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Dream a little dream

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8shots View Drop Down
Optics Jedi Knight
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Lord Of The Flies

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    Posted: March/26/2007 at 15:31

Can the forum help me choose an African varmint rifle? I live in South Africa, and the term "varmint rifle" does not exist. We use the terms light calibre and flat shooters etc. I have lately become interested in field target shooting. We shoot a grouping, then at cut-outs of animals Maximum distance is 300 yds.

I own a 300H&H and a 30-06. Both are not ideally suited to this type of shooting. I have also purchased a Leupold 8,5-25x50, currently on top of my 30-06. This combo has only managed to get me into 4th place. So I have read a lot about the varmint rifles. It seems that the .243 caliber will work the best. Rifle names that come up is the Remington700 and Savage. Problem is in South Africa the guys are asking $2000 to $2500. I have seen USA prices of $900.

Can the forum throw up some options and your local prices?

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Dale Clifford View Drop Down
Optics Jedi Knight
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/26/2007 at 16:42

You are at a point called "gaming"-- developing a gun for a specific contest.

does the contest have a power bracket- if not use the lightest fastest caliber

does the contest have a time constraint- if not, second shot recovery is not as critical

does "    "  have an action limitation.

"" " " more accuracy or more action

" " "  what shooting positions

" ' "  are there any barriers, obstacles you have to shoot around?

generally a bolt rifle is not the best at shorter ranges  ( 500 yds).

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silver View Drop Down
Optics Master
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/26/2007 at 16:53

 

 

Are the prices in South African money or USD that you see.  The exchange rate has to suck

"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane."   Jimmie Buffet

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8shots View Drop Down
Optics Jedi Knight
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/26/2007 at 17:00

Firstly it is a so-called hunting simulation contest, so arriving with a benchrest or bisley type rifle would make one look a bit ridiculous. The caliber constraint is "any centre fire rifle with any telescope".

There is normally no time constraint, but we shoot in rallies and it is expected that one fires at least one shot per 60 seconds. A rifle holding at least 3 rounds would make life simpler.

There are no limitations on the type of action.

The whole contest is scored on accuracy. Each target has a 10 point 8 point 6 point and no score areas.

Shooting positions are from a bench for grouping, to kneeling, to prone and standing. Sometimes rests such as a bale of straw is provided. (sort of simulated hunting positions).

There are no barriers or obstacles to contend with.

Mostly the guys in the top positions use a accurate hunting rifle that has been properly bedded, good quality barrel etc and higher magnification scopes than generally found on a hunting rifle.Hence my thoughts around your varminter style rifle.

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8shots View Drop Down
Optics Jedi Knight
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/26/2007 at 17:03

We would pay in South African rand, currently at around R7.20 to the $. So that would put a Varminter at around R14000 to R18000.

We normally pay for a good quality hunting rifle between R8500 to R12000.

I was hoping to look at your prices in $ and then maybe getting someone to bring one over.

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Dale Clifford View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/26/2007 at 17:47

Can you use slings and/or bipods,

does each shooter finish a string at that position then the next or does the shooter finish the entire course in one sweep?

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8shots View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2007 at 04:45

We may and do use slings, mostly the normal carry sling wrapped around arm, elbow.

We may also use a bi-pod, but some disiplines call for shooting off a shooting stick which is supplied and is uniform for each shooter.

We finish a string which varies between 3 and 5 shots at that position and then move on to the next, so barrel heating is not a major issue. Some of the participants have allready raised the issue that as mostly hunting rifles are used  they do not want to overheat/burn out their barrels, so the competitions are regulated with this in mind..

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Dale Clifford View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2007 at 10:00

If the strings are broke up-- it allows the shooter to reconfigure the gun before the next the next string.

 

Next question and final-- how bad to you want to win?

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8shots View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2007 at 11:50

Where are you going with this???

I am a very competive person. I do not mind losing if I have given it my best. However, I enter competions to win, not to be second.

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Dale Clifford View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2007 at 14:16
see following pms
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silver View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2007 at 15:53
Originally posted by 8shots 8shots wrote:

Where are you going with this???

I am a very competive person. I do not mind losing if I have given it my best. However, I enter competions to win, not to be second.

 

Those of us with custom guns know where this is heading...  If you want to win, then just keep adding money...   Not to mention the time and "voodo" that also gets invovled.

 

Then there is the part about everybody trying to back stab you for the "evil" custom rifle from America... Not mention the evil bullets and reloading equiptment

 

What sort of logistical support can you get in terms of parts and reloading supplies? Then there is getting it throught the customs shed.

 

 

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Optics Jedi Knight
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2007 at 17:48

I see, said the blind man.

Man, that back stabbing part is right on the money. And how the competition rules change to suit some.

Rifle parts may be a problem. Reloading stuff is pretty much covered.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/27/2007 at 21:51

 

 

What sort of gunsmithing is available to you?  Are military calibers a problem?

 

The stuff that need to happen is a truing of the action, a new barrel, recoil lug and a beding job.   If you have the action then all you need is the barrel.  I figure that between the cape and Jo-berg somebody can do that.  That does not mean you might not be better off trying to get something imported.  I figure that getting something whole imported could be "interesting" vs "replacement parts."

 

 

 

"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane."   Jimmie Buffet

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Optics Jedi Knight
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/28/2007 at 04:33

Silver, military calibers as such, in other words a .308 Winchester, which is the same as our R1 military caliber, is not a problem. We are however not permitted (by the State) to own Military and/or automatic rifles. We are thus limited to bolt action and single or double rifles, with no restriction on caliber. In this particular discipline of competion I am interested in, the spirit of the thing is "field shooting". So I would imagine that one would be most comfortable with an accurized varmint type rifle. One of the top guys shoot with an accurised .338

Going the route of custom building a rifle would add $$$ to the project, as against a good off the shelf model. Hence the reason for this thread. We have got some good gunsmiths around, but I have not yet investigated this route.

 

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