Need advice on TRG 42 purchase

Keebler750

Keebler750

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I want to step up from my Tikka T3 .223 Tactical to possibly purchase a TRG 42 in 300 Win Mag. I can shoot the Tikka all day, and I want to up the challenge level. I have been shooting a 270 WSM, and had a few problems at first, (recoil !!!) but now I'm very comfortable with it.

I want to put this new gun under my Leupold 8.5 to 25 X 50 Mk IV LRT and am thinking of shooting Precision Rifle next year with the ORA and/or the OSA.

I've been shooting for 11 months, I have gotten into reloading, and am shooting less than .5MOA with a scope, and about 1-2 MOA with irons (M14), but I am admitedly a bit newbish at all this.

My other option is to build/or have built for me a custom rifle which will probably cost more in the long run. Are the TRG's a good starting platform?

Any comments on the TRG, choice of caliber, or precision rifle competition? I'd appreciate any help and advice.
 
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If you want to compete, most DCRA ranges don't allow the use of magnums, and that includes the .300 Winchester and the .338 Lapua. Since the TRG-42 is a magnum rifle, it would not be the best choice.

Most seasoned competitors stay away from those kinds of cartridges, anyway. You'll get just as flat a trajectory and wind drift by using something like the 6.5-284, or even the 6mm BR. If all you plan to do with the rifle is punch paper, you don't need all the foot-pounds and terminal performance of a magnum cartridge; all you need is the trajectory and wind drift.

The TRG is a beautiful rifle, in my opinion. If you really want to compete, I'd say get a TRG-22 in .308.

On the other hand, you could easily have a world-class Palma rifle put together for the $3,500 you will be paying for the TRG. You could get yourself a Barnard action with Aluminum stock and a McLennan or Krieger barrel, plus gunsmithing, easily, for that price; and such a rifle would be at least as accurate as the TRG.

If you want to shoot with irons, you should stick to the .308. It's pretty well required.

If you want to shoot "Precision" class, you'll need a magazine in your rifle, and the TRG would be fantastic. These matches are not as frequent as the others, however. Many of them also require the use of the .308 (or .223). In truth, an off-the-shelf Savage or Remington heavy-barrelled .308 would likely get you into the game.

If you shoot F-Class, you've got the most options on rifle, weight, scope and cartridge, but for reasons explained above, you want to stay away from any magnums.
 
Sounds like I should stick with my Tikka!! I'm shooting .3 to .4 MOA all the way back to 300yds so far, and I already HAVE the darn rifle...

Hmmmm.

Thanks for that great insight P-17. I'll wait for some others to fill in the gaps, but you've already framed this problem in a very MAGNUM way :)

<wimper> I'll really liked that TRG though </wimper>
 
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http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120483

Read the article on Jerry's 6.5 Mystic... not because I'm saying this is necessarily the calibre to go with, but because he exemplifies how inexpensive it is (or can be) to have a custom rig built. Expensive most definitely does NOT always equal more accurate.

Your Tik Tac is a fantastic accurate factory gun. It is possible to re-barrel that rifle with a custom barrel for about a grand and make it shoot sub .25 MOA

Alternatively, a Stevens or Rem 700 SPS action - based custom can set you back well under 2 grand depending on the components you chose and it will outshoot any factory gun. A Remington XR100 with a custom barrel and bedded action makes an outstanding target rifle... all less than 2 grand.

As for calibres, small, fast High BC (6.5, .284, 6mm variants) seem to consistently outshoot .308 at all the f-class matches I've been to, out to 1000 yards. (Is it gun or gunner? )They're certainly more comfortable than 308 anyway...
 
As far as I know, there are no magnum restrictions at either Mons Range or MilCun, although brakes are unwelcome with ORA/Mons. I stand corrected; brakes allowed for Precision; F and TR would be different. Connaught has restrictions based on a ballistic template, and there would certainly be .300Mag. loads that would be over the limit. For range use there are better calibre choices than .300Mag. Precision goes to 800 or so; try your Tikka at longer ranges with VLDs, and see if you are comfortable with the .223. It is certainly an option. On a windy day, there are some calibres that are better than others, of course. If you want an excuse for another rifle, that's a different matter, of course. It has been suggested that spending money on ammunition and range time is more effective than buying toys.
I'm building up a couple of rifles for the same shooting you are contemplating. One is based on a short Win. 70 in an HS stock, on which I've installed a retired .308 ex-TR barrel; the other is a Rem. 78 with a new Mike Rock .308 barrel in a Rem. factory Nat'l Match stock. .308 because I'm set up for it, and comfortable with it. Both rifles are bitsers I've assembled, neither was expensive. Also have another based on a Savge short action, in a factory varmint stock with a new take off factory fluted stainless .308 barrel. Also a low cost .308 bitser. I suspect that any of these will work just fine for the intended purpose.
Are you a member of OSA?
 
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Below is the limitations for Connaught Range.
BC MV (fps) BC MV (fps)
0.400 4575 0.750 2825
0.450 4040 0.800 2705
0.500 3650 0.850 2605
0.550 3365 0.900 2520
0.600 3145 0.950 2445
0.700 2970 1.000 2320
As you can see, magnums are ok. At Borden, I have witnessed 50 calibre rifles being used. Muzzle brakes are allowed in ORA precision competitions.

Recoil management is very important. A muzzle brake helps quite a bit, or a calibre with considerably less recoil than 300wm is also an option.

Wind drift at extended ranges is also very important. 300wm is much more efficient than a vld 223 or 308 win. 6.5's at 2900fps are very similar to 300wm with less recoil.

Lots of options. Keep reading and asking questions.
 
This is great so far guys!! No matter what I do, I'm learning alot from you. Thanks!!

BTW...I'm not an OSA member yet but thinking about it. Keith C. would be my choice for a custom builder if I don't do it myself (Although I'd rather learn how....)

Oh, and per above: who is CTM? I know who TSE is.
 
For what a TRG42 costs it SHOULD shoot far better than the do. I would opt for a custom that actually fits and shoots well. If it is just for the "cool" look they may have merit, but as a truly serious precision rifle the 3 I had were all falling way short of the mark.
They are a decent "production" rifle much the same as the AIs are, unfortunately the makers are more into advertising and looks than accuracy.
Not in my opinion a good value for the money.
KK
 
Further to some of the other posts above, the rifle I am taking to Ottawa next year (and I've pre-registered for the Palma) is a CIL 950T (Savage single shot action) from the '70s, with a Central sight and a Gehmann iris front globe. It's got a laminated stock and a McLennan barrel (.3070, 1-13 twist, 4-groove). All in, including barrel and gunsmithing, it cost me less than $1,000, and it shoots sub-half-m.o.a all day (I can't hold that steady with a sling, but off the bench it's incredible). It's previous owner took it to Bisley and ranked 14th in the world with it.

This just goes to show that you don't need to spend thousands to get a world-class rifle.

My CIL is nowhere near as fancy as most of the rifles on the line (and I'm nowhere near the kind of shooter as the serious competitiors), but it's still competitive.

For versatility, stick with .308. For strictly F-class shooting, you'd be nuts not to take one of the 6mms or 6.5mms. For inside 300 metres, a .223 will be excellent, and will greatly eliminate shooter fatigue.
 
Hmmm. All these options for custom builds and calibers are way over my head right now, not that I don't want to learn.

Lordy there's alot of material to read, experience to be had and advice needed!!

There's so much yet I have NO idea where to start.

AHHHhhhhhh............:runaway:
 
knockknock said:
For what a TRG42 costs it SHOULD shoot far better than the do. I would opt for a custom that actually fits and shoots well. If it is just for the "cool" look they may have merit, but as a truly serious precision rifle the 3 I had were all falling way short of the mark.
They are a decent "production" rifle much the same as the AIs are, unfortunately the makers are more into advertising and looks than accuracy.
Not in my opinion a good value for the money.
KK
Click to expand...


how bad do the TRG's you fired shoot?
 
Trg42

Keebler750 said:
I want to step up from my Tikka T3 .223 Tactical to possibly purchase a TRG 42 in 300 Win Mag. I can shoot the Tikka all day, and I want to up the challenge level. I have been shooting a 270 WSM, and had a few problems at first, (recoil !!!) but now I'm very comfortable with it.

I want to put this new gun under my Leupold 8.5 to 25 X 50 Mk IV LRT and am thinking of shooting Precision Rifle next year with the ORA and/or the OSA.

I've been shooting for 11 months, I have gotten into reloading, and am shooting less than .5MOA with a scope, and about 1-2 MOA with irons (M14), but I am admitedly a bit newbish at all this.

My other option is to build/or have built for me a custom rifle which will probably cost more in the long run. Are the TRG's a good starting platform?

Any comments on the TRG, choice of caliber, or precision rifle competition? I'd appreciate any help and advice.
Click to expand...


I Advise you to build you self a rifles, my buddy had his build 300winmag, rem700LA, HS M24stock the whole thing cost around $1500CAD, and Just had it out shooting this weekend, it does alittle bit over haft an Inchs at 300meter, The owner really happy, the barrel come from Ted Gaillard in Saskatchewan, if you would like to see the set up, just as Gunboy, he doesn't usually show of his toy, but if you ask him, he will, it a really nice rig, I am getting one done up justlike his, but in 300 Short Magnum..., Save you money for Ammo, it make sense...

Paul C.
 
Keebler.
Take a look at what regular competitors (top finishers) are shooting in the sport style you'd like to participate in .That'll give you some ideas of what seems to be working in that game.(Precision,F class,Bench Rest. whatever...)
When spending hard earned dollars it's best to make your purchase (whether a factory or a build) correctly the FIRST time.
TRG's are great factory guns.308's lose competitive edge past 600 yrds,recoil management in magnums can be an issue and may be limited in certain ranges templates.Building is great but also fraught with it's own challenges and decisions.
It's a fun game and even more fun when you are rightly equipped.
Good luck
 
I have a TRG 21 and 42 in .308 and .338 respectively and they are both great shooters. They are not in the same class as any of the BR or F Class rigs guys here are talking about but they aren't designed for that. If you want one of these particular guns I would recommend the TRG 22 because the recoil is almost non-existant and it will out shoot 95% of the people on this board.

On the other hand if you use it to compete you will be shhooting against the other 5% and you will get blown out of the water.

Ivo
 
mbessey said:
how bad do the TRG's you fired shoot?
Click to expand...

I owned both a 300 win mag and a 338 Lapua in the TRG42s. Both shot 1/2 moa, never better, regardless of the loads. This is good accuracy , no mistake, but for the cost of the rifles I have many customs that shoot FAR tighter groups and cost less money.
I now have a custom 338 Lapua based on a Nesika action, McMillan A5 stock and all done it was just under $6000.00 and shoots 1/4 moa all day, AND it is fitted to ME, exactly, not some one else.
Palm swell , cheek rest height and weld spot saddle, length of pull, offset and buttpad cant, all fit MY body. This does make it hard for others to shoot, but so what.
I think Ivo nailed it , these are basically a production tactical rifle, and will shoot better than alot of people can, but "extreme accuracy" they ain't.
Extreme spendy, they are, by the time you add a brake and mounts and all the assorted accessories needed.
For anything competetive forget them.
 
knockknock said:
I owned both a 300 win mag and a 338 Lapua in the TRG42s. Both shot 1/2 moa, never better, regardless of the loads. This is good accuracy , no mistake, but for the cost of the rifles I have many customs that shoot FAR tighter groups and cost less money.
I now have a custom 338 Lapua based on a Nesika action, McMillan A5 stock and all done it was just under $6000.00 and shoots 1/4 moa all day, AND it is fitted to ME, exactly, not some one else.
Palm swell , cheek rest height and weld spot saddle, length of pull, offset and buttpad cant, all fit MY body. This does make it hard for others to shoot, but so what.
I think Ivo nailed it , these are basically a production tactical rifle, and will shoot better than alot of people can, but "extreme accuracy" they ain't.
Extreme spendy, they are, by the time you add a brake and mounts and all the assorted accessories needed.
For anything competetive forget them.
Click to expand...

I now have a custom 338 Lapua based on a Nesika action, McMillan A5 stock and all done it was just under $6000.00 and shoots 1/4 moa all day
Click to expand...

And for $6,000 I hope it gives great head too...:D .25 MOA all day? Perhaps, you should read this...

http://www.snipershide.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=18;t=005012
 
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