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New stick and why I love GAP (and Manners)

Iggy

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 21, 2010
644
6
Northern California
So I just took delivery of a new stick. This is my first high-end/custom rifle, and I have to say I am extremely impressed. I started shooting a bolt action rifle February of this year and I was instantly addicted. I quickly progressed and have since gone through 2 rifles before this one (Rem SPS-V and 5R). There have always been a few things with these rifles that I had to make some compromises as far as accuracy vs equipment. The 5R was a great rifle, but once I found it ideal load I couldn't use a magazine and I couldn't compete very easily with a single shot rifle. If I loaded to fit in a magazine I'd sacrifice accuracy. So I looked into getting the rifle re-chambered first and it was more cost effective for me to get a custom rifle. Enter GA Precision.

I placed an order with GAP and everything got started. If you don't already know, there is no question about GAP's quality, it is hands down the best and they have the reputation to prove it. This can be said for a lot of companies, but one of biggest aspects of the company is how they treat their customers. At the beginning there was a problem with my order that could have been a big deal, but I was well taken care of. George went the extra mile and took care of me and my order. I have never had a situation like this go so smoothly and because of that I will be ordering my next rifle from them. I am go grateful and excited to have ordered from GAP. I received an excellent rifle and I received the best customer service from any company I have dealt with.

In my opinion if anyone is looking for a great rifle there is no reason not to call GA Precision. Give George, Karey or Tracy a call; no matter what you won't regret it.

I also dealt with Tom and Christie from Manners Stocks. This is my second stock from them and they are equally as friendly and supportive. They always come through with a top-notch product!

Now on to the stick! I will shoot it tomorrow and see how it does, but I have no doubt it is a driver.

Templar Short Action .308
24" Bartlein stainless 5R barrel/1:11.25 twist #7 GAP Contour .920 at muzzle
Finished in Cerakote Black
Manners T4 with 90% Carbon and mini-chassis
Nightforce F1

Weight as pictured: 15.4lbs

templar1.JPG


templar2.JPG


templar3.JPG


I choose all black because I saw how well Cerakote holds up. I can just paint it and strip it later if I want. The action is butter smooth, the crown is amazing and the fit and finish is incredible. It can use AW mags, which means it can be top fed, and the chamber is just were I want it. I can seat the bullet 1 thousandth into the lands and I can still use a mag. Heck, it's still to SAAMII length!

Thanks again George, Tom, Karey, Christie and Tracy!!!
 
Re: New stick and why I love GAP (and Manners)

Thanks for the reminder! I just updated the post, but as pictured it weighs 15.4lbs and without the bipod it weighs 14.2. Not bad, but most of weight is in the barrel.
 
Re: New stick and why I love GAP (and Manners)

You guys are killing me with pictures of these great looking rifles. I can't weight till my income tax gets done. I have plans for my half. Whats GAPS number again he he
 
Re: New stick and why I love GAP (and Manners)

Great looking rifle. The more I see guys getting their GAP rifles the more impatient I am becoming while waiting for mine to be finished. I am hoping I get the call in the next couple months.
 
Re: New stick and why I love GAP (and Manners)

Damn Iggy! I remember when you dropped your SPS into an AICS stock and I thought that was a pretty cool start... Now, fast-forward to now and look at ya! You've got a rig that will rival most of the guys here! And look how fast you did it! NICE!!!

Took me years of buying and trading and saving to get my "go-to" rifle! And you're just a kid! (Compared to me) I'm extremely envious!
wink.gif
 
Re: New stick and why I love GAP (and Manners)

I took her out today and I am the happiest kid on the block! No doubt it is a shooter, but the driver needs a bit of work. I broke in the gun, just to check copper fouling and crono'd some rounds so I could load a big batch.

This gun is a driver! This is my target at the end of the day. I tried to keep everything separate, but my buddy accidentally patched the original target. Good thing he didn't cover me best group!

td4.JPG


The it only took me two shots to get is to zero. The center shots are groups that I were for shooting and cleaning. The group on the right is my best group of the day! 5 shots and it was crappy ammo! I need to do that again. The groups to the far right are misc and the one group to the far left is a 7 shot group by 2 different people.

Just to test my skills at the end of the day I shot two 5 shot groups on my friends target. The top and bottom are from his 340 Wetherby Mag and the two on the right and left are mine. They were with 175 FGMM.

td5.JPG


What is amazing is to get same velocity as the 5R it took 2grns less!

td1.JPG


td2.JPG


td3.JPG


I feel like a 16 year old with a sports car. This is such a good gun and I am so glad I have it. I need to practice more since the shooter has a lot to work on, but at least I have big shoes to fill and I will have fun learning.

Thanks again to everyone who put this rifle together!
 
Re: New stick and why I love GAP (and Manners)

Thanks for the kind words! I am really enjoying the rifle.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sjbryan308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nice, I am waiting on exactly the same build except 22" barrel coyote tan T4a, and Razor HD instead of the F1.</div></div>

You'll enjoy it a lot! GA and Manners are top notch!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oneshot onekill</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Damn Iggy! I remember when you dropped your SPS into an AICS stock and I thought that was a pretty cool start... Now, fast-forward to now and look at ya! You've got a rig that will rival most of the guys here! And look how fast you did it! NICE!!!

Took me years of buying and trading and saving to get my "go-to" rifle! And you're just a kid! (Compared to me) I'm extremely envious!
wink.gif
</div></div>

I know! I was just looking at pictures and here is how I started in late Feb/early March.

Started with this:
spsv5.JPG


Upgraded to this:
AICS-bipod.JPG


Then this:
opt3.JPG


Sold it all for this:
5r.JPG


Then kept the scope for what I have now. I guess it's been 8 months since I started and I truly started learning by shooting. Reloading got me all crazy about accuracy and I have a lot of fun figuring out consistency in my reloading. I still have a long way to go, but it's so much fun!
 
Re: New stick and why I love GAP (and Manners)

im with ya iggy. ive just shot /been around your run of the mill regular rifles my whole life.and after purchasing /shooting one of these truely precision rifles"surgeon scalpel 300wm" ITS OVER. as sendero said WELCOME TO THE DARKSIDE! the guys at surgeon , gap, etc are makeing some truely amazing precision instrument. congrats. i am amazed every time i shoot the surgeon at 1k. it just takes your equipment out of the equation
 
Re: New stick and why I love GAP (and Manners)

Ill have to post some pics and range reports when I get mine together, my manners should be here in a week or two, Im picking up my scope next week, and My GA barreled action is about 3 or 4 weeks out.