Advice on setup/Bolt

[Zizou]

Hi all, looking for some advice from those more experienced in long-range shooting and to an extent hunting as well. I recently built an Aero Precision M5E1 20" 6.5CM (price of build ~$2000, putting pricing for context later) in FDE that I've function checked but have not taken out to fully test. I also recently purchased a SCAR 20S in 6.5CM (also a 20" barrel) at a really stellar price of $2850 and no sales tax. I'm really looking to have two long range options, with one being a bolt, so selling one of the above gas rifles. The bolt would ideally be good to 800-1000yds and also be good for hunting, so I was thinking maybe also 6.5CM but not sure.

Question as I'm somewhat of a novice when it comes to long-distance shooting: if you were me, would you sell the Aero at a loss (maybe get $1400 for it) or the SCAR at a profit (probably could sell at $3500), and keep the other, and what would you recommend for bolt rifle? I'm familiar with Tikka, and I'd like to have just 1 bolt and 1 gas that can go long distance. I'm also familiar with 30 06 as a rifle round and certainly .308, but not as familiar with other hunting rounds. For brands I'm familiar with, they include Bergara, Savage and Remington, amongst others and Tikka. Probably looking in the $1k-$2k price range, really just want good value for the money (price obviously not inclusive of glass). All advice welcome and appreciated, thank you.

 

[CK1.0]

I hated my SCAR heavy in .308 but was lucky enough to sell it to some operator-wannabe who was happy to give me every cent I had into it, and my guess is there are probably more of those guys out there than guys willing to give you a fair price for the “vanilla” Aero AR-10 (which is much easier to play “Barbie for men” with and play with different components)…

For an off the shelf bolt gun, I’d recommend either a Tikka TAC A1, or if you’re really after getting the best bang for your buck, up your budget a bit and go whole hog on an MPA Vanquish production rifle (you couldn’t build one yourself for the same money), and sticking with 6.5CM wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

 

[R_A_W]

or the SCAR at a profit (probably could sell at $3500)

I'd ditch the scar

I was thinking maybe also 6.5CM but not sure

yes, hard to beat

Probably looking in the $1k-$2k price range

Seekins PH3 that was just released. EO has them for $1850

 

[Zizou]

I hated my SCAR heavy in .308 but was lucky enough to sell it to some operator-wannabe who was happy to give me every cent I had into it, and my guess is there are probably more of those guys out there than guys willing to give you a fair price for the “vanilla” Aero AR-10 (which is much easier to play “Barbie for men” with and play with different components)…

For an off the shelf bolt gun, I’d recommend either a Tikka TAC A1, or if you’re really after getting the best bang for your buck, up your budget a bit and go whole hog on an MPA Vanquish production rifle (you couldn’t build one yourself for the same money), and sticking with 6.5CM wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

Fair point on the SCAR, I bought both since I have extra cash to kill (not taking any of it to the next life) and it was nostalgic, but would argue that the 6.5CM 20S is a very different profile (and use case) to the 17S in .308 with a 16.25" barrel

 

[CK1.0]

Fair point on the SCAR, I bought both since I have extra cash to kill (not taking any of it to the next life) and it was nostalgic, but would argue that the 6.5CM 20S is a very different profile (and use case) to the 17S in .308 with a 16.25" barrel

A SCAR has a certain amount of cache if you dig the “hey, he’s got one of those guns from (insert video game)” or are one of those dudes who thinks it’s cool to own something that once upon a time only SF and team guys could get a hold of (even though every SF/team guy I know hated them too).

There’s nothing really special about the 6.5CM variant versus the .308 other than its rarity, the slightly longer barrel and more ballistically efficient cartridge isn’t enough to turn it into anything more than the overpriced 1.5MOA gun (on a really good day, with the right ammo), or worse, that it always has been.

But if you like it, keep it. It’s just that, IMHO, a bolt gun that’s minute-of-pineapple at 1000 yards will hold your interest a lot longer and be more fun to shoot in the long run than something that’s closer to minute-of-humvee at long range…

 

[Zizou]

A SCAR has a certain amount of cache if you dig the “hey, he’s got one of those guns from (insert video game)” or are one of those dudes who thinks it’s cool to own something that once upon a time only SF and team guys could get a hold of (even though every SF/team guy I know hated them too).

There’s nothing really special about the 6.5CM variant versus the .308 other than its rarity, the slightly longer barrel and more ballistically efficient cartridge isn’t enough to turn it into anything more than the overpriced 1.5MOA gun (on a really good day, with the right ammo), or worse, that it always has been.

But if you like it, keep it. It’s just that, IMHO, a bolt gun that’s minute-of-pineapple at 1000 yards will hold your interest a lot longer and be more fun to shoot in the long run than something that’s closer to minute-of-humvee at long range…

Completely 100% agreed on the bolt, it will be the next gun I purchase. I'd like to have both a bolt and a gas for fun and to switch things up, my decision now is just whether I keep the Aero or the SCAR 20S. I'm leaning SCAR, but I could definitely get more money for the SCAR and it probably doesn't shoot THAT much better than the Aero? Maybe I'm wrong, but that's the decision

 

[kravi]

Just as a complete aside, I have a Ruger SFAR in 308 which is pretty fantastic. To be 100% clear, the "first" SFAR I had was a lemon, and after sending it back to Ruger 5 times they gave up and sent me a new one. The new one is reliable (as long as you keep the bcg very wet, so call it "reliable-ish"). It is also a barely sub-MOA gun with decent factory ammo. With the crappy m-80 ball I use in competitions (I'm too cheap to shoot good stuff at Brutality events) I'm getting about 1.5 MOA which is just fine. It is also super lightweight (lighter than a SCAR) and uses primarily AR-15 furniture (charging handle, trigger, grip, etc) and is very soft shooting, even with a baffled can. Think of it as a poor-man's SCAR. But if you keep it lubed, it will shoot all day and all night, and shoot reasonably accurately.

It sure ain't a bolt gun though - nor was I suggesting that. It's just that you could get a much cheaper AR-10 (ish) weapon than the SCAR, and still pick out a hellavuh nice bolt gun just for the price of the SCAR.