Best factory production rifle for regional matches

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cbshtr posted this 22 May 2023

I will soon be receiving some inheritance money and would like to buy a quality production rifle to start competing in local matches after a 20 year absence. My budget is no more than $1500 for rifle and scope. I have an old Tasco 36X scope that I may be able to use, leaving more money for the rifle. I'm looking at heavy barreled guns to help with recoil.

The models I have been looking at are the Savage 110 Magpul Hunter, Savage 110 Tactical, Bergara B14 HMR and the Tikka T3X CTR. The two Savage rifles are supposed to come with factory blueprinted actions from what I've read. All of these have good reviews and accuracy reports with the Savages being less expensive. I have no experience with any of these and know of no one who has one. I'm more interested in the shorter barreled tactical style rifles over the long barreled varmint/ bench rest style guns. Of the guns mentioned which would be the best competitive option. I'm open to other suggestions as well within the parameters mentioned.

I'm leaning towards a .308 Win caliber only because I'm already set up with everything 30 caliber. All the rage today is the 6.5 Creedmoor but with the 8" twist I would seem to think it would be difficult to get competitive accuracy. Please correct me if I'm wrong but looking at match reports they rarely show up. I've seen a few .243's and .223's but mostly .308's. I'm open to suggestions.

Any information and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Robert Homan

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cbshtr posted this 11 September 2023

I've been corresponding with Ken Campbell on how to get this rifle set up the best I can before firing a shot. I finally had the opportunity today to scim coat the contact points of the bedding block and bed the recoil lug area. I'll find out tomorrow how I did but these modern puzzle stocks have so many nooks and crannies for compound to sneek into. I'm just hoping the barreled action comes out without a lot of beating and banging.

Robert Homan

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mesonary posted this 08 September 2023

Considering your budget and preference for heavy-barreled rifles, the models you've mentioned - the Savage 110 Magpul Hunter, Savage 110 Tactical, Bergara B14 HMR, and Tikka T3X CTR - are all solid options. The Savage rifles, in particular, are known for their accuracy and cost-effectiveness, with the added advantage of factory blueprinted actions.


Sticking with the .308 Win caliber is a practical choice, especially since you already have the necessary setup for it. While 6.5 Creedmoor is gaining popularity, .308 can still provide competitive accuracy, and it's a caliber you're familiar with.

Don't hesitate to visit https://uspatriotarmory.com/product-tag/g-polymer80-80-blank-frames for more options and information. They offer a range of firearms-related products that might be of interest to you.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 13 June 2023

...you can't turn a factory Savage barrel into a Lilja ... but you can improve it ..

1)  sometimes the chambering creates little burrs in the throat ... these can be helped by a mild " fire lapping " ... just fire about 6 or 8 jacketed loads, the bullets roll- impregnated with 600 or 800 grit compound .Clover brand is good ... JB is too mild ....loaded to about 2200 fps ...    stop after these few and don't do a full 100 shot firelap program as you used to read about ...  if 8 shots doesn't fix it ... it wasn't broken, and no harm done ...

2)  if you have a spare three hours you can do a hand lap ... not complicated and again, maybe not needed but you will have covered that possibility and besides, it will give you the satisfaction of doing what you can.  Competition is big on Zen, and believing you gained a little edge might just make it a reality !! 

basically lapping is just using a dedicated Dewey rod and pushing it through just to the end and pouring hot lead down the muzzle onto the patch tip ... this is your lap slug, perfecly fit to the barrel.  push slug out partway and pour 800 grit on it.  pull and push the slug through the barrel until it gets loose and then do a fresh slug ... repeat 3 or 4 times, and then thoroughly clean the barrel.  may improve cleaning, may improve accuracy ... but remember ... Harry Pope was big on lapping his barrels.  note he liked to leave the muzzle end a tad tighter than the rest of the barrel.  the above mild lapping will only remove about 0.0001, so completely safe.

3)  inspect the crown .. if it looks cleanly cut it is ok.  it is rare that a new crown is needed ...  mostly easy money for gunsmiths to add on ... but is easy to check.

***************

at some time you should make a soft lead upset image of your chamber and throat.  check that your rifling lands all start evenly  ... this is important for accuracy .......    and then also keep this upset to help you set seating depth for various bullets.

hope this helps

ken

and yes, i would lap in your scope mounts ... I have a special reamer made for that and I am impressed at how much is cut off some rings on factory rigs.  i could think i might bind up the turret components.

 

 

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cbshtr posted this 13 June 2023

I finally picked up the rifle. It is far from a fine wood stocked gun. But it is a solid set up. Action and magazine are pretty tight, hoping they break in soon. I know I could work the action while watching TV but I also know someone who would object. One screw and I was able to adjust the LOP.

I know the aluminum bedding block needs to be bedded for complete contact. I'll be in contact with Ken Campbell when I get to that. Some people will bed the scope base, which doesn't look too hard, but is it really necessary?

I also want to get a pounding of the throat area and slug the muzzle.

As anxious as I am to shoot it I want to get these prep points taken care of first. And this brings me to my last thought, breaking in the barrel. I have JB bore compound, LBT lapping compound and plenty of the J words. What is the best option to get the bore in competitive condition?

Robert Homan

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John Alexander posted this 05 June 2023

Good point Ken. I have wondered about that watching them at the range. Of course they have as good a chance of degrading accuracy as improving it. Most of the folks at our range with either suppressors or loudeners will never know what they do to accuracy. Three shots are the max group and one or two will do.

Gold star to your club Tom, The damned things are an abomination.

It never made any sense to make suppressors expensive and complicated to have in the US. Real criminals  (as opposed to movie criminals) almost never have an interest in them. 

John

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Tom Acheson posted this 05 June 2023

Ah yes, “muzzle breaks”. Our club prohibits them, even if you are on the line alone. I suspect the CBA also does not allow them.

Years ago, when shooting handgun silhouette, they were a real pain. You might be a spotter, sitting on a stool behind your shooter, and the shooter 3-slots to your left (or right) touches one off. His gun is close to the ground. The dust storm created by the deflected blast, especially from the dirt area on the firing line at the range in Ft. Stockton, TX, was a real hinderance to concentration and effective spotting. And the adjacent shooters were also negatively affected.

Leave the gizmos at home!

Tom

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 05 June 2023

johna ... i am pretty sure the muzzle screw-on gadgets will act as a tuner ... and tuners do affect the grouping ... and group center ...i think you could just screw the muzzle brake or silencer in and out and see the groups get bigger and smaller and change group shape and center location ...

BUT ... is the difference 2 per cent or 20 per cent ...  ? ... and this can be positive or negative ...

and as you imply ...  which 2 or 20 per cent of the 150 shots at a match are going to be affected ? ...

... also, i gotta admit ... it bothered me to see ... in the heat and reduced mental capacity of a match ... shooters reaching out and grabbing the end of their gun's muzzle ...   

****************

i always wanted a wind tuner ...

ken, mostly just out of tune in general

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JeffinNZ posted this 05 June 2023

We have no rule against threading at the muzzle.

We do have a rule against recoil reducers screwed on to those threads. 

It would be nice on the ears if everybody had threading and a suppressor.  There are unsubstantiated claims that a suppresser improves accuracy, but the same is said about the little rubber thingies that you put on the barrel at the magic point or points.  My  opinion is that this type of wishful thinking comes from believing that one or two groups will tell you the truth -- they won't.

John

Suppressors are very prevelant here in New Zealand. Pretty much every second centrefire has one these days. I have one on my .223 Rem and .32-20 Martini. I have not seen evidence of improved accuracy with the suppressors installed. On a skinny barrel they may work as a dampener but I would have to see that tested. Muzzle breaks or "loudeners" as we call them at my club are a massive PITA at the range. Terrible things to be around.

Cheers from New Zealand

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cbshtr posted this 04 June 2023

Pretty sure suppressors are illegal in New Jersey. Their cost and the permit required take care of that option.

Robert Homan

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John Alexander posted this 04 June 2023

We have no rule against threading at the muzzle.

We do have a rule against recoil reducers screwed on to those threads. 

It would be nice on the ears if everybody had threading and a suppressor.  There are unsubstantiated claims that a suppresser improves accuracy, but the same is said about the little rubber thingies that you put on the barrel at the magic point or points.  My  opinion is that this type of wishful thinking comes from believing that one or two groups will tell you the truth -- they won't.

John

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OU812 posted this 04 June 2023

I thought I read somewhere that a threaded barrel muzzle was not allowed. I misinterpreted.  I would like to see a pound cast of the Savage throat. I bet I could get it to shoot respectable groups with bumped bullets.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 03 June 2023

OU812 ... ok, you meant  allow * throated *  ........  not * threaded * ... right  ... ?   

. .... or is just another hazy weekend ? ...heh ...

ken

 

 

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John Alexander posted this 03 June 2023

 Bud is right, throating is allowed for CBA production class.  Throating is not allowed in Hunting Rifle class. So it depends on which class you intend to shoot your "factory production rifle."

John 

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cbshtr posted this 03 June 2023

Good to know.

Robert Homan

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Bud Hyett posted this 03 June 2023

Do the rules allow threaded barrels? I re throated my factory .223 Remington to 5.56 NATO, but who's looking?

Throating is allowed.

If it comes from the factory threaded, then it is Production.

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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cbshtr posted this 03 June 2023

The only thing I recall about the muzzle is shortening it by a half inch to clean it up. It's hard to find a heavy barreled gun without being threaded. The only thing going on it is the thread protector.

Robert Homan

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OU812 posted this 03 June 2023

Do the rules allow threaded barrels? I re throated my factory 223 Remington to 5.56 NATO, but who's looking?

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cbshtr posted this 03 June 2023

Ken, once I get the gun I'll have to have you give me points on what I'm supposed to bed. I bedded a Springfield O3A3 years ago with success. Once I get the gun I'll disassemble it to get an idea what I'm dealing with, then pick your brain on how to fix it. I want to eliminate any variables up front, before starting like you said.

Robert Homan

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 03 June 2023

looks as though you have made a very interesting choice ...   always fun with a new rifle finding out how " lucky " you were ...   and this rig certainly checks a lot of boxes to attract the more cheerful fairies ...

*******

I see they use a bedding block sysytem ... i gotta advise to not even waste a primer until you do a serious bedding upgrade ... not complicated, but a mass production bedding block is not likely rock steady enough for serious competition.   a tablespoon or so of Devcon will get you a great fit and save chasing weird target results.

be sure to keep us informed on your progress ...

ken

 

 

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John Alexander posted this 03 June 2023

Shoot well without the fuss? You must be thinking about some other kind of bulet.

John

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