I’d like to get a semi-auto in 6.5cm, either 18 or 20” barrel. I’d much prefer to buy a factory gun, and $2300 is my ceiling on the stock firearm
I would recommend the Savage MSR-10 LR. It comes from factory in shootable layout, and I've only added a trigger and different compensator to mine since I bought it. And yes, I'll commit SH heresy by suggesting it over the other factory 6.5's, with the possible exception of the (far more expensive) JP.
Be aware that the first production run had a few clinkers in it. Stick with serial numbers over 5000.
Having shot many of the currently available 6.5's, the Savage has several features I am unwilling to give up.
1. Non-recip side charger. Most of my shooting with this rifle is prone, and operating the bolt without moving your head from weld, is just the way it should be. Rear chargers blow while shooting prone, and they blow hard.
2. Savage did not copy the bulky AR-10 receiver format, and instead shorted the entire upper receiver assembly, resulting in a lighter and handier feeling gun that just feels better in all positions (to me). Maybe with longer arms you'd prefer the longer AR-10 format, but I don't. I'm 6'0". It is my observation that the recoil impulse by the shorter action Savage feels somewhat moderated and significantly less slammy as well. Most other AR parts still drop in, but not the upper receiver or bolt carrier.
3. Most customers report factory groups in the 1/2"-3/4" using developed loads right out of the box (and that was my experience as well).
4. Excellent and easy gas block adjustments on the fly
I've been a JP fan for years, and to me, it appears Savage copied the best features of the JP, added the shortened receiver, and popped out a really sweet rifle. It has all the things I liked about the JP, plus a few significant improvements, without the extra large price tag.
If you're thinking about competing, get it in 6mm instead of 6.5. The total lack of recoil in the 6mm is a real advantage. With the 6.5, my moderately hot match loads, and the better APA compensator, the muzzle jump is minimal, and its easy to stay on target when I do my part. You can really hose down targets out to 600yds with ease (A buddy and I have been doing Bill Drills with them at 600yds. We load 10, and use a timer, and score them as time divided by hits - the smaller the number, the better the brag).
I swapped out the trigger for a Gieselle, and replaced the comp with an APA, and changed out the handgrip, and that's it. The thing is a laser, easy to shoot the way long range guns get shot, and I've spent far less than a lot of other gasser shooters for a better rifle for task.
