Is upgrading a basic hunting rifle worth it? and thank you.

[MackForce]

This has question plagued me for years. And I have come up with an answer. Yes. It is worth it.
I have been flipping hunting rifles, like a maniac, for the past few years trying to get an accurate, solid rifle that doesn't cost me 5k+.
I don't reload. Yet. But I don't. So factory ammo was a piece of the puzzle, but I refused to let that be the reason a rifle wasn't accurate.
I have read everything (on this site and many more) and handled, shot and ripped apart every rifle I could for the last few years. Replaced (or had replaced) triggers, stocks, bedded stocks, barrels, optics, bases, rings, rails, etc...

Finally. I have 2 big game hunting rifles. Finally I am happy.

I grabbed a rem 700 aac-sd in 308 with a 20" heavy barrel. I took the factory Hogue off, replaced with an HS precision. I added a muzzle break. I bought steel bases, steel rings and a Bushnell elite that cost me more than the rifle (yeah. Its true. What you say is true. Put the money in the optics)

This was 115 meters today, with federal blue box 180gr, 4 shots (yeah not 5, who cares)


Im feeling good about it. Finally. Yeah the rifle is a BIT on the heavy side. But Im young and its easy to handle. This wont be my mountain rifle by any means. But its good enough for a tree stand or walk through some fields.

The second rifle I have narrowed down to is a Tikka T3 lite in 300wm. Only upgrade on this one is a limb saver pad. It WAS necessary. Im tough (she tells me that anyway). But didn't enjoy the bruising after the range session. Small upgrade, but worth every penny. I topped it with a Leupold that cost more than the rifle.

My point is this. Had I spent more money on smaller upgrades instead of selling an entire firearm and moving on, or starting smaller instead of spending big dough on a low end precision rifle, that was ridiculous dragging through the bush... this would have went much smoother. These set ups are accurate and fill all my big game hunting needs. For a reasonable cost. Im not talking ONLY 2 rilfes... Im talking go to hunting rifles. These 2 rifles don't break the bank, I wont be upset if they get dropped or broken in the bush, and are practically just basic hunting rifles on reliable platforms.

So yes CGN.. many of you guys were right on the money with your advice. Maybe if you weren't such arrogant pricks, I would have listened years ago

Kidding.

Thanks for all the advice over the last few years. Reading many of theses threads and spending stupid amounts of money on the EE, have finally paid off. Also shooting a ton of bullets.
Now I can sleep at night. Cant wait for hunting season,

Cheers,

Mack

 

[horseman2]

The scope, rings and bases are worth pretty much the same as the rifle after a bedding job. The Scope is a Leupold VX-6 2-12 x 42. The rifle is a Remington 700 BDL SS in 280 Remington made in 1994.

I am a reloader and this rifle has never seen a factory loaded round. After working on a number of loads I used the Speer 160 grain Mag Tip for a number of years.
When the scope was purchased it was with the intention of converting to a Barnes 140 grain bullet. The loading process was to produce an accurate load that exceeded 3000 fps and then have the turret cut.

 

[Northman999]

Sure it's worth it!

I've got a 99 year old U.S Enfield sporter that I paid $140 shipped off the EE for. I bedded it, floated the barrel, worked the trigger some and scoped it, and it shoots under 1.5" at 200 meters with 210 grain VLD's.

Best $140 I ever spent.

Kind of makes it hard to seriously consider high end rifles that literally cost twenty times as much........