I believe the LARP comment was originally directed at me for asking the question in the first place. As in I must LARP since I am no longer in the military and I gave the impression that I wanted a military sniper rifle. I don't put on camo and walk around in the woods acting out military style scenarios. I do want to compare the rifles used in sniper games like PRS etc. with real world use tactical sniper rifles. I think one is kidding oneself if one won't admit that one of the underlying reasons shooting sports are cool is because one is proving that one can theoretically eliminate a human/animal target under those circumstances. It stokes the primal ego in a way crocheting or golf cannot.
It didn't bother me. I understand the egos and emotions that exist in this hobby. Internet forums amplify these traits and turn otherwise great people into Johnny Know-it-all bloviating blowhards. Hang out in martial arts forums for a while for some real fun.
WARNING - LONG WINDED AND BORING. ONLY DIRECTED TOWARD OP.
A lot of my guns are built as tributes to military rifles.....I LARP.
They all are limited by the technology of their time. I dont have the money or the historical interest in cloning the latest and greatest......still they are capable, better than me.
You have spent some money on rifles and Im picking up the vibe you are not achieving the goals you have in mind.....you want more and you want it to be built like a brick shit house.
When I left the military I was soured on guns, not due to some trauma on the battlefield, only the trauma of realizing that guns and some prick in the armory with a Q-tip was a constant threat to my making my plane flight for a 96.
I took a job that I felt required I train a bit....that lead me to buying a Garand which lead me to the idea I want an accurate gun and it had to be built like a brick shit house - My Garand but updated.
I put about $7K into an LMT MWS - a fantastic rifle complimented with a S&B PMII - a brick shithouse with optics. A very capable rifle and their is a reason the M110 has a military role. Its kind of a heavy MFer though. The LMT suffers a weight penalty with the heavy barrel collar but its probably on par with Knights. My skills make it a consistent 2 MOA rifle - under most circumstances that is great capability coming right out of the box and slapping on a scope.....but if you are here you probably want more. I wanted more.
My next rifle was an M40A1 built at PWS - there is your sniper rifle, another $7K spent. After waiting three years I got my USO Unertl clone and found out I have a rifle that will stack bullets but clover leafs were not what it was designed for. The intent was to give a Marine a 3/4 MOA from the test bed gun with a scope that can be quickly set to engage targets of opportunity with the BDC settings. Very capable, an improvement in accuracy over the LMT but still limiting.
Next was an M40. I knew it was going to be a step back but its probably one of my favorite rifles to shoot. Light, handy....a riflemans rifle. Ive taken it out to 1000 yards. The limiting factor is the 3-9X Leupold M40 clone scope. I have the advantage of a mil dot reticle that guys in VN did not. By zeroing with a 2 mil hold under and than changing from 9X to 4.5X I get enough hold for 1000. Its as accurate as the A1 just not with as many shots....with the thinner barrel. Still like the A1 kind of a musket in length. The scope is the big limitation at 4.5X targets at 1000 are small. That metal butt plate is an ass kicker too. I was almost in tears after 100 rounds.
The rifle in the video was built by Raven Rifles. I took all my desirable aspects of the M40 series and put them in one gun. Its built like a brick shithouse, its handy, quick handling, perhaps not "light" but its weight helps alot with its shootability. The Premier single turn scope is fantastic, unlike my A1 parallax is no concern dialing is always dead nuts despite ammo lot differences or conditions. My favorite gun. somewhat similar to TacOps offerings with its Krieger barrel of shorter length. It satisfies all my rifle desires - overbuilt, historical, accurate.
Am I done with buying rifles....almost.
Just got a Model 70 back that Im building to be a Carlos Hathcock tribute (I am a LARPER). I have a 5 digit R700 receiver at LRI being built into a wood stock M40 with detachable mag capability, truck axle barrel at 23 inches, and it will sport a S&B PMII.
You should build the gun you want not what PRS is using or the mil is using.
Take proven components that either appeal to your historical thoughts on the M24/your military service or that PRS winners use. Build that shit into your own personal favorite rifle using a quality builder. Raven Rifles is a student of USMC rifles but I would trust him to build me anything to include a toaster. Choose a quality barrel I love Krieger and so does TAC OPs. My new rifle will have a LH GT Bartlein with a fast ending twist. If it sucks its because I am being weird with my spec - it wont be Bartleins fault - they build great barrels....my .223 M40 with a Bartlein crushes it.
The rifle you "want" to shoot is the one you will shoot best.
....or just buy a TAC OPS
.....and take classes......classes are great and they will help you.