farpolemiddle

Never really liked the 6.8 to be honest. Have you considered 6.5 Grendal? I LOVE my 16" 308.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

If the market for such a thing was bigger they would be cheaper. I dont think theres enough demand for a sub $200 cast aluminum chassis to pay for the mold. And there's the issues with gun parts (and drawings for parts and tooling) and china.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

Blasphemous! First, no domestic tacti-cool zombie prepper / home defense decision has either caliber as a choice. For the domestic US market, these are medium-range hunting rounds, period. For that discussion, the 6.8spc wins the factory ammo availability game and the reloading game. Of course somebody will say "but I saw a guy on Youtube shooting 6.5G at 1000yds... yup, and if 600" of drop is your thing, good for you. And the 6.8spc will do the same thing. For all practical purposes, the 6.5Grendel has a 5% velocity/energy/range advantage past 500yds, which is where nobody hunting with these will ever go. IOW, they are practically identical for the US domestic hunting market.

Coincidentally, around 400yds is where factory .308 hunting ammo runs out... long barrels and handloads can get your 1000ftlb distance out to 500+yds, but you're upwards of 70"+ of drop and not going there.

Perhaps if Alexander Arms hadn't been the Sony of "It's mine and you can't have it" proprietary caliber bullshit, they'd have won the "halfway between .223 and .308 game"... but they lost. True, the Grendel has a small long-range advantage because 6.5mm... but in all actual legal/ethical hunting scenarios, they are both out of gas at 400yds and the 6.8 has more sectional density. My long kill on deer with my 20" 6.8spc was 360yds with a 120sst at a 120lb doe... and although I was fully confident, I think I'd pick up a bigger gun or go for smaller deer if much further than that.

Just wait until the HPA gets passed... the entire domestic firearms market will be turned on it's head... my prediction is that over-the-counter suppressor availability will have a huge benefit to the long-range hobby.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

I know the HPA is going to have a huge effect on suppressors. RIght now they're a huge PITA to deal with in the factory because of the laws. Being able to use a baffle in an as cast or as mim condition (without having to have the casting or mim completely in house) or even having a stock on through hole in the cast/mim blank would really make the whole thing easier to deal with.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

The HPA, if passes anywhere close to it's current written form, is going to completely revolutionize the us domestic firearms market. I don't think the average enthusiast (which is us) realizes how much demand there will be when the Hollywood assassin stigma is lifted by making them over-the-counter-4473 items. I meet people (committed gun-owners and enthusiasts) all the time who have no idea that suppressors are totally legal and they just thought that people who own them are in some special class or cops or military... no idea what "Class 3" is or anything. When it passes, it's going to change every aspect of "guns" in this country.

If it gets the attention I'm hearing in rumors, it will be a late summer item in Congress. Within 18 months, the initial rush will be over and the gaps in industry will be filled by a few dozen startups... spurring innovation and competition. Aluminum rimfire stuff will be down in the $50 range, and quality small-caliber steel stuff down in the $200 range. The fancy top-of-the-line titanium stuff will still cost more, but economy of scale drives prices... you can do a really nice full tit Form1 direct thread solvent trap with modern baffles for about $450... so expect those to be down near $300.

Everything will need to come threaded... which means a lot of tooling investment in industry... plus a new huge demand for replacement barrels, both aftermarket and factory

Gunsmiths will be backed up for years with (literally) millions of barrels that suddenly need to be threaded.

Hunting laws will change too... no more noise worries on Sundays if you hunt suppressed... in fact, perhaps an early "suppressor" season for rifles in hi-density areas.

New model lineups with factory "integrally suppressed" barrels from all the major manufacturers.

Suppressor give-aways with package deals... or "free suppressor with $300 rimfire gun purchase".

New rules for shooting ranges... "suppressor only days"... "suppressed only before 12:00 on weekends"... "mandatory suppressors on all 5.56 semi-autos and magnum rifles"

The reloading industry will have to adapt as well as there will be a shift towards heavier bullets and the need for clean-burning powders for subsonic stuff.

... it's going to be very big.

EO2K

iTrader: (37)

Interesting.

I will preface my question by admitting that I have not read or done much research on it (because it does not effect me) but if they become standard 4473 items does that mean that there now exists the possibility of private manufacture for personal use?

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Yup, same as an 80% lower.

Oscar

iTrader: (2)

More shooting tonight, I'm starting to look at bolt rifles for when we finish this course in two months. Sadly restricted to centrefire bolt action rifles or rimfire. Some semi-auto rimfire rifles too I think. Will only be used for target shooting, indoors 30 yards and outdoors up to 1200 yards on a range nearby. Can usually get .22 and .308 (and .338LM if I can get a mortgage). Are the Savage rifles still most bang for buck?

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Savage makes some good .308 rifles for the money.

Oscar

iTrader: (2)

My instructor brought his .308 savage, not sure of the exact model, was fun to shoot but not the smoothest of bolts. I'll ask him tonight as well what he would recommend for a target plinker.

calteg

iTrader: (18)

Timely deal is timely:

Savage 10 FCP-SR 308 Win Bolt Action Rifle with 24-Inch Threaded Barrel | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore

babydriver

getting my model 11 scout how I want it
removed the dumb & heavy plastic cheekrest and replaced with a comfy (but expensive) hornady rest/pouch. removed muzzle brake and rear sight to save weight too. homemade strap.. cheapy bipod that was just on for sighting it in

Dann0

And somewhere, Jeff Cooper rolled over in his grave.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

There are 2 identical bills currently stalled in committee in both houses. They are basically a 1-page document that simply removes the word "silencer" from the list of controlled items of the NFA. Since silencers are still defined as "firearms" elsewhere in law, they become just like any other firearm... subject to a 4473 at the Federal level and whatever nonsense your state makes you do. You can currently buy "80%" silencers (henceforward we shall use the term "suppressor") in the form of solvent traps, and get yourself a Form1 stamp just like you can for an SBR and finish it yourself with a drill press in your garage.

There are a couple manufacturers of reasonably priced rifles that are generally recommended when people ask "best out of the box"... Savage, Tikka, and Howa. The new Ruger American is quickly gaining ground but the others have been around awhile.

I know you're in the UK, but bear with me...

The Savage 10 that CALTEG linked is probably the best bolt-action .308 you can buy for the money if you're going to do mostly bench-shooting. Box mag, bull'ish barrel, quality rail, heavy bolt ****, decent trigger... there's literally nothing else out there for under $600 like it. The Ruger American Predator loses 2" on a thinner barrel, but granted is $200 cheaper... and the stock Ruger trigger isn't as good as the Savage Accutrigger. OTOH, Timney for either is only $100 and you can DIY the trigger guts yourself to something very acceptable.

For a .22lr, the Savage MkII is the only way to go unless you can step up the cash for a CZ455. Here in the states, the bare-bones CZ is $300, while the comparable Savage MKii F is only $150 after the perpetual $25 rebate Savage has run for years now. I have the MK FV-SR and it shoots 1/2" groups at 50yds with CCI Standard Velocity not counting the 1 in 10 flier.

At least he's done the scope right.

babydriver

hey weight is part of the equation too! I was a little suprised when i got the gun how heavy it was so i had to do what i could.

that is a great deal on that model 10 but a 24 inch barrel seems crazy to me. I dont think thats necessary. Ive read studies where your accuracy returns diminish quickly after 16" on phone or id look it up

Dann0

Hey, my scout rifle doesn't meet the letter of the law either, since it's a lever action, not a bolt gun. I use a Marlin 336D (one of 1,000 guns made for Davidson's, on the pattern of the 1895, albeit with a straight stock), with ghost ring sights and a scout scope mount from XS Sights, chambered in .35 Remington. For my purposes .35 Rem is the best caliber around, though ammo is rare compared to something like .308. The Hornady LeverEvolution stuff is the way to go, unless you want to load big grain weights for big critters (245 grain is reasonable). I run a Burris scout scope. A fine overall package I've never had reason to improve on.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

If I was gonna do a scout rifle right now and keep the price relatively "low"... Kimber Mountain w/medium palma 7mm-08 shooting 140gr Accubond handloads. 14" Barrel with pinned 6" suppressor. Whatever the lightest 1-6x scope is... Leupold VX-6 is only 13oz.

babydriver

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/20...-and-accuracy/

found that article. it's a pretty good read

Oscar

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the suggestions, I'd have to check on regulations here. I'm sure there's limitations on removable magazines for centrefire rifles. Removable magazines are fine for semi-auto rimfire and bolt action rimfire, not completely sure on the rest.

I usually manage a 1" group at 30 yards, bench rest and iron sights with a 40 grain lead bullet.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

I corrected your post for you. My suggestion would be storming down to the docks, throwing the TEA overboard. Then migrating to America to become a free man.