6mm opinions etc

[marlin1895gs]

hey guys, im gettin a lil more serious into some long range shooting, and i'm hopin to put together a varmint/range gun, i think 6br is the answer, but i'd be willing to start with a .243 and work up from there, i don't want to cheap out on optics, so i've been considering a nightforce, 12-42 benchrest model,
what are the differences between the benchrest series and the nxs series? i don't plan on banging it around by any means... and do you think i would appreciate the big power scope? i figure the scope is something u can't modify bit by bit.. so u may as well spend the extra $ and get what you want to end up with..

i just need to figure out what is the best starting platform, a rem. 700vls or a savage, or who knows what - or if you guys know of a good 'bang for your buck' custom from anywhere? is there any place a guy can buy used, competition guns, with maybe wore out barrels, or banged up a bit? im not so much on a budget either, especially if i could work in a trade for a couple of my other rifles, i just don't want to regret buyin something that im not happy with.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Starter rifle: Savage HB 12FV in 223 or 243. The 223 will last alot longer and be easier and cheaper to shoot. Will be bounced around in the wind more then the 243. If shooting mostly at 500yds and in, the 223 with 75gr Amax is a great starter rig. You can go to whatever you want after you have the basics covered.

The 6BR is a superb cartridge but will require a full up build. No big deal but if you don't like it, a big waste of money.

For optics, the Bushnell 4200 6x24, 8x32 will give you lots of useable optics. I compete with the Bushnell 4200 6x24 w/mil dots. The new nikon monarchs are also superb scopes. All provide fantastic optics and mechanicals for 1/3 the price of the NF. Again, if you don't like this, you will loose your shirt on the NF. You will not see any benefit at the beginning and using mag over 32
X becomes problematic until you get experienced.

On a typical mirage day, much over 24X is not good for most novices.

The best way to learn is to shoot. Figure on spending 40cents to $1 per shot and that is if you reload. Expect to shoot several thousand rds per season to learn. Big reason why I recommend the 223. You can afford to shoot it and the rifle will last over 4000rds - the 243 will likely burn out inside 1500rds. The 6Br will last around 2500rds depending on how hot you load.

Expect to pay $600 for a quality pipe installed. Gets expensive if you need to swap barrels twice a year.

Many shooters are shooting 22LR at 50 to 100yds to practise wind doping for their bigger centerfires. You can learn ALOT from doing this.

Jerry

PS for an economical build up, follow the link in my signature.

 

[peterdobson]

Rem 700, as there are more accessories + 1 and 2-stage triggers. 6mmBR; more accurate, treat to shoot, top components.

Regards,

Peter

 

[Obtunded]

Any gun with a 308 bolt face can be converted to 6BR or its many wildcats, 6mm 0r 6.5X47Lapua, 243 etc. Maybe start with factory rig/cartridge and them look at customizing after a bit. Any Remington or Savage platform would be a good option.

On the subject of scopes, like I was saying to a friend yesterday, nobody EVER regretted buying the best possible scope they could afford. As far as magnification, variable power is nice bcause you can use as much or as little as you need. Jerry is right in that mirage can make using a high X scope VERY difficult; buy one with enough latitude to dial back... I think it is fair to say that with a few exceptions, everybody in precision shooting eventually buys top end optics... why not start there?

 

[CyaN1de]

hey guys, im gettin a lil more serious into some long range shooting, and i'm hopin to put together a varmint/range gun, i think 6br is the answer, but i'd be willing to start with a .243 and work up from there, i don't want to cheap out on optics, so i've been considering a nightforce, 12-42 benchrest model,
what are the differences between the benchrest series and the nxs series? i don't plan on banging it around by any means... and do you think i would appreciate the big power scope? i figure the scope is something u can't modify bit by bit.. so u may as well spend the extra $ and get what you want to end up with..

Mysticplayer has some great advice, get a cheap to shoot .223 and get some trigger time first.(I am still a newb myself but once I tried a top notch 6BR I was hooked). Savage has some very accurate and competetive off the shelf rifles. My .223 LRPV shoots 1/2-1/4MOA (I don't...but it can) DO NOT get behind one (6BR) until you are 100% ready.....I got a chance to shoot Tom Fripps "Lazer" one evening. 6 shots - 6 X's and I would not call myself a shooter, more of a trigger puller than anything right now, that pretty much did it for me. Now I have to learn how to read conditions properly, thats where the .223 comes in as the learning curve is a lot steeper with the lighter .224 bullets with lower BC's than with the heavier .243 bullets with the higher BC's.

As for the difference between the NXS and the BR NF scopes are the following

BR - 1/8MOA adjustment ..... NXS 1/4MOA Adjustment
BR - Front Focus ..... NXS - Side Focus
BR - Covered Target Turrets .... NXS - Tactical Style Turrets
BR - $1550ish .... NXS - $2100ish

I have bolded what I think are the important factors. Front Focus over Side Focus Sipmly because you have alot more precise control over parralax with having a larger cylinder to adjust. If NF had a large wheel attachment for their side focus then I would have called the Side Focus as the advantage, but who wants a huge wheel hanging off the side of their scope?

My $0.02 anyway

Richard

 

[marlin1895gs]

thanks for all the words guys, im leaning towards a 700 vls in .243 right now, my buddy reloads for me right now, and im hopin to get into it before the end of the month, im not to worried on costs, just don't want to end up tired with what i've got every month and needing to upgrade. i've been down that route with #### in the past, get something you'll be happy with from the start. plus i have had a .223 before, but it was in an ar, not a bolt, and a guy tends to rather send more down range uncalculated then is good for himself, and i wouldn't mind using this rifle for deer this year maybe also. with a vls or similar, i think i would start with opening up the foreend and threadin a new barrel on 'er and have it re bedded before spring, i wish i could do some of that myself, but i realy don't have a clue what a good bedding job consists of, or am i realy getting ahead of myself?