Looking for a long-range bolt gun, likely chambered in 6.5 Creedmore but maybe in .308. Needs to have a barrel threaded 5/8x24 for use with a suppressor.

Looking to spend less than $1500 on the rifle to preserve funds for optics and accessories.

I like the looks and features of the Ruger Precision Rifle, but what other rifles are worthy of consideration?

T3X CTR 6.5 Creedmoor 24":

http://www.eurooptic.com/Tikka...TR-65-Creedmoor.aspx

Then add an upgraded stock/chassis of your choice like KRG X-Ray for ~$575 if/when funds allow.


Or for a bit more the T3X TAC A1 already with an upgraded chassis:

http://www.eurooptic.com/Tikka...5-Creedmoor-24-.aspx

Personally I'd go with the first option I posted instead.

Savage 10 BA STEALTH can be had for super cheap right now. $150 MIR on them....308 or 6.5CM and two different chassis choices. $635/shipped net for a 308 from Grabagun.

By all reports, its on par with the RPR and priced pretty close normally ($1200).

https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/BAStealth

I want a Tikka and have been close a couple of times to buying one but mag cost and availability is always a stumbling block.

Might just buy the Savage as that leaves a LOT of room in the budget for glass.

I'll second what PGT said. I purchased a RPR and my buddy picked up a Savage Stealth. Both were in 6.5 Creed. The Savage outshot the RPR over and over again.....to the point that I sold my RPR. He still has his and shot a 1.25" group at 300 yards last weekend.

I have sold/traded very few firearms in my lifetime but the RPR in 6.5 Creedmoor was one of them. Perhaps I was a little too hasty but mine did not shoot factory Hornady ammunition very well. I did see a guy at my range shoot some sub .5 moa groups with his at 100 yards using the same Hornady I was using.

I see your price range and want to be careful about overhyping a particular rifle over another but having had an RPR, I would highly recommend one of the Tikkas that Brett B identified, specifically, the T3X TAC A1. I posted my thoughts about this rifle a few weeks ago on another forum and though it might be bad form, I am posting it here now. I really think the Tikka T3X TAC A1 is WAY underpriced.

I bough mine in early June and got a chance to take it to the range, perform a 20-round break-in, shoot some Factory 140gr ELD-M and some reloads. Before relating my experience with this rife let me give you my frame of reference. As a general rule, I don't like bolt guns. I much prefer the AR-15/SR-25 platform as that is what I learned on and feel comfortable shooting. I have an SR-25 based 22" 6.5 Creedmoor that shoots pretty good, approximately .5 MOA with hand loads on good days. I keep seeing pictures of guys shooting .2-something with bolt guns and could just not get there--not even a lucky group.

After reading about the TAC A1 here, I decided that I wanted to try one. I took the Burris XTR-II that I purchased for the RPR and put it on the Tikka. I did not attach the brake because I wanted to put my suppressor on the rifle once I had a decent load. I know that there are much more expensive bolt guns out there but this is the most expensive bolt gun I own. Other than a T/C Venture hunting rifle and a Remington 700, the Tikka is my first "precision" bolt gun.

The rifle is beautifully made. The folding stock locks up tight with no (zero) detectable slop. The bolt slides effortlessly in the action and is easy to unlock and lock from prone. I am using high sight mounts at 1.5" and the adjustable comb easily gets my eye in the right place with adjustment to spare. I did move the butt pad all the way up. If it would go higher I would move it higher but it is okay for me. It is very well padded, by the way. The rear stock is all metal including the locking knobs on the comb adjustment. The rifle feels like it would cost a good bit more than $1750. The front hand guard is M-LOC and while I much prefer Keymod, I am not going to complain about that. The hand guard is very solid and does not flex even with a heavy forward load on the bipod.

I adjusted the 2-stage trigger lighter than it came out of the box. I don't have a trigger scale but would estimate that it is between 2.0 and 2.5 lbs now. It is good enough not to be a factor in shooting. I never think: "when is this thing going to break?" nor has a round gone off before I wanted it to. I would rate the trigger as an 8.5 but don't think it is worth changing it at this point.

I was a little concerned after shooting the 140 gr ELD-M factory loads. They did about the same that I have shot in a RPR and in my semi-auto -- right at 1 MOA. Nothing very interesting at all. I will say that I didn't expect much out of them and maybe I could have been more focused when shooting them but there was a good bit of vertical stringing that I generally attribute to the ammo and not me.

The throat on my Tikka is very long. Using 142 gr SMKs as a reference, I load them out to 2.9135" to get to .020 off the lands. That does not leave much bullet in the case neck. About .16" or just over half the diameter of the bullet. The good news is that bullet fits in the Tikka magazine. There is no room to spare but it fits with no damage to the tip.

I also loaded some 140 gr Berger VLD Hunting rounds but will need to tweak them a little more to get out of them what I know they are capable of. I have since shot the Berger VLD seating depth test and found that my rifle loves these projectiles at forty thousandths off the lands. A bad group is .5. It can easily shoot a .3 or .4 which is at the limit of my abilities. I would bet that a more skilled shooter could better that consistently.

It also likes the 142 gr. SMK and the 140 gr. Hornady ELD-M. These are all hand loads. For powder, I have been using H4350 and IMR 4451. Both shoot extremely well. Will be trying some Reloader 17 next. All consistently shoot .5 MOA or better.

After over a month with the rifle and about 500 rounds, several hundred of which have been at 1000 yards, I still can’t say enough good things about it.

6.5 Creedmoor is a great round and seems to be very easy to both shoot and load. I still enjoy loading for and shooting the .308s but if you want accuracy, availability of factory match ammo at reasonable prices, very light recoil and tons of industry and forum support, the 65 CM is a great choice and the Tikka T3X TAC A1 really gets the job done.

Hope that helps a little,
Henryrifle

This message has been edited. Last edited by: henryrifle,

I bought a Savage that is mounted in a APR chassis in 6.5. I have not shot it yet.
Right around the price point your thinking about.
Sorry I cant remember the Savage model number.
Called Savage Ashbury Precision Rifle.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Got some thinking to do.

Tikka CTR...pick your model..they all seem to be excellent. My 6.5 Creedmoor is quickly becoming my favorite bolt gun.

I will likely end up with a Tika or Bergara

I have shot the Savage Stealth in 6.5CM. I wasn't real impressed with the accuracy, trigger, or smoothness of the action. Those are 3 areas where every Tikka I have shot excels.

Might look at the "Howa Chassis Rifle"

Have not seen or shot one, but some decent reviews out there.

https://www.legacysports.com/c...a-hcr-chassis-rifle/

Really love the Ruger, and I have seen them under 1200 now. I got to play with mine some this last week. It is amazing to shoot less than 1/2 inch groups at 200 yards. I can't wait to put better glass on it and get out further. And definitely go for the 6.5 Creedmor over the 308.

This one :

http://www.armslist.com/posts/...a1-bolt-action-rifle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmdjT0UdrZE&t=12s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGSKWjzntDU&t=454s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPVgI61xsJk

quote:

Originally posted by TooTech:
Looking for a long-range bolt gun, likely chambered in 6.5 Creedmore but maybe in .308. Needs to have a barrel threaded 5/8x24 for use with a suppressor.

Looking to spend less than $1500 on the rifle to preserve funds for optics and accessories.

I like the looks and features of the Ruger Precision Rifle, but what other rifles are worthy of consideration?

For a little bit more money suggest to consider putting a rifle together.

Find the cheapest Tikka T3 short action 308 bolt face rifle (243, 260, 308...) for the action/trigger. EuroOptics often has sales on demo's Tikka T3's, excellent on line retailer. Buy a 8 twist 6.5MM barrel, Kreiger, Bartlien, Brux...Medium Palma contour finished at 24-26". Have the barrel chambered in a 6.5CM. Drop it in a XLR Industries Element chassis, very well machined, very adjustable chassis to fit you.

FYI, there is a safety recall on certain Ruger RPR rifles. In case it's not clear: does not affect Gen 1 rifles with plastic shroud.

https://ruger.com/dataProcess/rprSafety