If you buy a reamer, do not run pre fits. Buy a barrel and have a smith cut the chamber with that reamer. If you don't want to send the action, you can have the smith cut a "pre fit" for your action. The advantage is you won't have to change much between barrels. Or you can send a hand full of...
For sure you can learn alot and have a great time with any weapon system. You will likely struggle to do phenomenal with equipment not suited, but if you can get people to drop the ego and come shoot, they will most likely have a good time.
JGS BRA #1 with .272 neck runs Lapua Brass well. Don't get too tied up in the freebore, unless you are trying to build a 30" barrel and trying to get it to run super fast. This cartridge does well running controlled speeds. So I don't think there is a reason to push too hard. Mine is in...
Until it gives up on you at 1000 rounds in the middle of the match. Turns out that wind advantage is on the edge of useless, unless you switch barrels every 800 rounds. Effectively a 2 match barrel.
Eberlestock. They have a match specific bag that is sweet with a hardshell. You can lay it down and open the frame side, no more stickers and bullshit in your back.
I have built both. The longer the gas system, the easier life is. You can tune a 22" rifle length to work, but a longer system is easier. Not a deal breaker, but when switching between suppressed and un, it is nice if the pressure is in the right spot
Howa or RPR. If you go to the tikka price tag, just go to the px and pick up a custom action and setup around $2k. Tikkas are nice, but you are most the way to a used custom.
88 eldm
28" bartlein
Lapua brass
1.815 bto (long throat, not typical)
H4895 28.8
3038 fps at 27deg
Cci 450
Showing flat and slight crater on primer, but in a node.
Not necessary. It's a nice way to roll, but is not a thing that has to happen. I do anneal, but I have already ran down a rabbit hole. If you want to test it, send it to a brass service and have them anneal for you. If you find it's the cats pajamas, buy an annealer.
I have a huber 1.5 lb 2 stage without a bolt stop that I would like to trade for a trigger tech black diamond pro curve right hand with safety and no bolt stop. Or $250 for the trigger. the trigger has been used, but very minimally.