Hey shooters, new member here and I got to the forum by researching what I should do for my first precision rifle. I've looked up the rifles I'm researching, but still can't land on the right path. I figured I would puke out all my details here and if someone has some good advice, it might help. If not, well, I'm in the same boat still.
Background
I currently own a Tikka T3 Superlite in 300 Win Mag and hunt every year taking deer 150-200+yds out. I just got the barrel chopped and threaded for a brake, and I'm dropping it into a Body's At-One Stock (probably post on that separately). I just picked up a Savage 12 FV that I'm planning on dropping into an MDT XRS. I'm good on glass, already have my heart set on a few options. So that's some general background that might frame my experience.
The Problem
I've wanted to go long-range, and I am going to a long-range training course out in CA at the end of the year, very pumped for this. Aside from the class, I want to get into PRS and do some dedicated travel for long-range shoots. As I started to research, like many I got onto Defiance actions and the like from top NRL and PRS shooters. After I was done pricing out those options and came back to reality, I realized that I wanted something high quality that could be reconfigured or re-barreled later on, but I probably won't ever justify the expense. So I changed gears and I was going to get the BadRock Southfork Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor ($2k+ after rail and brake etc.). High priced rifle and then I started to turn my nose up at a 26" barrel.
So then I got really intrigued by the HMR from Bergara. Got to fondle a Bergara B-14 HMR at Cabela's, but really like the look and features of the Bergara Premier HMR Pro. One of the big questions I have for owners of the pro is: what made you settle on the Pro and are you satisfied with the value vs features? People on Reddit dump on the price increase and downplay the differences (that's why I'm here seeking wiser people), but the TriggerTech trigger seems great, Cerakote vs bluing, and the bolt seems like a big upgrade (I don't know enough to know if the barrel and action material difference is worth it). It looks like I could also get a Bergara Premier HMR Pro barreled action, and then drop it into a chassis or something. This is unfinished though, so need to send it out for Cerakote.
Third option I'm looking at is Tikka T3X CTR and dropping it into a chassis. Having a Tikka already, I know the sexy bolt feel, and the out of the box accuracy.
Some Requirements
-I want quality, but I don't want to spend so much that I'll feel the need to move to Utah in order to get the value out of my insane rifle purchase (up to ~2k for the platform w/o glass seems reasonable to me, and spending less allows me to get the long list of insane accessories that these setups seem to require).
-Having craned my neck on hunting stocks for years, adjustable length of pull and cheek combs are important to me. I like the look of a chassis, but also starting to look at Manners stocks after liking the HMR stock
-Although I'm looking for a PRS type gun, I do want to be able to hunt with it (hence turning away from the 26" barrel)
-I'm not a reloader. This is big, I see a lot of thread comments going here fast. I have a Hornady Lock 'N Load Ammo Plant (which I don't think is suitable for precision rifle) and I don't have any dies or anything for rifle calibers. I might get into this later in life, but I don't have any plans right now.
-I've been looking at 6.5CM because I don't reload, but there's a lot of good ammo and seems to be a little better than .308 for the type of shooting I'm looking at.
-Threaded barrel is heavily desirable. I like putting brakes on my stuff and might as well save on the smithing to send out for this, although I have done it.
-Building something is very intriguing, but I don't have any of the tools or headspace gauges for these types of rifles
Closing Thoughts
Ok, so brass tax, I really appreciate those that are still reading
. I'm wondering if the HMR Pro is truly worth it over the B-14 HMR (i.e. re-barreling it later in life, getting into reloading later (that safety feature in the bolt), better accuracy, etc.) and then comparing either HMR against the Tikka T3X CTR. Tikka costs about the same as the B-14 HMR, but does it outshoot the Pro considerably? Is the 20" barrel of the CTR too limiting? There are some stock and chassis options for the Tikka, but there's obviously more options for a 700 clone like the HMR.
Have I resonated with anyone? I appreciate any and all advice/comments. I'm obviously in the weeds, so details are appreciated. Saw a lot of comments on here like, "get a Tikka" and I kept wondering which model.
Background
I currently own a Tikka T3 Superlite in 300 Win Mag and hunt every year taking deer 150-200+yds out. I just got the barrel chopped and threaded for a brake, and I'm dropping it into a Body's At-One Stock (probably post on that separately). I just picked up a Savage 12 FV that I'm planning on dropping into an MDT XRS. I'm good on glass, already have my heart set on a few options. So that's some general background that might frame my experience.
The Problem
I've wanted to go long-range, and I am going to a long-range training course out in CA at the end of the year, very pumped for this. Aside from the class, I want to get into PRS and do some dedicated travel for long-range shoots. As I started to research, like many I got onto Defiance actions and the like from top NRL and PRS shooters. After I was done pricing out those options and came back to reality, I realized that I wanted something high quality that could be reconfigured or re-barreled later on, but I probably won't ever justify the expense. So I changed gears and I was going to get the BadRock Southfork Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor ($2k+ after rail and brake etc.). High priced rifle and then I started to turn my nose up at a 26" barrel.
So then I got really intrigued by the HMR from Bergara. Got to fondle a Bergara B-14 HMR at Cabela's, but really like the look and features of the Bergara Premier HMR Pro. One of the big questions I have for owners of the pro is: what made you settle on the Pro and are you satisfied with the value vs features? People on Reddit dump on the price increase and downplay the differences (that's why I'm here seeking wiser people), but the TriggerTech trigger seems great, Cerakote vs bluing, and the bolt seems like a big upgrade (I don't know enough to know if the barrel and action material difference is worth it). It looks like I could also get a Bergara Premier HMR Pro barreled action, and then drop it into a chassis or something. This is unfinished though, so need to send it out for Cerakote.
Third option I'm looking at is Tikka T3X CTR and dropping it into a chassis. Having a Tikka already, I know the sexy bolt feel, and the out of the box accuracy.
Some Requirements
-I want quality, but I don't want to spend so much that I'll feel the need to move to Utah in order to get the value out of my insane rifle purchase (up to ~2k for the platform w/o glass seems reasonable to me, and spending less allows me to get the long list of insane accessories that these setups seem to require).
-Having craned my neck on hunting stocks for years, adjustable length of pull and cheek combs are important to me. I like the look of a chassis, but also starting to look at Manners stocks after liking the HMR stock
-Although I'm looking for a PRS type gun, I do want to be able to hunt with it (hence turning away from the 26" barrel)
-I'm not a reloader. This is big, I see a lot of thread comments going here fast. I have a Hornady Lock 'N Load Ammo Plant (which I don't think is suitable for precision rifle) and I don't have any dies or anything for rifle calibers. I might get into this later in life, but I don't have any plans right now.
-I've been looking at 6.5CM because I don't reload, but there's a lot of good ammo and seems to be a little better than .308 for the type of shooting I'm looking at.
-Threaded barrel is heavily desirable. I like putting brakes on my stuff and might as well save on the smithing to send out for this, although I have done it.
-Building something is very intriguing, but I don't have any of the tools or headspace gauges for these types of rifles
Closing Thoughts
Ok, so brass tax, I really appreciate those that are still reading
. I'm wondering if the HMR Pro is truly worth it over the B-14 HMR (i.e. re-barreling it later in life, getting into reloading later (that safety feature in the bolt), better accuracy, etc.) and then comparing either HMR against the Tikka T3X CTR. Tikka costs about the same as the B-14 HMR, but does it outshoot the Pro considerably? Is the 20" barrel of the CTR too limiting? There are some stock and chassis options for the Tikka, but there's obviously more options for a 700 clone like the HMR.Have I resonated with anyone? I appreciate any and all advice/comments. I'm obviously in the weeds, so details are appreciated. Saw a lot of comments on here like, "get a Tikka" and I kept wondering which model.
