FN SPR A5M in 308

[nfitton]

Let me preface this by admitting I am a modern military weapon kind of guy (happiness is a belt-fed weapon)... I am used to gas guns and can easily hit my targets at 1000 yds, (along with everything else in the vicinity if you get my drift)... The guys I work with, however, are long range precision shooters. They have seen me shoot my 308 and other gas guns with enough precision that they want to start taking me to competitions with them. Honestly, I don't know if my old eyes are up for it, but I am willing to give it a shot. So far the rifle I liked the most in my price range has been the A5M. It comes in the 308 which I am used to (one of my license plates is 762x51). But they mainly shoot 260. I love these guys, but their income greatly exceeds mine and most of the advice they have I can't afford... Would I go wrong with this choice. What is involved in changing the barrel to 260 and would I even benefit that much from it. More than likely the rifle will outshoot me in any caliber so take that into consideration as well...

I look forward to you guys inputs...

 

[turbo54]

Re: FN SPR A5M in 308

The FNs are nice rifles, and shoot well.

You are correct that most quality bolt guns will outshoot the shooter.

260 has a serious advantage over 308 past 600 yards.

To convert to 260, a gunsmith will need to fit a barrel by starting with a blank, cutting it to length, threading it, then reaming the chamber. This is usually about $600 (depending on extras like cerakote or muzzle threads/brakes), and between 2 weeks and 1 year, depending on the smith.

 

[nfitton]

Re: FN SPR A5M in 308

I don't work on any of the bolt guns that come in other than basic things. I know the guys rebarrel guns all of the time and they talk about different brands being easier than others. If I remember correctly savage is one of the easiest that they talk about... Or local SO purchased an A5M from us, but other than that we haven't had any come in... My main bolt guy is down this week due to an injury, and I didn't want to bother him with this question right now. When he returns, I will find his take on the matter, but I know there is a wealth of knowledge on these boards, so I thought I would pick a few minds...

 

[turbo54]

Re: FN SPR A5M in 308

Well, the Savage has a somewhat unique design...

On most rifles, a shoulder is created when threading the receiver-end of the barrel, and is designed so you screw the barrel on until the shoulder butts up against the receiver (or perhaps recoil lug on some models), and is torqued. Thus, the chamber has to be cut so the chamber is the proper depth when the barrel is torqued into place.

Savages don't have a shoulder, so the barrel is free to be screwed into/out of the receiver however makes the headspace come out correctly. Then the barrel is locked in place with a jam nut (the infamous "barrel nut"). That makes it possible to generically chamber a barrel for a Savage, whereas most other rifles (FN included) need the barrel to be a custom fit for one particular receiver.

The Savage concept (not even sure Savage invented it) has been copied, and you can buy generically chambered barrels for other rifles, and they too are retrofitted to use the barrel nut. These barrels can be installed by just about anyone with more than 10 brain cells. I literally rebarreled my Savage one afternoon on a picnic table at the gunclub.

 

[John1911.com]

Re: FN SPR A5M in 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nfitton</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Let me preface this by admitting I am a modern military weapon kind of guy (happiness is a belt-fed weapon)... I am used to gas guns and can easily hit my targets at 1000 yds, (along with everything else in the vicinity if you get my drift)... The guys I work with, however, are long range precision shooters. They have seen me shoot my 308 and other gas guns with enough precision that they want to start taking me to competitions with them. Honestly, I don't know if my old eyes are up for it, but I am willing to give it a shot. So far the rifle I liked the most in my price range has been the A5M. It comes in the 308 which I am used to (one of my license plates is 762x51). But they mainly shoot 260. I love these guys, but their income greatly exceeds mine and most of the advice they have I can't afford... Would I go wrong with this choice. What is involved in changing the barrel to 260 and would I even benefit that much from it. More than likely the rifle will outshoot me in any caliber so take that into consideration as well...

I look forward to you guys inputs... </div></div>

I believe I've seen SPRs in 260 for sale very recently. On this forum. I don't have advice on which one you should get, but I think you would do good by hoarding your money and waiting for something used to pop up.

Check the Classifieds. I swear there was a 260 SPR listed now.


TTR

 

[nfitton]

Re: FN SPR A5M in 308

It already sold...