DO you really need expensive custom kit?

[Mike357]

Interesting read, and encouraging to those on a budget!

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/201 ... cal-rifle/

[ovenpaa]

A brilliant result from Darrel however he was shooting an AI/AW with a two turn S&B PMII and JLK bullets, hardly low budget shooting however it does prove that a 'factory' rifle is every bit as competative as a full custom build.

[fiveeight]

Yeah. The results are very impressive but it's what, ~£6k of kit with a non-standard barrel and handloads? I was thinking (dreaming) of buying an AW and I can't say it was my budget option! Nice to see they do deliver when you spend the money though.

[DaveT]

Custom kit is no substitute for good technique and knowledge BUT ...it sure doesn't hurt to have quality gear to play with!

I would hardly call AI kit 'factory' or cheap as has already been pointed out.... and a Schmidt is £2k of anyones money!

I would be surprised to see an unfettled ex-factory Rem 700 winning anything much but I am sure that it would give decades of pleasure if that is what the budget runs to and it can always be upgraded in stages.

[Gun Pimp]

Custom kit is no substitute for good technique and knowledge BUT ...it sure doesn't hurt to have quality gear to play with!

I would hardly call AI kit 'factory' or cheap as has already been pointed out.... and a Schmidt is £2k of anyones money!

I would be surprised to see an unfettled ex-factory Rem 700 winning anything much but I am sure that it would give decades of pleasure if that is what the budget runs to and it can always be upgraded in stages.

Well - I would ask Darrel about that - like most of us, he has been 'tatered' by Toni Young and her absolutely standard 'unfettled' 308 Remington! The 600 and 1000yd benchrest results are always published in Target Shooter mag. incidentally.

Finally, I read a lot of posts regarding Accuracy International rifles but, on the poll, 'tactical' shooting is not mentioned - so what do you use 'em for?

Vince

[ovenpaa]

Finally, I read a lot of posts regarding Accuracy International rifles but, on the poll, 'tactical' shooting is not mentioned - so what do you use 'em for?

Mine is used for club F/TR type shooting to 1000 yards (I will use it to 1200 but only when it is warm otherwise I am out of elevation) Plus McQueens shooting to 650 yards. It gets more use than the rest of my rifles put together.

[fiveeight]

Ovenpaa - do you have an angled scope base/rail on the AI? Would a 20 moa base/rings get it out to 1200 without a lot of hassle or is it more of a velocity issue?

[ovenpaa]

Ovenpaa - do you have an angled scope base/rail on the AI? Would a 20 moa base/rings get it out to 1200 without a lot of hassle or is it more of a velocity issue?

It rather depends on how much elevation your 'scope has. As an example I use an AI one piece 28 minute rail with a single turn S&B 4-16X PMII. This gives me one click over mechanical zero at 100m zero. In other words if I wind the turret down to zero I have to then come up one click to be on my 100m zero. If the temperature is around 14C and better I can get to 1200 with 131 clicks, 13.1 Mil/44.9MOA which is the maximum elevation the turret gives. 1100 yards is fine regardless of temperature.

I am shooting 155 Moly coated Scenar through a 24" barrel. I use Fed210M primers and a reasonable dose of N540, the rifle has 8k+ rounds through it (I should go back through the logs and get a true figure!)

[TattooedGun]

Ovenpaa - do you have an angled scope base/rail on the AI? Would a 20 moa base/rings get it out to 1200 without a lot of hassle or is it more of a velocity issue?

It rather depends on how much elevation your 'scope has. As an example I use an AI one piece 28 minute rail with a single turn S&B 4-16X PMII. This gives me one click over mechanical zero at 100m zero. In other words if I wind the turret down to zero I have to then come up one click to be on my 100m zero. If the temperature is around 14C and better I can get to 1200 with 131 clicks, 13.1 Mil/44.9MOA which is the maximum elevation the turret gives. 1100 yards is fine regardless of temperature.

I am shooting 155 Moly coated Scenar through a 24" barrel. I use Fed210M primers and a reasonable dose of N540, the rifle has 8k+ rounds through it (I should go back through the logs and get a true figure!)

How many barrels for that 8k rounds?
Would a longer barrel not make it reach those longer distances without so many clicks also?

[ovenpaa]

I am on my first barrel and it still gives good results, it is a Border barrel and has done me proud so far on that rifle. Yes a longer barrel would give a higher MV and accordingly mean less elevation required however the 24" means the rifle is quite compact and well balanced so as much as I have considered a 27" from time to time I would probably replace it with a like item.

As far as increase in MV I always reckon on +30fps for every additional inch with a .308 (ish!)