thing. I noticed that SWFA carries the Seekins and wonder if they have any discounts when purchasing a firearm and scope. |
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Bolthunter
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/13/2018 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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I own several customs that were purchased used and have dropped barreled actions into synthetic and wood stocks with pillar and glass bedding of the latter but never ordered a full out custom. Maybe some day if I become excessively wealthy which is unlikely. The most accurate rifle I own is a TC Icon 243 that with hand loads shot essentially a five round one hole group at one hundred yards immediately after the initial sight in. I then shot a doe through both ventricles of the heart @ 200 yds drooping her immediately. This was 12-31-08 and I have never shot it since. I doubt it will repeatedly shoot one hole groups forever but suspect it will remain wickedly active. Nevertheless it along with other accurate bolt actions I own and no inclination o compete in benchrest or precision rifle matches are the reason I have never had a desire to own custom or precision rifle. Now I just want one!
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GiantGreg
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/22/2018 Status: Offline Points: 68 |
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RPR be good. barrel is more medium weight. its a gun designed for PRS matches. Pure range target be Savage 12 6.5cm(red trigger). If I was in the market right now for a scope in that price range I'd probably be looking hard at the Sig Tango4 line.
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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Just a thought..... take one of you existing firearm platforms and put into a MDT chassis...... if one of your many you have would fit the bill? Cheap way to get into a chassis and see if you like it before buying a dedicated gun that comes with one.... those MDTs are an easy resell too.
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9043 |
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Agreed, M700's are just fine. If you can find an older VSS with the aluminum bedded kevlar stock you have a great start. I believe it is a McMillan. Mine is suweeet.
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Doug
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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I think the old VSS were HS stocks, were they not?
If there was one with a McMillan, I missed that. |
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Bolthunter
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/13/2018 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Thx for all of the inp. Now to make a decision.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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M700 is fine if you plan to make it a project.
If you do not want a project, get a Tikka Tac A1 or Bergara B14 BMP. Or, if you would rather stay in a lower price range, Ruger RPR is your best bet. RPR is not the most polished package, but it shoots and looks the part. For the money, it is hard to do better. Stick with 6.5CM, get a good scope and a good mount, and go to the range. Premium optics is a good idea. What price range were you looking at for optics and mount? ILya |
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Bolthunter
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/13/2018 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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I am flexible on the money. Have you shot the Bergara. It is affordable and not so common place as a Ford Fusion even though it is a good car. Also, do you have any experience with Maven or GPO optics. I tend to like prodiout of the mainstream. Thx.
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Bolthunter
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/13/2018 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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I am flexible on the money. Have you shot the Bergara. It is affordable and not so common place as a Ford Fusion even though it is a good car. Also, do you have any experience with Maven or GPO optics. I tend to like products out of the mainstream. Thx.
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