Advice on first LR rifle
- Thread starter j-moose32
- Start date
Sorry attempting this from my damn phone. Updated original. Family member works at smith, haven’t made it official but can through him
Not sure what your cost would be but if I were you I'd pick up one of those Tikka CTRs in the PX. I think they were around $750-800.
There’s one used in the parts exchange that I’m really interested in. I have been talking with mile high and should have a quote for new from them on Monday. I do really like the fact of easily, quickly being able to change barrels for different caliber to a 6.5 if I got more into PRS, or even different length barrels.
Only drawback is 2500 bucks more for AI. The one BIG drawback I should say lol
Budget $3000? That opens the doors to a lot. I'd probably get an Impact barreled action, and a cheaper chassis like the KRG Bravo. The chassis wont hold you back, and you have a huge selection to pick from later if you do want to change. If you go AI, you are stuck with it pretty much as is.
Dont focus your own build on it being used for law enforcement purposes. They issue rifles and dont likely allow personal weapons to be used ( this is the case with City of Atlanta PD anyways ) so instead focus your intentions on PRS shooting. There are plenty of manufacturers that produce rifles suitable for your range desires. Ruger, Remington, Tikka, AI, etc are just to name a few.
Use your issued rifle for duty.
Use your rifle for fun.
You can keep them similar, or go totally different directions. But why would you put all that wear and tear on a gun they won't fix? Not to mention if it ever gets used it'll be sitting in evidence maybe for years.
If you're on the fence, grab a Ruger American predator in .243. Can easily reach out with any of the 6mm, common cheap ammo, great hunting gun or easy resale if you don't get into it. They shoot moa with factory ammo (the ones I've personally been around anyways).
It also makes a great Coyote and deer gun when you end up building a dedicated PRS rifle.
There's the buy once, cry once. And there's the guys talking a bath on a $7k rifle they were sold on. They're crying twice because they didn't like it and selling.
One can never have too many guns. You'll always use a cheap one as a spare, loaner, hunting, etc.
Use your rifle for fun.
You can keep them similar, or go totally different directions. But why would you put all that wear and tear on a gun they won't fix? Not to mention if it ever gets used it'll be sitting in evidence maybe for years.
If you're on the fence, grab a Ruger American predator in .243. Can easily reach out with any of the 6mm, common cheap ammo, great hunting gun or easy resale if you don't get into it. They shoot moa with factory ammo (the ones I've personally been around anyways).
It also makes a great Coyote and deer gun when you end up building a dedicated PRS rifle.
There's the buy once, cry once. And there's the guys talking a bath on a $7k rifle they were sold on. They're crying twice because they didn't like it and selling.
One can never have too many guns. You'll always use a cheap one as a spare, loaner, hunting, etc.
So after some thought and your guys input, I was cruising around the parts exchange and came across a Tikka T3x TA1 with minimal rounds through it.
For the price I couldn’t pass it up. Got my hands on the rifle today and was extremely happy with it. The fit and finish is that of quality for sure in my opinion. The trigger feels great to me as well.
Now with the money saved I got an atlas bipod , shooting mat and will get a bunch of ammo!
Thanks for the help guys ??
For the price I couldn’t pass it up. Got my hands on the rifle today and was extremely happy with it. The fit and finish is that of quality for sure in my opinion. The trigger feels great to me as well.
Now with the money saved I got an atlas bipod , shooting mat and will get a bunch of ammo!
Thanks for the help guys ??
My view is to get a rifle that can serve as a work horse in the training role. It does not need to emulate anything but a training rifle; attempting to duplicate the service rifle's higher functions and features can be expensive, and may serve a different purpose than what the trainer needs to provide.
A barrel with a similar weight, and same chambering and length as the service rifle would be my selection. It physically should fit you properly since anything out of whack there could impair the learning process. Similar optical power and objective as the scope on the service rifle would be good, as well as the same general style reticle. Save the high dollar optics purchases for when the skills warrant the premium cost of improved capability. The scope must be capable of adequate vision and repeatability, without imposing a financial overhead that delays your entry into the training regimen.
Specialization, as you suggest, is probably overkill at this early stage of the game. Your will also make beginner mistakes that could overwhelm the resilience of a high value implement. ...Or not... My main point is that the trainer should be basic, generic, and rugged enough to go the distance, even through a couple of rebarrelings. Perfection comes afterward.
I would use the trainer to polish and perfect rifle accuracy basics, as the service rifle and issue ammo will be limited, and yours will (maybe) not be. The bulk of your training regimen should be geared toward that repetitive muscle memory development that frees the mind for the refinement and delivery of the shot.
About ammunition; it doesn't need to be identical or the best. Different ammunition will shoot at a different accuracy standard, but once that standard is known, performance can still be used as a reference to indicate improvement, degradation, or plateauing of that performance. That shift in performance is the necessary criterion, and not the specific minimal groups size, etc.; it's too easy to let the perfectionist in you get the upper hand. As Voltaire was cited, "perfection is the enemy of good".
What is more important is that the ammunition be consistent and readily available. Cost is also a factor, and overspending may not be advisable.
More than this, the other advice here is excellent.
Greg
A barrel with a similar weight, and same chambering and length as the service rifle would be my selection. It physically should fit you properly since anything out of whack there could impair the learning process. Similar optical power and objective as the scope on the service rifle would be good, as well as the same general style reticle. Save the high dollar optics purchases for when the skills warrant the premium cost of improved capability. The scope must be capable of adequate vision and repeatability, without imposing a financial overhead that delays your entry into the training regimen.
Specialization, as you suggest, is probably overkill at this early stage of the game. Your will also make beginner mistakes that could overwhelm the resilience of a high value implement. ...Or not... My main point is that the trainer should be basic, generic, and rugged enough to go the distance, even through a couple of rebarrelings. Perfection comes afterward.
I would use the trainer to polish and perfect rifle accuracy basics, as the service rifle and issue ammo will be limited, and yours will (maybe) not be. The bulk of your training regimen should be geared toward that repetitive muscle memory development that frees the mind for the refinement and delivery of the shot.
About ammunition; it doesn't need to be identical or the best. Different ammunition will shoot at a different accuracy standard, but once that standard is known, performance can still be used as a reference to indicate improvement, degradation, or plateauing of that performance. That shift in performance is the necessary criterion, and not the specific minimal groups size, etc.; it's too easy to let the perfectionist in you get the upper hand. As Voltaire was cited, "perfection is the enemy of good".
What is more important is that the ammunition be consistent and readily available. Cost is also a factor, and overspending may not be advisable.
More than this, the other advice here is excellent.
Greg
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Congratulations on your purchase. The Tikkas are fantastic rifles. My buddy shoots a Tikka and he is VERY competitive with it. As in top 25 in the NRL. He and I shoot together often. I shoot an A.I. in 6.5CM. He shoots the Tikka 6.5CM in a XLR chassis. He very regularly lays down .5 moa 5 shot groups with a Bartlein barrel.
Also with the Tikkas, the factory triggers can be made to be INCREDIBLE. With a simple spring change, they can be made to break at about 1.5#, and be very safe.
I believe you will enjoy your Tikka, but on the outside chance that you don’t, you can move it w/o loosing much, if any $$
Also with the Tikkas, the factory triggers can be made to be INCREDIBLE. With a simple spring change, they can be made to break at about 1.5#, and be very safe.
I believe you will enjoy your Tikka, but on the outside chance that you don’t, you can move it w/o loosing much, if any $$
I haven’t fired the tikka yet but I’ve been handling it and continue to be impressed. The trigger feels awesome and the action is smoooth. I’ll hopefully have the optic at my door this week, and will get it all lined out, and I will report back on how it shoots!
Great choice - Tikka was going to get my vote. They make fantastic rifles that are accurate, reliable, and have very smooth actions, and have tons of upgrade options for whatever direction you want to take it down the road. My 6.5 CM CTR has been a super-accurate workhorse.
The rifle shoots AWESOME. It punches way above its weight class as far as I’m concerned!
Sub moa accuracy when I’m doing my part. Trigger feels great and makes my job easier too. If I knew how to post pictures I would post some groups it’s made
Took an intro class with curt drewel at long gun training, a class I found on here. The class was a blast, and I thought the rifle was flawless for me
Yeah, I typically only shoot the 5th shot if my first 4 are a bit bigger than yours. If I shot 4 like yours, the 5th would be the first round in the next group.
Lol
Funny enough I sent it to a buddy who i guess is a photo shop whiz cuz he sent back an edited version haha
All in all, glad I went with the tikka over the others I was considering.
Now I’m debating selling the ATACR 5-25 to upgrade to a 7-35 ??
All in all, glad I went with the tikka over the others I was considering.
Now I’m debating selling the ATACR 5-25 to upgrade to a 7-35 ??
Instead of changing scopes I’d buy a prefit barrel in 6 creedmoor or a chassis for the tikka. KRG bravo is very good and
Cheap. MDT. Masterpiece arms. All good options. The 5-25 ATACR is a great scope. The 7-35 won’t make you hit any more targets I promise.
Cheap. MDT. Masterpiece arms. All good options. The 5-25 ATACR is a great scope. The 7-35 won’t make you hit any more targets I promise.
Funny enough I sent it to a buddy who i guess is a photo shop whiz cuz he sent back an edited version haha
All in all, glad I went with the tikka over the others I was considering.
Now I’m debating selling the ATACR 5-25 to upgrade to a 7-35 ??
Unless you plan on primarily shooting past a thousand yards I’d stick with the 5x25.
Care to elaborate? I won’t be going past 1k primarily but I like the idea of having more. If I can see it I can shoot it thought process. Also heard the glass is a touch better on 7-35?
Also at close range I didn’t think the xtra 2 times would negatively effect me
There’s no difference in glass. It’s not worth the extra money. You’d def be better served using that money on ammo to practice or a chassis/stock upgrade assuming you’re using the factory stock still.
Yea I’ve kept my eyes open for a magneto speed, but haven’t seen any used for sale that were worth it over a new one yet
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