Newbie looking for some guidance

[MOShooter]

I'm new to this site and target shooting in general. I have hunted all my life but just started to take interest in paper. I have been shooting my fathers CZ 550 target 308. With our handloads I can shoot .75-1 in groups at 100yds. We have a range that is 100, 200 & 450. Most of my shooting will be with him and friends. However, if I enjoy and feel that I can compete would like to shoot some matches. Being a beginner I'm not ready to dive into a full custom setup. Would like input on where to start. I have never been a big Savage fan but they do offer some factory rifles in some of the calibers that I have interest in. The 6br,6.5 creedmoor and 308. We have been using Zeiss conquest scopes. Would really like to move into a NF benchrest. Again, is it worth the extra cost at this point?
Thanks in advance for any input, it will be a great help.

 

[jonbearman]

Welcome to the forum! I would choose the 6br in an 8 twist rifling.The br is easy to tune with handloads and it will get boring shooting tiny little holes,LOL I have 3 of them and love them.The .308winchester is a good round and long barrel life and with a savage you can buy a myriad of pre-chambered barrels and basically have a switch barrel.I have many barrels and recivers and switch them all the time.The tools are reasonable and you should call Jim Briggs at northland shooters supply for further phone training.His # is: 1-419-695-3179

 

[gaboon]

I would save the money on the scope and get a Nikon or a sightron to begin with. Till you want to progress farther into the sport. Differently get a savage or. Remington to begin with.I lean to the savage side because of all the options that can be done. Savages are cheaper to work on and come out the box accurate.

 

[Steve3]

I am pretty much in the same boat. I would suggest you go the route I have chosen, visit clubs, talk to shooters, read, read, read. I am swinging in the direction of a 6BR. And yes, Savage seems to be a good choice if going out less than 600 yards. I hope to borrow a scope from a friend for the first season. Do the math, you can easily spend 5K the first year if you are not careful and get caught up in the custom frenzy.

 

[Larryh128]

The Savage rifle or action is a good starting point and you can do a lot of work by yourself. Wait until you are committed before you spend the extra $ on a Nightforce. Work on your form and loading 1st, custom 2nd.

 

[Lapua40X]

Even though I've always favored Remington 700 over the Savage, I won't try to sell you on either. Each has its own merits. I just hate the Accutrigger.
I would recommend that you begin with a 6BR Norma 1:8 for your entry into competition shooting. The 6BR is relatively inexpensive to load and you can use it for competition in everything from Varmint target matches to 1K. As you grow as a target shooter, the 6BR will ensure your competitiveness.
If you're using Zeiss Conquest scopes now, stay with that. It's certainly a quality scope and it will serve well for competitive shooting. Just make sure you have the reticle that best suits your target shooting purposes. If you must change scopes, I'd recommend a Sightron SII 6-24x42 MD as a starting point. You might want to compare the Sightron SIIISS 6-24X50 LRMOA to the NF before making your decision on the next step up on your scope.
Take some time and become a visitor at as many match events as you can. Leave your rifle at home and just watch. Listen to the chatter. You'll learn more from the chatter than you will from one on one discussions. Not that there's anything wrong with one on one discussions. But you don't want to rely on single source input when making the decision on which door to open on entering competitive shooting.

 

[MOShooter]

Thanks for the advise.
Has anyone ever built a custom with a CZ action? My father is on staff and I can get a rifles for a reasonable price. Then could built it into a 6br. I think I could do that for about 1200-1300. Which is about the same price as I have found on the Savage LRTV. Would a trued CZ with a good barrel be better than a factory Savage?

 

[jonbearman]

The CZ is a fine little rifle however you have to have a rifle with aftermarket parts that are available.There is very little stuff for the cz,you can find triggers but the stock one is probably good enough,secondly the barrel and fitting it to your receiver may prove a task as many don't like cutting metric threads. Do your self a favor and just buy a savage benchrest gun in 6 br 1in8 twist with the target accutrigger you will be set for awhile.Thirdly buy a used weaver T-36 for less than 400.00 and Burris signature zee rings(plastic inserts) so as not to scar the scope so you can resell it to step up to a quality scope beyond the weaver such as the SIII 8-32x56mm sightron.The Criterion barrels(kreigers button rifling division) shoot really well for a 300.00 barrel. You don't need to time and true right off the bat unless primary extraction is poor. The barrel wrench and the nut wrench and a receiver wrench with the correct go gage(headspace gage),looklike the 6 br cartridge,you can even rent them for a song.

 

[MOShooter]

I have a model 12 target coming. Super excited. Jim at Northland was a huge help.
My guess is price. I'm going to use my zeiss 4-14x50 until I find out what I want.

 

[MarkS]

THe Savage will do you very well. The Zeiss is a good scope. You just want target knob adjustments for long range. If you want to go custom some day, keep your eye on used guns. You can get a great gun cheap.

Mark Schronce

 

[gene pool]

Leave enough money in the budget to buy good cleaning gear--a bore guide, cleaning rod, jags, solvent, etc. With proper maintence you will get good accuracy and long barrel life. Good maintenance is as important as good ammo.

 

[Steve Ladino]

Be shure to learn the rules at the clubs you intend to compete at. Don't make the mistake of buying/building a gun that is not allowed in the class you wish to compete in at the club you want to shoot at !