Nearly Perfect Tac Match Rifle

[Ballistic Artist]

Hey all,
I'm getting ready to start buying parts for a rifle that I want to build for the tactical long range matches. What are some of the things you like on a tac match rifle? Max Weight, barrel length, detachable mag or hinged floor plate, chassis or McMillan style stock?? If detachable mag is best I was thinking something that would take the AIAX mags? What caliber do you think is the best all around for tac match? I'm looking at 308win and 6.5CM. I know I'm eventually going to have more than one 308.(Less die sets to have but no big deal I guess) What do you all think? Thanks in advance.

 

[BGE541]

What distance are we talking here? <700 y? At our local matches out to 550y I dont really notice a large difference between the 308 and 6.5x47 but I think if wind were a larger factor or out out past 700y I would want the 6.5. Then again I cant stop hoarding 308's either... My go to 308 has a 21" barrel and it handles very nicely. With a good OCW load and 175's Im getting 2,725fps no pressure.

I dont think you can go wrong with any Chassis that takes AI mags... Also try different Chassis' and Stocks before you but... You may be surprised as too what you like/dislike.

 

[rrflyer]

That's all very personal in regards to setup.....everything's a trade off.

For me

700 action or clone
Rock solid stock
6mm cartridge if some variety .... Best to get two barrels spun up.
26-28" MTU contour Bartlein barrel with a muzzle break

Schmidt and Bender. 5-25
Badger or seekins base/rings


Stay away from 308 For a match gun.

 

[turbo54]

Start here: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...actical-shooters-equipment-what-pros-use.html

Note this is for PRS matches. Perhaps YOUR flavor of tacmatch is not PRS. For example, it is obvious a short action 6mm, and maybe 6.5mm is ideal for PRS. I wouldn't consider them ideal for ASC, where you could really take advantage of a magnum.

Identify (realistic) parameters that define exactly what the rifle needs to do, and go from there.

 

[bjay]

[/QUOTE]stay away from 308 For a match gun.[/QUOTE]
Why? My GAP 308 is what i use for match and my 260...is it too much unpreditable flyer

 

[Ballistic Artist]

Good info there. I'm still just learning about tac match. PRS, ASC? I searched these and could only find info about a specific match. Is there a website that would have the rules and requirements for the different classes of shooting? There are different classes. Right? Turbo54 Thanks for the link. And thanks all for the info.

 

[rrflyer]

Never seen different classes except maybe semi-auto vs bolt


308 just isn't a competitive caliber for a lot of matches.

 

[JB02]

Good info there. I'm still just learning about tac match. PRS, ASC? I searched these and could only find info about a specific match. Is there a website that would have the rules and requirements for the different classes of shooting? There are different classes. Right? Turbo54 Thanks for the link. And thanks all for the info.

[MENTION=62910]Ballistic Artist[/MENTION], this question is nearly impossible to answer without knowing what your budget limitations are and your requirements. You have to do some work on your own to narrow this down. What is your max budget? How much are you willing to spend on a scope? Do you want a stock or a chassis? Do you want your stock to be fully adjustable or as light as possible? Do you want a magnum capable of 1K-1.5K, a 6.5mm, or a 6mm? You need to decide. Are you going to buy factory ammo or reload, as this makes a big difference with caliber selection? What is your ideal overall rifle weight, as that factors into barrel length and contour?

For example, I could recommend that you just suck up and buy yourself an AIAX in 260 Rem from Euro Optics, buy a 6.5 CM from Surgeon Rifles, or a 6.5 SAUM from George at GAP and top whatever you get with a 5-25 S&B. But, that doesn't do you a lot of good if you don't have $7.5K to shell out for a rifle and optics.

If you want an idea of the type of components you can use for a premium build, check out the following sites:

Custom Rifles - GA Precision

Gradous Rifles

You will not get good answers or research done merely buy asking for opinions on the forum.

PRS is a loaded topic. Many great shooters belong to it, but some are not fans.

 

[turbo54]

Good info there. I'm still just learning about tac match. PRS, ASC? I searched these and could only find info about a specific match. Is there a website that would have the rules and requirements for the different classes of shooting? There are different classes. Right? Turbo54 Thanks for the link. And thanks all for the info.

PRS = is currently the "sprint cup" of precision rifle competition. It is the only national, sanctioned points chase series. Like NASCAR, there are fans and detractors.

ASC is more like what the Indy 500 used to be - a solitary match, though there are two or three per year.

PRS is almost entirely inside 1000 yards, with shots averaging ~550-600 yards, with heavy focus on position and shooting off obstacles. It is very fast paced. ASC is held in the mountains of West Virginia and there are some LONG shots, mostly prone, and time is rarely a factor.

Of course there are many other national-level matches, such as Mammoth and PTS, as well as lots of local matches and match series.

You need to decide what you'll be doing with the rifle.

That said, a 260 or 6.5 creed on any quality action, in a well-fitting stock, with a ~24" barrel, topped with any quality mid-high magnification scope will make for a very competent, capable, and well rounded package, though not "tuned" for any one thing specifically.

Try not to get caught up too much in equipment. The Indian is FAR more critical than the bow or the arrow.

 

[epaultmbt]

As long as the arrow isn't 7.62x51.

 

[Whit]

I shoot matches on steel with hit or miss points and use my 308. The 308 shows who has talent and skill vs the 6.5 people who use rounds that are wind cheaters with flatter trajectory which allows a little more human error. Wink

 

[Ballistic Artist]

Thanks all,
Very good info. LCDR JGB, You're absolutely right as far as I must figure it out on my own. Lol I'm not expecting to be spoon fed the perfect rifle design or anything. My OP was created just to get some ideas and to see what the majority of you all like to use. Even though there are so many different options. I'm actually building rifles for myself and I would prefer to keep it that way. And yes, someday I MUST have an AI rifle. I have eyed them for a long time and someday I will have saved enough money to buy one. But for now I would like to keep building them. My latest is a trued 700 in 300WM, CEG bolt, 26" Bartlein CM 1-10" twist 5R bbl., McMillan A-5 stock, Badger bottom metal for AICS mags, Badger base and rings and Leupold Mark4 6.5-20x50 M1 Illuminated TMR. I can shoot .310" groups at 100yds and my latest 500yd. group was 3.400" for 5 shots. I'm recoil flinching a bit shooting prone (my favorite way to shoot) so I'm putting a brake on it in the next few weeks. Could probably use it in tac match if I get in better physical shape. The thing weighs 16lb. 10oz. I would like My tac match gun to be no more than 12lbs. with Atlas pod. Is that a reasonable weight or should it be more, less? The 6.5mm rounds Definitely have my attention. That 6.5CM is, well, kick ass, Awesome etc. It seems very versatile. It doesn't seem to be a bbl. burner either. Is that correct? As for the stock, I like McMillan stocks, but chassis systems seem to be working pretty well. This is going to be a long process of getting the parts so the price isn't too big a deal. Thanks to all for the info. I'm learning a lot with this thread. From the youtube videos, tac match looks like a lot of fun and a lot of challenges. I cant wait to try it out. Thanks again for the info.

 

[JB02]

Thanks all,
Very good info. LCDR JGB, You're absolutely right as far as I must figure it out on my own. Lol I'm not expecting to be spoon fed the perfect rifle design or anything. My OP was created just to get some ideas and to see what the majority of you all like to use. Even though there are so many different options. I'm actually building rifles for myself and I would prefer to keep it that way. And yes, someday I MUST have an AI rifle. I have eyed them for a long time and someday I will have saved enough money to buy one. But for now I would like to keep building them. My latest is a trued 700 in 300WM, CEG bolt, 26" Bartlein CM 1-10" twist 5R bbl., McMillan A-5 stock, Badger bottom metal for AICS mags, Badger base and rings and Leupold Mark4 6.5-20x50 M1 Illuminated TMR. I can shoot .310" groups at 100yds and my latest 500yd. group was 3.400" for 5 shots. I'm recoil flinching a bit shooting prone (my favorite way to shoot) so I'm putting a brake on it in the next few weeks. Could probably use it in tac match if I get in better physical shape. The thing weighs 16lb. 10oz. I would like My tac match gun to be no more than 12lbs. with Atlas pod. Is that a reasonable weight or should it be more, less? The 6.5mm rounds Definitely have my attention. That 6.5CM is, well, kick ass, Awesome etc. It seems very versatile. It doesn't seem to be a bbl. burner either. Is that correct? As for the stock, I like McMillan stocks, but chassis systems seem to be working pretty well. This is going to be a long process of getting the parts so the price isn't too big a deal. Thanks to all for the info. I'm learning a lot with this thread. From the youtube videos, tac match looks like a lot of fun and a lot of challenges. I cant wait to try it out. Thanks again for the info.

Well, George did pretty well with his "Extreme Hunter" 6.5 SAUM, placing first at the SHC. Reloading for that baby is not a trivial matter. You'll need to be ready to fork over a fat custom rifle price for it too. In my mind, George found the sweep spot with this one, as it excels at long range, has descent barrel life, meets match speed restrictions, and is lethal to any beast in its tracks. The only downside is that it's a bitch to feed.

 

[Ballistic Artist]

6.5 SAUM definitely looks like a good round but having to make the brass... Not too big a deal I guess. If A match was going to require a lot of 1000 yard type stuff maybe my 300WM would be good to use? Then have a 6.5CM or a 6.5 Rem Mag for everything else? Decisions, Decisions...

 

[turbo54]

I've been campaigning a 284 win for the last year. Here are my thoughts on it:

MORE than enough horsepower for the game

Incrementally superior to a 260/6.5creed INSIDE 1000 yards, runs away from the 260 beyond.

Totally sucks @$$ to loss brass, which you do a lot of at many tacmatches.

While recoil isn't bad at all (I run braked, but its not bad even without), less would be better for the prs-style matches that are fast paced.

My magazine capacity is 7. Not bad, but 10 would be better.

I've got a new match rifle in the works. It is a 6mm Super. Why?

Can drive 105 hybrids to 3100fps (match speed limit) with h1000.

Flattest and least drift of any non magnum inside 1000.

Brass is 243win - cheap and easy, won't mind losing some.

Solves all other issues with 284.

So, I clearly think a 6mm is ideal for many of the matches I shoot.

 

[JB02]

I've been campaigning a 284 win for the last year. Here are my thoughts on it:

MORE than enough horsepower for the game

Incrementally superior to a 260/6.5creed INSIDE 1000 yards, runs away from the 260 beyond.

Totally sucks @$$ to loss brass, which you do a lot of at many tacmatches.

While recoil isn't bad at all (I run braked, but its not bad even without), less would be better for the prs-style matches that are fast paced.

My magazine capacity is 7. Not bad, but 10 would be better.

I've got a new match rifle in the works. It is a 6mm Super. Why?

Can drive 105 hybrids to 3100fps (match speed limit) with h1000.

Flattest and least drift of any non magnum inside 1000.

Brass is 243win - cheap and easy, won't mind losing some.

Solves all other issues with 284.

So, I clearly think a 6mm is ideal for many of the matches I shoot.

Even before Hornady's temporary suspension, I've always thought that 7mm had slim pickins for heavy bullets.

If you're not allowed to police up your spent brass, then a rifle that uses hard-to-get brass is a definite downside ... 284 Win and 6.5 RSAUM would both fit in that category.

 

[turbo54]

Even before Hornady's temporary suspension, I've always thought that 7mm had slim pickins for heavy bullets.

If you're not allowed to police up your spent brass, then a rifle that uses hard-to-get brass is a definite downside ... 284 Win and 6.5 RSAUM would both fit in that category.

There's a decent selection of good high BC 7mm bullets if you've the horsepower. The trouble is there aren't many high BC bullets, other than the 162s from Hornady, that can be driven fast enough with ~45 grains of powder. The 284s ~55gr powder is enough to handle the 175-180 grain bullets. However, the 162s are still excellent in nearly any 7mm.

Most "big" matches don't allow you to police your brass immediately after you've run the stage. Usually, they'll provide a minute or two for everybody to go after brass once everybody has completed the stage. Thus, you get some of your brass back, but certainly not all.

I understand why it has to be done that way, otherwise things would move SLOW. Given the opportunity, I've witnessed shooters spend more than 5 minutes looking for that "last piece" of missing brass.

Anyway, it's a lot easier to write off a few pieces of 243win brass than it is 284, or some kind of wildcat.

Another point is if you choose a very commonly USED cartridge, such as 260, 6.5creed, and even 6mm creed, you'll have no trouble policing about as many as you fired. They may not be "yours" though.