Re: Need advises on customizing H-S HTR.
I have never competed in a tactical competition, so I really can't comment on what would or wouldn't work there. I could make an educated guess, but it would be just that. As far as the specs on the trigger and rifle, I would call HS and ask them.
If you are going to do a lot of modifications, it seems to be an expensive "donor" rifle in my opinion. Any change in the platform could change the performance of the rifle, maybe for the better or maybe for the worse or of course it may not do anything. I would weigh the costs of whatever work you would like to have done on the potential gain you can reasonable expect.
I like the ergonomics of the HTR stock, but that doesn't mean its the best stock out there. If you like the AI AX stock, I would think it would be a simple drop in modifiation, but again I don't have any experience with that stock, but the HS action is a drop in replacement for a 700 action so it should work just fine. Its my understanding that the you would need to use the AI magazines if you chose that stock,as you would not be able to use the HS bottom metal. If you are planning to do that I wouldn't bother buying another HS magazine.
I have left my trigger at the 2.25 pounds it came from the HS with. I don't think it would be hard to adjust, but I have never had the need. I don't like my triggers lighter than 2 pounds as I carry them around. I don't have any experience with the CG trigger, so I can't give you any advice on how it would compare to the HS. I have never had any reason to want to change the original HS trigger. It's not broke so I haven't fixed it.
You may gain something buy skim bedding the rifle, but how much I don't know. If you don't have a log of the rifles performance before you make modifications, you won't have any idea on the effect the modification you have made has had either. Some will say that the HS stock needs to be skim bedded, HS says it does not. I don't know who you want to believe. I would buy a torque wrench and make sure the action is properly torqued before shooting. I haven't experienced a lot of unexplained flyers with my rifle. I tend to be the explaination for all flyers. I would look at my ammo next. The rifle and scope would be the last thing I would check. I would have to see a consistant pattern first.
The sling swivels are drilled and set into an aluminium bedding block that runs the length of the stock. They may unscrew but they wont just pull out. I would think a little locktite would work, if you have an issue with them unscrewing. There would be no worry whatsoever about running any type of sling with the swivel studs mounted in the bedding block.
It sounds like you are going to have a very nice set up, right out of the blocks. I would shoot it for a little while, keep good records in your logbook on the rifle performance, so that you can have a base to check any modifications you make against. Make notes about any issues you have. After you have a good feel for what you would like to change to better suit your needs, then I would start making those changes, incrementally to see how they affect the rifle.
This is all pretty much reading a crystal ball, you really won't know what you need until you actually shoot the rifle. Many departments are having success running them in real world competitions with no modifications. Using them just as they come out of the box from HS Precison with no problems. If you want something else, honestly, I would go complete custom from the get go and build exactly what you want.