Looking at new long range rifle - Tactical Operations Inc - GA Precision

[captdan]

What did you decide to go with.. WSM or WM.. I have a GA rifle. It is great shooter.

Just my 2 cent WSM on a long action..

Glad you like your GA. I'm leaning toward the old outdated but tried and true 300 WM with 1x10 twist. But, the gun is nor ordered yet - still studying caliber and other options.

 

[joshb]

I recently finished a 338 Win Mag. One of my kids wanted one. I can’t find the pic of the finished gun but this is the stock, fitted with a TRG bipod. I used a Tikka 695 action and a Bartlien barrel. I’ll take a pic when I get home.

 

[DirtySteve]

Thank for your view. I'd be interested in what new calipers you have in mind. I doubt that the 300 WM is ready for the 45/110 pile. I do have a 6.5 creedmoor as well. Is that out of date too?

Oh and what is wrong with the 45-110? I just ordered a 45-70 from Shilo. Next year I may order the 45-110..or 50-90..

 

[jnm300ultra]

Captdan, I have a Gap 300 win mag, it shoot great. I went with the non typical hunting rifle. My rifle was 3,500 after all the extras, ported break, fluted barrel and 4 flush sling cups. You get everything at one shop. You get a custom action, and they specialize in tac rifles. Just remember if you want to shoot the heavy bullets have them ream your chamber to the bullet you want. The only down side is you never talk to the Smith they have a guy answering the phone and you deal with him directly. Also a nice thing is they deliver the rifle on time. I had a hunt in 3 weeks before delivery and I called them and they gave it to me with a week early.
Good luck
Jason

 

[captdan]

I recently finished a 338 Win Mag. One of my kids wanted one. I can’t find the pic of the finished gun but this is the stock, fitted with a TRG bipod. I used a Tikka 695 action and a Bartlien barrel. I’ll take a pic when I get home.
View attachment 1114737

Oh and what is wrong with the 45-110? I just ordered a 45-70 from Shilo. Next year I may order the 45-110..or 50-90..

Not a thing! Exactly my point. I've got one too.

 

[Evan]

Always looking to gain info, but I think if the 300 WM was good enough for Chris kyle it's probably ok for me too

Chris Kyle shot what he was given. He also used a 338 Lapua Mag and vastly preferred it, and the rifle system it came with, to the 300WM.

Folks are trying to steer you away from the old winny for real, tangible reasons. They are difficult to tune and fall out of tune easily. Nodes are small and unforgiving and they are frequently picky in what they will shoot well. They don't hold vertical at range nearly as well. Many reloaders struggle to get decent accuracy from them.

The 300 WSM, on the other hand, is the opposite. Folks find great loads quickly with all kinds of bullets and powder, and competitions are won and records set with them regularly.

If you like the 300WM and want that, get it. Everyone here is just saying: don't expect it to shoot as easily as your 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Both of those are know for their ease of precision and accuracy. The 300WM isn't.

Have you looked at a 300 Norma Mag?

 

[Evan]

I'm sorry, I blew right over your question!

Jim Borden, at Borden accuracy, will build you an amazing rifle. The receivers are of his design and, IMO, some of the nicest in existence.

 

[captdan]

I'm sorry, I blew right over your question!

Jim Borden, at Borden accuracy, will build you an amazing rifle. The receivers are of his design and, IMO, some of the nicest in existence.

Thanks, yep.. the question was about manf, not caliber choices Thanks!

 

[Evan]

Thanks, yep.. the question was about manf, not caliber choices Thanks!

I want to add: Jim built me a rifle and I have seen the light. I'll never waste my money on a factory rifle again. It is just so wonderful to use in so many small ways when compared to my trued and timed Remington and all said and done, the Borden only cost me maybe 400 bucks more than the Remmy to build and it is SO worth the extra 400 to me.

 

[Ned Ludd]

GAP will build a rifle that will shoot, no question about that. I own 6 GAP rifles in .223 Rem and .308 Win that I shoot in F-TR matches. In no case has any of these rifles ever been the limiting factor. Rather, they shoot much better than I can. I think you'd be very happy with their work.

Regardless of which manufacturer you decide on - no matter what the issue may be, if you want something done a certain way, be sure to specify exactly what you want, no matter how simple or obvious it may seem, and have it written into the work order. Because you will not always be dealing directly with the gunsmith, this is the best way to ensure that everything is done exactly as you want. I've found over the years with various manufacturers that you can't assume anything, nor can you expect them to read your mind. When something is left unspecified, a smith will generally do it their preferred way, which may not be your preferred way. Spell out in detail everything you want up front.

 

[D.Stone]

Chris Kyle shot what he was given. He also used a 338 Lapua Mag and vastly preferred it, and the rifle system it came with, to the 300WM.

Folks are trying to steer you away from the old winny for real, tangible reasons. They are difficult to tune and fall out of tune easily. Nodes are small and unforgiving and they are frequently picky in what they will shoot well. They don't hold vertical at range nearly as well. Many reloaders struggle to get decent accuracy from them.

The 300 WSM, on the other hand, is the opposite. Folks find great loads quickly with all kinds of bullets and powder, and competitions are won and records set with them regularly.

If you like the 300WM and want that, get it. Everyone here is just saying: don't expect it to shoot as easily as your 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Both of those are know for their ease of precision and accuracy. The 300WM isn't.

Have you looked at a 300 Norma Mag?

In what regard is 300WM difficult to tune?

Why is a case that is even more over-bore like the Norma highly recommended?

I'm really suspicious that 300 WM being difficult to tune is just because there is a whole gamut of non-match chambers, and substandard factory guns that give the cartridge a bad name. As well as tons of less than good brass, and tons of less-than-great bullet and powder combinations that are tried out by people that don't know any better.

I had a 300WM built 3 or so years ago, and I would say that it hammers pretty well, and with every bullet I've shot in it. 215 Berger's and 220 Scenars are stupid easy to get working well with H1000 powder. I don't have any group photos or F-Class reccords, but I've shot it in the two SE ELR and held my own against some decent shooters in the 30 caliber and lower class. (1st, 2nd, and 4th place finishes.)

Decent cases like Norma (not my preference but they are what I could get 2 years ago), good bullets, and good powder make it pretty straightforward. I've shot the same load of H1000 and 215gr Berger's for the life of the barrel.

 

[FrankG]

The WM can shoot just fine as D.Stone mentioned. All depends on how it is set up like anything else. Yes in my opinion the factory chamber spec. isn't conducive to accuracy on a regular basis.

That being said a proper chamber, and even running just o.k. brass, with a good load and a good bullet....the gun will perform very well.

I'm not a fan of the belt but it's not a hindrance per say accuracy wise. Also I feel guys are overloading the round to much as well.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

 

[Evan]

I'm talking second hand here. My uncle, who taught me to shoot and reload, tried the 300WM at two different times and then gave up on it. He told me that it was the dies and the brass he struggled with. He could never get consistency out of either of the two rifles. He liked the 338WM and the 7 Rem Mag a lot and got great results from those, so it's not the belt.

Third-hand, the internet is awash with folks struggling with the winny. I agree that most are trying to run them too hard. And that goes for all cartridges in general. Better accuracy and consistency can be found at lower than max pressures in all cases.

So it comes down to what your requirements are, and do you have an affinity for the 300WM. Sounds like the OP does, and his requirements are more in the PRS/hunting realm: 1st shot precision counts more than the next 4 shots after it.

 

[vonb]

Captdan,
You might find another 'smith to build just as accurate a rifle as TacOps or GAP. However, brand recognition is worth something should you ever sell it. Known brands tend to hold their value over unknown names. With that said, I'd also prefer a custom action over a worked over Rem 700. I have builds from known 'smiths on both custom and worked over Rem 700s. Custom actions provide me more owner satisfaction. Also, there are differences in approach and workmanship with the different 'smiths. Some I'd definitely use again, some I'll pass on.

 

[M14AMU]

Call Jon Beanland, Gould, Oklahoma!

You can thank me later!

 

[davidjoe]

I actually liked that Remington Custom shop post. If your plan was to view the gun as a platform for one or more take off barrels every 8 months and high volume shooting, no, go custom and WSM. Those are what I’d call match mule set ups and those guns have an important purpose like a race car but they are destined to be used up and are relatively interchangeable, as many guys build clones.

I kind of suspect I know where you're coming from. Win Mag rifles are rarely used for nonstop monthly-type matches. If the gun as originally delivered will stay that way without tinkering and barrel swaps to anonymous but accurate takeoffs, as a carefully used piece that also represents a segment of shooting and manufacturing history, yes, get something tailored but also evocative of an actually used weapon type.

I have a tactical 40-x .308 along those lines that is unique because it’s a Custom Shop repeater, and one of only a couple guns I view as irreplaceable.

 

[SWRichmond]

So the "problems" people have "tuning" their 300WM is likely, in many cases, recoil control. As a 22LR rifle will quickly highlight your poor shooting (especially trigger) technique, a 300WM will quickly highlight your inability to manage recoil.

Love the cartridge. H1000, 230 Bergers, Federal 215M, hardest brass you can get. Anneal them every time.

300WSM is also very easy to tune.

My $0.02.

 

[Ned Ludd]

GA are not real custom guns, no matter what people tell you. If it hasn't been fitted to you like a custom tailored suit, it isn't a custom gun. People's faces are different, length of pull varies, eye relief varies, etc...

If you're going to spend that kind of money, my advice is call Speedy Gonzales and have him build you a real custom gun, not one in name only. YMMV.

Joe

You don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about.

 

[davidjoe]

I think what Joe just means is that GA is very focused on one part of the accurate rifle spectrum, tactically useful weapons, as opposed to one off match toys. Their subject guns in writes up certainly don’t give the impression that they work with a great variety of “custom” actions or stock materials, such as shooter specific wood. They pursue and win such weapons contracts and their line doesn’t stray too far from those as far as I’ve seen. Certain Remington Custom shop products are basically higher end M-40’s. OP mentioned a particular sniper, and an accepted combat round, which WSM’s aren’t, so it’s very logical a precision “issued” or similar weapon with a type and actual name, is going to be the rifle’s criteria.

 

[Pres100]

Plenty of good advice on all sides of the discussion regarding caliber and gunsmiths, but as the saying goes “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”.

I’m sure that you’ll be satisfied where ever you decide to spend your money. I’d look hard at the application or intended purpose for the gun and start there to consider builders. From your first post it seems that it’s a tactical toy to go with your other ones so I assume a paper or steel puncher? Everyone has different expectations of use, quality, expectations etc. and many have different levels of experience.

You’re the only one that can make the right decision for you... there’s a lot of great resources available here to help. Doesn’t hurt to talk to the companies or gunsmiths to see which ones have the right fit for you and your needs.

Best of luck