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

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

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

, 22in stock barrel,

1. mdt lss gen 3 chassis

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

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)

I have gotten very interested in team matches. I have a buddy who competes at Mammoth and running simulated states with him has been so much fun. I love the teamwork, communication, and find-range-engage format, but I’m not interested in doing Mammoth or any other event that requires that level of rucking in the immediate future.

What are my options for a team sniper style match with either no timed rucking or much less rucking and more generous par times than Mammoth?

Btw I did do a little research and it seems like NRL Hunter, TRT in MT, some Colman Creek events, and some events at Ben Franklin might fit the bill, but I would love to hear from folks who have shot these events.

tLDR: what team precision matches have less or no rucking?

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?

Hey guys,

I’m pretty new to precision rifles (both the equipment side and the actual shooting) and I’ve been stuck in analysis paralysis more often than not (like every major part purchase). I sent a handful of questions to Ilya Koshkin on The Hide and he was kind enough to answer them on a livestream.

Most of the discussion is optics-focused; the first question is more general shooting advice. Timestamps are below if you want to jump around. Probably a couple of questions are kind of ignorant (i.e. #2) but even with a dumb question, he helped me finally find the light switch. Hope it's helpful.

Starting Out with Precision Rifle

1. 12:04 For a new shooter, who may have limited access to a long distance range, can I find value in a 0-500 or even a 0-100 yard range? Considering I am shooing a common PRS round? i.e 6.5 Creedmoor. Or any other competition reticle.
2. 29:01 I know this has been repeated a million times, at least, and I personally decided on mil reticles long ago - what reticle system should a new shooter use? If we are CONUS and every shooting range we shoot at has targets at 100, 200, 300, and 500 yards, does it make sense to go with a mil reticle? If yes, what about a mil or MRAD reticle makes it make the most sense?
3. 39:55 This is the one I most want your take on. Fine line sub-tensions are clearly better for a precise aiming point, but a reticle that is too fine is harder for old eyes to pick up and too large seems to hide impact and splash, especially on dirt or in mirage. Where is the practical balance between a reticle thin enough to shoot accurately and thick enough that I can still see the hit, the miss, and the dust? Do you have a preferred line weight, center-dot size, or open-center design for that, and does illumination change the answer?
4. 1:03:55 For people whose eyes are not what they once were. Exit pupil, eye box, and diopter range seem to matter more now than raw magnification. What should an older shooter prioritize so the scope is still usable at the powers where precision actually happens, and are there scopes that punish aging eyes more than others?
5. 1: 17:30 If you were putting one precision scope on a new shooter’s rifle tomorrow, money being reasonable but not unlimited, what would you actually choose, and what would you tell him to ignore in the spec sheet? Budget: $1600-$2000.00

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!

Will be taking a beginner precision shooting course in December.

Max range is 500y and I will be running an 18" Aero Precision 308 with a SilencerCo, SAKER ASR 762 can.

I'm currently shopping for glass and I have settled on the Vortex Venom, FFP, MRAD reticle, and MRAD turrets.

My question pertains to magnification; it comes in 3-14x and 5-25x. I have read in several places that for me at my skill level (0) and class conditions that 3-14x is actually the better option and will be sufficient for me for a long time while I skill-build.

I just wanted input from you all that this is the correct approach because I'm fighting my urge to get the 5-25x (because of the cool factor, I know that's bad motivation).

Thanks !

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.

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.

Will be taking an introduction precision shooting course in December.

Max range is 500y and I will be running an 18" Aero Precision 308 with a SilencerCo, SAKER ASR 762 can.

I'm currently shopping for glass and I have settled on the Vortex Venom due to price point.

It's FFP with MRAD reticle and MRAD turrets.

My question pertains to magnification; it comes in 3-14x and 5-25x. I have read in several places that for me at my skill level (0) and class conditions that 3-14x is actually the better option and will be sufficient for me for a long time while I skill-build.

I just wanted input from you all that this is the correct approach because I'm fighting my urge to get the 5-25x (because of the cool factor, I know that's bad motivation).

Thanks !

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