I'm shopping again (will this ever stop? Hope not).
I've been looking at the Model 700™ XCR™ Tactical Long Range rifle in .223 and .308. I'm going to sell my VTR to my son so I'm looking for a good .308 platform. He'll have a blast with it (pun intended) and I did all the work to get it tuned up. I shoot AR's and I would like a good .223 bolt action platform. The MSRP is around $1,407.00 for the rifle(s). It comes with a Bell and Carlson tactical stock which has a full bedding block. I'm pretty confident that it'll shoot pretty good out of the box but I'm also pretty confident that it would shoot better if it was accurized and a custom will shoot better still if it's a good one. So I'm looking at the MSRP and wondering-
(1) Can I get to where I want to get for less overall money or at least similar cost if I go the custom route? I'm not asking if can I get a custom for $1,400.00. I'm asking if by the time I sink money into a $1,400.00 rifle will I (A) get the accuracy I want and (B) end up spending the same money or a little more on a custom and get a better rifle?
(2) Does .223 make sense? Is it a good long distance round (for small animals and targets) or should I consider a different chambering? I have the dies/brass/bullets/powder for .223 so adding another caliber is another expense.
I guess I should mention that I will be hunting with both rifles so I'm not looking for a Benchrest rifle. I'm thinking more along the lines of a Tactical platform.
Thoughts?
I've been looking at the Model 700™ XCR™ Tactical Long Range rifle in .223 and .308. I'm going to sell my VTR to my son so I'm looking for a good .308 platform. He'll have a blast with it (pun intended) and I did all the work to get it tuned up. I shoot AR's and I would like a good .223 bolt action platform. The MSRP is around $1,407.00 for the rifle(s). It comes with a Bell and Carlson tactical stock which has a full bedding block. I'm pretty confident that it'll shoot pretty good out of the box but I'm also pretty confident that it would shoot better if it was accurized and a custom will shoot better still if it's a good one. So I'm looking at the MSRP and wondering-
(1) Can I get to where I want to get for less overall money or at least similar cost if I go the custom route? I'm not asking if can I get a custom for $1,400.00. I'm asking if by the time I sink money into a $1,400.00 rifle will I (A) get the accuracy I want and (B) end up spending the same money or a little more on a custom and get a better rifle?
(2) Does .223 make sense? Is it a good long distance round (for small animals and targets) or should I consider a different chambering? I have the dies/brass/bullets/powder for .223 so adding another caliber is another expense.
I guess I should mention that I will be hunting with both rifles so I'm not looking for a Benchrest rifle. I'm thinking more along the lines of a Tactical platform.
Thoughts?