Explain why a sporter/precision hybrid rifle is a bad idea

Rustle in the Bushes · September 18, 2012, 08:09 PM

as someone who wants to

a) do moderately serious informal target practice to improve as a shooter. Mostly at 100 yards but eventually the odd trip out to crown land for some long range work. 200-300 yards.

b) hunt

the idea of owning only one centerfire rifle and scope is appealing. Since Im not competing I'm not sure if I need a 12lb bull barrel rifle. but I would still like to be able to shoot targets the size of a deer's vitals out to longer ranges eventually. I understand heat stringing with a thin bbl will show its face here during my practice sessions but is it THAT big a factor? can I just keep shooting and compensate for the stringing or does it just go all over the place?

Rifles Im considering are sako's 85, rem 700.(left hand rifles) these are 7.5lb guns and I should be able to load down my calibre 30-06 or .308(I reload) to accomodate for longer practice sessions with recoil. For hunting Im thinking of picking up a macmillan stock which would drop the weight down about a LB, making the rifles easier to carry.

thanks for reading! how much of this is a bad idea?

**Brian Pfleuger** · September 18, 2012, 08:13 PM

Don't know why it would be a bad idea. Pretty much how most of us do it.
Just about everyone I know does all their shooing with traditional, "pencil" barreled rifles.

PawPaw · September 18, 2012, 08:26 PM

What you're describing sounds like any of a half-dozen rifles I own. I've got rifles like that in .223, .243, .308, and .30-06.

It sounds like a great idea! Go for it.

GeauxTide · September 18, 2012, 08:34 PM

I just need more than one; however, your thoughts are on target. Having had several 700LH, and still have 2, I'd get the 700SPS. 24" barrel, synthetic stock. Targets and deer - 308. Targets and large deer - '06.

Scorch · September 18, 2012, 08:35 PM

Your dream rifle makes perfect sense, and you can buy one over the counter at just about any sporting goods store in the US. I have never heard anyone say that an accurate sporter weight rifle is a bad idea. In fact, stores sell hundreds of thousands of them annually in the US.

Now, about your outing. I am not quite sure what "crown land" is. You see, we changed owners a few years back (1783). But hey, it sure sounds like fun!

**Art Eatman** · September 18, 2012, 10:05 PM

Back about forty years ago, I was mumbling around about a "really good" hunting rifle. I finally bought a Weatherby Mark V with a 26" #2 profile barrel in .30-'06. I'd call the barrel a medium sporter. Definitely not a pencil.

So I tweaked the forearm bedding and put a Canjar trigger on it.

The result, through some 4,000 rounds, has been a sub-MOA shooter. Five shots in 3/4 MOA, usually. I've fired ten-shot groups in rather rapid fashion and had 1.25 MOA. It's sub-MOA at 500 yards as well as at 100.

Almost all the shooting was with handloads, and mostly with Sierra bullets.

Plenty-enough precision to suit me, and darned sure good for coyotes, deer and elk.

viciouskitty · September 18, 2012, 10:16 PM

No reason you can't use a sporter weight barrel to hit out to longer ranges. People do it all the time including me. If your planning long strings of fire at extended ranges a bull barrel would be best. But if your willing to slow down and wait between shots there's no reason an accurate sporter barrel can't do the job. I was just watching a nutnfancy review of the ruger american rifle and savage axis and he was hitting out to 400 or so with a sporter barrel so its very possible. You just have to make a compromise.

September 18, 2012, 08:09 PM	#1
Rustle in the Bushes Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2011 Location: Canada- West Posts: 174	Explain why a sporter/precision hybrid rifle is a bad idea as someone who wants to a) do moderately serious informal target practice to improve as a shooter. Mostly at 100 yards but eventually the odd trip out to crown land for some long range work. 200-300 yards. b) hunt the idea of owning only one centerfire rifle and scope is appealing. Since Im not competing I'm not sure if I need a 12lb bull barrel rifle. but I would still like to be able to shoot targets the size of a deer's vitals out to longer ranges eventually. I understand heat stringing with a thin bbl will show its face here during my practice sessions but is it THAT big a factor? can I just keep shooting and compensate for the stringing or does it just go all over the place? Rifles Im considering are sako's 85, rem 700.(left hand rifles) these are 7.5lb guns and I should be able to load down my calibre 30-06 or .308(I reload) to accomodate for longer practice sessions with recoil. For hunting Im thinking of picking up a macmillan stock which would drop the weight down about a LB, making the rifles easier to carry. thanks for reading! how much of this is a bad idea? Last edited by Rustle in the Bushes; September 18, 2012 at 08:18 PM.

September 18, 2012, 08:26 PM	#3
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 2,665	What you're describing sounds like any of a half-dozen rifles I own. I've got rifles like that in .223, .243, .308, and .30-06. It sounds like a great idea! Go for it. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

September 18, 2012, 08:35 PM	#5
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 11,113	Your dream rifle makes perfect sense, and you can buy one over the counter at just about any sporting goods store in the US. I have never heard anyone say that an accurate sporter weight rifle is a bad idea. In fact, stores sell hundreds of thousands of them annually in the US. Now, about your outing. I am not quite sure what "crown land" is. You see, we changed owners a few years back (1783). But hey, it sure sounds like fun! __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services Taylor Machine

September 18, 2012, 10:05 PM	#6
Art Eatman Staff Lead Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX, USA Posts: 21,046	Back about forty years ago, I was mumbling around about a "really good" hunting rifle. I finally bought a Weatherby Mark V with a 26" #2 profile barrel in .30-'06. I'd call the barrel a medium sporter. Definitely not a pencil. So I tweaked the forearm bedding and put a Canjar trigger on it. The result, through some 4,000 rounds, has been a sub-MOA shooter. Five shots in 3/4 MOA, usually. I've fired ten-shot groups in rather rapid fashion and had 1.25 MOA. It's sub-MOA at 500 yards as well as at 100. Almost all the shooting was with handloads, and mostly with Sierra bullets. Plenty-enough precision to suit me, and darned sure good for coyotes, deer and elk. __________________ You're from BATFE? Come right in! I use all your fine products!

September 18, 2012, 08:13 PM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Staff Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Central, Southern NY, USA Posts: 14,662	Don't know why it would be a bad idea. Pretty much how most of us do it. Just about everyone I know does all their shooing with traditional, "pencil" barreled rifles. __________________ Still happily answering to the call-sign Peetza. --- You do not HAVE a soul. You ARE a soul. You HAVE a body. ----- He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose. -Jim Eliott, paraphrasing Philip Henry.

September 18, 2012, 08:34 PM	#4
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 2,932	I just need more than one; however, your thoughts are on target. Having had several 700LH, and still have 2, I'd get the 700SPS. 24" barrel, synthetic stock. Targets and deer - 308. Targets and large deer - '06.

September 18, 2012, 10:16 PM	#7
viciouskitty Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 230	No reason you can't use a sporter weight barrel to hit out to longer ranges. People do it all the time including me. If your planning long strings of fire at extended ranges a bull barrel would be best. But if your willing to slow down and wait between shots there's no reason an accurate sporter barrel can't do the job. I was just watching a nutnfancy review of the ruger american rifle and savage axis and he was hitting out to 400 or so with a sporter barrel so its very possible. You just have to make a compromise.