First rifle for precision marksmanship
- Thread starter Gnomon
- Start date
juanvaldez
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sudbury, Ontario
yes gunsmith...sorry savage uses nut headspace so anyone can rebbl with out too much trouble at home
- Location
- Sudbury, On
Well, firstly, you need to set a budget. Are you looking to get into F-Class shooting, which can run thousands upon thousands? Or are you satisfied with a "tacticool" setup, like my Savage 10FLCP-K with decent optics (I personally use an EGW base with Burris Zee rings, and a 2.5-16x42mm Bushnell 6500 Elite)? It's practically useless for anything past 600 yards, but I can't hold a rifle steady for ranges beyond that distance if my life depended on it.
Secondly, you need to decide your caliber. .223 and .308 are "old reliables", and reloading components, as well as match ammo, abound. However, you'll get better performance with other calibers beyond certain ranges, such as the 6.5x55mm. As you can guess, loading for this cartridge is practically a necessity, adding another layer of compexity.
Third, you need to decide how much custom work you'd like to put into your rifle yourself, and then how much a gunsmith should take over. This is purely a personal opinion, on a money versus time perspective, and you have to decide this accordingly. I know my Savage is infinitely more accurate than I could ever be, hence why I'm holding off on any "custom" modifications.
Secondly, you need to decide your caliber. .223 and .308 are "old reliables", and reloading components, as well as match ammo, abound. However, you'll get better performance with other calibers beyond certain ranges, such as the 6.5x55mm. As you can guess, loading for this cartridge is practically a necessity, adding another layer of compexity.
Third, you need to decide how much custom work you'd like to put into your rifle yourself, and then how much a gunsmith should take over. This is purely a personal opinion, on a money versus time perspective, and you have to decide this accordingly. I know my Savage is infinitely more accurate than I could ever be, hence why I'm holding off on any "custom" modifications.
- Location
- Virden, MB
Savage is a great start. You can get a rifle out of the box that will preform very well and you can learn all the tricks of the hobby. If you want to upgrade it such as barrel, trigger, stock it all can be done easily down the road. I would recommend whatever Savage you decide on make sure you get one with a stock you like. It is much cheaper to buy one factory with a good stock than to do it down the road. For example it you like the McMillian A% (awesome stock) you can get a Savage 10fp in a McMillian for under $1500 (on the EE I have seen them go for $1200). Whereas the stock alone will be $800 or more if you buy it separately. Everything else i would say upgrade as you go.
Sharpshootersupply is a great place to get upgrades. Mysticplayer is a board member and reseller who also does a lot with custom Savage stuff.
Sharpshootersupply is a great place to get upgrades. Mysticplayer is a board member and reseller who also does a lot with custom Savage stuff.
- Location
- Virden, MB
Nah, I shoot all year round. They won't be much for competitions in the winter, but shooting in the snow is fun too.
Usually the targets look like coyotes in the winter and gophers in the summer. Only difference.
Usually the targets look like coyotes in the winter and gophers in the summer. Only difference.
Ah. I'm one of those non-hunting shooters. Are outdoor ranges open in the winter?
Actually, come to think of it, perhaps my problem is I'm thinking like a restricted PAL handgun guy. I've never owned an unrestricted firearm. I forgot that unrestricted firearms can be discharged on private property or crown land. And no ATT required as well.
Rob
One of the factors will be cost and another will be making sure your range sessions are enjoyable - by that I mean can you shoot for long enough without recoil being an issue.
As far as cost is concerned, being able to reload will allow you to shoot match quality ammo for less than half the price of factory premium and will allow you to develop loads for your specific firearm. Generally speaking it is also cheaper to reload for smaller calibres than it is for larger which leads to the second point - whilst a .308 for example doesn't have much in the way of recoil it is certainly more than a .223 so a .223 will allow for longer and, hopefully, more productive practice sessions.
Others can give more qualified views on the merits of a custom rifle so I will keep my 2c to factory offerings and my recommendation for a factory rifle would probably be a Savage in .223 ( consider the 10FP, 12BVSS, 12FVSS of LRPV for example ). If you wished to go to a .308 then, in addition to Savage products, you may also consider a Remington ( I am a fan of the R5 but other choices may be your preference ). I have a Kimber Tactical that shoots better than my R5 but it is more money and not widely available ( plus there is not much in the way of aftermarket stuff ). If you wanted to go very high end, people do rave about rifles such as the Sako TRG 22.
Ian makes very good sense when he comments about glass - a good scope is essential and please don't spare expense on this. Avoid cheap glass but consider products like the Falcon Menace as a starting point moving through the Elite 3200/4200 series from Bushnell all the way up to NF or Leupold if you can afford it
As far as cost is concerned, being able to reload will allow you to shoot match quality ammo for less than half the price of factory premium and will allow you to develop loads for your specific firearm. Generally speaking it is also cheaper to reload for smaller calibres than it is for larger which leads to the second point - whilst a .308 for example doesn't have much in the way of recoil it is certainly more than a .223 so a .223 will allow for longer and, hopefully, more productive practice sessions.
Others can give more qualified views on the merits of a custom rifle so I will keep my 2c to factory offerings and my recommendation for a factory rifle would probably be a Savage in .223 ( consider the 10FP, 12BVSS, 12FVSS of LRPV for example ). If you wished to go to a .308 then, in addition to Savage products, you may also consider a Remington ( I am a fan of the R5 but other choices may be your preference ). I have a Kimber Tactical that shoots better than my R5 but it is more money and not widely available ( plus there is not much in the way of aftermarket stuff ). If you wanted to go very high end, people do rave about rifles such as the Sako TRG 22.
Ian makes very good sense when he comments about glass - a good scope is essential and please don't spare expense on this. Avoid cheap glass but consider products like the Falcon Menace as a starting point moving through the Elite 3200/4200 series from Bushnell all the way up to NF or Leupold if you can afford it
I'm pretty sure F-class looks like what I'd like to get into, and I'd like to work towards the upper end of long-range. How about:
Savage 12 F Class 6.5 x284, NIB
AccuTrigger
oversized bolt handle,
stainless extra-heavy free-floating and button-rifled barrel,
right bolt, right port.
$1000
Or:
Remington 700 SPS Tactical .223 for $720
Rob
Savage 12 F Class 6.5 x284, NIB
AccuTrigger
oversized bolt handle,
stainless extra-heavy free-floating and button-rifled barrel,
right bolt, right port.
$1000
Or:
Remington 700 SPS Tactical .223 for $720
Rob
6.5 x .284 is a great F class caliber.....if this your first attempt at shooting F class you may burn through a barrel or two just learning. 6.5 x .284 can eat up a barrel quickly.
You may want to consider .223, .308 or .260rem.....you can shoot these for a long long time without using up a barrel.
You can find out in person next Saturday. I will bring my 6.5 Savage and you can have a go with it in the afternoon at Amiens.
Bob
If you are new to shooting long range,and this is your first foray into any type of long-gun competition, F-class or other, I'd really recommend learning the ropes (principles of marksmanship and the game you have chosen) on a .223.
The .223 is a decent little cartridge that can be made to shoot really well, with not a lot of tweeking. You will learn on a caliber that will not beat the p!ss out of you or your rifle, and will be relatively light on the pocket book. The savings can be spent on practice.
As you see what others are shooting, and what works/what doesn't you can properly inform yourself.
If you don't care for the chosen sport or if you grow out of the rifle/caliber, it is a popular one to sell second hand.
A factory Savage is a very good bet to start.
Spend good money on a good scope. It can always be transfered from your first rifle to the second as you grow into the sport.
If you are into p!ssing away your money, building a custom rifle on a Remington action is a good way to do it.
The .223 is a decent little cartridge that can be made to shoot really well, with not a lot of tweeking. You will learn on a caliber that will not beat the p!ss out of you or your rifle, and will be relatively light on the pocket book. The savings can be spent on practice.
As you see what others are shooting, and what works/what doesn't you can properly inform yourself.
If you don't care for the chosen sport or if you grow out of the rifle/caliber, it is a popular one to sell second hand.
A factory Savage is a very good bet to start.
Spend good money on a good scope. It can always be transfered from your first rifle to the second as you grow into the sport.
If you are into p!ssing away your money, building a custom rifle on a Remington action is a good way to do it.
straitshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upwind of Ottawa
Rob Yale: Here's an old post of mine about my custom precision rifle in 6.5x55. (Remington 700 action, Ian Robertson stock, Rob MacLennan barrel.)
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29611
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29611
