New Bolt Shooter from IL

[FN47]

Team,

Thanks for having me. New entrant to the sport here from good ol' IlliFNois, Cook County no less (one of the most restrictive in our Union).

I've enjoyed shooting friends' 10/22s, AR15s and AR10s. While I'm a CCW advocate and have pistols (FN, SIG) and my shotgun (FN), I neither personally have a use case for a semi-auto rifle and also my county bans just about every semi rifle short of the M1 Garand (got pushed down the list for a bolt-gun) and fixed-mag SKS (can't be able to accept a detachable mag over 10rds).

I do very much enjoy shooting my friend's AR10 at 400 yards though. I'd like to get into the sport on my own terms, and I'm doing just that. My aspirations are primarily developing my own personal skill, but it would be fun to drive down to the ISRA range and participate in their events a few times a year.

So to start my entry I'm going an easy and affordable route - Howa 1500 semi-heavy barreled-action 26" barrel in 6mm Creedmoor is arriving at my FFL tomorrow. I also have a Boyds AT-1 on order. I haven't picked a scope mount, rings and scope yet but I'm thinking about the Vortex Diamondback 6-24x50 as that's what I've enjoyed on my friend's AR10 and the price is right to help me understand if I do want to invest heavily in this sport (vs. dumping even more money into pistols). If I take fast to precision shooting I'm sure I'll have an aluminum bedding block stock and build up a receiver from scratch etc (I used to fab race car parts, still have access to machines) but I want to get a taste first. I have never once fired a bolt-action rifle - my first cartridge will be through this Howa (I have 100 6mm Creedmoor cartridges across 4 factory-loaded offerings arriving tomorrow).

I'm looking forward to learning from everyone in this community and someday giving value back to the board as well.

Thanks,
FN47

 

[FN47]

Update: I went Athlon Midas Tac 6-24x50 MOA for scope on my 6mm CM

 

[NiemiPT]

Interesting cartridge. Welcome

 

[mese341]

Ask a lot of questions on here there are many great people on this forum you will get a lot of good answers

 

[FN47]

Thanks for the Welcome, NiemiPT & mese341

I'm still in the soaking-it-all-up phase; lot's of questions but finding lots of answers already posted here.

I went 6mm instead of 6.5mm as I am trying to get my wife & daughter into the sport. If my wife can at least understand the appeal (not hurting herself), that will make building (funding) a larger caliber rifle that much easier. But for what it's worth, I added a .380 to the pistol collection for the same purpose and now I spend most of my time at the range shooting that little thing

Vice & case for the rifle arrived today. Picked up the barreled receiver on Monday. Cartridges are in the safe. Stock shipped today. Scope and bipod arriving this week. From a parts list, I believe all I have left to purchase is the scope mounting hardware and cleaning rods long enough for the barrel.

 

[jerome.lujan]

Welcome sir!

 

[FN47]

Rifle is almost complete! Taking her out this Friday on a 100m and 400m

Thanks for the welcome @jerome.lujan !

 

[Shifty6BR]

Greetings and salutations!!

6c will treat ya good.

You are well on your way to bolt gun splendor. Enjoy!!

 

[FN47]

Greetings and salutations!!

6c will treat ya good.

You are well on your way to bolt gun splendor. Enjoy!!

Thanks Shifty!

Got my initial scope position dialed in last night, just need to finish leveling and torquing it down. Using Vortex matched rings to hold the Athlon Midas Tac 6-24x50