Custom build....
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 11:36 am
A little quiet on here recently, so I'll chuck mu current musings up for discussion....
I'm thinking about the Precision Rifle League, but wondering if my current crop of rifles will fill that niche, (of course one of them will, but I'm looking for the excuse for a build)!
I'm fortunate that I have four full Bore rifles that I hold for target shooting. One of them is a back up hunting gun, but that one is out anyway, because it's just so bloody fantastic! That's an HS Precision Pro Series 2000 STR, 20 inch barrel .308. The second is a Bradley built AR. .223, with a 1in 8" Border barrel, again I don't think is suitable.
The next does fit. Sig Sauer SSG3000, in .308. Now when this was bought, it was £1450 new. That falls right under the leagues 1500 pound limit for "factory class", but now they're around 1800, so does it fall outside factory and into the unlimited class? It would be a disadvantage there, I'd think...
Now my final one and prime contender for customisation is my 2003 RPA Interceptor in 7mm-08. I bought this from new and have since added an RPA 20 MOA rail, an RPA Brake, a half decent mod and four spare mags (Read modified Sako TRG mags at £180 a pop!!) it still wears its original Archer barrel and I just can't seem to shoot that barrel out!
It's got nearly 5000 rounds of my sedate 168gn SMK with Vhit N140. I never use double based powders and I never load maximum, but it will still genuinely give sub MOA out to 600, when I'm on form. But in all honesty, that cartridge is going transonic around 800 yards and would never be able to compete.
So my thoughts are rebarrel that RPA with a 26", fluted, in similar profile, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. This was what that cartridge was supposedly first designed for and good brass is now freely available for it. I'll retain the 17x1 spigot thread so that the same mod and brake can be used.
One thing I've always disliked about the rifle is the Robertson stock! It just doesn't fit me. A short action Remington 700 stock can be made to fit the RPA Quadlite quite easily. I like HS stocks. I've had all manner of Remingtons fitted with them and my current STR also wears an HS stock, obviously. I'd have to have bottom metal that too AI mags as well, as Sako mags are ridiculous prices. And, out the Robertson and mags may off set the build cost!
I'm thinking about the Precision Rifle League, but wondering if my current crop of rifles will fill that niche, (of course one of them will, but I'm looking for the excuse for a build)!
I'm fortunate that I have four full Bore rifles that I hold for target shooting. One of them is a back up hunting gun, but that one is out anyway, because it's just so bloody fantastic! That's an HS Precision Pro Series 2000 STR, 20 inch barrel .308. The second is a Bradley built AR. .223, with a 1in 8" Border barrel, again I don't think is suitable.
The next does fit. Sig Sauer SSG3000, in .308. Now when this was bought, it was £1450 new. That falls right under the leagues 1500 pound limit for "factory class", but now they're around 1800, so does it fall outside factory and into the unlimited class? It would be a disadvantage there, I'd think...
Now my final one and prime contender for customisation is my 2003 RPA Interceptor in 7mm-08. I bought this from new and have since added an RPA 20 MOA rail, an RPA Brake, a half decent mod and four spare mags (Read modified Sako TRG mags at £180 a pop!!) it still wears its original Archer barrel and I just can't seem to shoot that barrel out!
It's got nearly 5000 rounds of my sedate 168gn SMK with Vhit N140. I never use double based powders and I never load maximum, but it will still genuinely give sub MOA out to 600, when I'm on form. But in all honesty, that cartridge is going transonic around 800 yards and would never be able to compete.
So my thoughts are rebarrel that RPA with a 26", fluted, in similar profile, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. This was what that cartridge was supposedly first designed for and good brass is now freely available for it. I'll retain the 17x1 spigot thread so that the same mod and brake can be used.
One thing I've always disliked about the rifle is the Robertson stock! It just doesn't fit me. A short action Remington 700 stock can be made to fit the RPA Quadlite quite easily. I like HS stocks. I've had all manner of Remingtons fitted with them and my current STR also wears an HS stock, obviously. I'd have to have bottom metal that too AI mags as well, as Sako mags are ridiculous prices. And, out the Robertson and mags may off set the build cost!