Ruk said:
I just ordered an SPS Varmint.....mostly due to the entry level price and rebate being offered.
Then you basically bought the same rifle as the 700 PSS except for the stock. A good rifle in other words.
I know that this is not the best way to select a rifle however the purchase now has me two feet in on this and with that commitment I want to know everything that I can to become an accomplished marksman.
There are a couple of good shooting schools in the area. Tiger Valley does classes in Dallas, and are based in Waco. Tac Pro is on the other side of Weatherford. There is CMP club in Terrel, and there may be an Appleseed shoot in the area sometime. There's one down closer to Austin I know.
I figure the more I learn on this rifle the more I may end up purchasing more....similar to what I've seen in other posts. Given that my objective is to master a rifle range, I am interested in what modifications I can make.
First learn the rifle you've got, see what you want to do, and then look at modifications. Out fo the box rifles will generally outshoot the user.
First, I see many of you have opted to change out stocks. I am still not clear on how that affects the accuracy if at all or if it is more of a comfort purchase.
Depends on the stock. The Hogue stock on the SPS T flexes a lot, so it is common to see them switched out for a more rigid model. Some shooters want an adjustable length of pull or cheek height. Some people prefer a more vertical target/tactical pistol grip area if they shoot a lot of prone. Some people want a wider foreend for greater stability when shooting from a rest.
Second, many of you have opted for very different scopes and mounts....some big others small. Considering a rifle range, what ranges of power should scopes possess and what determines one brand's quality of another?
Optics vary by user. As a general rule you want 1x for every 100 yards. Just a general rule. Variables are nice if you are going to working at varying ranges. A fixed power is a simpler scope, but if it is 10x it is probably going to have a narrow FOV and shooting at something in close or moving may be difficult as opposed to a lower power fixed optic or variable that you can dial back.
As far as quality, in general you get what you pay for in glass. There are some very good brands that aren't as expensive as some of the high end scopes (Vortex, Falcon, SWFA SS). Teh high end is going to be USO, Night Force, Swaraovski, some of the Leupolds and other more common names.
Teh price is related to the quality of the glass used in the lenses, the coatings used, the durability of the components, and careful QC and manufacturing process.
I Third, I see many of you have bipods. But it isn't just bipods....some of you have these large contraptions also holding the rifle at the range while the bipod is extended.
I think you are describing rifle rests or vises. A bipod simply allows the rifle to be held up off of the ground or platform to allow the support hand to operate the glass and hold the stock into the shoulder. A rest is more of a mechanical aid to eliminate movement and clamp the rifle down so that the true accuracy can be seen without shooter error.
Are these contraptions designed to reduce the kickback?
It's called recoil. In a way, yes. But there are mechanical means of reducing recoil (shock absorbing stocks, mercury systems, and wieghts) that would be used on a rifle in the field.
know these are fairly open-ended questions so please excuse my inexperience. Basically, I'm looking for some example build ideas for this particular model as I upgrade over the next year. I would consider moderate priced upgrades.....nothing too high-end and definitely not too cheap. I thank you in advance for any advice you can impart.
Respectfully,
Ruk
I would start with just getting some good intro grade glass with good rings and a base. Find a load that your rifle shoots well, and then go to a class of some sort. Get your range time down, and then start to look at what you think might help you.
Welcome to the board.
