The timing of the earlier thread about 308 varmint rifles was interesting........just so happened that I had one on order. I debated buying another NSS Pre-fit and a donor savage rifle from a pawn shop but didn't feel like putting in the effort (read, lazy).....Next I tried to find a Tikka varmint rifle in 308.....they exist but are pretty hard to come by......then I decided to just search for any 308 varmint rifle actually available and in stock.
Oh yeah, I should mention that I was trying to keep the cost of the rifle around $1000.....
I had a Savage varmint rifle in 308 but ended up using that action for a 223 AI build. I wanted to try something totally different....I've got extensive experience with Savage and Remington....Never considered a Browning....until I came across the X-Bolt Varmint....I liked how it looked, I liked the 60 degree bolt throw, I liked the adjustable stock, I liked the fact that it came with a muzzle break..,....(I wear hearing protection whenever I shoot and wanted to tame the 308 recoil down some too)....I liked the heavy fluted barrel and the adjustable trigger.....All these things prompted me to give it a shot....literally.
Upon receipt of the rifle I filled the buttstock with loose .224 caliber bullets to increase the weight even more. The rifle won't be carried around that much....probably just from the truck to the bench mostly. I wanted it heavy to keep the punishment down for extended shooting sessions. I suspect it'll be a pussycat.....Topped off with my new favorite scope, an Athlon Ares 2.5-15x50 FFP fastened down with 20 MOA Leupold bases and this thing is ready for action.......I had to modify the position of the rail under the rifle and put some rubber spacers in there to fasten the bi-pod to the fore end......The only bi-pod adapter I have like that is already in use. But that thing is solid! Not worried about it one bit
None of this stuff will mater if the rifle won't shoot!......Time to load up some break-in/test loads.....Fingers crossed that I didn't make a big mistake!
Oh yeah, I should mention that I was trying to keep the cost of the rifle around $1000.....
I had a Savage varmint rifle in 308 but ended up using that action for a 223 AI build. I wanted to try something totally different....I've got extensive experience with Savage and Remington....Never considered a Browning....until I came across the X-Bolt Varmint....I liked how it looked, I liked the 60 degree bolt throw, I liked the adjustable stock, I liked the fact that it came with a muzzle break..,....(I wear hearing protection whenever I shoot and wanted to tame the 308 recoil down some too)....I liked the heavy fluted barrel and the adjustable trigger.....All these things prompted me to give it a shot....literally.
Upon receipt of the rifle I filled the buttstock with loose .224 caliber bullets to increase the weight even more. The rifle won't be carried around that much....probably just from the truck to the bench mostly. I wanted it heavy to keep the punishment down for extended shooting sessions. I suspect it'll be a pussycat.....Topped off with my new favorite scope, an Athlon Ares 2.5-15x50 FFP fastened down with 20 MOA Leupold bases and this thing is ready for action.......I had to modify the position of the rail under the rifle and put some rubber spacers in there to fasten the bi-pod to the fore end......The only bi-pod adapter I have like that is already in use. But that thing is solid! Not worried about it one bit
None of this stuff will mater if the rifle won't shoot!......Time to load up some break-in/test loads.....Fingers crossed that I didn't make a big mistake!
