Help me choose a rifle for ORPS production?

D

diegocn

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My buddy let me shot his vudoo at the ORPS match last weekend and it was tons of run. Now I'm thinking about building a rifle for the production division. Here are a few that I'm considering:

1. Savage MK II F - Because it's what I have right now. However the flimsy synthetic stock leaves a lot to be desired. My main concern is the fore-end flexing when shooting from barricade or prone. Is bedding the stock by filling it with epoxy and aluminum v block kosher under the production rule? Either way it seems like by the time I'm done with it, I might as well spend the money and time to get something better.

What I liked about the MKII is that it feeds very well. Feeding issue must have caused me at least 5 targets at the match last weekend.

2. Ruger Precision Rimfire - I believe this is the only rifle that has a adjustable stock and good fore-end in production division? I also have a lot of 10/22 mags. However I don't know how reliable it runs (i.e. no mis-feed, no shaving the bullet like on 10/22), and how good the trigger is.

3. CZ 455/457 - For production it'd be limited to the wooden/synthetic stock models though, so same problem with the Savage MK II re. the stock? Given that I can't change barrel / stock in production, that would eliminate a lot of flexibility for the CZ action? Price is also a concern.

4. Tikka T1x - I don't know enough about it but those who have it seems to like it?

Optic will be an Arken 5-25 btw.
 
I too was there last weekend for my first go.

I went all out setting up a Savage B22FV SS I purchased just for ORPS and production class. Had a LOT of fun and the rifle was awesome wouldn’t change a thing.

Your Mark II is likely fine to run I’d guess just get a cheek riser (I bolted an Amazon kadex cheek riser to my B22). I’m sure your mark II would shoot every bit as good as there very similar rifles just different mags mostly.

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The Mark II is a great starting point. I did my first event with one, as did my wife. I ended up going with a CZ Varmint so I can swap parts out easier when/if I decide to jump to open. Very easy to swap barrels on, triggers are available, or just trigger springs. A good selection of chassis/stocks.

Ultimately, ammo choice plays more in to it than rifle selection, especially with a new shooter to this style of match. A top diopter with a stock Savage will beat an average shooter with an $8000 custom build, as long ax the ammo choice is correct and shoots well from the rifle. If you already have the rifle, look at finding the right ammo.
 
If you have a savage now you can shoot that for the year and probably won’t hold you back while you learn the sport. If you really want to buy something a cz pro varmint then synthetic would be my choice for production.
 
If you wanted to you could bolt an Arca rail onto the stock and that would keep the fore end from flexing as well as give you a better mounting system for your bipod.
Amazon is your friend for Arca rails and clamps if you want to keep the costs down. All kinds of Arca camera gear on there.
 
the Winchester Xpert 22lr bolt action is another option if you wanted to reuse your 10/22 magazines. This guy Canadian gun trader has a 4 part video series; unboxing it, mounting an optic (weaver #16 bases), accuracy testing, and a 500 round review/ramble.

But most of the time shooting better starts with you, not the gear.
 
Read the rules on what you can and cannot do to stay in production - shoot the rifle you have. If it feeds and functions, it will not hold you back. SK rifle match shot well in mine. Lapua CenterX when you want best performance.... that assumes you can get a lot to shoot well in your rifle.

Add an ARCA rail

Go have fun.

Jerry

PS - your friends vudoo had feeding issues?
 
Of the rifles you listed the T1X has the smoothest action and magazines.
Not recommended if you see yourself going Open but then again none of the rifles listed are great in Open.
 
I have a Mark 2, it will shoot Center-X out to 300m alright, SK match is OK too... otherwise if I was buying a new rifle it would be a CZ 457 pro varmint and a Venom 5-25 on top.
 
If you 100% plan to stay in production I would buy a CZ457 Pro Varmint (however I suspect you will catch the same bug I got and become fully addicted to the sport and end up in Open class within a year).

If you are just getting into the sport and there is a chance you will end up in Open I’d just use what you have for a bit and then buy an open class setup like a CZ457 MDT XRS combo.

I would avoid buying the Ruger.
Both the CZ and Tikka are a better rifle and there are a lot more aftermarket options for them.
 
If your shooting at the Guelph ORPS, bring your Savage with your scope. I have a loaner CZ 457 Varmint with a Venom you can use to help you decide whether to stick with the Savage or get something else.
 
Are you extra competitive and want to be on top or just out to shoot and have fun
I don't expect to be able to win or even top 10 in either catagory so bought the set-up I felt good with, price wasn't the controlling factor
and then my buddy out shoots me with his bone stock Ruger American which happens to shoot very well compared to other same rifles, luck of the draw
 
Thanks for all the advises. Looks like I'll be sticking to the savage mk2 for a while.

I'm pretty set on staying in production because I don't want to spend thousands in specialized equipment that have no use outside of competition. The goal is to help myself to become a better rifleman capable of shooting in different positions, and be able to read wind better. As for competitiveness, I think the top production scores typically hovers around high 80% hit rate at match like Guelph, which IMO is very attainable.

Re CZ Pro Varmint, I think that was explicitly excluded from the production list on ORPS rule book?

Why does the Ruger Precision Rimfire seem to not get much love? I've seen this consensus echoed on other forums too, but the rifle's spec looks good on paper. Is it accuracy? Feeding? Expand-ability? Build quality? I really wanted to like the Ruger because it's the only one that comes in a modern chassis like setup that's easy to attach arca/bipod/barricade stop to the front handguard.

One more thing, for Savage Mk2, I need a rail for the optic. Should I go with a 20 moa or 40 moa? Scope is Arken ep5 that has 32 mil elevation adjustment.
 
diegocn said:
Thanks for all the advises. Looks like I'll be sticking to the savage mk2 for a while.

I'm pretty set on staying in production because I don't want to spend thousands in specialized equipment that have no use outside of competition. The goal is to help myself to become a better rifleman capable of shooting in different positions, and be able to read wind better. As for competitiveness, I think the top production scores typically hovers around high 80% hit rate at match like Guelph, which IMO is very attainable.

Re CZ Pro Varmint, I think that was explicitly excluded from the production list on ORPS rule book?

Why does the Ruger Precision Rimfire seem to not get much love? I've seen this consensus echoed on other forums too, but the rifle's spec looks good on paper. Is it accuracy? Feeding? Expand-ability? Build quality? I really wanted to like the Ruger because it's the only one that comes in a modern chassis like setup that's easy to attach arca/bipod/barricade stop to the front handguard.

One more thing, for Savage Mk2, I need a rail for the optic. Should I go with a 20 moa or 40 moa? Scope is Arken ep5 that has 32 mil elevation adjustment.
Click to expand...

If you decide to go into Open, you DO NOT need to spend a lot of money to be competitive. Many shooters have very moderate budgets and do very well.

I have podiumed many times and run very economical gear. It is about understanding where to put the money for the most important affect. And if you are handy and dont mind modifying stuff, then the costs can be very reasonable.

And the ammo choices you make...

Jerry

PS if you stayed with ORPS, your savage with a new stock will do just fine in Open. This was my first CRPS match and I would say the rifle did just fine.... not what I would recommend for a true CRPS (long range PRS) setup but it will absolutely do well inside 200yds. The rifle will not be the limiting factor for some time.

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diegocn said:
Thanks for all the advises. Looks like I'll be sticking to the savage mk2 for a while.

I'm pretty set on staying in production because I don't want to spend thousands in specialized equipment that have no use outside of competition. The goal is to help myself to become a better rifleman capable of shooting in different positions, and be able to read wind better. As for competitiveness, I think the top production scores typically hovers around high 80% hit rate at match like Guelph, which IMO is very attainable.

Re CZ Pro Varmint, I think that was explicitly excluded from the production list on ORPS rule book?

Why does the Ruger Precision Rimfire seem to not get much love? I've seen this consensus echoed on other forums too, but the rifle's spec looks good on paper. Is it accuracy? Feeding? Expand-ability? Build quality? I really wanted to like the Ruger because it's the only one that comes in a modern chassis like setup that's easy to attach arca/bipod/barricade stop to the front handguard.

One more thing, for Savage Mk2, I need a rail for the optic. Should I go with a 20 moa or 40 moa? Scope is Arken ep5 that has 32 mil elevation adjustment.
Click to expand...
example of trajectory, from a 50 yd zero a standard velocity round neeeds about 15-16 mils for the 300 yd target. you loose ~2 mils to get to 50 so your scope should have 14? up from center, so could be done with 0 rail and a bit of hold over
but the 20 moa rail gives about 5 mils more for good measure
 
I went out and tested the savage today with all different ammo I have on hand. It's doing surprisingly well with CCI SV, subsonic, and blazer. I got a few nice 0.75 inch 5 shots groups at 50 yard and a couple of 1.5 inch groups at 100, all with a cheap Burris 2-7 scope attached to it.

Once I got home I ordered a 30 moa mdt rail for the rifle to allow mounting nicer optics.

Also how would one mount a arca rail to the fore-end of the stock? The bottom of the stock is at an angle to the barrel, would that matter?

Jerry@Mystic - yes the vudoo jams, half of it is I had the mag pushing against barricade, the other half of the jam is a mystery to me. Also how did you attach that big bolt handle to the mk2?

Tinybear - How does the B22 action mate to the stock? Is it more traditional recoil lug style or something funny like the mk2?
 
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ThatTron said:
CZ Pro Varmint is on the production list. Only the MTR, MDT, Precision Trainer and LRP are excluded.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wXpbee4bmpBBBwmdLN7dTxB-pgekFNw6/view

I've never owned the RPR, but I've talked to some people who have and they say the stock is very cheap and flimsy.
It's a much better investment to get a good CZ or Tikka.

If you need a rail get 40 moa so you can use more of your elevation.
Click to expand...

What’s weird is I have looked at that list 20 times and thought all along that the 457 regular Varmint and PV were excluded, but you are absolutely correct they arnt listed. I would think that either would be a good production rifle with the PV being preferred due to the flatter base on the forend stock. Rifle is $699 usd msrp. I like it on paper.
 
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