This copy was delivered just recently to me. I mounted a McCann rail (0MOA) and installed a Vortex 6-24X MRAD in Nightforce rings. A word about optics: If money were no object to me, I'd own nothing but Nightforce. Since money is a concern, sometimes economy dictates something else. Until recently, I had been a Burris man. I still have many Burris scopes. More recently though, several good friends (and fellow benchrest shooters) recomended Vortex scopes, so I thought I'd give them a try. Since then, I've purchased two - the one shown here, and its twin mounted on a 223 HTR. Both are excellent scopes, and especially so considering the price.
So some piccies:
Overall: VERY nice rifle. She is a good solid 0.5MOA gun. As in, with 45g Varget over a 155.5g Berger in prep'ed Hornady Match brass, it NEVER goes above 0.5MOA for <span style="font-weight: bold">10 shots</span>and most of the time <span style="font-weight: bold">5 shots</span>go into 0.3-0.4MOA. And toss in the occasional 0.2MOA <span style="font-weight: bold">5 shot</span> group. She has now seen 225 rounds, no load development. For myself, I tend to be more impressed with 10 shot 0.5MOA groups than 0.25MOA 3 shot groups. After all, 3 shot groups were for old school sporter rifles, not dedicated precsion rifles.
The heart of the HS rifle - its fluted 10X barrel. I do love those 10X barrels. I put them on par with Bartlein and Krieger barrels. While much is said on cut vs button rifled barrels, I have no clear preference. I do have clear preferences for certain <span style="font-style: italic">barrel makers</span>. Specifically I like Lijla, Hart, 10X, and Bartlein. So it's about half and half cut vs button. What I will say is this: <span style="font-style: italic">in my experience</span> Bartlein and 10x barrels seem to foul the least. That said - all of these are way beyond my skill level. I could never hope to shoot any of these to their inherent limits. And 99.999% of the shooters out there are in the same boat as me.
I, for one, am a fan of the Remington 700 action. The HS 2000 is a "custom improved" 700. The bold is of a coned variety, and the extractor is improved. All of the 2000s I've ever handled have been amazingly smooth bolt guns. This one, like my other HTR show very good locking lug contact - as would be expected on a rifle with this price tag. The entire barreled action is coating in a black "teflon" finish. I'm not positive who's coating it is, but I have my suspicions.
The HS HTR stock is a personal favorite of mine. It has a more vertical grip as compared with the M-24/PSS stock. I find it very comfortable on the bench, prone, and kneeling.
The HTR comes with the very nice, and easy to obtain HS detachable box magazine. This magazine is a centerline feeding magazine - as appropriate with the design of the action. Mine holds 5 rounds comfortably and feeds very smoothly and reliably. Oh, the trigger - <span style="font-style: italic">superlative</span>. Like breaking a glass rod - 2.25lbs exactly.
The only thing I can find to criticize is the bedding of the barreled action. I understand the utility and eligance of the aluminum bedding block - but for utmost in accuracy, the stock should be skin beddeed.
The rifle is a joy to shoot and a pleasure to own.
Cheers!
Bill
So some piccies:
Overall: VERY nice rifle. She is a good solid 0.5MOA gun. As in, with 45g Varget over a 155.5g Berger in prep'ed Hornady Match brass, it NEVER goes above 0.5MOA for <span style="font-weight: bold">10 shots</span>and most of the time <span style="font-weight: bold">5 shots</span>go into 0.3-0.4MOA. And toss in the occasional 0.2MOA <span style="font-weight: bold">5 shot</span> group. She has now seen 225 rounds, no load development. For myself, I tend to be more impressed with 10 shot 0.5MOA groups than 0.25MOA 3 shot groups. After all, 3 shot groups were for old school sporter rifles, not dedicated precsion rifles.
The heart of the HS rifle - its fluted 10X barrel. I do love those 10X barrels. I put them on par with Bartlein and Krieger barrels. While much is said on cut vs button rifled barrels, I have no clear preference. I do have clear preferences for certain <span style="font-style: italic">barrel makers</span>. Specifically I like Lijla, Hart, 10X, and Bartlein. So it's about half and half cut vs button. What I will say is this: <span style="font-style: italic">in my experience</span> Bartlein and 10x barrels seem to foul the least. That said - all of these are way beyond my skill level. I could never hope to shoot any of these to their inherent limits. And 99.999% of the shooters out there are in the same boat as me.
I, for one, am a fan of the Remington 700 action. The HS 2000 is a "custom improved" 700. The bold is of a coned variety, and the extractor is improved. All of the 2000s I've ever handled have been amazingly smooth bolt guns. This one, like my other HTR show very good locking lug contact - as would be expected on a rifle with this price tag. The entire barreled action is coating in a black "teflon" finish. I'm not positive who's coating it is, but I have my suspicions.
The HS HTR stock is a personal favorite of mine. It has a more vertical grip as compared with the M-24/PSS stock. I find it very comfortable on the bench, prone, and kneeling.
The HTR comes with the very nice, and easy to obtain HS detachable box magazine. This magazine is a centerline feeding magazine - as appropriate with the design of the action. Mine holds 5 rounds comfortably and feeds very smoothly and reliably. Oh, the trigger - <span style="font-style: italic">superlative</span>. Like breaking a glass rod - 2.25lbs exactly.
The only thing I can find to criticize is the bedding of the barreled action. I understand the utility and eligance of the aluminum bedding block - but for utmost in accuracy, the stock should be skin beddeed.
The rifle is a joy to shoot and a pleasure to own.
Cheers!
Bill
