"Fear the man with one rifle"

[B.A.C.]

I'm a minimalist. I don't fantasize about owning several firearms. Rather, I want to be extremely proficient with a select few. What's currently missing is a bolt action precision rifle.

I have a fetish for the Sako TRG. A few things I like:

• I love how the ejection port is designed to keep debris out of the action. Never did like having 120° of bolt exposed like the typical 700.
• 60° bolt throw
• Double stack magazine

Even if the rifle were in my price range, she's still a heavy girl at 11.2 lbs with a 20" barrel. I'd like something more versatile that I could use for an occasional hunt or even NRL so < 12 lbs all in is the goal. Shooting targets out to 1,000 and hunting inside of 500. As for cartridges, I'm leaning towards 6mm Creedmoor because the bullet range works well for a variety of Midwest creatures plus the recoil and ballistics is more favorable than .308.

I have considered a Tikka CTR build due to it's resemblance to the TRG. Otherwise I'm leaning towards a 700 clone.

• The Solus has the look I'm going for and accepts AW mags, but it seems to get mixed reviews.
• The Badger M2013 is a cool action too, but I remember reading years ago that guys were having problems with reliability when it got dirty. Not sure if that's been addressed or outright false.
• Seekins HIT caught my attention, but the 90° bolt throw is offputting

If there's something worth consideration I would love some recommendations as Black Friday is fast approaching.

 

[cas6969]

Have you considered buying a Sako TRG?

 

[cas6969]

I do find it odd that someone who doesn't own a "bolt action precision rifle" has such firm oppinions on bolt lift degree.

 

[TheOE800]

Just get the TRG then. They’re quite handy compared to other rifles in the same class, or at least the polymer skinned 22/42 were.

 

[B.A.C.]

I do find it odd that someone who doesn't own a "bolt action precision rifle" has such firm oppinions on bolt lift degree.

I'm open to opinions on whether the bolt throw is of any real concern. On my CZ 455 the 90° throw forces me to run higher rings. Searching around I found another user claiming that most PRS shooters use a 90° throw because it requires less force to operate. If that's true then an amateur shooter like me shouldn't worry too much.

 

[RPN]

Recoil management, trigger control, npa - there are a brazillian things that will matter far more than bolt lift angle with regard to getting shots on target.

 

[Magsz18]

The solus gets mixed reviews? Where and how?

If the TRG is what you want, just get one.

There's really no perfect rifle and there's no rifle that is going to do EVERYTHING optimally. There's always going to be some kind of compromise.

 

[clefairy]

Get a terminus action with quick barrel change option. 60 degree bolt, no need for vice and torque wrench to change barrels, and switch to carbon fiber barrel if going on a hunt is real nice.

 

[cas6969]

If the TRG is what you want, just get one.

As someone who has a long, repeated, expensive history of buying "the smarter thing" instead of buying the firearm I really wanted (even if it was silly and I "really have no use for it") only to end up eventually buying the other thing anyway, pretty much every single time.... buy what you really want.

 

[Harman117]

The Tikka route would be a good compromise.

A Tikka CTR in a KRG Bravo is a common option. People will call it the "poor man's TRG".

It is a solid rifle. I like the Bravo that uses CTR/TRG mags over AICS.

 

[kthomas]

I think the OP got lost when attempting to find Reddit...