Adequate rifle for Service Rifle shoots?

shredder

shredder

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Ok, ladies and gents, let me set the background.

I'm looking to get into Service Rifle shooting as a way to a)have some fun, b) get some practice, and c)improve my shooting skills for hunting season.

I'd like to have a non-restricted AR15 style rifle, but since the AR180B is currently discontinued, that option seems to be gone, because I can't afford the huge dollar amounts I see for the Robinson Arms XCR rifles, to say nothing of the Swiss Arms rifles.

Right now, I have 2 rifles (an SKS and an Remington 700 30-06) that could be classed as Service Rifles. Since I'd like to do reasonably well, can I use these rifles and score decently, or am I going to have to bite the bullet and spend the big bucks on an AR-15 variant?

If I have to buy an AR15 variant, would a Norinco CQ 5.56 with a 14.5" barrel be a reasonable choice (given that it sells for under a thousand bucks)? I'm not really a fan of buying used rifles (or pistols for that matter), because I just don't know what I'm getting.

I await your replies.
 
there are tons of used AR-180s one a week on EE almost. i got the last new one here from TSE and love it.....not as accurate as a "real" ar but im 17 and cant own a real one lol. they avg 1100=1300 used on EE
 
THAT was YOU, YOU ROTTEN SOMONABEETCH!!!!!!!:mad:

I wanted that last one, but couldn't afford it until payday, and you got it before I did!! ARRRRRGGHHHHH!! I HATE YOU!!!!! :D hahahahahahahahahahaha


Just messin with ya.

How do you like that rifle?
 
lol ya i asked mommy for permission and cashed my tax returns :p LOVE IT!!! but a bushnell t-dot on it and shot about a 1/3" group at 25 yards with some cheap American eagle......hater the iron sight though. lol taking it out to the woods and seeing the looks on peoples faces and all my buddies hate me now :p. btw when it showed up everyone but my mom new what it was she though it was another milsurp not my first forray into black rifles :D
 
Why would you want a non-restricted? Get the AR, the 180 platform is too limited. I tried a 180 when I started shooting SR again. Lasted me half of one season before I sold it and got an AR.

SKS is only good, at best, to about 300 yards. You need something that works out to about 5 or 600.

Can't speak about the M4 Norinco stuff for quality, reliability, or accuracy, so I won't comment.
 
I shoot my M1 grand at SR shoots and it works well and gets a lot of notice at the range. They go for 500- 700 depending on what you are looking for. I just had to make some 5 rd clips to stay in the shot numbers with all of the other semis.
 
A Norinco CQ 5.56 would be a great rifle to start shooting service rifle with. You won't regret getting an AR-15 platform. Take a look at any of the service rifle events. There's a reason >90% of the guys are shooting AR15s. However, if you have to go non-restricted and < $1000, I think you're stuck with the M14.

Just remember ammo costs. 5.56x45 is about $0.50 a cartridge these days and 7.62x51 is about $1.00 a cartridge. You'll quickly spend the difference in pricey ammo shooting that M14 over an AR.
 
For SR I use my CZ-858. It's not going to win any awards, especially not with the irons, but with it you really know that any improvements in score were all you getting better.

Were I you, I'd go out a few times with that SKS and learn game before I dropped big money on a new rifle for it. You might even find you like the extra challenge.
 
cancer said:
I would disagree. He's not looking for knock-down power :) He just needs something to make precise holes in paper. Barrel length would be less a factor than bullet weight.
Click to expand...
That's Interesting.
So you're saying that much of a velocity drop should be able to be compensated by bullet weight choice to get a decent group?
(I learn something new every day about long distance rifle)
 
I think it is all relative, and depends on how you want to compete. If you are comparing your scores against other competitors, then you will likely eventually gravitate toward the AR platform. If you want to shoot competition for personal gratification, practice for hunting season, etc. there is nothing stopping you from starting out with something basic and cheap. You can be "competitive" with a number of rifles with basic ball ammo. Depending on the ranges you shoot at locally, a scope may not give significant advantage.

Whatever you end up with to start, I'd recommend keeping track of your scores for every match, and watch how you progress.
 
The entry fee is buying either a 7.62 M14 or a 5.56 whatever and getting it match ready. Staying for the double feature is the cost of the ammo added to the cost of the rifle. At some point the 5.56 will be cheaper to shoot. It is also much less effort to shoot. Over a long season of matches, I'd think an AR of some variety would be the ticket.

If the original poster doesn't want to deal with ATTs and approved ranges, he won't go wrong with an M14 and some sort of brass catcher.
 
Freedom Ventures said:
That's Interesting.
So you're saying that much of a velocity drop should be able to be compensated by bullet weight choice to get a decent group?
(I learn something new every day about long distance rifle)
Click to expand...

As the velocity drops off at longer ranges, you'll want to ensure you have enough MV so that it doesn't de-stabalize before coming through the screen.
With a lower overall MV in a shorter barrel, some of the better choices are shorter, lighter bullets.
A lighter rifle has advantages in stabalizing the rifle in positional shooting.
 
Freedom Ventures said:
That's Interesting.
So you're saying that much of a velocity drop should be able to be compensated by bullet weight choice to get a decent group?
(I learn something new every day about long distance rifle)
Click to expand...
There's a great deal to consider in precission shooting (not that I would call service rifle precission shooting, it's only 500m max typically). Bullet weight isn't the be all and end all though. You wanna start splitting hairs, ask what twist rate he should have in his rookie rifle? :D
 
I use a M305 (Sheila) for the SR matches. That her there....

HPIM3876.jpg


I just love here.....:D

Yep! ammo is costing more and more these days, must learn to reload.....;)
 
Buy the Norinco to get started.Then later you can put another barrel on it when your shooting improves enough to see the difference a 16-20inch barrel will make.Believe me that will most likely take a while...so you'll have a bit of time to save up. ;)
 
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