New Equiptment / Rifle?

[boogershooter]

Hi, I want to get back into this game a little.In the past I used a PSS Rem in 308.It barely made weight with mag removed ,either way I was just shooting for fun, so the guys at the club let me slide either way.My question is ...on a $850.00 budget , what factory rifle would you buy?I have a scope to suffice for now,weight = 24 oz....10 lb 2 oz limit right.Where do I go.I like savage 10fp H S stock. ,it weighs 9 lbs.Can I legally remove mag and shoot with a filler block of foam to cut some weight? Maybe take a few more oz out of stock behind butt pad? or is it gonna be too close with rings bases etc.?Tikka T-3? ..CZ? ... 6.5 x 47??? I am open minded to caliber choices also,just have alot of 308 components on hand,any input is appreciated! Thank you much, Larry Kaye.

[BlauBear]

I just got a Tikka T3 light in 6.5x55, but with a do over the wood stock and blued steel looks like a better choice. Quality looks good but until some loading gets done and the range dries out that's all we'll know. You might also look at their Varmint for the heavier barrel and raised comb, although if the comb is adjustable that won't help, and the barrel may be too heavy.

Just remember that the Remington 700 is the high power 10/22 - lots of after market goodies.

[boogershooter]

Hey thanks Bear,I dont know why,I have owned several rems,and never quite took to them.Kinda a rebel I guess? Savage seems to be making quality stuff.I have one of there actions on another heavy gun and man does it consistently shoot.Thats why I was leaning that way.I liked the Tikkas Ive seen, just havent shot one,let me know.Have you owned many rifles geared towards high power sihlouette?Hey I was just looking at the T-3 super varmint, would this be a legal shooter in sihlouette? I like the integrated picatinny!

[BlauBear]

Savage was very tempting because they have built a good reputation for accuracy and switching barrels is so (relatively) easy. In the end, I backed away over durability questions. A particular concern was the floating bolt face - neat idea if it holds up.

Truthfully, I hate recoil. Four years of getting beaten up by M-14's left me with a really bad attitude towards high power rifles that I haven't overcome yet. The Tikka seemed like a good compromise between cost and quality in 6.5mm - much less than a custom, better quality than a comparably priced 700 and Remington 700's in 6.5mm are currently made from unobtainium.

[jneihouse]

On the subject of losing the magazine filling the void with foam, if a rifle is "born' a repeater it has to stay a repeater. Ed Jones "Gator" here on SC shoot a Tikka....he could probably give some good input...

FWIW it is always cheaper to by once and cry once than it is to by twice and cry twice..
Kitty

[Dee]

I am thinking of a Tikka T3 in 7mm-08 if I get into high power. From what I understand you can use .308 brass with a die for it as well and they always have lots of once shot .308 at the sheriffs range in the bucket. Still thinking about HP myself. Already shoot 5 other rifles so 2 more plus reloading ammo is going to take some convincing.

Dee

[Jason]

Brass isn't all that expensive, especially common calibers like 308 Win. I think it would be better to start with known quality brass of the same lot for match shooting. Range brass is fine for plinking, but I wouldn't trust it for matches.

[Finprof]

I just bought a Howa 1500 in 6.5X55 as a hunting gun for murdering defenseless animals rather than shooting silhouette, but it should work for silhouette as well. The Howa has been around for a long time in various incarnations as the Weatherby Vanguard, Smith and Wesson 1500, Mossberg 1500 and some others so that lot of aftermarket stuff is available. Stocky's says that it is second only to the Rem. 700 in availability of replacement stocks. It also uses Rem. 700 bases. I already have a Timney trigger and replacement stock for it even though I haven't shot it yet. You can buy a barreled action for $325-$350 and a complete gun with a crappy Butler Creek stock for about $400 or a nicer Boyds wood laminate stock in a JR Sundra design for around $550. That's what mine cost me.

I bought a 6.5x55 for silhouette and decided I wanted a hunting gun in the same caliber. Like BB I became recoil sensitive in my geezerdom.

[boogershooter]

Thanks for the info, And I am now leaning to the 6.5 x 55 also. The Tikka super varmint looks nice but Im guessing its illegal due to adjustable comb? So I guess its gonna be the Tikka varmint in 6.5...Can I use my Burris Zee insert type rings on top of this reciever? Somebody stop me if Im making a bad choice, as I am on my way to local dealer today with deposit for order. Gotta keep economy stimmed with some snow removal money.

[Jerry G]

Sounds like you are on track. The 6.5 is a great choice. The varmit rifle will probably not make Hunter class. As long as you are buying guns and ammo, keep that economy going.