First off, a hello to all the members of the hide. I have been an observer of this website for about 3 years now and just recently decided to finally join.
Here is what I consider my first precision rifle. An FN SPR A3G
I bought this baby online back in the summer, brand new un-fired for $2100. You gotta love the internet. I had orginally only planned on getting the SPR A1, which at the time I could find new for about $1600. I have always wanted the A3G since I first learned about FN's bolt guns, but couldn't justify the $2600 asking price for it from every place I looked. The guy wanted $2300 for this one, but I was able to talk him down to $2100.
As for the rest of my setup. I'm in college, and work part time at Sports Authority. Since we are a Leupold dealer, I got to use the 3point5 program and order myself a scope and rings for 50% off MSRP. So I picked up a Leupold Mark 4 6.5X20 FFP scope with the TMR reticle and the new M5 turrets for $1062, and some Leupold Mark 4 steel rings for $82. The Harris bipod is the 6" to 9" swivel model with leg notches that I picked up off of Ebay brand new in the packaging for $50 with free shipping. No lie. I watched these for about a month trying to save myself $10 or $20 off of the normal $96 price. When I hopped on one day and found this one. It was one of those "if it seems to good to be true, then...." but I took a chance, and behold, brand new, sealed package, Harris S-BRM bipod for $50. Did I find some great deals or what!!
This rifle is a heavy beast, but that didn't stop me from taking it Antelope hunting in August!
I dropped this guy with one shot at the amazing and impressive distance of 50 yards! lol. The whole reason I had been applying for an antelope tag for 3 years is because everyone says they are harder to hunt and you have to usually shoot from 350+ yards or they start running. But... when you find a good one staring at you from 50 yards away, what are you gonna do?
As far as target shooting, like the very top says, this is my first precision rifle, so I am also very new to precision shooting. My A3G came with a .38" test target, and they have a 1/2" guarantee, but I cant shoot that...yet. I seem to hover between 3/4" and 1.5" I dont blame the gun however. I will get 3 or 4 bullet holes touching, then get all nervous and excited about shooting a tight group and end up flinging the last shot or two away from the rest. I dont reload yet. And I realize that reloading is what I need to get every bit of accuracy out of my rifle. Being in college housing, reloading just isn't in the cards yet. I do however, have around 500 rounds of BVAC 168 grain A-max ammo I had been slowly buying over the last 4 years. You can see two boxes of it in the pic below.
Even though I didn't have a .308, I knew I wanted one, so I would buy 2 or 3 boxes at each gun show, and just 2 years ago BVAC's match .308 ammo could be had at the local gun shows for $12-$14 a box. Its now up around $20 I think, which is right where Federal Gold Medal Match is at, so I have bought some of it recently, its just been too cold to go out and shoot and see if that sucks in my group sizes from the BVAC ammo.
Anyways, I am excited about my rifle, I am excited about learning to shoot long range, to shoot for precision, and I am excited to be a member of Snipers Hide! This site is a true treasure trove of information for me, and I will keep you guys updated on my progression with my FN A3G!!!
Here is what I consider my first precision rifle. An FN SPR A3G
I bought this baby online back in the summer, brand new un-fired for $2100. You gotta love the internet. I had orginally only planned on getting the SPR A1, which at the time I could find new for about $1600. I have always wanted the A3G since I first learned about FN's bolt guns, but couldn't justify the $2600 asking price for it from every place I looked. The guy wanted $2300 for this one, but I was able to talk him down to $2100.
As for the rest of my setup. I'm in college, and work part time at Sports Authority. Since we are a Leupold dealer, I got to use the 3point5 program and order myself a scope and rings for 50% off MSRP. So I picked up a Leupold Mark 4 6.5X20 FFP scope with the TMR reticle and the new M5 turrets for $1062, and some Leupold Mark 4 steel rings for $82. The Harris bipod is the 6" to 9" swivel model with leg notches that I picked up off of Ebay brand new in the packaging for $50 with free shipping. No lie. I watched these for about a month trying to save myself $10 or $20 off of the normal $96 price. When I hopped on one day and found this one. It was one of those "if it seems to good to be true, then...." but I took a chance, and behold, brand new, sealed package, Harris S-BRM bipod for $50. Did I find some great deals or what!!
This rifle is a heavy beast, but that didn't stop me from taking it Antelope hunting in August!
I dropped this guy with one shot at the amazing and impressive distance of 50 yards! lol. The whole reason I had been applying for an antelope tag for 3 years is because everyone says they are harder to hunt and you have to usually shoot from 350+ yards or they start running. But... when you find a good one staring at you from 50 yards away, what are you gonna do?
As far as target shooting, like the very top says, this is my first precision rifle, so I am also very new to precision shooting. My A3G came with a .38" test target, and they have a 1/2" guarantee, but I cant shoot that...yet. I seem to hover between 3/4" and 1.5" I dont blame the gun however. I will get 3 or 4 bullet holes touching, then get all nervous and excited about shooting a tight group and end up flinging the last shot or two away from the rest. I dont reload yet. And I realize that reloading is what I need to get every bit of accuracy out of my rifle. Being in college housing, reloading just isn't in the cards yet. I do however, have around 500 rounds of BVAC 168 grain A-max ammo I had been slowly buying over the last 4 years. You can see two boxes of it in the pic below.
Even though I didn't have a .308, I knew I wanted one, so I would buy 2 or 3 boxes at each gun show, and just 2 years ago BVAC's match .308 ammo could be had at the local gun shows for $12-$14 a box. Its now up around $20 I think, which is right where Federal Gold Medal Match is at, so I have bought some of it recently, its just been too cold to go out and shoot and see if that sucks in my group sizes from the BVAC ammo.
Anyways, I am excited about my rifle, I am excited about learning to shoot long range, to shoot for precision, and I am excited to be a member of Snipers Hide! This site is a true treasure trove of information for me, and I will keep you guys updated on my progression with my FN A3G!!!
