Two rifles, which to choose

[Archis]

I'll be shooting my first F-Class match this Saturday (3x500yds) at Mill Creek. I've been working up loads for two rifles and would like some input on which would be a better choice. Loose points because barrel gets hot and starts throwing shots sooner or loose points due to bad wind calls?

Rifle 1: Ruger Precision Rifle

• .243 Win, 1:7.7 twist, 26" CrMo factory barrel (tapers to .75" at crown)
• 115 DTAC's over 44.8gn H1000, 2850fps, ES=11, SD=7
• Lapua cartridge case
• 6-24x50 Vortex HS-T
• Weight: 14lbs 8oz

Rifle 2: Savage 6.5x47 Lapua

• 6.5x47 Lapua, 1:8 twist, 26" SS Shilen barrel (tapers to .875" at crown)
• 123 SMK over 35.5gn AA4064, 2785fps, ES=10, SD=4
• Lapua cartirdige case
• 6-24x50 Vortex PST
• Weight: 13lbs 10oz

I'm trying to weight the +'s and -'s of each setup and which to focus on for the upcoming match.

A couple of caveats first. I only recently decided to get into the sport and I'm trying to acquire halfway decent hardware without going for the cheapest thing on the shelf. I know I'll be shooting in the F-Open class and I'm grossly under weight on both rifles. Not much I can do about that. At most I think I could add a pound or two of lead shot into the forearm or stock of the Savage but that's about it. I'll be shooting from a Gen 3 Sinclair bipod rather than a front rest and will be using a rabbit ear rear bag. I have a cheapo front rest I use on the bench but both rifles tend to roll around in it and I've been getting better results from the bipod. Both rifles will regularly put 5 rounds into a .6MOA group, with occasional groups @ .4MOA. Trigger pull is similar for both, right at 2lbs, the RPR has a little more creep than the Savage.

There's really not a whole lot of daylight between them so my question comes down to what is the better trade off? Barrel heat or B.C.? The 6.5x47 Lapua is a stiffer barrel and typically takes more rounds to get to a point where heat is an issue. The .243 Win on the other hand shoots higher B.C. bullets nearly 100fps faster than the 6.5x47, equating to around 3" less wind drift at 500yds (with a full 10mph crosswind, which might be a reality).

With everything else on the brain trying to get ready for the match, I keep going around in circles

In the end, it'll be fun to shoot and I hope to learn a lot from the more experienced shooters. I'm certainly not going into this hoping to place, I just want to want to show up and appear competent. Thanks!

 

[Jdne5b]

Whichever one shoots tighter vertical.

 

[Immike]

Whichever one shoots tighter vertical.

That's right and which one will keep shooting when the barrel gets hot. Some factory barrels won't perform when hot. Oh yeah, get a mirage shield before you go.

 

[Jdne5b]

If one scope is better with mirage than the other, that would impact the choice also.

If you havent shot out there, some (most?) days the mirage is terrible when shooting from 500 over the gravel 300 yd line.

 

[Archis]

That right and which one will keep shooting when the barrel gets hot. Some factory barrels won't perform when hot. Oh yeah, get a mirage shield before you go.

Thats one thing I noticed about the Ruger, it heats up rather quickly and accuracy will start dropping off. It also copper fouls like a mother.

Good call on the mirage sheild, I ordered one yesterday from Sinclair, should be in by Friday.

 

[Archis]

Whichever one shoots tighter vertical.

That would probably be the Ruger. It usually averages around .2 to .3MOA vertical.

 

[Archis]

If one scope is better with mirage than the other, that would impact the choice also.

If you havent shot out there, some (most?) days the mirage is terrible when shooting from 500 over the gravel 300 yd line.

Oh goody. I've only shot a couple of practice sessions from the 300yd line out there and it was early in the spring so little to no mirage. It's also supposed to be a scorcher on Saturday. I cant really tell much of a difference, optically, from one Vortex to the other. The PST has a finer EBR-1 reticle than the HS-T.

 

[Immike]

Thats one thing I noticed about the Ruger, it heats up rather quickly and accuracy will start dropping off. It also copper fouls like a mother.

There ya go. This isn't cold bore shooting.

 

[Archis]

There ya go. This isn't cold bore shooting.

10-4

Makes sense.

 

[Immike]

10-4

Makes sense.

This is what you have to do in competition, pull weeds and make decisions. I'm sure you have some changes ahead of you and welcome to the sport bud. Your off to a good start!

 

[DCRYDER]

Is this a factory Ruger vs a custom barreled Savage????? I would be giving somebody a call about the custom barrel if a factory Ruger will out shoot it.

 

[dskogman]

The 6.5 x 47 Shilen should shoot better longer. Probably too late to change but I've gotten much better results with Berger's (5-10 points a round) and H4350 or IMR 4350.

 

[sfinn]

The 6.5 x 47 Shilen should shoot better longer. Probably too late to change but I've gotten much better results with Berger's (5-10 points a round) and H4350 or IMR 4350.

Don't let these guys steer ya wrong. I know a couple of em. One's a pistol shooter and the others a frog frier. LOL
Shoot the most accurate rifle you have, over the course of the match. Wind doping is like a fine wine. It comes with age.
Steve - Mill Creek Rifle Club

 

[Archis]

Is this a factory Ruger vs a custom barreled Savage????? I would be giving somebody a call about the custom barrel if a factory Ruger will out shoot it.

Ha! I'm sure that the Savage can shoot better but I'm still pretty early in load development. Not satisfied with AA4064 so far and I have IMR 4350 and Reloader-17 on hand but won't have time to workup a new load.

The 6.5 x 47 Shilen should shoot better longer. Probably too late to change but I've gotten much better results with Berger's (5-10 points a round) and H4350 or IMR 4350.

Bergers (either 130 or 140 hybrids) are on my list to try next. I've got several hundred 123 SMK's on hand for my Grendel so the plan is to use those up first. On a side note, I'm half tempted to shoot the AR Grendel. Last trip to the range produced several .35MOA groups which ain't bad for a gas gun.

Don't let these guys steer ya wrong. I know a couple of em. One's a pistol shooter and the others a frog frier. LOL
Shoot the most accurate rifle you have, over the course of the match. Wind doping is like a fine wine. It comes with age.
Steve - Mill Creek Rifle Club

Thanks Steve. Should be fun and VERY educational!

 

[Dgd6mm]

Rifle #2.

 

[Liven The Dream]

The .243 will burn out in a short time as a match rifle. 1150 to 2000 rounds. Been here done that.
When you shoot the Barrel off it make it a .308. 4000 rounds in a match rifle.

Shoot your other rifle. 500 yards is a short Range match.

 

[Jdne5b]

Don't let these guys steer ya wrong. I know a couple of em. One's a pistol shooter and the others a frog frier. LOL
Shoot the most accurate rifle you have, over the course of the match. Wind doping is like a fine wine. It comes with age.
Steve - Mill Creek Rifle Club

Hey now.. I resemble that remark.

You boys have fun this weekend. I got one more pistol match to take care of Saturday.

 

[Archis]

Thank you all for the recommendations. 6.5 Lapua it is then. My package from Sinclair made it a day early so I'll be finishing up my loads for the match tonight and should be all squared away.

 

[Archis]

Just wanted to give a post match rundown. I opted, like I said above, to shoot the 6.5x47 Lapua. I tested a few loads Friday night and was getting nice single digit ES/SD numbers so I felt pretty confident. When I got to the line on Saturday morning, that optimism was gone. I had never shot out to 500yds (furthest to that point was 400) and boy howdy was that target small.

Weather was great, mid 70's in the morning and going up to 90 by noon with wicked mirage like Jdne5b said there would be. Quartering winds were 4-8mph out of the SE. My first sighter had grossly over-estimated windage and I was off the target (still on frame). Second sighter was an X. Hmm. Game on. The next 4 rounds for score were in the X ring. Remainder of shots for they day were a mix of 9, 10 and X's. My score for the day was 565-12. Good enough for third (out of four FO shooters). All I can say is that I'm hooked!

Big shout out to Steve, Earl and the rest of the shooters today. They made the new guy feel welcome and put up with my constant questions and goof-ups. Pit service was great and I was through most strings of fire in around 15min. I'm still giddy, that was a hell of a lot of fun. Now the hard part is waiting for the next match!

 

[Jdne5b]

Just wanted to give a post match rundown. I opted, like I said above, to shoot the 6.5x47 Lapua. I tested a few loads Friday night and was getting nice single digit ES/SD numbers so I felt pretty confident. When I got to the line on Saturday morning, that optimism was gone. I had never shot out to 500yds (furthest to that point was 400) and boy howdy was that target small.

Weather was great, mid 70's in the morning and going up to 90 by noon with wicked mirage like Jdne5b said there would be. Quartering winds were 4-8mph out of the SE. My first sighter had grossly over-estimated windage and I was off the target (still on frame). Second sighter was an X. Hmm. Game on. The next 4 rounds for score were in the X ring. Remainder of shots for they day were a mix of 9, 10 and X's. My score for the day was 565-12. Good enough for third (out of four FO shooters). All I can say is that I'm hooked!

Big shout out to Steve, Earl and the rest of the shooters today. They made the new guy feel welcome and put up with my constant questions and goof-ups. Pit service was great and I was through most strings of fire in around 15min. I'm still giddy, that was a hell of a lot of fun. Now the hard part is waiting for the next match!

Good job!

It is very addictive. We have the Mo state match coming up. Load some rounds and come join. Over those 2 days you will learn more than you could imagine.