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Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:35 am
by Grahamcs
Why oh dear?

Would that not be appropriate?

If it's to do with the looks then it doesn't look much different to what has been posted above.

Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:48 am
by Sim G
Personally, bin the fashion of the "modularity". Get a rifle that does the job you want it to do. If that job is several fold, get several rifles. Switch barrels are great on an LMG, on a precision rifle.... piffle.

You think the rifle is difficult to choose? Wait till you start looking at glass!

Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:07 am
by Grahamcs
I still don't get why the LMT is an issue?

A rifle is a rifle as far as looks are concerned and nobody is going to see it apart from shooters at the club.

Apparently they are sub 1MOA as well when setup.

Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:12 am
by Grahamcs
I didn't realise people were anti tactical rifles on here

Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:23 am
by dromia
I don't think anyone is anti tactical, there are no doubt a few who find them ugly, ungainly and not for them, each to his own though.

A rifle at the end of the day is a tool and as such for it to work best it needs to be tailored to the job at hand for it to function at its best in its desired application, the more different things you ask a rifle to do the more of a compromise it will be. That is why it is always best to decide on the type of shooting you want to do first and then the choice becomes easier.

I think what people are trying to say to you here is get the essentials of what you want the rifle to do right first as this is its soul and don't be blinded by the bells and whistles especially the "tactical" (which as far as I can see nowadays just means black) gegaws for which we civilian shooters have little use for in this country.

Get your application, calibre, and action sorted first then all else will follow.

There is very little if anything that is truly new in shooting nowadays, most is just packaging and fashion.

Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:48 am
by DW58
Grahamcs wrote:I still don't get why the LMT is an issue?
It's not the LMT rifle which is the issue - I think you're missing the point - it's the type of rifle and your application of it to the original question you have asked and so many of us have taken the trouble to answer.

I'm certainly not anti-tactical as you have suggested, it's just that you asked about bolt action rifles and received a huge amount of very sound advice. You have now suggested an option which does not fulfil the criteria you originally set, and wouldn't do the job as well.

The LMT rifle is a modification of a military weapon which although it performs well at the job it's designed to do, bear in mind it was purchased by the British Army because it won the competition based on price and not on being the best rifle.

You've been given a lot of very sound advice here from a number of members with huge experience in the field - go back and read it again and balance it against what you think you need.

Remember it's nothing to do with looks, it's down to performance and reliability. My choice of chassis for my Tikka T3 for example is based on performance and my 40+ years of rifle shooting experience, and not on the so-called Tacticool factor.

Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:56 am
by Sim G
Grahamcs wrote:I still don't get why the LMT is an issue?

A rifle is a rifle as far as looks are concerned and nobody is going to see it apart from shooters at the club.

Apparently they are sub 1MOA as well when setup.

Grahamcs wrote:I didn't realise people were anti tactical rifles on here

I don't know where you got that from? But if that's what you're after, then crack on.

What you will find is, that a lot of us have and still do, own straight pull "tactical" rifles. I'm yet to find the "best quality" straight pull that will out shine a good bolt gun. But to all novices my advice is generally quite simple when it comes to the first rifle. Get what you really, really want. That itch will then be scratched, or you will always chase it.

Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:39 am
by Grahamcs
Sincere apologies to all.

I assumed and that was wrong.

I perhaps jumped a bit as well with what I was asking.

I take on board what you have all said and thought I was suggesting a possible fit (albeit not bolt action)

The reason why I suggested this was because of the advice to focus on a calibre and range that I will be shooting at.

I don't think I will do competition.

I think calibre could be from .223 to .308 (based on your advice)

I think range will be from 100-1000 yds

Therefore when I saw that the LMT was a modular rifle that could accommodate calibres from .243 to .308 with a barrel change and ranged out to 800 yds with sub 1 MOA accuracy I thought that it would be a fit.

The only problem is it not being bolt action although I assume side charging would be ok?

Is there a bolt equivalent that can do .243 to .308? (I don't know)

Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:59 am
by DW58
I have a .Sauer 243/.308 rifle - you can do such a combination with with each of the following:
  • Sauer 202 (and previously 200)
  • Blaser R93/R8
  • Mauser 03 (previously Mauser 66 although not produced for years)
  • Strasser 05
There are others, but these are the obvious choices. I prefer the Sauer, my second choice would be Mauser, but obviously it's up to you. I think Schulz & Larsen also do a switch-barrel rifle.

Re: Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:33 pm
by dromia
Modular rifles are on the face of it a good idea, however from my experience most people who own such guns usually end up sticking with the one calibre on that rifle. Even on rifles like the rimfire Sako Quad, for which you can get a dedicated scope that you can record the zero for each round on, all the owners I know just use it in the one calibre of their preference and and the other barrels just sit in the cabinet.

Shoot as much as you can with other peoples rifles at the distances you envisage shooting until you get one that you feel is a must have from the experience of use rather than just a visual experience.