Rifle choice

[GLN305]

I've been doing alot of reading on here about a specific range of rifles that I am looking into and there is some fantastic advice, some old and some new. I figured I'd ask this publicly so that it's more than an answer for me, but possibly a resource for others.

What I am looking into is a rifle to use as a Long Range (600-1400 meter) solution chambered in 6.5CM. The rifles I am considering are:

1. Tikka T3x Tac A1
2. Bergara BMP
3. Bergara LRP
4. Christensen MPR
5. Howa Legacy APC

I am heavily leaning towards the Tikka, simply because I have heard very good things in general. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on what makes the most sense to them. Thanks!

 

[MK20]

I would probably go Tikka as it is the most versatile if you ever want to reconfigure it later.
Bergaras use a proprietary barrel cut that is not the same as a Remington. Cone cut for the bolt vs a reg remington cut so I would stay away from them.

I have a RPR that I love so you may want to look at that as well.

 

[GLN305]

I would probably go Tikka as it is the most versatile if you ever want to reconfigure it later.
Bergaras use a proprietary barrel cut that is not the same as a Remington. Cone cut for the bolt vs a reg remington cut so I would stay away from them.

I have a RPR that I love so you may want to look at that as well.

That's what I have gathered so far. The only concern relative to the Tikka is finding a well fit 20 MOA rail, which can be solved with a mount. Good info, thanks.

 

[MK20]

Mountain tactical has a 20 MOA rail. I have one and it fits great. Use some heat to take the factory rail off. Use good quality torx bits too.

 

[FLhog]

I've been doing alot of reading on here about a specific range of rifles that I am looking into and there is some fantastic advice, some old and some new. I figured I'd ask this publicly so that it's more than an answer for me, but possibly a resource for others.

What I am looking into is a rifle to use as a Long Range (600-1400 meter) solution chambered in 6.5CM. The rifles I am considering are:

1. Tikka T3x Tac A1
2. Bergara BMP
3. Bergara LRP
4. Christensen MPR
5. Howa Legacy APC

I am heavily leaning towards the Tikka, simply because I have heard very good things in general. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on what makes the most sense to them. Thanks!

I dislike the Tikka's mag system, the AICS is a de facto standard and with Magpul making them, they've really been driven down in price. I have a Bergara LRP and love it, it's a solid .5 MOA gun depending on how much coffee or dip I've had before I hit the range. I don't have experience with the other choices you have so I can't offer an opinion. The CA MPR is certainly attractive too if weight is a driving consideration for you.

 

[blbennett1288]

I go with the Tikka. Most companies now offer inlets for the Tikka's so you can switch to AICS mags.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

So many people screech about proprietary Tikka mags and price thereof. So what? Is this really a thing? How many mags do you need for a bolt gun? The TAC A1 ships with two. I don't know if Tikka/Beretta has ended the 3rd-free-magazine offer. I have never used more than two mags in a match. If you put a CTR or whatever other variant into a 3rd-party chassis, you won't use the Tikka mags anyway. The Tikka mags are $10-20 more than competitors' metal mags. So if you want 5 mags instead of 2, you spend $30-60 more, which you'll more than make up if/when you resell the thing.

 

[Fig]

I need a half dozen, 10rnd, steel, AI mags at least with two in the taco on my belt, and the rest in the bag. For a gas gun I need a minimum of 7 mags in reserve, and I'd rather carry another half dozen beyond that.

Then for some reason I'm perfectly fine carrying a 6 shot Colt Cobra for protection...

 

[Fig]

On the .22 side I have a Savage MkII in a MDT chassis, and I can tell you that when I shoot a match I'm jealous of the Rugers and CZs that take decent mags. The Savage mags suck.

I think the more you shoot the more mags you want, and the more you care about their detaily function.

 

[Kickin45]

The Bergara is a R700 footprint, so theres a huge reconfigure option

 

[DownhillFromHere]

On the .22 side I have a Savage MkII in a MDT chassis, and I can tell you that when I shoot a match I'm jealous of the Rugers and CZs that take decent mags. The Savage mags suck.

I think the more you shoot the more mags you want, and the more you care about their detaily function.

I'm the opposite. The matches I shoot (centerfire and rimfire) are 10-round stages, and I'm so arthritic and slow I seldom get off all 10 in move-shoot-move stages anyway. I have three mags for my bolt guns (well, four for one of them because somebody gave me the 4th).

I think my point still stands, though... if the OP is more like @Fig than me and wants 6-10 mags, he's looking at $40-160 more than competitive AICS mags for a platform that has a known high resale value. It comes down to where and how much one chooses to invest.

 

[Fig]

I'm exaggerating for effect, but I can honestly say I've never thought to myself, "I have too many magazines."

 

[FLhog]

So many people screech about proprietary Tikka mags and price thereof. So what? Is this really a thing? How many mags do you need for a bolt gun? The TAC A1 ships with two. I don't know if Tikka/Beretta has ended the 3rd-free-magazine offer. I have never used more than two mags in a match. If you put a CTR or whatever other variant into a 3rd-party chassis, you won't use the Tikka mags anyway. The Tikka mags are $10-20 more than competitors' metal mags. So if you want 5 mags instead of 2, you spend $30-60 more, which you'll more than make up if/when you resell the thing.

I don't know that anyone is screeching about it, per say. If someone intends on only one precision style rifle than the by all means, the Tikka is The Shit. I have a Lite and a Superlite that will put give any 700P a run for its money for 3 to 5 rounds. Tikka makes an outstanding rifle.

Like Black Rifles, precision rifles tend to multiply. I like commonality between rifles, hence the defacto standard using AICS mags in both S/A and L/A variants. Being able to grab an AICS mag I use in my Bergara LRP and stuffing it into my wife's American Predator is convenient for me. What works for me may not work for someone else but it's still a consideration.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

I don't know that anyone is screeching about it, per say. If someone intends on only one precision style rifle than the by all means, the Tikka is The Shit. I have a Lite and a Superlite that will put give any 700P a run for its money for 3 to 5 rounds. Tikka makes an outstanding rifle.

Like Black Rifles, precision rifles tend to multiply. I like commonality between rifles, hence the defacto standard using AICS mags in both S/A and L/A variants. Being able to grab an AICS mag I use in my Bergara LRP and stuffing it into my wife's American Predator is convenient for me. What works for me may not work for someone else but it's still a consideration.

Not my best choice of words for the context, and that's a very good point about mag commonality across platforms. My rifles have tended to swap out, not multiply, so I have a Vudoo, a Tikka .223, and a Stiller-based 6.5CM. I'm happy with these for the moment... but yesterday at the range I spent a little time behind a buddy's rifle with a different scope... I liked that scope.....

 

[Alabusa]

Like you, I am in the market for a new rifle to play with while my custom is being born.

I have narrowed it to the Howa HCR and the Tikka TacA1. The Tikka would win hands down if available in .300WM such as the HCR. The .260 Rem Tikka is calling to me though.

 

[GLN305]

I picked up the Tikka today, I think I made a good choice considering neither was really a bad choice.