Critique my plan for building a precision rifle

Morning Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. I am getting some really good information out of this and it is definitely helping me properly prioritize my build. I just checked out the savage 12 series and they are a great looking gun but if I want get started shooting this year they are out of my price range. My hope is that I can get some good shooting in with an economical rig that can be built up to something decent as funds are available. Barrel, stock and trigger, from what I have been reading, seem to be things that generally get upgraded in the life of a precision rifle anyways so my hope is that as long as the action is sound, the accuracy will improve as I go. In my head the cost breakdown will be something along these lines:
Stevens 200 - $375
Base and Rings - $100 (most of that to a solid base, cheap rings to fit a disposable scope)
Scope - $150 (Something cheap to get shooting, will be my first upgrade in 2012)

I am hoping that the above package will get me around under 2moa for around the cost of just the high quality . Hopefully around Christmas time I will be able to get a basic reloading set and start learning that side of shooting. Hopefully in early 2012 I will be able to put together around $1000 for a solid scope and start shooting 1moa or less. Next up would be a more appropriate trigger $150ish, and then either a barrel $500ish (plus head space gauges) or a stock $200ish depending on which is most needed.

After typing all of that out I can see that it does seem kind of silly to not spend the extra $350 to buy the higher quality gun up front but at the same time that extra $350 sinks my ability to shoot this year.

Thanks,
Dave
 
In the end, actually shooting is the only thing thats going to matter.

ever think of just going with a .22? the savage 93fv is a .22 magnum and it is extremely accurate. can shoot 100m no problem. ammo is more expensive than .22lr but still cheep at $15 for 50.

your range is limited but you can still shoot things at 300 or more.

the cheaper ammo might give you more trigger time to set your self up for advantage when you get that bigger long range rig.
 
P&D lists a 12FV for $690, compare the features of that rifle with what you're planning. I have one in .223, it is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned (It's the one in my avatar) new it cost me $499 5 years ago and if I wanted to sell it today, I'd get all my money back. To convert your Stevens to a gun that shoots as well will costalotta.
 
if i were you, i'd just stay out of precision/ long range shooting until i could at least afford an sps, decent optics and reloading gear. It's not for everyone, because It's f ing expensive, especially when You're young and susceptible to lifes priorities. i spend about 3grand a year on reloading. get a book on shooting and a decent 22, shoot the #### out of it at 50 yds and in two years you will embarrass most of us just with your skills.
 
As long as your shooting it doesn't matter what gun/scope combo you are using, I just shot at a precision rifle comp/ practice with my Stevens 200 sitting in a b&c stock with a stoc bbl in 243 , topped with a 4200 bushnell scope I got on the ee , in total I have aprox 750$ tied up in the rig, it was a blast and the guys I shot with were alot of help,
Good luck and shoot what you can its all fun
 
masonicshooter said:
if i were you, i'd just stay out of precision/ long range shooting until i could at least afford an sps, decent optics and reloading gear. It's not for everyone, because It's f ing expensive, especially when You're young and susceptible to lifes priorities. i spend about 3grand a year on reloading. get a book on shooting and a decent 22, shoot the s**t out of it at 50 yds and in two years you will embarrass most of us just with your skills.
Click to expand...

paralysis by analysis - that's what they say. and that's what i've been doing since I joined this forum --- just absorbing data.

but this is great advice. reminds me of when i was still riding my 2000 CBR600F4 back in the day and took it to the track for the first time. i was getting my ass handed to me by riders on 400's and 250's even --- where? on the corners of course.

i'll treat this hobby the same.

cheers.
 
savagefan said:
P&D lists a 12FV for $690, compare the features of that rifle with what you're planning. I have one in .223, it is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned (It's the one in my avatar) new it cost me $499 5 years ago and if I wanted to sell it today, I'd get all my money back. To convert your Stevens to a gun that shoots as well will costalotta.
Click to expand...

The 12 FV for $700 plus a set of rings and a decent used scope would likely only run you ~$200-250 more than you were planning and you would be starting out with a much better platform than the stock 200.

For another $100 or so you could get the 12 BVSS (what I shoot) which has a nice laminate stock and stainless barrel.

Reloading gear doesn't cost as much as you may be thinking either....You can get everything you need to get started for less than $200. The Lee Breach Lock Challenger Kit runs about $135, plus a set of dies ~$40, plus a cutter stud ~$5 and your ready to roll. Plus primers/powder/bullets of course, lol...It will pay for itself in a very short time if you go this route and do any amount of shooting. Are there nicer presses out there? sure....Are they necessary to load accurate ammo? Absolutely not.....

However.........If your budget only allows you the Stevens 200, by all means, go for it and start shooting! Jerry sure seems to be able to do well with them!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom