Build a rem 700 or buy a ruger precision for competition

[DogDown1994]

Hello everyone. Ive been taking a lot of time lately making spreadsheets and waying out the pros and cons of building a rifle to get my foot in the door for long range competition or just buying a ruger precision rifle and upgrading it a little. Ive been shooting long range for a while, i shoot several times a week and am blessed to have a few large family ranches and local friends who have nice places to shoot. I have about 4 years of reloading experience and am knowledgeable on nearly every subject as I research and try new things constantly. Today im basically looking for your opinions on whether i should take a rem 700 308 action that i have and build it into a long range platform or go straight to the ruger precision. Whatever rifle i choose to use will be chambered in 6.5 cm. my plans for the rem 700 would be as followed : jewel/timney trigger, blueprinted rem 700 action, 26" bartlein 5r medium palma 1-7.5 twist, Mcmillan A5 adj. stock and a dbm bottom metal kit. I have the mcmillan a5 with dbm on my 338lm and love it. If i choose to build the rem 700 it will cost a fair amount more than a ruger precision. I hear great things about the ruger though and the more i read about them the harder it is for me to make a decision. If you have any advice you would like to share or have any questions , im all ears. Thank you

 

[MudRunner2005]

Rem 700.

Anytime you put a Bartlein 5R barrel on a blueprinted action it will have a significantly better chance of being comp-worthy compared to a factory rifle with a factory barrel. Aftermarket barrels are usually (not always) less picky and easier to find a load for, and easier to clean, and have been hand-lapped to remove tooling marks.

Also, why the Creedmoor? If you handload, you could always go .260 AI and gain better velocity and better ballistics over the Creed. If you don't handload, I can understand your choice of the Creedmoor.

 

[DogDown1994]

Understood. If i i did go with the ruger i would see how the factory barrel shoots but swapping it wouldnt be much of a hassle

 

[DogDown1994]

The reason i like the creedmoor is because of cartridge overall length, even with a standard 260 rem it could be hard to get the longer 140gr bullets especially the berger bullets to be under mag length. I was thinking about a 6mm creed also because of mag length issues but id prefer something with more down range energy

 

[MudRunner2005]

I agree, but if you're comp-shooting, wouldn't loading it as a single-shot be a more likely scenario than using it as a repeater, unless you're limited by time constraints?

 

[DogDown1994]

Im sorry i should have been more specific. Im looking to do more of a tactical style competition. Something similar to the PRS. Sorry for not clarifying that earlier

 

[ohiohunter]

Honestly if I shot as much as you say you do I wouldn't skimp on my rifle even if it takes time to build. What kind of competition? In precision rifle I've heard a lot of guys are moving to the 6cm.

I'd go straight to a custom or at the very least pick up one of ptg's actions w/ their bolt. The ruger's action reminds me its a $300 gun w/ a 1000$ stock. Depending on the style of competition I would consider a single shot.

Here is why I do not mind putting a little cash into a comp gun. I've always been a hunter first so thats where my mind lies, but talking to one of our top shooters (he has placed nationally as well) he said "how many times do you shoot a hunting rifle? Here (comp) you shoot your gun more than anywhere." Then I started thinking about it and he is right you will wear barrels out shooting comp vs a hunting rifle will last decades if not a life time even if it is a barrel burner. So if you shoot that much I say build it as tall as your wallet (or wife) will let you.

Edit... Ok I read your last post. My friend's gun he built for precision rifle is a 6cm on a defiant in a manners eh stock and a brake. Shooting 105gr pills he said it is the softest recoil ever and spotting hits is effortless.

 

[Barrelnut]

I agree with the custom. The Ruger will never be what the custom will and I don't think putting money into the Ruger will even help much. It will still have the Ruger trigger (not that great) and somewhat bulky frame. I think the mags for the Ruger might limit you also because I believe they are magpul AR15 type etc. and will restrict bullet seating length. For the amount of shooting you do now, I would not consider the Ruger.

 

[Capt RB]

In a 6.5 an 8tw not a 7.5 is a common barrel that many places like Bugholes has in stock ready to ship in both the Bartlien and Kreiger brands. If tactical competitions are your focus the Ruger is hard to beat. I shot the RPR in 243 New Year's day. First shots out of the gun with some cleaning in between shots showed promise. Didn't foul much and was very pleasant with a straight back recoil. In comparison to an HS M24 stock of about the same weight in my rifle you feel much less in your cheek. The load was an 87gn vmax at 3345 in my gun. We didn't crono for comparison. He will/has ordered the metal shroud from LRI. He will most likely order the 6.5cm for his wife as she really likes the gun.

 

[BountyHunter]

When you say comp, it all depends on what type of comp.

If you are even considering a Ruger PRS rifle, then the PRS competitions or local steel matches?

In that case, lot more involved especially starting so the Ruger is more than capable. You might want to look on Snipers Hide, their evaluation and updating the PRS and it is more than capable. It is 1/2 MOA out of the box and Chad Dixon at Long Rifles is taking well below that for less than a reworked 700. You can buy one now at MSRP plus for around $1300 or so and ready to shoot, no way you are going to build an equivalent 700 PRS style rifle for under $3000.

If not PRS, then neither the 260 or creedmore is a target caliber. So really want to know what competition.

I have shot more than a few steel matches and a 6mm is at a disadvantage on spotting for sure. I would stay with the 6.5, as their is a marked advantage on spotting. The PRS tour guys are divided 50/50 on 6 vs 6.5 and unless you are top tier no advantage and some disadvantages.

 

[DogDown1994]

Bounty hunter. Ive never shot a competition before so i cant really say exactly what comp it would be. Im more interested in a comp that would require quick target acquisition at various ranges but would try any long range comp just to get a start and get my foot in the door. I live on the central coast in california and dont know many ranges near me. PRS sounds like the most appealing to my interest and id love to try it eventually. My first caliber choice was the 260 because i could use the lapua brass for it but the 6.5 creed was my final conclusion on caliber because its 30 degree neck and shorter case makes it easier to clear mag length with longer bullets. I just turned 21 and have a lot to learn about long range comp. i just wish i could make a decision on a rem 700 build or the RPR.

 

[Barrelnut]

I just turned 21 and have a lot to learn about long range comp. i just wish i could make a decision on a rem 700 build or the RPR.

Not to answer for BountyHunter or others, but we probably all know where you are coming from now. You have LOTs of time to figure all of this out.

I would suggest getting that RPR in 6.5 Creedmoor, get her shooting and go kick some butt at a few PRS comps this year. Bet you learn a lot and have a better idea of how you want to approach it in the future. If you go full custom today, you might not have a rifle and enough practice to be competitive this year.

There is a RPR in 6.5 Creed for sale in the classifieds right now. They can be hard to find. So you may not be able to be too picky about where you buy it.

Here's the rifle: http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f25/fs-ruger-precission-rifle-164980/

Here's a link to give a good idea of just what Precision Rifle comps are all about:New Nationwide Competition Series for Precision Tactical Rifles « Daily Bulletin

Good luck.

 

[ohiohunter]

Bounty hunter. Ive never shot a competition before so i cant really say exactly what comp it would be. Im more interested in a comp that would require quick target acquisition at various ranges but would try any long range comp just to get a start and get my foot in the door. I live on the central coast in california and dont know many ranges near me. PRS sounds like the most appealing to my interest and id love to try it eventually. My first caliber choice was the 260 because i could use the lapua brass for it but the 6.5 creed was my final conclusion on caliber because its 30 degree neck and shorter case makes it easier to clear mag length with longer bullets. I just turned 21 and have a lot to learn about long range comp. i just wish i could make a decision on a rem 700 build or the RPR.

Personally I'd find out what competitions are local and available to you otherwise you will be travelling to compete and that IMO is a bit much for the rookie shooter. If it isn't within an hour or 2 I won't shoot it much less 5+hrs or even a flight. You may or may not find a match that fits your expectations. So I'd build to suit local matches which is where you will find out if you really want to go down that road. I think this is going to be your biggest deciding factor.

What rifles do you currently own that you could possibly shoot at a match? There is a lot to learn on the line.

Also whats your budget?

 

[Capt RB]

There is a video series about the RPR on the Hide. If a sub 6" group at 1400 yds is acceptable then you will be fine. The fact that you can purchase match grade ammo from hornady and hit cold bore at 1200yds from a stock out of the box rifle should make your decision over.
SHLowlight aka Frank Gali did a soup to nuts upgrade and it was under 2300 total.
Take the 2k+ your going to save and purchase good glass. Then go shoot. Range time amongst the people that are doing the same thing will cut your learning cure for what to and what not purchase. The how to's are also much aster to learn as well.