Newbie from OZ

Nice to see another international visitor. I am hardly one to talk. I started back into rifles with a moderate priced Remington 700-PSS .308, and ended up a year later building a high-end custom swap barrel chambered in .308 and 6.5x284 built on a Nesika action and McMillan A-4 stock. I love it!!

The least expensive (not cheapest) accurate rifles straight from the box seem to be the 700-PSS and the Savage 10FP (I'm sure that brings in other models from the same companies like the Remington VS, etc). From your location, looking European or at Sako may be a better bet than any of the standard "custom" sniper rifle makers in the US, especially given currrent exchange rates on the US Dollar.

In my own opinion, you get what you pay for. The most consistently accuarte and best built tactical rifles (sub 1/2 MOA) tend to be the higher dollar ones, like Robar, Tec-Ops, Patriot Arms, HS Precision etc. I have a secret source that told me that the SC-1 and SC-2 are both going to be good to great shooting rifles (good = 1/2 MOA; great = 1/3 or better MOA) and they will NOT break the bank. :wink:

All I can tell you is to try to find the most accurate rifle you can find to start with. It only gets more expensive from there. There is always a bigger, better, farther and flatter shooting rig out there with your name on it. :wink:

Mulga,

I don't know about you, but for me, $3000+ USD is way too much money to be blowing on a rifle. The HSP is a pretty good rifle, and in America, is even good value. Not the case here. You'd be paying almost double what the rifle is worth. I see sooooo many people making the mistake of buying these huge dollar yank rifles (upwards of $12,000!!!), when my $5000AUD rifle (scope included), is three times as accurate. And it looks better!!

The best alternative for you wolud be to build a rifle from scratch :idea: . Forget about buying anything factory, it will just be a waste of money. For what you want to do, you need a rifle capable of at least .5 MOA. The HSP averages about .75 MOA.

This may sound difficult if you haven't done it before, but its really quite simple, and very cost effective. Start with a very good condition used Rem 700 DBL action (should be able to find one for between $500-1500). There's no advantage in buying one brand new, but make sure it is in good condition. Throw away or sell the stock and barrel.

Send it to one of the better gunsmiths in the country. Have him true and accurize the action for you (max. $500). Get him to give it a trigger job at the same time. Order yourself a Maddco barrel in your prefered calibre. Order a reamer from the states (approx. $80-100). Have your smith ream the barrel, and thread it to your action. Make sure you keep the reamer for future barrels.

Find yourself a tactical stock that you like (there's alot to choose from). Have it sent over and have your smith bed your action to it. Make sure you have the action glued in with epoxy resin. Pillar bedding just ain't good enough.

Get yourself a good tactical Leupold scope ($1500), and a set of Kelby rings ($100). Throw in a Harris Bipod ($150). Have the rifle painted in black or pretty camo colours ($300).

Before you know it, you've got a tack driving longrange tactical rifle that will out shoot any HSP rifle. If you reload your own ammo, you should be able to average .3-.4 MOA with the right calibre .

All that for roughly $4000AUD with scope :shock: !!!

Save yourself the heart ache, and the cash. Build exactly what you want and have it out shoot the rest.

Good shootin

Tazz :wink:

Mulga,

I don't know about you, but for me, $3000+ USD is way too much money to be blowing on a rifle. The HSP is a pretty good rifle, and in America, is even good value. Not the case here. You'd be paying almost double what the rifle is worth. I see sooooo many people making the mistake of buying these huge dollar yank rifles (upwards of $12,000!!!), when my $5000AUD rifle (scope included), is three times as accurate. And it looks better!!

The best alternative for you wolud be to build a rifle from scratch :idea: . Forget about buying anything factory, it will just be a waste of money. For what you want to do, you need a rifle capable of at least .5 MOA. The HSP averages about .75 MOA.

This may sound difficult if you haven't done it before, but its really quite simple, and very cost effective. Start with a very good condition used Rem 700 DBL action (should be able to find one for between $500-1500). There's no advantage in buying one brand new, but make sure it is in good condition. Throw away or sell the stock and barrel.

Send it to one of the better gunsmiths in the country. Have him true and accurize the action for you (max. $500). Get him to give it a trigger job at the same time. Order yourself a Maddco barrel in your prefered calibre. Order a reamer from the states (approx. $80-100). Have your smith ream the barrel, and thread it to your action. Make sure you keep the reamer for future barrels.

Find yourself a tactical stock that you like (there's alot to choose from). Have it sent over and have your smith bed your action to it. Make sure you have the action glued in with epoxy resin. Pillar bedding just ain't good enough.

Get yourself a good tactical Leupold scope ($1500), and a set of Kelby rings ($100). Throw in a Harris Bipod ($150). Have the rifle painted in black or pretty camo colours ($300).

Before you know it, you've got a tack driving longrange tactical rifle that will out shoot any HSP rifle. If you reload your own ammo, you should be able to average .3-.4 MOA with the right calibre .

All that for roughly $4000AUD with scope :shock: !!!

Save yourself the heart ache, and the cash. Build exactly what you want and have it out shoot the rest.

Good shootin

Tazz :wink:

Im now thinking, mabie building a rifle from scratch is the go. Maddco barrels are based here in town and they will build a rifle for me.

I think I will start with:

~a McMillan A5 with adjustable cheek piece and adjustable LOP

~A Rem 700 SA - scope mount holes to 8-40
- Action trued
- Lugs lapped
- Trigger tuned to 33/4lbs
- Glass beded? Suggestions?

~Badger Steel Floorplate & M4 triggerguard

~Badger recoil lug

~Badger Tactical Bolt Knob

~ Badger or Nightforce Bases and rings

~Maddco Fluted stainless Barrel 24" (Finished) Heavy profile

~Nightforce NXS 2.5-15X50 Mildot

~something like IBA's manOwar epoxy finish would be nice (nothing like it here in OZ may have to do something like it myself, will have to find out how)

Im not sure how much this lot will cost and there are no guarintees that it will shoot :? What do you guys think? Suggestions Please :idea:

Mulga