I’m relatively new to precision bolt action guns. I have no desire to build one on my own. I’m interested in opinions on this build by GA Precision.
http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-precision-2012-custom-rifles/ga-precision-the-thunder-ranch-rifle.html
What’s it purpose
What are you wanting the gun for
Which scope are you going to run
Just want to get some info before I respond
No specific purpose, just long range (700-1200 yd) precision shooting. Competition is an option in the future. A hunting option can’t be ruled out. I’ve not selected a scope yet, prefer a mil-mil type of scope that will get me out that far.
Cost is always a concern but I’d rather buy right one time.
highly recommend GAP and the templar action / manners stock.
that stock is more huntery and less snipery / competitory. whether that’s good or bad depends on what you want.
308win … well. you know.
22" is a decent compromise, but on the short side for me. also the custom contour is slightly thicker than i care for.
i’m not knocking clint or thunder ranch (I’ve been there and happen to like them), but i wouldn’t particularly want his name on my rifle. might help with the resale value though. who knows?
if this is a “buy once” proposition, get the muzzle threaded upgrade.
the good thing about “custom” rifles, is you can spec it out the way you want it. the bad thing is, you may realize later that what you wanted was a really dumb idea. buying a configuration specified by someone like clint smith is a defense against that, but only if you plan to use a rifle pretty much like he does. i don’t think he shoots many matches.
looks like it comes with 30mm badger rings. ok if you have a 30mm scope. all mine are 34mm and 35mm.
tab gear sling is ok.
With respect to the TR - you really ought to get behind that stock before you commit to it.
With respect to GAP (I’ve had several) hard to imagine it is going to be functionally any different than any other offering from them - accurate and reliable.
With respect to what your looking for, you might think a bit about some of the basic criteria that YOU want - weapon weight and caliber being at the top of the list. Is a switch barrel important (more than one caliber). What stock do you prefer to be behind? Along those lines - you really ought to hump your ‘preferred’ stock before you say “that’s the one”.
Also if you can deal with the weight, and your looking in this price range, you really should consider an Accuracy International AE.
Good luck
Clint Smith puts his name on a lot of “special edition” weapons. I’d just spec a GAP out the way you want it.
I’ve never seen a bad gap rifle. I would have them do a custom build for me if I was gonna drop that kinda coin on a rifle though, might as well get exactly what you want.
Thats why im just gonna throw this out there- since you said you’re a new shooter. spending 6-7k on a rifle is a big chunk for most people. Especially on something that you don’t really have any experience in using or have any idea what you actually want/need.
I would try to get some time behind as many rifles as you could to try to get an idea of what you want. If you don’t have any way to do that, honestly I would probably get something like a rem700 or 5r and just shoot the crap out of it.
It takes a while of just shooting to learn what you actually need in a rifle. In addition it takes a long time to be able to even “out shoot” a decent rem700- I can’t outshoot mine and I’ve been shooting on and off for 20 years.
That’s not meant as a detriment to you or ga precision, I guarantee it would be a quality rifle for its intended user/ purpose but it’s really hard to say if it would be what you need.
i saw a used GAP 308 for sale on sniper’s hide… it had some extras for a good price
Thanks for the responses so far. You guys are really opening my eyes. I’m really starting to see some of the disadvantages of a “custom” rifle. Right now, I don’t have enough experience to know what I want. But, I know I want quality, proven gear. I’m definitely a “buy it once” type of person.
I’ve also thought more about the uses. At this point, it would be used for targets at 100-900 yds on broken terrain ranging from sea level to ~ 2000 feet in the hills being my house, on a flat range out to 1,000 yds and probably in friendly local competitions.
It seems to me that as a new shooter, an adjustable stock like the one on the AI AE or the McMillian A5 would be a good start. Is an adjustable stock really that important? What are your thoughts?
I’ve also considered one of the posters ideas. That being, buy a Remington 700 and a really nice scope and shoot the hell out of it. Then, if I came close to outshooting the gun, just take the nice scope off and put it on the new gun.
Basically, I want a lightest weight, most accurate, scoped .308 I can get me hands on.
Call GAP, Accurate Ordnance or similar and ask for advice.
If using .308 or similar there is one thing I would not compromise on. Get AW magazines over AICS magazines. That means you’re limited to custom actions that will work with AW mags or builders who can modify actions to use them. The double stack mag is better, easier to live with, shorter and cheaper.
It is rare you ever hear a bad word about GAP. It is even more rare from someone who knows what they are talking about.
That being said, a pretty simple formula for success is to buy a bone stock Sako TRG and top it with a Nightforce optic.
I have yet to see a TRG that won’t flat out shoot.
You will find a lot of TRG owner used to own numerous customs, but sold them (or stuck them back in a safe) after they started shooting a TRG.
I would opt for the adj stock no telling what glass might end up in the gun
I’m not a big gap fan
They build a lot of guns and support the sport but to me arent the best
I would also get a surgeon over a defiance action every day if the week
Go to a match and watch the guys with feeding issues
Run plain aics mags don’t fall for the aw mags.
I also wouldnt get a 308
Do you hand load? If not get a 6.5 creed
Mind telling me even one thing the AICS mags do better than AW?
Ryan
They feed better and are more reliable
Aics are center feed and work better in a rem 700 or clone you know the round is always going to be picked up
An aw action geometry is entirely different
From talking and watching guys who run them they do run into feeding issues
Plus like I said I’m not a defiance fan and they are the only ones cut for aw maybe stiller but I wouldn’t buy one of those either
I like things that work and run
10 round Aics mags don’t get in the way
I used to run alpha mags another conversation but they are shorter I haven’t noticed the longer Aics mags
That’s unfortunate. My only experience is with AW mags in an AW and AICS in an FN. I stand by my assertion that AW mags are better than AICS magazines but with the caveat that one should buy an AW to use them in.
