Tac Ops:

Brian Foster

Brian Foster

Petty Officer
Minuteman
Aug 11, 2018
48
14
Dallas, Texas
#1
Talked to Mike at Tac Ops for a while yesterday. I just can’t stomach the $6500 to $12500 he is at right now. I respect the hell out of what he is doing but I can’t justify it. Would you buy it? Also he’s running like 5 months turn around right now and has A-5’s in stock so he is getting stuff built pretty quick.
 
#4
I struggled with your decision for 4 months.
The TacOps has a stellar reputation.
They are a work of art.
They hold their resale value.
Mike clearly knows his stuff.
I was convinced.

I then wrote a pro/con list of the things important to me. I took a few days to get it to the point where I knew I was being honest with what I wanted.

I bought an AI AT due to the inherent reliability and quick change barrel (caliber) capability.

Zero regrets
 
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#5
If I could buy one with no financial problems then yes absolutely

But I'm no where near the point in my life I could spend that money on just what it is versus an AI. And even then you could have a pretty stacked custom WITH scope and bipod etc for the same price
 
#6
Not that I know everything but unless you are a professional, always remember that this is a hobby. It may be a passionate hobby but it is still a hobby.

What you shoot makes little difference. Going into debt or financial distress over a hobby is not something I would advocate. You will have your opportunity at some point. The debt service and/or stress it will cause you will greatly diminish your enjoyment.

Buy what you can afford and cultivate the passion for the sport as that is what will drive you to become better

Just my 2 cents
 
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#7
Brian Foster said:
Well. What if it’s a stretch? Like it’s going to hurt and make me pull back from other expenses for a year? Why not just get a used Desert Tech/ GAP instead?
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If it's a stretch then I would skip it and look at other options. I really like the Desert tech rifle, it is so simple to change barrels and they shoot great. I hated mine at first but I kept at it and really like it now. I wish I bought one a lot sooner but I was scared that I would hate it since I never could find one to try out.
 
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#8
Nik H said:
Not that I know everything but unless you are a professional, always remember that this is a hobby. It may be a passionate hobby but it is still a hobby.

What you shoot makes little difference. Going into debt or financial distress over a hobby is not something I would advocate. You will have your opportunity at some point. The debt service and/or stress it will cause you will greatly diminish your enjoyment.

Buy what you can afford and cultivate the passion for the sport as that is what will drive you to become better

Just my 2 cents
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This is wisdom. Thank you, you made me feel better about staying in my comfort zone.
 
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#10
I have factory rifles well under a grand ( Tikka ctr 6.5 creed and rem 700 5R). A Tac Ops rifle wouldn’t allow me to make more hits. If I miss at any distance it is all me. A Tac Ops rifle and other in its price range have an exotic allure about like a Lamborghini or a Ferrari. I’m not discounting the quality of these rifles, but the value per dollar is not there. If you have the cash and won’t bat an eye when swiping the card then by all means.
 
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#11
I've had a Tango 51, twice.
I have a Delta 55 Swede.
I have a suppressor from Mike for that Swede.
Mike and I are still very early in the conception/brainstorming phase of building two rifles for my kids.

Mikes work is flawless, and the allure of the product is justified. However, you always need to do what's right for you and your situation. Right? I want a fully loaded Tahoe for my wife and kids but it's not in the cards. I want that fast as fuck Charger (Hellcat or Demon; the faster one) to park in my garage and never drive, but it's not in the cards. I can go buy those things tomorrow but I don't want to go into debt to do it.

Now, if you have to eat Ramen for 6 months to pay cash, go for it. If you have to put it on a credit card and pay some ridiculous interest rate for 5 years to pay it off, you're better off waiting or getting something cheaper.

At the end of the day, you won't be disappointed by Mikes products, at all. But, you might not want to take it into the woods, or run a PRS match with it, that's for sure. I don't want my TacOps gear covered in scratches. Different gun for different things.

The only real downside to a TacOps rifle: They can get boring if you don't have a challenging facility to stretch their legs. Shooting paper sucks. Shooting golf balls at 300+ gets fun. I still shoot .22's more than my bigger rifles.

Where are you located?
 
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#13
Ah, wish you were closer so you could run mine.

As for the suppressor, we all hear stupid stuff eventually, but there was a guy next to me blasting away with his AR or something, just going to town having a blast. Was he hitting his target? Probably not, but he wasn't hitting mine. Good for him. I popped off 4 shots while he was loading another mag and he made a comment to his buddy about it being the biggest pellet rifle he had ever seen or some such nonsense. His tune changed and the barrage of questions started up when I ejected the brass. It's that quiet.

I'm thinking about having Mike build me two more, but in a smaller bore diameter for smaller rifles.
 
#14
Nik and Colin made some good points. I have a Delta and a Tango. They are both extremely accurate works of art. I just picked up the Tango but have plenty of time behind my Delta and can shoot tighter groups with it than my AIAW. That said, my AIAW is a work horse and no slouch in the accuracy department with sub .5 MOA groups. I do not abuse my AI but I do not baby it like I do my Tac Ops rifles. The AIs and TacOps are all durable, reliable and accurate rifles. The rugged character of the AI makes me more comfortable using it hard and getting a few scratches on it but they accuracy and workmanship of the TacOps has to be experienced to be appreciated.
 
#15
different animals, have a sierra, more than a few customs, benchrest and a few AI's as well.

if you want utmost accuracy build a benchrest or a F-class rig.

you want something to beat on and get factory parts overnighted (everything breaks sooner or later), buy a AI

if you value the worksmanship (timing of screws, proper radius' etc) buy a Tac-ops.

the real benefit/sale of a tac ops is the use of factory ammo, as its been said before. tac-ops tuns the rifle to the load not the other way around like when reloading.

it does shoot very well with FGMM, some of the tightest groups i ever shot with a 308 factory ammo is from my tac ops.

on average it will out shoot my AI's with factory ammo for groups. both are more than accurate enough for anything you want to do.
but my ax308 6mmbr shooting factory ammo puts any 308 to shame, so think about your application.

if any custom or AI/high end factory rifle has a load properly developed, they will shot as good as a tac ops shooting FGMM or a worked up load.

accuracy is proper machining and tolerances along with top quality components, and tac ops is a nut about tolerances.

thats why all of his rifles shoot well, not 4 out of 5.

cant talk about a can, because my NY (communist state) will not allow one.

all in all you are paying and waiting for the hands-on skill and detail that is second to none.
they are not showy (which i love), and most people never heard of the name so if you want popularity at the range that out as well.
they also balance verrry well off hand.

Every shot sounds the same through the stock, ive shot other high end rifles that the rifle and stock are not in tune with each other, each shot rings different.

if you have the cash and dont plan on selling the rifle, make sure you use it dont let it be a safe queen. use it and get you enjoyment out of it. why leave your best rifle at home when you are going hunting, never made sense.

also if you dont go with 308, think about barrel life, if you shoot it out will you send it back and wait for a new tac-ops install. or will you send it to GAP for instance. after you do that its not a "tac-ops" anymore, its just a regular custom with a nice paint job

PM if you want to talk.
 
#16
Brian Foster said:
Talked to Mike at Tac Ops for a while yesterday. I just can’t stomach the $6500 to $12500 he is at right now. I respect the hell out of what he is doing but I can’t justify it. Would you buy it? Also he’s running like 5 months turn around right now and has A-5’s in stock so he is getting stuff built pretty quick.
Click to expand...

Wow. I knew they were pricey, but that's just insanity when you look at the other options currently available. I'm sure they shoot fantastic and so do a lot of other custom rifles. If I wanted to build off a Remington receiver I'd have LRI do a build for me. For $6500+ I'd go with an AI AXMC.

I'm a value shopper though, so I just can't see the value in a $6500+ rifle built off of a $350 Remington receiver.
 
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#19
m6z said:
I just can't see the value in a $6500+ rifle built off of a $350 Remington receiver.
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I was like you....... until I found an unfired Tango 51 here that was made in 2009. How someone could have one of these and not shoot it for 9 years is beyond me but it arrived factory fresh. Now I don't want this to sound silly. At the end of the day, it's just a piece of steel. I just got into bolt guns in the past five years and I have seen and used a bunch from Sako to AI to Surgeon.

When I took it out of the case at the gun shop, people just froze. I froze. I've held Holland and Holland double rifles. It was THAT exciting. I just looked at it and said "holy shit" about a hundred times. I read what so many people said about theirs and sometimes I was like "dude, I can't be that nice." It wasn't. It was better. I worked that bolt so many times that I thought I would wear it out. I passed it around like a joint at a Dead concert. Everyone who worked the action just went ooooo & ahhhh.

I TRIED to find a flaw. The timed screws on the Anschutz rail, the inletting, that damn bolt. NADA. Up until than I thought the only two things in the world that were perfect were the Colt 1911 and Kate Beckinsale. I slot the Tac-Ops right in there behind The Kate (let's not get silly, it's still just a rifle and The Kate is...well...not.)

He could have built it off of a Pringles can. Don't deny yourself if you can swing it because it's "just a Remington receiver." It is SO much more than that.

Just my .02
 
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#21
I’ve had the opportunity to talk with Mike many times over the last few years trying to work out what I wanted. I was in luck as a used Tango51 came up for sale and was configured exactly like I wanted it. I sent it back to Mike and had it checked over and ordered a suppressor. Yes, they are expensive, but the quality is world class. The attention to detail, balance and ergonomics make it a complete system. As good as the rifles are, working with Mike is a privilege. It is rare these days to find someone that has his mix of professionalism and customer service. His reputation precedes him, but it is more than that. If you can afford it, the rifles are worth every penny...IMHO. If he has a rifle ready to go or with a 5 month lead time, I would jump on it quick.
 
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#22
I’ve owned numerous customs over the years and I’ve also held and considered a Tac Ops rifle. I considered buying one 3 months ago on the hide, but couldn’t justify the cost. They are fantastic rifles with unquestionable accuracy, but for me the ability to customize the rifle in the colors I want outweighs the .2 accuracy difference .

And while they may hold some value, you are still going to lose you ass if you try to sell it. Sure they may sell for 4-5 used but when you paid 7000 new that’s not a great return.

I’m not down talking Mike or the rifle in anyway, he’s a great builder and it’s a great rifle. But for me, they just don’t fit the bill. I can buy a Gap or Beanland, optic and a lot of ammo for the cost of just the rifle.
 
#24
346ci said:
There isn't a 700 on this earth worth $6,500, much less $12,500.
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It isn't about he Remington 700 part it's about the craftsmanship that goes into it along with the man hours that you are paying for. Just like a person that can take a small block 350 Chevy engine and make it into a raging monster it takes time and your money. Expertise and craftsmanship cost money and if you can afford it then go for it; however, if you have to stretch to the point that it affects the family's finances then never do it.

Just like Nik H said above it's a hobby and pay accordingly. I always keep gun fund and family funds way different from each other. They don't intersect unless I have a deep and probably emotional conversation with my wife. :)
 
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#26
Ive seen one up close (didn't shot it tho). The attention to detail is there but i guess is like art, sort of in the eye of the beholder...shooter in our case.

Id rather go the AIAX way and get two... and then hire 2 ppl to run the bolts as i shoot dual wield AX6.5s like rambo for the kind of cash they are up to new.
 
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#28
ColinNSX said:
As for the suppressor, we all hear stupid stuff eventually, but there was a guy next to me blasting away with his AR or something, just going to town having a blast. Was he hitting his target? Probably not, but he wasn't hitting mine. Good for him. I popped off 4 shots while he was loading another mag and he made a comment to his buddy about it being the biggest pellet rifle he had ever seen or some such nonsense. His tune changed and the barrage of questions started up when I ejected the brass. It's that quiet.
Click to expand...

 
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#29
Brian Foster said:
Talked to Mike at Tac Ops for a while yesterday. I just can’t stomach the $6500 to $12500 he is at right now. I respect the hell out of what he is doing but I can’t justify it. Would you buy it? Also he’s running like 5 months turn around right now and has A-5’s in stock so he is getting stuff built pretty quick.
Click to expand...
I just did!
 
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#30
There are currently many rifle builders out there I have a Precision Hunter from Clarence Hammond in a 28 inch 7mm Rum. He was a nationally known Benchrest shooter. He has scored and won many competitions. He uses a Blueprinted Remington action 99% of the time and His actions are glass smooth. In my opinion the Remington Action and its worth Has been Proven and the Price tag of a Rifle reflects how These top Tier individuals such as Mike R from Tac Ops Inc perfects the Remington action! You are receiving a fully built custom Rifle from him and You are dealing directly with a Man that is one of the Best in the world in His field. These rifles are built too save lives from others who prefer to take them in an evil way. When you have a minute amount of error too make only a perfect shot will suffice. It helps when the rifle will send 3 shots through the same hole. Your paying for quality over quantity and the personable service he provides is unmatched by anyone Ive ever spoken with. Truly the Best of the Best. Lifetime guarantee other than the barrel life. What more do you want or could you ask for. When you want the tip of the spear you want the pointy side not the dull. Just my personal thoughts and opinions! Mike will also work with you on build budget etc. One of the most down to earth get it done honorable men I've done business with! This rifle is one that could be handed down for generations upon generations! One other thing an action that is a clone such as defiance bighorn etc. while all amazing actions fail too be the true original. A clone is a clone.


Where others fail these men simply can not
 
#34
kthomas said:
Must've been :ROFLMAO:

I have an X-ray 51 with Surgeon DBM, and it was certainly below that cost structure...
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You even got the Tactical Operations plastic Blow-up doll with the camouflage panties with your purchase. That one was our old model came with three speeds slow medium and suck your brains out and you were extremely happy at that price structure correct ? :LOL:

Mike R.
 
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#37
This 1911 is $8000
1911.png


This is $3100
19112.png

Value is what the end user makes it, and in the case of Tac Ops they are verified shooters too

Mike just did a better job of retaining value for his builds than some others did, followed the Custom 1911 model

So if I paid $5k for a Tac Ops considering the work, the accurate with factory ammo, etc, seems pretty good to me
 
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