Purpose built practice rifle

[Salmonchaser]

I would try to match your duty rifle as best you can. Don’t over look the value of dryfire. Most high end competitive shooters do a lot of it. Fire one dry fire five kind of thing can work wonders. This will allow your rifle to cool as well.
If you’re working with a spotter he/she can load the rifle for you. You won’t know if there is a round in the chamber or not. This drill will teach you very quickly what may be lacking in your shooting style.
Make it fun, get off the bench and challenge yourself.

 

[Caseknife]

Build a fluted heavy barrel 6 ARC, that way you can hunt with it also if you feel so inclined.

 

[choc dogs]

This is my solution. Identical scopes, pretty close to the same rifle,(one is a standard, one is a ranch) one in 6.5, one in 556. I can take out the spacer for short people shooting pretty quick.

 

[std7mag]

I’m in Canada so .243 minimum for big game, but still I can use .223 for coyotes. I would have to figure out the most cost effective path for ammo for the 223 since I don’t currently reload for it.

Egads, I didn't realize that you were in Canada.

You'll be lucky to be able to get a Red Rider BB gun!
Didn't Trudeau say that those are weapons of war?

At least with the postal strike you can't send your weapons to the government.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Varmint/heavy barrel mandatory for 223? Spotter barrel going to get too hot too fast?

My “practice” rifle is a tikka 223 with a lite contour barrel. The only reason the barrel getting hot matters is mirage, otherwise don’t worry about it. It’ll be fine. Put about 80 rounds through mine yesterday in 90 minutes while bouncing between that and a different rifle.

ADI factory 69 SMK ammo costs about $0.75/ea in the states, shoots great for me, and saves a lot of load bench time.

 

[3006Sprng]

Egads, I didn't realize that you were in Canada.

You'll be lucky to be able to get a Red Rider BB gun!
Didn't Trudeau say that those are weapons of war?

At least with the postal strike you can't send your weapons to the government.

Figured someone would bring up politics once I stated my location lol. He will be out soon enough, better things on the horizon.

 

[3006Sprng]

I appreciate all of the input from everyone, ill post in a while with what I decide on. See if my wife agrees with my choice as well

 

[elevatorman]

My wife just bought me a Tikka in 243 for this reason. My main rifle is a 7 rem mag. Expensive to shoot, I don't notice the recoil but I think after 50 plus rounds i probably would. I don't shoot it too much for cost. Enter the Tikka 243, here to save the day being a low recoil, cheaper, shoot all day option to get me out shooting alot more. Also the best varmit caliber so I'm going be picking up what I need to start coyote hunting too. Should be a fun gun, way less to recoil and pay for but alot more power and reach than the 22 Cals.

Anyhow, don't be discouraged. If yall end up being number 51 it'll be like your 21st birthday. The freedoms and guns you'll have

 

[jimh406]

I agree with 6 ARC, too.

 

[coleslaw]

Outlier barrel with an Arken scope and call it good. Howa barreled action good choice too.

 

[Don Fischer]

Keeping recoil level consistent is a mistake in my opinion. You'll fatigue a lot quicker shooting .308 for a day than .223. You can do it, obviously, but I started noticing my groups opening up around the 75 round mark with my '06. I could usually switch over to a .22 and reset myself for another box or 2, but when I got my .223 bolt gun I can pretty much shoot it the whole day without getting recoil fatigue.

I read an article about why Jim Carmichael championed the 260 Rem. It was to cut down on fatigue for long range target shooter's. I suspect the 6.5 Creedmoor would do the same and probably the 6.5x55 would also do the same.

 

[Don Fischer]

I currently have the idea that I need a purpose built rifle to practice long range shooting. Hunting weight barrels heat up fast making it take along time to get a ton of rounds on a target at distance while still being smart about heating up the barrel.

I am not interested in PRS builds or competing, but I did have the idea of just throwing together a cheap heavy barrel predator rifle with a bipod. Was thinking a Ruger American Predator in .308 since I already load for it, bipod, and a decent scope with an exposed turret. And yes, I know the barrel on a varmint rifle like that is no where near as durable as a custom job, but at least it wouldn’t be my go to rifle for hunting.

Is there any value in doing this for long range practice purposes, or should I just practice with the rifles I have. Let me know if my rational is off on this one.

Thanks.

You should practice with the rifle your going to shoot.

 

[3006Sprng]

You should practice with the rifle your going to shoot.

After needing to purchase my wife a new vehicle, I have also come to this conclusion.

 

[kodiakisland]

It really comes down to round count and how often you want to rebarrel your favorite hunting rifle. Most people probably don't shoot enough for it to matter. I like to put several thousand rounds a year through several rifles but not through my main hunting rifles. They still get shot regularly, but the round count is considerably less.

New for this year is a 6 ARC that will be my primary practice rifle. Efficient to feed and easy on the barrel. I'll probably go 5 years or so before it needs a new barrel.

I still put a lot of 22lr down range. Nothing beats trigger time.

I rarely shoot from a bench. Most of my shooting is in the field from positions I'll use hunting. Mostly prone, but a lot of improvising using shooting sticks, backpack, or whatever I have handy.