I'm upgrading my PRS optic. My budget is $3200. I can swing maybe a few hundred more, but that's it. At that price I was thinking I could get my hands on a used ZC527 or maybe even a ZC840, but I can't even find used ones for sale. What are the chances that if I hang in there long enough something will show up in my budget? I don't mind waiting, I just don't want to pass up on a refurbished G3 if there's zero chance a ZCo is going to pop up in my budget. Aside from AA Optics and SH, is there anywhere else I can look?

Main contenders are

Discoveryopt HD 5-30x56

Element Helix gen2 6-24x50

Athlon Helos 4-24x50

I am very interested in discovery how is your experience with them?

I heard good things about element since it is not chinese one

Athlon kinda have good and bad reviews whivh tells me that quality control is not really good but i still want to hear your opinion

Long story short, I was recently given an Arken LH4 4-16 MIL from a buddy who’s had it sitting for quite some time. Putting it on a 16” 6ARC.

My question, I’ve heard very mixed reviews about Arken. So wondering if I keep this optic and run with it, or do I sell it (I know they aren’t worth much) and upgrade to something a little better. Main use case is coyote hunting, anywhere from 1-300yds. I’ll occasionally shoot at the range where I have steel out to 800yds. I mainly dial my scopes vs use the holdovers, have heard mixed reviews of Arkens tracking.

So figure I’d come here and see if anyone has some reps behind it. Thanks in advance!

Hi all. I just got an MDT XRS chassis for my Tikka T1x. I installed the action in the chassis and the balance is heavily biased towards the rear. With my bipod mounted all the way forward, the balance point is in the middle of the magwell. To get it to balance about in inch forward of the bag stop, I had to use 3lbs of weight (I used dried beans at the front of the chassis).

How am I going to get that much weight up front without spending as much as the rifle? I'm on a bit of a budget, but even if I buy the MDT internal forend weight, that only adds a pound, and not all at the very front of the chassis like the beans.

How important is having the perfect balance point (I'm new to positional shooting)? Suggestions?

Does anyone have a source for small packs of Berger LRHT .264 144gr's? I've been buying small packs to test ammo from SubMOAshooting, but they don't seem to have that size avilable. I've been wanting to try a small run of those guys to test on my rifle.

I see a lot of post online saying don’t put a lot of money or money at all into a ruger American, just save up and get better rifle. I was able to touch a mile with both of these with ease and couldn’t be happier! What’s your option on Ruger Americans and what has been your experience upgrading them?

1. Ruger American Gen 1 308, Arkin 26 Bull barrel, mdt xrs chassis.

2. Ruger American Gen 2 308, mdt lss gen 3 chassis

Can’t share the price but it’s pretty good for the Gen 2, aprs6 reticle Mil version.

im using my Accuracy International ax 308 rifle with a Steiner M5xi MSR2 5-25x56

Wife has taken my Bergara b14 in 6.5 (she does love hot cheetos). so I guess Im using this as an opportunity to go a different route than off the shelf but want to stay in the R700 realm.

I want to do a short action and a long action. Short action for 6.5 to keep for myself, and a long action for something less than 300winmag. Leaning toward 7PRC currently.

Is there a good reason to not go with Origin to save money?

For 7PRC I dont see why a medium or thick tang would be bad, nor why I wouldnt want an integrated recoil lug, thus bringing me to SR3/TL3 or CDG instead of the origin.

My biggest concern realistically is longevity of parts support. My state has already passed laws that wil make purchases in the future much more of a hassle, and so the two actions will be what I plan to be my last purchases. If SCOTUS addresses the laws they've passed then ill consider purchasing again in the future.... but that seems like a distant and nearly nonexistent hope.

And last, between the Zermatts and the CDG, which would be easiest for me to rebarrel in my garage? I want to use shouldered prefits so I dont have to deal with headspacing and barrel nuts and shit. So im just assuming the process is gonna end up being the same between the two lol.

Edit: after much hard thinking, I think i will go Zermatt after all. Since this will be the last platform and firearm purchase i make, perhaps in my life, since it doesnt look like the wife will OK us moving to a different state anytime soon or ever. The reason ill go zermatt is that rather than just getting a short and a long action, ill get a short medium and long action. All origin actions to make the finances balance out. So while I may not use the medium action much, i have it just in case the firearms space evolves. Because, again, the laws going into effect here. Im looking to have my gun purchases done forever before April 2027.

Thank you all for your help thus far! (And if my wife gets jealous, ill get her CDG. Because if you cant make a decision, getting all of them solves it all lmao)

Build:

MDT DRT chassis

Impact NBK Ultralite Action (Short)

Proof PXT 26" 6.5 Creedmoor Stainless Steel Competition Contour Barrel

Hawkins Updraft 6.5CM Brake

ZCO420

Area419 Match Rings

MDT Ckyepod Gen 3 Double pull Bipod

TriggerTech Diamond 2 Stage

Total weight as pictured: 17lb 4oz

It’s a green non folding stock with a Remington action/barrel. What’s the price range I should expect to pay for it? I plan on doing a M24A3 clone build.