Tac Ops Rifles

#1,404
I knew back in May 2020 when this thread started I would be in trouble. When I first caught the precision rifle fever back in 2008ish, I discovered Tac Ops rifles on the old Sniper Central forum. I was hooked, but such a rifle at that time for me was out of reach. I went out and bought my first gun, A Remington 700 SPS Tac in .308. I learned the long, hard, and expensive way that you get what you pay for.

I tried to make that rifle at least resemble the Tac Ops I had lusted over. I started down the rabbit hole of upgrades and reloading trying to get the 700 to perform. I was never satisfied with it, so to the back of the safe it went. I went on to semi-autos, RPR’s and eventually my AI-AX. The AX taught me you get what you pay for and once you’ve experienced that level of quality, it is hard to look at anything less.

There in the back of the safe, the 700 sat. The gun that started me down this road. Not just me either, my dad who probably aided by my enthusiasm, also became hooked on precision rifles. All the hours we spent together driving to various ranges to lay down behind our scopes and hit steel or punch paper. That 700, my first gun, it deserved better. It deserved the best.

I open up Snipers Hide one day and see the Tac Ops Rifles thread had been started. Awesome! I still love drooling over internet pictures of various models. The X-ray51 especially catches my eye. They are like a rare unicorn, I have never seen one in real life and they seem to be shrouded in secrecy with no internet presence, no price sheet, no advertising. How much for a build? Is a common question. Can’t/won’t tell you, ya gotta call the man himself is a common answer.

By now I’ve determined the 700 will be next in line for some special treatment to bring it up to a level worthy of its sentimental value. It at least needs to hold its own next to the AI AX. I’m thinking LRI action work, Bartlein barrel, Foundation stock oughta do it. The safe is getting full and the last thing I need is a new rifle. Upgrading and dialing in an existing rifle though? That’s a different story. I check back in to the Tac Ops Rifles thread as I often do to see if any new pictures were posted. I really don’t post much but I figure what the hell. In post #84 in this thread I ask if Mike takes customer‘s receivers to start builds from. The responses I get lead me to believe it will be a lost cause. My 700 will not be a Tac Ops.

If you’ve read any whole page of this thread or many others where Mike’s name is mentioned, it won‘t be long after someone adds he is one of the best in the industry for a customer to work with. I figure I don’t want to waste the mans time but I’ll just shoot him a quick PM, just to see if he‘d entertain working on my 700. It’s not long after I get a reply. Call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. What follows is a host of long phone conversations, usually in the late evening hours. Mike answers every question I have. I am blown away at the time he gives to me, a first time, one rifle, custom request seeking potential customer. Certain aspects of the build I thought I wanted. When I bring these specs up to Mike he says to trust him. I do.

Now the ball is rolling. I live in the same state as Mike and his operation. We figure out a day that works and I drive down to Beverly Hills to bring him my factory 700 barreled action. It’s not that I completely distrust our shipping infrastructure. It’s more that I will only trust this special rifle in my hands and in his so I’m willing do dedicate the trip and day to the project. I meet with Mike in his office building. He is as hospitable in person as he was over the phone. The deal is done and my rifle is left with him.

They say good things come to those who wait. This couldn’t be more true than my experience with Mike. I know not to bother the man and wait patiently for news of progress. We exchange phone calls here and there and confirm specs such as barrel length, bottom metal, how my action is measuring up, and trigger preference which I send him.

Then the day comes. I get a call on my phone and see it is Mike. I move to a isolated room and answer. Mike says my rifle has been completed. Quite obviously I’m excited. We arrange a day and I travel back down to Beverly Hills. A nine hour drive gives me plenty of time to ponder the build and my journey. No surprise when I meet with Mike he is as cordial as ever. We chit chat about all manner of things and then I see her. My 700.

The accolades of Mike’s work have been spoken here many times before. My experience is no different. I hold my first rifle for the first time again. I am speechless. It is perfect. I look for imperfections and find none. Yes even the screws in the bottom rail are timed so the screw lettering is at 12 o’clock. My Tac Ops dreams have come true.

I bring my rifle back home where the next long wait is for me to build the loading bench in my new house where ammo for my new Tac Ops will be made. Just the other day this project was completed. I loaded the first rounds to test some Sierra 175g HPBT Matchkings with IMR 4064 and new Lapua brass. For a mediocre reloader and group shooter I was quite impressed. I’m curious to try Mike’s advise in just shooting factory loads of his recommendation.

I apologize for such a long post. I started writing and couldn’t help but tell my full story to this point. To summarize, this rifle has always been my dream and Mike at Tac Ops made it come true. Thank you Mike for what you do and how you do it.

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#1,405
seafury said:
I knew back in May 2020 when this thread started I would be in trouble. When I first caught the precision rifle fever back in 2008ish, I discovered Tac Ops rifles on the old Sniper Central forum. I was hooked, but such a rifle at that time for me was out of reach. I went out and bought my first gun, A Remington 700 SPS Tac in .308. I learned the long, hard, and expensive way that you get what you pay for.

I tried to make that rifle at least resemble the Tac Ops I had lusted over. I started down the rabbit hole of upgrades and reloading trying to get the 700 to perform. I was never satisfied with it, so to the back of the safe it went. I went on to semi-autos, RPR’s and eventually my AI-AX. The AX taught me you get what you pay for and once you’ve experienced that level of quality, it is hard to look at anything less.

There in the back of the safe, the 700 sat. The gun that started me down this road. Not just me either, my dad who probably aided by my enthusiasm, also became hooked on precision rifles. All the hours we spent together driving to various ranges to lay down behind our scopes and hit steel or punch paper. That 700, my first gun, it deserved better. It deserved the best.

I open up Snipers Hide one day and see the Tac Ops Rifles thread had been started. Awesome! I still love drooling over internet pictures of various models. The X-ray51 especially catches my eye. They are like a rare unicorn, I have never seen one in real life and they seem to be shrouded in secrecy with no internet presence, no price sheet, no advertising. How much for a build? Is a common question. Can’t/won’t tell you, ya gotta call the man himself is a common answer.

By now I’ve determined the 700 will be next in line for some special treatment to bring it up to a level worthy of its sentimental value. It at least needs to hold its own next to the AI AX. I’m thinking LRI action work, Bartlein barrel, Foundation stock oughta do it. The safe is getting full and the last thing I need is a new rifle. Upgrading and dialing in an existing rifle though? That’s a different story. I check back in to the Tac Ops Rifles thread as I often do to see if any new pictures were posted. I really don’t post much but I figure what the hell. In post #84 in this thread I ask if Mike takes customer‘s receivers to start builds from. The responses I get lead me to believe it will be a lost cause. My 700 will not be a Tac Ops.

If you’ve read any whole page of this thread or many others where Mike’s name is mentioned, it won‘t be long after someone adds he is one of the best in the industry for a customer to work with. I figure I don’t want to waste the mans time but I’ll just shoot him a quick PM, just to see if he‘d entertain working on my 700. It’s not long after I get a reply. Call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. What follows is a host of long phone conversations, usually in the late evening hours. Mike answers every question I have. I am blown away at the time he gives to me, a first time, one rifle, custom request seeking potential customer. Certain aspects of the build I thought I wanted. When I bring these specs up to Mike he says to trust him. I do.

Now the ball is rolling. I live in the same state as Mike and his operation. We figure out a day that works and I drive down to Beverly Hills to bring him my factory 700 barreled action. It’s not that I completely distrust our shipping infrastructure. It’s more that I will only trust this special rifle in my hands and in his so I’m willing do dedicate the trip and day to the project. I meet with Mike in his office building. He is as hospitable in person as he was over the phone. The deal is done and my rifle is left with him.

They say good things come to those who wait. This couldn’t be more true than my experience with Mike. I know not to bother the man and wait patiently for news of progress. We exchange phone calls here and there and confirm specs such as barrel length, bottom metal, how my action is measuring up, and trigger preference which I send him.

Then the day comes. I get a call on my phone and see it is Mike. I move to a isolated room and answer. Mike says my rifle has been completed. Quite obviously I’m excited. We arrange a day and I travel back down to Beverly Hills. A nine hour drive gives me plenty of time to ponder the build and my journey. No surprise when I meet with Mike he is as cordial as ever. We chit chat about all manner of things and then I see her. My 700.

The accolades of Mike’s work have been spoken here many times before. My experience is no different. I hold my first rifle for the first time again. I am speechless. It is perfect. I look for imperfections and find none. Yes even the screws in the bottom rail are timed so the screw lettering is at 12 o’clock. My Tac Ops dreams have come true.

I bring my rifle back home where the next long wait is for me to build the loading bench in my new house where ammo for my new Tac Ops will be made. Just the other day this project was completed. I loaded the first rounds to test some Sierra 175g HPBT Matchkings with IMR 4064 and new Lapua brass. For a mediocre reloader and group shooter I was quite impressed. I’m curious to try Mike’s advise in just shooting factory loads of his recommendation.

I apologize for such a long post. I started writing and couldn’t help but tell my full story to this point. To summarize, this rifle has always been my dream and Mike at Tac Ops made it come true. Thank you Mike for what you do and how you do it.

View attachment 7947967
View attachment 7947968

View attachment 7947969
Click to expand...
Don't apologize for a great story. The length is what it took to get the story.

If on the other hand you didn't use punctuation or paragraphs that is an entirely different thing.

Great looking rifle.
 
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#1,406
seafury said:
I knew back in May 2020 when this thread started I would be in trouble. When I first caught the precision rifle fever back in 2008ish, I discovered Tac Ops rifles on the old Sniper Central forum. I was hooked, but such a rifle at that time for me was out of reach. I went out and bought my first gun, A Remington 700 SPS Tac in .308. I learned the long, hard, and expensive way that you get what you pay for.

I tried to make that rifle at least resemble the Tac Ops I had lusted over. I started down the rabbit hole of upgrades and reloading trying to get the 700 to perform. I was never satisfied with it, so to the back of the safe it went. I went on to semi-autos, RPR’s and eventually my AI-AX. The AX taught me you get what you pay for and once you’ve experienced that level of quality, it is hard to look at anything less.

There in the back of the safe, the 700 sat. The gun that started me down this road. Not just me either, my dad who probably aided by my enthusiasm, also became hooked on precision rifles. All the hours we spent together driving to various ranges to lay down behind our scopes and hit steel or punch paper. That 700, my first gun, it deserved better. It deserved the best.

I open up Snipers Hide one day and see the Tac Ops Rifles thread had been started. Awesome! I still love drooling over internet pictures of various models. The X-ray51 especially catches my eye. They are like a rare unicorn, I have never seen one in real life and they seem to be shrouded in secrecy with no internet presence, no price sheet, no advertising. How much for a build? Is a common question. Can’t/won’t tell you, ya gotta call the man himself is a common answer.

By now I’ve determined the 700 will be next in line for some special treatment to bring it up to a level worthy of its sentimental value. It at least needs to hold its own next to the AI AX. I’m thinking LRI action work, Bartlein barrel, Foundation stock oughta do it. The safe is getting full and the last thing I need is a new rifle. Upgrading and dialing in an existing rifle though? That’s a different story. I check back in to the Tac Ops Rifles thread as I often do to see if any new pictures were posted. I really don’t post much but I figure what the hell. In post #84 in this thread I ask if Mike takes customer‘s receivers to start builds from. The responses I get lead me to believe it will be a lost cause. My 700 will not be a Tac Ops.

If you’ve read any whole page of this thread or many others where Mike’s name is mentioned, it won‘t be long after someone adds he is one of the best in the industry for a customer to work with. I figure I don’t want to waste the mans time but I’ll just shoot him a quick PM, just to see if he‘d entertain working on my 700. It’s not long after I get a reply. Call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. What follows is a host of long phone conversations, usually in the late evening hours. Mike answers every question I have. I am blown away at the time he gives to me, a first time, one rifle, custom request seeking potential customer. Certain aspects of the build I thought I wanted. When I bring these specs up to Mike he says to trust him. I do.

Now the ball is rolling. I live in the same state as Mike and his operation. We figure out a day that works and I drive down to Beverly Hills to bring him my factory 700 barreled action. It’s not that I completely distrust our shipping infrastructure. It’s more that I will only trust this special rifle in my hands and in his so I’m willing do dedicate the trip and day to the project. I meet with Mike in his office building. He is as hospitable in person as he was over the phone. The deal is done and my rifle is left with him.

They say good things come to those who wait. This couldn’t be more true than my experience with Mike. I know not to bother the man and wait patiently for news of progress. We exchange phone calls here and there and confirm specs such as barrel length, bottom metal, how my action is measuring up, and trigger preference which I send him.

Then the day comes. I get a call on my phone and see it is Mike. I move to a isolated room and answer. Mike says my rifle has been completed. Quite obviously I’m excited. We arrange a day and I travel back down to Beverly Hills. A nine hour drive gives me plenty of time to ponder the build and my journey. No surprise when I meet with Mike he is as cordial as ever. We chit chat about all manner of things and then I see her. My 700.

The accolades of Mike’s work have been spoken here many times before. My experience is no different. I hold my first rifle for the first time again. I am speechless. It is perfect. I look for imperfections and find none. Yes even the screws in the bottom rail are timed so the screw lettering is at 12 o’clock. My Tac Ops dreams have come true.

I bring my rifle back home where the next long wait is for me to build the loading bench in my new house where ammo for my new Tac Ops will be made. Just the other day this project was completed. I loaded the first rounds to test some Sierra 175g HPBT Matchkings with IMR 4064 and new Lapua brass. For a mediocre reloader and group shooter I was quite impressed. I’m curious to try Mike’s advise in just shooting factory loads of his recommendation.

I apologize for such a long post. I started writing and couldn’t help but tell my full story to this point. To summarize, this rifle has always been my dream and Mike at Tac Ops made it come true. Thank you Mike for what you do and how you do it.

View attachment 7947967
View attachment 7947968

View attachment 7947969
Click to expand...
Your most welcome it was my pleasure to build you a Tac Ops X-Ray 51 off of the Remington 700 you supplied :) Enjoy it and remember you have a life-time warranty other than barrel life my Ninja...

Thank you for kind words they are most appreciated...

Mike R.
 
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#1,407
Big shout out to @MikeRTacOps for sending me a set of two piece bases! These are definitely my favorite bases and I might just have to switch out the 1 piece bases on my other rifles. Called him yesterday to tell him thanks and he returned my call today. Told me if I need anything else to just let him know! Will definitely be doing business with him.
 

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#1,412
brianf said:
That seems to be a bad habit you have 😎
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It's been a while, but I feel I need to thank @MikeRTacOps. Sorry for not doing it sooner, but life has just been busy.

I got a second drag bag from him a while back and I called to check on the status. Turns out Mike just had to reconfirm my address for shipping.
Got the bag less than a week later accompanied by a check from Mike with a generous number written on it, and a note on the check stub that said, "Lunch is on me, my ninja."

I almost felt bad cashing it, but that probably is the cost of a lunch in the Hills. lol
Anyway, thanks homie. I took my wife out on a nice dinner date.

I need to reach out soon and talk. I really do want to follow up on that Delta 51 we spoke about years ago.

Cheers brother!
 
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#1,413
Bakwa said:
It's been a while, but I feel I need to thank @MikeRTacOps. Sorry for not doing it sooner, but life has just been busy.

I got a second drag bag from him a while back and I called to check on the status. Turns out Mike just had to reconfirm my address for shipping.
Got the bag less than a week later accompanied by a check from Mike with a generous number written on it, and a note on the check stub that said, "Lunch is on me, my ninja."

I almost felt bad cashing it, but that probably is the cost of a lunch in the Hills. lol
Anyway, thanks homie. I took my wife out on a nice dinner date.

I need to reach out soon and talk. I really do want to follow up on that Delta 51 we spoke about years ago.

Cheers brother!
Click to expand...
Your Most Welcome it was My Pleasure :) Making a new run of drag Bags soon so if you need another to get ready for your new Delta 51 let me know ;) Please don't tell the wife I don't want to be nervous starting my car in the morning lol

Mike R.
 
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#1,427
I purchased this X-Ray from another hide member here when it was still in new condition last year. A big thanks to @tacops1 for that and have gained a great friend as a result.

I own a few other custom rifles built by some fine builders for comparison...........but this is on an entirely different level. The machine work, fit, finish, and overall attention to detail that goes into these are amazing! Mike, you are a true craftsman and should be very proud of your work, which I'm sure you are. Keep it up my friend(y)
InkedIMG_E2618.jpg
 
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#1,428
duane1969 said:
I purchased this X-Ray from another hide member here when it was still in new condition last year. A big thanks to @tacops1 for that and have gained a great friend as a result.

I own a few other custom rifles built by some fine builders for comparison...........but this is on an entirely different level. The machine work, fit, finish, and overall attention to detail that goes into these are amazing! Mike, you are a true craftsman and should be very proud of your work, which I'm sure you are. Keep it up my friend(y)View attachment 7955264
Click to expand...
Thank you for the kind words and you are most welcome my Ninja :)

Mike R.
 
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#1,429
duane1969 said:
I purchased this X-Ray from another hide member here when it was still in new condition last year. A big thanks to @tacops1 for that and have gained a great friend as a result.

I own a few other custom rifles built by some fine builders for comparison...........but this is on an entirely different level. The machine work, fit, finish, and overall attention to detail that goes into these are amazing! Mike, you are a true craftsman and should be very proud of your work, which I'm sure you are. Keep it up my friend(y)View attachment 7955264
Click to expand...
Glad it’s finally together optic can and rings. Enjoy her. I love my Tango to death. Now to work on the hunting rig with Mike. 😂 likewise on the long distance friendship brother
 
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#1,430
Always loved shooting rifles

When I was single, I had no money. Got married and started a little family ... hardly shot at all for better part of 10 yrs ... but eventually got some money.

Decide to buy rifle. Want a M40A1 ... gun broker recommends considering Bergara instead. Get a Bergara .308 premier ridgeback. Need drag bag. Best one I found was on EuroOptic.com ... Made by a company called "Tactical Operations" ... ordered small black multi-cam ... fits rifle perfectly. Good buy.

On phone some weeks later with salesman from EuroOptic. unrelated topic. Mention drag bag. Who is this company?

A friend of his boss who has been making super-nice precision rifles for basically every major law enforcement agency, federal, state, municipal -- all the major ones -- and others for a long time ... they're like the Gucci of rifles
 
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#1,431
Called number out of curiosity and leave message. Don't expect call back. Couple days later, get call back right after dinner and wife is right there. "Gotta take this call"

Get somewhere I can talk and It's Mike from Tactical Operations. Great guy. Like him off the bat. We talk for a few and then he tells me about the rifles. He specifically says to check out this thread, which I did.

Mention to Mike I am in market for suppressor ... yada yada yada there's a rifle in the works
 
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#1,449
This is my new Tac Ops X RAY 51 MF Manners Folder,its the most beautiful rifle I have ever laid my eyes on and it shoots like a laser,16 inch barrel 308 folder,its a small but extremely accurate package,these stocks are a year back order,glad we started the project when we did,Mike told me he has one more folding stock so if you don't want to wait a year have him build you a gun NOW.I installed a Schmidt 3-20 Ultra short and as you can see its set up for night vision.This is my third Tac Ops,Mike is a genius artist,Genius for accuracy,Artist for.......well........you can clearly see.Im sure I have another Tac Ops in my future but I can't really see how he can top this build!!!!Check out the test target .019 @ 110 yards!!!!
 

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