I have chosen these 3 because being a lefty makes options limited. I understand that the Tac A1 is not entirely comparable in price to the following 2, but it comes with a 24" barrel and a muzzle device (when purchased on eurooptic). I've been looking at the Bergaras & Tikkas since the summer and have yet to find any in stock. Thinking of placing a backorder for one of those and just sticking out the wait. The Rem 700 is in stock right now. I would either add weight to the composite HS precision stock it comes with or I would put it into a new one that comes heavy as is (KRG bravo, HS Precison PST, McMillan A5, Grayboe). I've heard the actions are stickier on the Rem 700 compared to the other two, and more or less an inferior gun overall, despite its long service in our military. Is this true? How much does that extra 4" of barrel benefit the 308 cartridge? I understand the m24 was a long action chambered to accept 300 wm as well as 308. Is that the reason the barrel is 24"? Because I don't see Tikka or Bergara offering a 24" barrel on any of their 308s.
What I don't like about going the route of the Rem 700 is that it may cost as much in the end as the Tac A1 came out of the box, and if its truly that much worse then I'd probably wish I had bought the Tikka/Bergara (even if I have to wait 6 months for it) Now to complicate things further, I don't like the idea of an AR style chassis on a bolt gun (Tac A1) because it seems like it would be less ergonomic for working the action. Maybe I'd get used to it? I could find someone to possibly buy the TAc A1 chassis and then drop the action into a nice stock like one I mentioned above, bringing the cost again to roughly $2000 and comparable to a Rem 700 + new stock. If I love the Bergara stock and action, then that's a sweet deal considering I'm out the door for $1000 total (before optics/accesories). I have considered the Tikka CTR ($1000 and same barrel/action as the Tac A1- except its not 24"), which was initially my first choice, but looks like they are not sold in the US. I almost considered traveling to Canada to get one.
Weight: how heavy do you guys like to run your target/competition or non-hunting 308s? I have a 270 now that I am adding weight to because I hate how unpleasant the recoil makes it. The m24 sniper was between 15 & 17 pounds total, but again it was a multicaliber system, does that have anything to do with its weight?
My philosophy of use will be mostly target and the occasional hunt (no I don't care about the weight). Want to get out to 800 yards on steel with factory mid grade ammo (win super x, federal powershok, Remington core-lokt).
(Optics: if anyone knows the good reticles and magnification range for this type of gun, and cares to chime in, my scope budget is 1,500-2,500)
What I don't like about going the route of the Rem 700 is that it may cost as much in the end as the Tac A1 came out of the box, and if its truly that much worse then I'd probably wish I had bought the Tikka/Bergara (even if I have to wait 6 months for it) Now to complicate things further, I don't like the idea of an AR style chassis on a bolt gun (Tac A1) because it seems like it would be less ergonomic for working the action. Maybe I'd get used to it? I could find someone to possibly buy the TAc A1 chassis and then drop the action into a nice stock like one I mentioned above, bringing the cost again to roughly $2000 and comparable to a Rem 700 + new stock. If I love the Bergara stock and action, then that's a sweet deal considering I'm out the door for $1000 total (before optics/accesories). I have considered the Tikka CTR ($1000 and same barrel/action as the Tac A1- except its not 24"), which was initially my first choice, but looks like they are not sold in the US. I almost considered traveling to Canada to get one.
Weight: how heavy do you guys like to run your target/competition or non-hunting 308s? I have a 270 now that I am adding weight to because I hate how unpleasant the recoil makes it. The m24 sniper was between 15 & 17 pounds total, but again it was a multicaliber system, does that have anything to do with its weight?
My philosophy of use will be mostly target and the occasional hunt (no I don't care about the weight). Want to get out to 800 yards on steel with factory mid grade ammo (win super x, federal powershok, Remington core-lokt).
(Optics: if anyone knows the good reticles and magnification range for this type of gun, and cares to chime in, my scope budget is 1,500-2,500)