Greetings,
First off, please accept all my questions as someone who knows next to nothing about long range and precision shooting. Almost all my shooting experience has been in the Cowboy Action Shooting ring but I have left that sport and am now interested in getting into the more tactical side of shooting. I plan on getting tactical versions of shotguns, handguns, CQB rifle and long range/precision/sniper rifle. And of course, all with the magical and mysterious phrase "On a budget" LOL!
Through my reading in this forum, it appears that the Stevens 200 is the best (and by that I mean most upgradeable and cheapest) base gun to start with as a project rifle. One of the few non-Cowboy guns I have owned was a Swedish Mauser in 6.5X55 Swede. I truly loved that rifle and at 200yds with iron sights I couldn't miss a 24" circular gong (this may not seem all that amazing to you, but to me it was LOOOOONG RANGE indeed considering the ranges I shot at during Cowboy matches was no more than 30 yards).
Now it may have been the fact I was shooting a full military all wood version that was heavier that I was used to but the recoil was almost nonexistant (I have loaded BP 12ga that kicked a lot harder than it did) and that fact that it is a little bit of an oddball calibre (I have always been attractedd to oddball calibres) makes me want to put together a tactical rifle in this calibre.
Now I know that with the right boltface and barrel you can make a Stevens 200 just about any calibre you want (at least that is what you fine knowledgeable folks have said) but I would like to know if it would be easier to start with a specific calibre that the 200 is available in to make the transition easier.
To answer a few questions that I know may come up, yes, I will be handloading. Yes, I know that sticking with a more standard cartridge will be easier. Yes, I know .223 can do all the things that every long range shooter could want (Thank you Mystic, the article on taking the .223 to a mile was truly amazing!). Yes, I know .308 seems to be the standard among the big boys of the game. And yes, I am aware that building a tacital/long range/precision rifle is a long and somewhat expensive labour of love. No, this will not be a hunting rifle (Unless I can't afford to get another rifle after I am done LOL). Yes, I know that without the proper optics, an accurate rifle means diddly squat.
Any questions that you may have about my intentions for this rifle will be handled courteously and with respect, please treat mine in the same way.
I appreciate all the help you could provide and thank you in advance for reading this long winded post.
With Greatest espect,
Matt
First off, please accept all my questions as someone who knows next to nothing about long range and precision shooting. Almost all my shooting experience has been in the Cowboy Action Shooting ring but I have left that sport and am now interested in getting into the more tactical side of shooting. I plan on getting tactical versions of shotguns, handguns, CQB rifle and long range/precision/sniper rifle. And of course, all with the magical and mysterious phrase "On a budget" LOL!
Through my reading in this forum, it appears that the Stevens 200 is the best (and by that I mean most upgradeable and cheapest) base gun to start with as a project rifle. One of the few non-Cowboy guns I have owned was a Swedish Mauser in 6.5X55 Swede. I truly loved that rifle and at 200yds with iron sights I couldn't miss a 24" circular gong (this may not seem all that amazing to you, but to me it was LOOOOONG RANGE indeed considering the ranges I shot at during Cowboy matches was no more than 30 yards).
Now it may have been the fact I was shooting a full military all wood version that was heavier that I was used to but the recoil was almost nonexistant (I have loaded BP 12ga that kicked a lot harder than it did) and that fact that it is a little bit of an oddball calibre (I have always been attractedd to oddball calibres) makes me want to put together a tactical rifle in this calibre.
Now I know that with the right boltface and barrel you can make a Stevens 200 just about any calibre you want (at least that is what you fine knowledgeable folks have said) but I would like to know if it would be easier to start with a specific calibre that the 200 is available in to make the transition easier.
To answer a few questions that I know may come up, yes, I will be handloading. Yes, I know that sticking with a more standard cartridge will be easier. Yes, I know .223 can do all the things that every long range shooter could want (Thank you Mystic, the article on taking the .223 to a mile was truly amazing!). Yes, I know .308 seems to be the standard among the big boys of the game. And yes, I am aware that building a tacital/long range/precision rifle is a long and somewhat expensive labour of love. No, this will not be a hunting rifle (Unless I can't afford to get another rifle after I am done LOL). Yes, I know that without the proper optics, an accurate rifle means diddly squat.
Any questions that you may have about my intentions for this rifle will be handled courteously and with respect, please treat mine in the same way.
I appreciate all the help you could provide and thank you in advance for reading this long winded post.
With Greatest espect,
Matt
