My daughter and I have been shooting together for a couple years now -- going back to an air rifle when she was 4, rimfire at 5, and centerfire at 6. She's now seven and a week or so ago shot her first precision rifle match with a .223 gas gun I built up for her. Granted, I did pretty much everything but sight on the target and pull the trigger, but she certainly was capable in that regard and she had a ton of fun.
I picked up a very generous certificate from the prize table for the smithing associated with a new bolt gun from Cecil Self at Arrow Dynamics here in North Carolina. I shoot an AI -- I don't know nuthin' about anything in the 700 platform so for all I know I might not be considering something important.
What I want to do is build up a bolt gun that can grow with my daughter. Flexibility is key as she grows, is able to handle higher calibers, etc. The priority for this gun is practical precision (i.e. PRS or NRL style) competition shooting. If at some point she looses interest then it will be mine (consolation prize?). Budget is not a major priority but I'm not looking to spend $6k on parts alone (without glass, see below) either.
Given her size and strength the major priority is light weight and low recoil so I'm focusing on that.
Here's what I'm thinking:
1. Impact action -- benefits here are that it's available in 3 bolt faces, so I can set it up in a .223 as a trainer (we have 300yd ~10min from the house) and get a .308 bolt face for something like 6mm Creedmoor later. I'm a sucker for the smooth action on my AI and I understand the Impact action is the most likely to replicate that, so among a lot of good options that's a deciding factor for me. If I ever get a hankering for LA that's only a bolt and barrel swap away too.
2. ARC Barloc (Shouldered) -- I really like the easy switch barrel capability on my AI -- I use a 308 for training out to 300 and save the barrel life on my 6.5. I'd like to do the same with a .223 barrel and something chambered in a longer range caliber. The Barloc should be compatible with the Impact action provided my smith can spin it up with the appropriate threading, right? It wouldn't be hard for me to crank on things with an action wrench and vise either but it isn't expensive so if my smith can do it why not?
3. XLR Element Chassis -- I know a chassis is going to be heavier than a more traditional stock, but using a traditional stock is like buying a pair of shoes -- she'd grow out of a whole series of stocks over the coming years unless I stack spacers six deep as she grows. I'm leaning toward the XLR Element as it is among the lightest weight chassis out there and we can use the AR stock and grip I know she is comfortable with. I already have a multitude of AR stock options for LOP varying LOPs as she grows. The XLR Carbon is appealing but that's 2x as much as the Element for a couple ounces of weight and it won't work with the Barloc.
4. Proof barrel -- again, lightweight accuracy. I COULD go with a steel barrel in a sporter contour for similar weight but in .223 the Proof barrel will last forever and be maintain better accuracy with a heavier profile
5. For glass I'm going to stick with the Swaro z8i 2.3-18 with BRX-I reticle for now -- of quality optic makers it's among the lightest weight options with a max mag of 18+ and a mil based reticle. It isn't FFP, but there aren't a lot of good options out there that are <30oz. Until she gets up to speed on dialing in mils I like the ballistic turret approach on the Swaros as well -- I can pre-stage the right adjustments for a stage for her and all she needs to do is dial from 1 to 2 to 3 etc. Also I already own it so I'm going to consider it to be "free to me."
6. Huber Concepts Trigger -- I have a Huber certificate I picked up off a prize table which I'll likely use for this. I don't have strong preferences here, my only other experience with 700 triggers is the Bix'n'Andy Tac Sport I have on my Vudoo. It's ok but doesn't wow me. On my ARs I like both Geissele HSNM and AR Gold triggers, depending on the purpose. I prefer 2 stage triggers.
Anything I'm missing here?
Photos from the match for added value:
I picked up a very generous certificate from the prize table for the smithing associated with a new bolt gun from Cecil Self at Arrow Dynamics here in North Carolina. I shoot an AI -- I don't know nuthin' about anything in the 700 platform so for all I know I might not be considering something important.
What I want to do is build up a bolt gun that can grow with my daughter. Flexibility is key as she grows, is able to handle higher calibers, etc. The priority for this gun is practical precision (i.e. PRS or NRL style) competition shooting. If at some point she looses interest then it will be mine (consolation prize?). Budget is not a major priority but I'm not looking to spend $6k on parts alone (without glass, see below) either.
Given her size and strength the major priority is light weight and low recoil so I'm focusing on that.
Here's what I'm thinking:
1. Impact action -- benefits here are that it's available in 3 bolt faces, so I can set it up in a .223 as a trainer (we have 300yd ~10min from the house) and get a .308 bolt face for something like 6mm Creedmoor later. I'm a sucker for the smooth action on my AI and I understand the Impact action is the most likely to replicate that, so among a lot of good options that's a deciding factor for me. If I ever get a hankering for LA that's only a bolt and barrel swap away too.
2. ARC Barloc (Shouldered) -- I really like the easy switch barrel capability on my AI -- I use a 308 for training out to 300 and save the barrel life on my 6.5. I'd like to do the same with a .223 barrel and something chambered in a longer range caliber. The Barloc should be compatible with the Impact action provided my smith can spin it up with the appropriate threading, right? It wouldn't be hard for me to crank on things with an action wrench and vise either but it isn't expensive so if my smith can do it why not?
3. XLR Element Chassis -- I know a chassis is going to be heavier than a more traditional stock, but using a traditional stock is like buying a pair of shoes -- she'd grow out of a whole series of stocks over the coming years unless I stack spacers six deep as she grows. I'm leaning toward the XLR Element as it is among the lightest weight chassis out there and we can use the AR stock and grip I know she is comfortable with. I already have a multitude of AR stock options for LOP varying LOPs as she grows. The XLR Carbon is appealing but that's 2x as much as the Element for a couple ounces of weight and it won't work with the Barloc.
4. Proof barrel -- again, lightweight accuracy. I COULD go with a steel barrel in a sporter contour for similar weight but in .223 the Proof barrel will last forever and be maintain better accuracy with a heavier profile
5. For glass I'm going to stick with the Swaro z8i 2.3-18 with BRX-I reticle for now -- of quality optic makers it's among the lightest weight options with a max mag of 18+ and a mil based reticle. It isn't FFP, but there aren't a lot of good options out there that are <30oz. Until she gets up to speed on dialing in mils I like the ballistic turret approach on the Swaros as well -- I can pre-stage the right adjustments for a stage for her and all she needs to do is dial from 1 to 2 to 3 etc. Also I already own it so I'm going to consider it to be "free to me."
6. Huber Concepts Trigger -- I have a Huber certificate I picked up off a prize table which I'll likely use for this. I don't have strong preferences here, my only other experience with 700 triggers is the Bix'n'Andy Tac Sport I have on my Vudoo. It's ok but doesn't wow me. On my ARs I like both Geissele HSNM and AR Gold triggers, depending on the purpose. I prefer 2 stage triggers.
Anything I'm missing here?
Photos from the match for added value:
