First Precision Rifle

[teddy12b]

To the original topic though between 300 WM and 338 LM I'd go 300WM. Personally though I would probably choose 300 PRC. Especially if you're planning to hand load. 300 PRC is the next caliber I'm planning to add to my collection. While it isn't exactly cheap to shoot, it's pretty reasonable considering what you're getting. I don't think the recoil on them is all that bad either. And it's hard to argue with the ballistics.

Whatever you end up going with, let us know what you settled on. Then give us an update later on about how you like it.

At the risk of getting back on topic I'll also say that if the 300 PRC would have been around when I bought my 338Lapua I probably would have leaned towards the 300 PRC. Hornady has made some incredible design improvements with their "PRC" series calibers to the point where the rifle manufacturers would have to try to make the guns not shoot well.

 

[DadSmith]

Shaw Barrels

Shaw Barrels

www.shawcustombarrels.com

$1985 put the stock of your choice on it.
It's threaded for a suppressor or muzzle break.




Warranty Information:
We stand by this rifle 100% and guarantee it to be free of manufacturing defects.
If you feel the rifle does not perform as advertised, we will repair, replace, or refund the full purchase price.

 

[Purdue1991]

Shaw Barrels

Shaw Barrels

www.shawcustombarrels.com

$1985 put the stock of your choice on it.
It's threaded for a suppressor or muzzle break.

View attachment 376808


Warranty Information:
We stand by this rifle 100% and guarantee it to be free of manufacturing defects.
If you feel the rifle does not perform as advertised, we will repair, replace, or refund the full purchase price.

Looked at their website. Pretty cool product. They take Rem700 compatible stocks and bottom metal and Savage 110 scope bases. You can get a basic, non spiraled version for about $1,300.

 

[DadSmith]

Looked at their website. Pretty cool product. They take Rem700 compatible stocks and bottom metal and Savage 110 scope bases. You can get a basic, non spiraled version for about $1,300.

They have some decent deals on right now for the holiday.

 

[WDHommel]

I only know I don't know much, and should therefore read the experiences of others and experts. So while I was doing some reading about long range precision I stumbled across TrackingPoint optics. I find that one fascinating and am sorely tempted to spend some of my inheritance to get it. At my age and with eye issues and COPD to boot, it sounds like a dream to have a gadget doing almost all the work for me.
But as for what that has to do with this thread.. the guys who designed that technology went through analysis what rounds they wanted their system to support, and they went with 300WM in the beginning, over 338. So take it from those experts, if you want.

 

[mikewd1983]

My only "real" precision rifle is a Remington 800 SPS with a 20 inch bull barrel. It's in 308. I love it and have great luck with it. I've had it close to 15 years now.

 

[spencer rifle]

Thread res
Looking at getting a Bergara B-14 HMR in .308 locally.
From what I can tell this would be a good investment. I have a Nightforce ready to mount on it.
Opinions?

 

[Mark-DuCo]

Thread res
Looking at getting a Bergara B-14 HMR in .308 locally.
From what I can tell this would be a good investment. I have a Nightforce ready to mount on it.
Opinions?

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with Bergara. I have the B-14 HMR in 6.5 CM and it is a tack driver for sure.

 

[mcapo]

Thread res
Looking at getting a Bergara B-14 HMR in .308 locally.
From what I can tell this would be a good investment. I have a Nightforce ready to mount on it.
Opinions?

Excellent choice.

My personal preference would lead me to 6.5 creedmoor over 308 for its lower recoil, flatter trajectory and readily available match grade ammo (if you don’t reload) and, if you do reload, availability of high BC bullets.

But

308 is a fine choice.

 

[spencer rifle]

Excellent choice.

My personal preference would lead me to 6.5 creedmoor over 308 for its lower recoil, flatter trajectory and readily available match grade ammo (if you don’t reload) and, if you do reload, availability of high BC bullets.

But

308 is a fine choice.

I do reload, and have a variety of .308 components to choose from. I hear a lot of good things about 6.5 Creedmoor but am trying to keep my calibers to as few as will do the job.

 

[teddy12b]

I do reload, and have a variety of .308 components to choose from. I hear a lot of good things about 6.5 Creedmoor but am trying to keep my calibers to as few as will do the job.

You would be served very well by that rifle. I've seen them in competitions and they do a great job. One thing I'd say though, a buddy had an HMR Premier in 6.5 and he started to get light primer strikes. He contacted customer service and they sent him a new trigger spring that was a noticeably different design. That leads me to speculate that there may have been a problem with spring design and they came up with a new design to fix it. His rifle had about 500 rds through it when that showed up. Other than that, I wouldn't hesitate in the least to buy that Bergara. I also wouldn't hesitate to buy a 308 either, and that's coming from a guy whose most expensive custom rifle is in 6.5cm.

 

[Creedmoor]

Thread res
Looking at getting a Bergara B-14 HMR in .308 locally.
From what I can tell this would be a good investment. I have a Nightforce ready to mount on it.
Opinions?

I'm a Remington 700 guy, I have a bunch of them. Do that scope justice and drop it on top of a PSS, a 40X or a 700 from Accuracy International or something in between. Here's one from Accuracy that doesn't come out often.

Whatever you buy, enjoy it and shoot it often.

 

[Jarvitron]

I have a 308 and a 6.5 Creedmoor and they're both pretty great. If I could only have one it would be the 6.5 Creedmoor. I found a really good deal on an older R700 on the classifieds here but I also bought a Tikka T3x. I'm sure plenty has been said about the R700 options (Remington, Bergara, all the fancy aftermarket ones) so I'll just pipe in about the Tikka.

The Tikka is very very nice. If you want a nice single stage trigger and a really nice running bolt, they're great. They don't come with threaded barrels normally which is a pain, but the biggest problem is the aftermarket for them is very limited in comparison to any of the remington 700 or savage actions. Mine shoots great, runs smooth, and the trigger is exactly what you want a single stage to be - you put your finger on the trigger, increase pressure, nothing moves until you hit ~3.5 lbs and then it goes off with just the slightest bit of overtravel. It's adjustable up and down from that pull weight. But the aftermarket for Tikka triggers is pretty meh, and it's not as nice as the slightly worked on single stage in my remington 700 and it's definitely not as nice as a Triggertech Diamond.

I don't think I'd buy a Tikka again, when Bergara is right there offering threaded barrels and r700 compatibility at $200-less, and there's a rapidly evolving price war in the custom bolt action space.

 

[Creedmoor]

I have a 308 and a 6.5 Creedmoor and they're both pretty great. If I could only have one it would be the 6.5 Creedmoor. I found a really good deal on an older R700 on the classifieds here but I also bought a Tikka T3x. I'm sure plenty has been said about the R700 options (Remington, Bergara, all the fancy aftermarket ones) so I'll just pipe in about the Tikka.

The Tikka is very very nice. If you want a nice single stage trigger and a really nice running bolt, they're great. They don't come with threaded barrels normally which is a pain, but the biggest problem is the aftermarket for them is very limited in comparison to any of the remington 700 or savage actions. Mine shoots great, runs smooth, and the trigger is exactly what you want a single stage to be - you put your finger on the trigger, increase pressure, nothing moves until you hit ~3.5 lbs and then it goes off with just the slightest bit of overtravel. It's adjustable up and down from that pull weight. But the aftermarket for Tikka triggers is pretty meh, and it's not as nice as the slightly worked on single stage in my remington 700 and it's definitely not as nice as a Triggertech Diamond.

I don't think I'd buy a Tikka again, when Bergara is right there offering threaded barrels and r700 compatibility at $200-less, and there's a rapidly evolving price war in the custom bolt action space.

I haven't fallen into the 6.5 trap yet. Ugh, more dies and gages to buy.
I do like the way those 6.5 bullets fly.
What vintage 700 trigger do you have?
The old ones can be adjusted pretty easily and can safely get brought down to low pound age. Especially the 40X triggers.

 

[spencer rifle]

I already have a Tikka T3x, Savage 110, Ruger American and Howa 1500, all in 308. With family members going hunting now, I'll be using most of those one way or another. I see Bergara mentioned favorably often, so it might be time to add another to the stable and see if it likes my JSP handloads.

 

[Jarvitron]

I haven't fallen into the 6.5 trap yet. Ugh, more dies and gages to buy.
I do like the way those 6.5 bullets fly.
What vintage 700 trigger do you have?
The old ones can be adjusted pretty easily and can safely get brought down to low pound age. Especially the 40X triggers.

As far as I can tell it’s just a Walker that had been set up very well. I think it breaks around 2.5? Take up and over travel is nonexistent, it’s got a bit of an old timey swoop to the shoe when it’s in a modern tacticool chassis but that doesn’t make it any less nice to shoot.