the one thing everyone fails to add to these discussions is the actual shooters skills.
These rifles require a certain level of skill to shoot accurately regardless of the sticker price.
My LRB M25 sports a medium stainless Krieger barrel, all usgi parts and built by me at a cost/value exceeding 5000.00. On a good day if I am in perfect shooting form, she is a sub moa rifle with the barrel in the right temperature range.
I've let a few people shoot her and only one can shoot her like I do.
Tony ben's rifle is a great example of a finely tuned m14 type rifle that any M14 enthusiast can surely appreciate.
That said, one should not expect every high dollar m14 type rifle to perform that way, especially if they aren't an experienced shooter like we know tonyben is.
On the flip side, do a search for Rugbydave's thread/posts about his rifle, which is not an LRB but yet the shooter and the rifle come together to print some outstanding groups at similar ranges to the targets posted above.
you buy an LRB for the same reason you buy an astin martin vanquish ..... because you want what you think is the best and have the money to buy it. I own an LRB M25...... and one day before I'm dead I'd love to have a Vanquish but we all have to dream about something hehehe
if you can truly afford one, buy it
if you are having to pinch and save and buy it on credit..... do yourself a favour and realize that just because it has a high price tag, doesn't mean it is the best when it comes down to putting little holes in paper. There are more affordable options that are just as pleasurable to shoot.