In need of the hide's opinion. I'm getting back into shooting after about 6 years off and want a bolt action rifle that's more precise, and better suited for longer ranges, than what I have. As of now I punch paper @ 100 and 200 yards and shoot steel out to 600, which is the longest distance readily available to me right now. I'm not a hard core shooter by any means. I don't hunt and don't want to shoot matches. I've got a 5.56 Mossberg MVP Predator that I could upgrade, or get something new, which if I do that I'll go to 6.5 Creedmoor as there are a few somewhat local ranges looking at opening up to 1,000+ yards. Whichever route I take the barreled action will go into an Oryx chassis. I've got other hobbies that need funds too so I need to keep the total cost of the barreled action and chassis under $900. I've been on the hide long enough to know that someone will chime in and say "well if you add a couple of hundred more to the $900 you can get x" or "if you sell the MVP and add that money to the $900 you could get y". I really don't want to do that as once you start down the "if you add a little more" rabbit hole where do you stop? I haven't had much luck selling used firearms and usually take a bath when I do sell, so I'd rather keep the MVP than get hosed just to bump the budget up. Also, to be clear, the $900 budget is for a barreled action and the Oryx only, I already have a Viper PST II and rings on the MVP, if I go another route all I need to buy is an appropriate scope base.
First option, and the easiest, is upgrade the MVP. It's one of the original 24" predator models from around 2012 with a 5.56 chamber and 1 in 9 twist. Columbia River is now offering MVP prefits that I can get in 223 Wylde with a 1 in 7 twist that will stabilize heavier bullets and give me a better chamber.
Second option would be to go new, and like I said previously, if I do that I'll move to 6.5 Creedmoor. I've looked a getting either a Howa 1500 barreled action from Brownells, or a complete Ruger American. Opinions on other models to consider are welcome (how come I think I'm going to regret that sentence).
Third and probably the cheapest out of pocket, would be to check pawn shops for a used rifle that could is either good in and of itself, or can be a donor action (most pawn shops have at least one 308 on hand) for a budget 6.5 build. The reason I mention pawn shops, as opposed to the exchange, is that I have a Savage 17HMR that I haven't had any luck selling and if I go to a pawn shop there's a chance I can trade it and get something out of it.
First option, and the easiest, is upgrade the MVP. It's one of the original 24" predator models from around 2012 with a 5.56 chamber and 1 in 9 twist. Columbia River is now offering MVP prefits that I can get in 223 Wylde with a 1 in 7 twist that will stabilize heavier bullets and give me a better chamber.
Second option would be to go new, and like I said previously, if I do that I'll move to 6.5 Creedmoor. I've looked a getting either a Howa 1500 barreled action from Brownells, or a complete Ruger American. Opinions on other models to consider are welcome (how come I think I'm going to regret that sentence).
Third and probably the cheapest out of pocket, would be to check pawn shops for a used rifle that could is either good in and of itself, or can be a donor action (most pawn shops have at least one 308 on hand) for a budget 6.5 build. The reason I mention pawn shops, as opposed to the exchange, is that I have a Savage 17HMR that I haven't had any luck selling and if I go to a pawn shop there's a chance I can trade it and get something out of it.
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