Rethinking how to reach my goal

[Billinoregon]

I miss non-competitive precision shooting. I started out with a Savage 12 BVSS 1:9 .223 just before the Accutriggers came out. Pretty sure it was an early SSS trigger I swapped in. With that rifle, I could pretty regularly shoot 1/4-inch groups at 100 yards with WW brass, Varget or 748 and the Sierra 52-grain BTHP. No bugholes, but it was fun trying. I also enjoyed shooting this rifle in informal matches at 600 yards with the 69-grain SMK. We had guys using everything from .223 to 6BR to .300 Winmag to .338 Lapua (the guy was a proctologist!) at these matches, and while I never came close to finishing high on the list, I really enjoyed the camaraderie and the fun of shooting the pipsqueak .223. I tried a Savage tactical in .260, but it wasn't as pleasant as the .223, so I sold it to a new shooter who promptly beat my tookas with it. 8)
Fast forward at least 20 years.
I've shot some fun matches with black powder cartridge guns, and have a chance to shoot military bolt matches (I would go with a Swiss K31). But I realize I miss shooting small groups with the forgiving .223.
So I thought I might do it differently this time. I really don't want to deal with the Savage trigger again. (Mr. Cortina, please take note.)
While Savage has to be credited with introducing a lot of shooters to 1/4-minute out-of-the-box accuracy, I've been there, done that.
I was thinking if I built an AR with a Geissele trigger and maybe a White Oak 1:8 barrel upper, I might get to play in the .2s without laying out a huge sum, and have a lower that I could throw a CQB upper on for other uses.
Now I am wondering if there's another path for a bit more money. OF course, if money were not object I'd be doing Stolle and Krieger and MacMillan and Nightforce, but that ain't happening.
So I guess all this rambling is leading to is a request for thoughts on a "middle way" that doesn't involve Savage, but could still involve an AR if need be. A blueprinted and trued Remington 700 is of course one route. Kinda boring.
My goal would be a no-frills rifle that can shoot in the .2s and occasionally thrill me with .1s at 100 yards and that would be fun and not discouraging at 600. If it could occasionally play at 1,000, really kewl.
I'm not a very competitive guy. Just looking for satisfaction.
What would y'all recommend in terms of action, barrel, stock, trigger and glass that will come in at maybe $1500-$1800?

 

[LHSmith]

Well, ya just missed a used Kelbly complete rifle for under $1200 in these classifieds, and occasionally there's used Weaver 36x's that would have fit your budget......just keep looking. There are turnkey Customs offered up at real bargains if you really want them.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

http://theshooterscorner.com/

Most of these used BR rifles (the vast majority are 6PPCs) will come up short at 600yd, but if you get one with a 0.473 boltface you could save your coins and get a 6BR or Dasher 8tw barrel sometime down the road. Until then, you can have a lot of fun at 100-300yd.

Drop Bob White a line, tell him your budget, and have him fix you up with a rifle and scope. If I were you I would come up with the couple of hundred extra bucks for a custom action (instead of a trued Rem 700) -- it's worth it. But a trued Rem will shoot just as well, just not as fast or as smooth.

If you have more time than money, BR rifles get cheaper when the weather is turning cold.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I don't think an ar will get you .2s. I have a WOA upper and its very accurate, but not .2 or even .3s maybe .4-.5. I think you will have the most fun with some thing that your not fighting the platform. You can buy a used br rifle that will fit you budget. Find one in 6br and you'll be in heaven.

 

[LHSmith]

Perhaps he was refering to the occasional .2's, we all know the wind can blow them into a group just as well as blow them out.

 

[Shynloco]

I've been down much the same road and have done the Savage bit as well. But recently, I was faced with much the same issue...WHAT NEXT? Well that answer came via some unforeseen input and ended up being something I'd never done before, having a custom 30BR built from the ground up. Talk about a caliber and rifle that has inherent accuracy...man this is it! And since (like you) competition isn't my thing, I ended up going with a new Remington 700SA blued SA with a 24" Kreiger 1:18. A week after the rifle was finished, I also had the trigger changed out to the latest and newest model Timney Calvin Elite trigger that has an 8 oz trigger pull which is fine for me and is less expensive than the Jewell 2 oz that guys who compete, use. All in all, the rifle turned out to be a very accurate and fun gun to shoot. Case prep is not all that difficult with having to neck up 6br brass and barrel life expectancy is obscene at a ridiculous prediction of 7000+ rds. The two primary recommended powders are H4198 and AA2015, both of which I've found rather easy to find. In mine, she loves Berger 115 gr bulllets as the BIB 118grs are next to impossible to find or buy. Just another fine shootin rifle to consider adding to your collection. Might want to check out the write up on the 30BR here on the blog by some of the founders and innovators of the 30BR.

Alex

 

[Erik Cortina]

Billinoregon, you may find the Remington 700 route a boring one, but it is a route that will bring smiles to your face. Find a Remington 700 used, build a 6BR or improved on a 1:8" twist barrel and have fun. I had a 6BR hunting rifle that would shoot in the .2's easily from a bipod.

Look at the classifieds and look for a used rifle like some other members suggested.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

So I thought I might do it differently this time. I really don't want to deal with the Savage trigger again. (Mr. Cortina, please take note.)

Believe me, I have!

 

[kcomeau10x]

How about a Tikka T3? No personal experience but I have read a lot of good reviews that relate great out of the box accuracy.

 

[Billinoregon]

Toby, thanks for the heads up on Shooter's Corner. Some great stuff at great prices.
Shyn, I took your advice and read the .30 BR stuff. Looks like it's the nuts for up to 300 yards, not so much to 600.

 

[ebb]

My friends bought me a used Benchrest rifle ( I had to pay for it), a Hall action, Mcmillan stock, Kreiger barrel and Jewell trigger. It had a fresh barrel and cost $1300. Ive shot in the "0"s with a few times. Its not a 600 yd rifle yet, but I haven't got the good out of the barrel it came with. When the barrel is toast it can become anything I want. Ive got a good shooting AR, 4s-5s not 1s-2s. And to get an AR to compete with my Hall you will spend LOTS. When the barrel is gone it can be a fast twist 22BR and go 600yds, like your Savage only way better. Mine will probably become a 30 PPC.