Please help me choose by offering opinions…
Short version – New to Bolt action and precision shooting. I am stuck deciding between a Ruger Precision Rifle or the APO Snipers Hide Special Edition 6.5 Creedmoor. Budget all in for now would be 3k (including bipod and optic).
Long Version - At some point I am sure you were right where I am, attempting to expand my shooting into something new. I assume choosing the right gun will be like my foray into photography. I chose a decent though not top of the line camera. When I wanted to do more than the camera could I upgraded. I am looking for that better than beginner rifle, but my skills do not require anything more. I do not have any friends that precision shoot, though I have those that hunt. I don’t hunt but I might someday. I guess I am looking for a long range SHTF Target hunting if I had to rifle? I was originally looking at .308. I don’t have anything .308 now and the world seems to be shouting 6.5 Creedmoor. Caliber choice made – now for a rifle. Recently I picked up a Ruger Precision Rimfire and its been a lot of fun. Time for a big brother? I have never really been a precision or long-range shooter. My first bolt action was the RPRR. I plan on shooting at the local indoor/outdoor 100-yard range and my friends farm where I should be able to go up to 1000 yards when/if my skills allow me to. I will shoot suppressed. I will eventually take some formal instruction.
I think I have it narrowed down to one of these 2 rifles. Over the last few months, I have been “certain” about which one I would choose.
Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. I like Ruger. Mostly because their stuff is decent, and their customer service is the best I have experienced anywhere. I had a poor shooting 10/22 that they immediately took back, fixed and now it is amazing. I understand they should have built the gun correctly from the beginning, but they were easy to contact and they stand by their product for ever and that means something to me (for similar circumstances Sig is now dead to me). Since that experience I look at Ruger first to see if they have something that fits what I am looking for. There is a lot of aftermarket options for this rifle. I am shooting the RPRR suppressed now and having the big brother is appealing. I can shoot the .22 at my home so having a similar gun should help me be a better shooter?
APO Snipers Hide Special Edition 6.5 Creedmoor. I found this because of all my internet educating I was completing. The forum at Snipers Hide is amazing. In the remainder of my shooting hobby I have a nice variety of guns. This looks like it fits the bill for me. Better than basic, expandable. APO seems to have good support for their product. Maybe not the staying power of Ruger? Looks to be very expandable to fit me as I grow. I have the RPRR maybe I should try something different? I live in SW Virginia and knowing it is built a couple hours drive from me is also appealing. I like supporting local guys. This gun is what is giving me pause in buying the Ruger.
Then I have stupid “questions” in my head. Will a better fit and finish rifle ruin me for other guns? I didn’t care about HDTV until I had one – now its hard to go back. Stupid right? Will having similar triggers in both guns make a difference? How important is the APO chassis vs the Ruger platform for long term performance? I can see this new foray costing me thousands on thousands of dollars. (I originally thought it would SAVE me money as I would be shooting slower and save in ammo costs LOL).
My rambling has ended. All opinions and advice welcome. I have read tons of threads on this and I am still stuck. Maybe that means I have not found the right fit. Thanks for your help in advance.
Short version – New to Bolt action and precision shooting. I am stuck deciding between a Ruger Precision Rifle or the APO Snipers Hide Special Edition 6.5 Creedmoor. Budget all in for now would be 3k (including bipod and optic).
Long Version - At some point I am sure you were right where I am, attempting to expand my shooting into something new. I assume choosing the right gun will be like my foray into photography. I chose a decent though not top of the line camera. When I wanted to do more than the camera could I upgraded. I am looking for that better than beginner rifle, but my skills do not require anything more. I do not have any friends that precision shoot, though I have those that hunt. I don’t hunt but I might someday. I guess I am looking for a long range SHTF Target hunting if I had to rifle? I was originally looking at .308. I don’t have anything .308 now and the world seems to be shouting 6.5 Creedmoor. Caliber choice made – now for a rifle. Recently I picked up a Ruger Precision Rimfire and its been a lot of fun. Time for a big brother? I have never really been a precision or long-range shooter. My first bolt action was the RPRR. I plan on shooting at the local indoor/outdoor 100-yard range and my friends farm where I should be able to go up to 1000 yards when/if my skills allow me to. I will shoot suppressed. I will eventually take some formal instruction.
I think I have it narrowed down to one of these 2 rifles. Over the last few months, I have been “certain” about which one I would choose.
Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. I like Ruger. Mostly because their stuff is decent, and their customer service is the best I have experienced anywhere. I had a poor shooting 10/22 that they immediately took back, fixed and now it is amazing. I understand they should have built the gun correctly from the beginning, but they were easy to contact and they stand by their product for ever and that means something to me (for similar circumstances Sig is now dead to me). Since that experience I look at Ruger first to see if they have something that fits what I am looking for. There is a lot of aftermarket options for this rifle. I am shooting the RPRR suppressed now and having the big brother is appealing. I can shoot the .22 at my home so having a similar gun should help me be a better shooter?
APO Snipers Hide Special Edition 6.5 Creedmoor. I found this because of all my internet educating I was completing. The forum at Snipers Hide is amazing. In the remainder of my shooting hobby I have a nice variety of guns. This looks like it fits the bill for me. Better than basic, expandable. APO seems to have good support for their product. Maybe not the staying power of Ruger? Looks to be very expandable to fit me as I grow. I have the RPRR maybe I should try something different? I live in SW Virginia and knowing it is built a couple hours drive from me is also appealing. I like supporting local guys. This gun is what is giving me pause in buying the Ruger.
Then I have stupid “questions” in my head. Will a better fit and finish rifle ruin me for other guns? I didn’t care about HDTV until I had one – now its hard to go back. Stupid right? Will having similar triggers in both guns make a difference? How important is the APO chassis vs the Ruger platform for long term performance? I can see this new foray costing me thousands on thousands of dollars. (I originally thought it would SAVE me money as I would be shooting slower and save in ammo costs LOL).
My rambling has ended. All opinions and advice welcome. I have read tons of threads on this and I am still stuck. Maybe that means I have not found the right fit. Thanks for your help in advance.