Im ready to build my first FTR rifle and its my first competition build. Do I need a custom action to be competitive? I was hoping I could use my model70 or rem700. Can I get some ideas or pointers and a smith I could use.. What are the winnimg rifles using?
F T/R Competition Ftr build questions
- Thread starter UKScotland
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Re: Ftr build questions
To answer your question about custom action vs trued Rem etc. A friend of mine that I shoot with just built the exact rifle that I shoot with in FTR except for one thing. Everything identical including using my reamer and same gunsmith. The only thing different was the action. I have a BAT VR on mine and he has a trued up Rem 700 on his. Our guns shoot the same identical load and our group sizes are the same. Performance wise its 6 one way, half a dozen the other. Alot of the guns on the line at the matches are trued up remingtons and shoot very well. Custom actions are very nice, smooth, look great etc. but aint necessary for performance from what i've seen in FTR calibers.
To answer your question about custom action vs trued Rem etc. A friend of mine that I shoot with just built the exact rifle that I shoot with in FTR except for one thing. Everything identical including using my reamer and same gunsmith. The only thing different was the action. I have a BAT VR on mine and he has a trued up Rem 700 on his. Our guns shoot the same identical load and our group sizes are the same. Performance wise its 6 one way, half a dozen the other. Alot of the guns on the line at the matches are trued up remingtons and shoot very well. Custom actions are very nice, smooth, look great etc. but aint necessary for performance from what i've seen in FTR calibers.
Re: Ftr build questions
Here is the rifle that won the national championships here.
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/05/jim-crofts-new-savage-f-class-rig-with-prt-walnut-stock/
Same action anyway
I'm not sure you would call it a custom action, but it isn't a Barnard, Kelby or Bat price wise.
Here is the rifle that won the national championships here.
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/05/jim-crofts-new-savage-f-class-rig-with-prt-walnut-stock/
Same action anyway
I'm not sure you would call it a custom action, but it isn't a Barnard, Kelby or Bat price wise.
Re: Ftr build questions
But its damn pretty Monte all the same though, UKSCOTLAND you will see that lots of people are very competitive with stock Savage F-Class guns out of the box, it depends on your budget. My last Remington 700 cost me $315, by the time I sold the stock, trigger and barrel, the receiver was costing me a $100 that's really hard to beat.
But its damn pretty Monte all the same though, UKSCOTLAND you will see that lots of people are very competitive with stock Savage F-Class guns out of the box, it depends on your budget. My last Remington 700 cost me $315, by the time I sold the stock, trigger and barrel, the receiver was costing me a $100 that's really hard to beat.
Re: Ftr build questions
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: memilanuk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pretty sure I didn't see Jim shooting that rig @ Raton... </div></div>
It's his back-up. It was in the back of my truck the whole week.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: memilanuk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pretty sure I didn't see Jim shooting that rig @ Raton... </div></div>
It's his back-up. It was in the back of my truck the whole week.
Re: Ftr build questions
If the rig that Jim was shooting at Raton was the same one he shot at Camp Perry just before I think it's the same setup Savage action with a Widden V block, just a non fluted barrel and a laminate stock instead of the pretty hardwoods. At least I think that's what I remember.
If the rig that Jim was shooting at Raton was the same one he shot at Camp Perry just before I think it's the same setup Savage action with a Widden V block, just a non fluted barrel and a laminate stock instead of the pretty hardwoods. At least I think that's what I remember.
Re: Ftr build questions
Use your Remington 700: you certainly don't need a custom action. What you DO need is a top-flight barrel and good chambering job.
Use your Remington 700: you certainly don't need a custom action. What you DO need is a top-flight barrel and good chambering job.
Re: Ftr build questions
That brown rifle was my backup gun for the Nationals. My primary rifle is the same savage action. It has a Precision Rifle and Tool stock along with a Brux Barrel.
So to answer you question yes you can be competitive with a trued factory action. As long as its a Savage.
Va Jim
That brown rifle was my backup gun for the Nationals. My primary rifle is the same savage action. It has a Precision Rifle and Tool stock along with a Brux Barrel.
So to answer you question yes you can be competitive with a trued factory action. As long as its a Savage.
Va Jim
Re: Ftr build questions
To address the original post, out of the box I think a Savage F-TR is the best bang for the buck. As for needing a custom action that's a luxury. As stated Jim won the National Championship with a tuned up Savage. Yours truly didn't come close to winning a National Championship, but I did win one of the matches at Raton this yr shooting a trued R700 with a 30" Kreiger in a McM A5.
So can you be competitive with a trued stock action, yea, in fact you can win with one.
To address the original post, out of the box I think a Savage F-TR is the best bang for the buck. As for needing a custom action that's a luxury. As stated Jim won the National Championship with a tuned up Savage. Yours truly didn't come close to winning a National Championship, but I did win one of the matches at Raton this yr shooting a trued R700 with a 30" Kreiger in a McM A5.
So can you be competitive with a trued stock action, yea, in fact you can win with one.
Re: Ftr build questions
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mjh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But its damn pretty Monte all the same though, UKSCOTLAND you will see that lots of people are very competitive with stock Savage F-Class guns out of the box, it depends on your budget. My last Remington 700 cost me $315, by the time I sold the stock, trigger and barrel, the receiver was costing me a $100 that's really hard to beat. </div></div>
As one that spends tens of thousands of dollars a year competing and training, a $100 action holds no real appeal for a serious target rifle.
Called chasing a nickel with a ten dollar bill where I grew up.
OP, put something together that gets you on the range sooner than later is my best advice. If that is retooling something you already have on hand, then that is fine - just don't dump a bunch of money into retooling the action. A bone stock Barnard P is way better right out of the box than any totally tweaked out 70 or 700 action.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mjh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But its damn pretty Monte all the same though, UKSCOTLAND you will see that lots of people are very competitive with stock Savage F-Class guns out of the box, it depends on your budget. My last Remington 700 cost me $315, by the time I sold the stock, trigger and barrel, the receiver was costing me a $100 that's really hard to beat. </div></div>
As one that spends tens of thousands of dollars a year competing and training, a $100 action holds no real appeal for a serious target rifle.
Called chasing a nickel with a ten dollar bill where I grew up.
OP, put something together that gets you on the range sooner than later is my best advice. If that is retooling something you already have on hand, then that is fine - just don't dump a bunch of money into retooling the action. A bone stock Barnard P is way better right out of the box than any totally tweaked out 70 or 700 action.
Re: Ftr build questions
I like a big tough action. Barnard, RPA and Savage all fit this bill. I have those three and cant say enough good about any of them. The Savage is the best deal going anywhere. I suggest this as strating point for all new FTR Shooters.
All can be made to shoot great. If you get a lighter action you can geta heavier barrel. Its all a trade off.
I like the bigger action because lets face it, we run rounds WAY WAY TOO HOT. The larger tougher action makes me feel a little better in case the case comes apart. I know not right but tougher action may just help.
With that said I won more matches with just a Remington 700 action built by GAP than all the others added together
I like a big tough action. Barnard, RPA and Savage all fit this bill. I have those three and cant say enough good about any of them. The Savage is the best deal going anywhere. I suggest this as strating point for all new FTR Shooters.
All can be made to shoot great. If you get a lighter action you can geta heavier barrel. Its all a trade off.
I like the bigger action because lets face it, we run rounds WAY WAY TOO HOT. The larger tougher action makes me feel a little better in case the case comes apart. I know not right but tougher action may just help.
With that said I won more matches with just a Remington 700 action built by GAP than all the others added together
Re: Ftr build questions
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H_Cracka</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mjh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But its damn pretty Monte all the same though, UKSCOTLAND you will see that lots of people are very competitive with stock Savage F-Class guns out of the box, it depends on your budget. My last Remington 700 cost me $315, by the time I sold the stock, trigger and barrel, the receiver was costing me a $100 that's really hard to beat. </div></div>
As one that spends tens of thousands of dollars a year competing and training, a $100 action holds no real appeal for a serious target rifle.
Called chasing a nickel with a ten dollar bill where I grew up.
OP, put something together that gets you on the range sooner than later is my best advice. If that is retooling something you already have on hand, then that is fine - just don't dump a bunch of money into retooling the action. A bone stock Barnard P is way better right out of the box than any totally tweaked out 70 or 700 action. </div></div>
_9H_Cracka, considering the number of Benchrest and other long range rifle titles won over the years with stock actions, I was giving the OP an inexpensive option. Its a hell of lot easier to get out on the range shooting when you can pick up a cheap action, leaves the OP money to buy decent barrel, have it chambered, buy a stock and decent scope than paying $1100-$1200 for a Barnard P or S action.
I will agree that they are as smooth as butter and an S action will be my next purchase.
Marty
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H_Cracka</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mjh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But its damn pretty Monte all the same though, UKSCOTLAND you will see that lots of people are very competitive with stock Savage F-Class guns out of the box, it depends on your budget. My last Remington 700 cost me $315, by the time I sold the stock, trigger and barrel, the receiver was costing me a $100 that's really hard to beat. </div></div>
As one that spends tens of thousands of dollars a year competing and training, a $100 action holds no real appeal for a serious target rifle.
Called chasing a nickel with a ten dollar bill where I grew up.
OP, put something together that gets you on the range sooner than later is my best advice. If that is retooling something you already have on hand, then that is fine - just don't dump a bunch of money into retooling the action. A bone stock Barnard P is way better right out of the box than any totally tweaked out 70 or 700 action. </div></div>
_9H_Cracka, considering the number of Benchrest and other long range rifle titles won over the years with stock actions, I was giving the OP an inexpensive option. Its a hell of lot easier to get out on the range shooting when you can pick up a cheap action, leaves the OP money to buy decent barrel, have it chambered, buy a stock and decent scope than paying $1100-$1200 for a Barnard P or S action.
I will agree that they are as smooth as butter and an S action will be my next purchase.
Marty
Re: Ftr build questions
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mjh</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H_Cracka</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mjh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But its damn pretty Monte all the same though, UKSCOTLAND you will see that lots of people are very competitive with stock Savage F-Class guns out of the box, it depends on your budget. My last Remington 700 cost me $315, by the time I sold the stock, trigger and barrel, the receiver was costing me a $100 that's really hard to beat. </div></div>
As one that spends tens of thousands of dollars a year competing and training, a $100 action holds no real appeal for a serious target rifle.
Called chasing a nickel with a ten dollar bill where I grew up.
OP, put something together that gets you on the range sooner than later is my best advice. If that is retooling something you already have on hand, then that is fine - just don't dump a bunch of money into retooling the action. A bone stock Barnard P is way better right out of the box than any totally tweaked out 70 or 700 action. </div></div>
_9H_Cracka, considering the number of Benchrest and other long range rifle titles won over the years with stock actions, I was giving the OP an inexpensive option. Its a hell of lot easier to get out on the range shooting when you can pick up a cheap action, leaves the OP money to buy decent barrel, have it chambered, buy a stock and decent scope than paying $1100-$1200 for a Barnard P or S action.
I will agree that they are as smooth as butter and an S action will be my next purchase.
Marty </div></div>
definitely in total agreement there.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mjh</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H_Cracka</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mjh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But its damn pretty Monte all the same though, UKSCOTLAND you will see that lots of people are very competitive with stock Savage F-Class guns out of the box, it depends on your budget. My last Remington 700 cost me $315, by the time I sold the stock, trigger and barrel, the receiver was costing me a $100 that's really hard to beat. </div></div>
As one that spends tens of thousands of dollars a year competing and training, a $100 action holds no real appeal for a serious target rifle.
Called chasing a nickel with a ten dollar bill where I grew up.
OP, put something together that gets you on the range sooner than later is my best advice. If that is retooling something you already have on hand, then that is fine - just don't dump a bunch of money into retooling the action. A bone stock Barnard P is way better right out of the box than any totally tweaked out 70 or 700 action. </div></div>
_9H_Cracka, considering the number of Benchrest and other long range rifle titles won over the years with stock actions, I was giving the OP an inexpensive option. Its a hell of lot easier to get out on the range shooting when you can pick up a cheap action, leaves the OP money to buy decent barrel, have it chambered, buy a stock and decent scope than paying $1100-$1200 for a Barnard P or S action.
I will agree that they are as smooth as butter and an S action will be my next purchase.
Marty </div></div>
definitely in total agreement there.
