Equip. Question for Sihlouette Shooters.

[boogershooter]

I am considering a factory rifle purchase to shoot sihlouette this year.I dont want to spend alot of money ,so budget right at $800. Already have scope, weight = 24 oz... What factory rifle would you buy to compete. I am considering the Savage 10fcp hs, weight = 9lbs.Can I remove magazine ,and lighten stock by drilling holes behind buttpad,or is this a bad idea? Or Tikka T-3. weight =8lbs should easily make max. weight of 10lbs,2oz.I like the Savage products,Have never shot a Tikka???Any suggestion, on any equiptment are appreciated!

 

[blawton]

On a budget the savage is one of the best you can start with. Find a ultra light weight stock and yes cut as much weight as you can. I can give you some ideas if you need some.

You know what caliber you are going to use?

 

[boogershooter]

Thanks for the reply Notaguru.I'm thinking .308 for now ..I have all the supplies...eventually .284...I wonder what that Savage magazine weighs. I can take it out and replace with something lighter like a peice of foam rubber or a balsa block etc. , Ill come up with something just to prevent the rounds from falling through as I load single fire.What do ya think? Does anyone know aprox. what that magazine weighs?

 

[Shootndig]

You may want to ask this question over at steelchickens.com .
Also check nrahq.org competition rules. Two things that come to mind are standard rifle weight (10lb.2 oz.) vs. hunter rifle (9lb 8 oz) [however hunter can be fired in either or both classes]. Also a rifle that is factory designed as a repeater must be loaded from the magazine (at least in hunter..can't remember about standard). Anyhow, give the forums over there a try...they'll help you out.

 

[blawton]

Yes i think there is something you can do about that. I cant remember exactly what the rules states. You should find some good info over their on steelchickens.com.

 

[boogershooter]

Thanks for the help!

 

[KevinThomas]

Might want to rethink the choice of caliber here; the 308 is borderline/inadequate for silhouette, and hasn't seen much use for quite some time now. The lighter bullets (168-175) aren't sufficient to reliably take down rams. Youi'll wind up "ringing" (hitting, but failing to topple the target; scored as a "miss") rams with this cartridge with all but the heaviest bullets. Moving up to the 200 grain bullets will usually do the trick, but now you're dealing with a good bit more recoil, especially in the relatively light rifles used in this game. As backwards as this may sound at first, the smaller bore cartidges are the ones you need here. This was the game that MADE the 7-08, and it's still a pretty reliable performer with 168s on the rams. Going down to 140s, or even 130s will reduce recoil and still remain pretty consistent on the first three banks. Ditto for the 260 Rem, or our own 6.5x47 Lapua; good performers on all banks out to and including the rams, while delivering even less recoil than the 7-08.

Hope this helps!


Kevin Thomas
Lapua USA

 

[blawton]

Agreed! 6.5x47 would be a excellent choice.

 

[RIFLE1]

I have shot the highest scores consistantly,... that I ever have since switching to the 6.5x47 Lapua. Very,...Very versatile cartridge,... and it will feed out of most any mag box
with bullets loaded at optimal length. Recipe for success,...
Lapua 6.5x47 case,.. CCI450 primers,..... Varget and Lapua 108's for the first 3 banks, then 139's for the rams.

Shoot and enjoy!!!!!


Chris