First precision rifle

[ar15barrels]

Take a hard look at the Tikka. The action doesn't need to be trued. Aftermarket products are scarce. Ruger Precision is nice. Savage is nice too.

No actions NEED to be trued.
People do it to make fit between receiver and bolt tighter which makes them feel better about the gun.
Tikkas are just as sloppy as the others you listed.

ALL actions will feel nicer if the fit is tightened up between receiver and bolt.
Only Remington has the option of aftermarket oversized bolts available for such work so you only really hear about remington 700s having this done.
Any other make has to have sleeves fitted to the original bolt in order to achieve the tighter fit.
It's not NEEDED with any brand, but it certainly makes them all FEEL nicer.

[Newsshooter]

It's funny that you mentioned motorcycles, I road raced a 400 cc bike for over 10 years and was fast enough at 50 years old to qualify for an AMA 600 race on it.

Using your analogy they should start with a .22, oh yeah, did that too at 9 years old shooting positional.

I also like the fact that after shooting nearly 4K 6.5 rounds, I now know my dope and wind calls on the 6.5 without always having to check notes. I can shoot a .308 just fine, and seem to do Ok with my buddies AI in .300 win mag too. I just don't buy into the I'll learn more camp with a 308. A wind call is a wind call and I'd rather be on paper with a miss than in the berm. I don't believe I've cheated myself as I've practiced and learned with the cartridge I plan on shooting for a long time. I'll be practicing tomorrow at 600 yd match with my .223. Funny thing, the elevation is almost the same as my 6.5, though the wind calls are a bit tougher. And the elevation isn't much different for the .223 as a .308 shooting FGGM 175's.

In Europe, if you want to ride a motorcycle, you have to start out on a smaller one for quite some time before you prove yourself capable of a more powerful motorcycle.
This breeds more capable and safer motorcycle riders.
In the USA, squids buy a liter bike and sometimes don't even get it home before laying it down.

A 308 recoils a little more than your 6.5 does.
That extra recoil will FORCE you to have a proper position behind the gun.
There is also more wind reading SKILL learned by shooting a 308 than a 6.5mm or 6mm.
You actually cheated yourself in learning the wind by using the higher performance cartridge.
Your softer shooting 6.5 also allows you to get away with bad habits in position that you might not even know you have until you spend some time behind a 308.
If you watch closely, you will see that some of the best shooters will shoot a 308 in club matches just for it's training properties.

At 1000 rounds, you are about half way through the useful life of your 6.5 barrel.
With a 308, you would only have been about 1/3 of the way through the useful barrel life at 1000 rounds.

[ar15barrels]

Using your analogy they should start with a .22

That's just a given.
Everyone should start with a 22.
The younger the better.
I started with a 0.177.

[bubbapug1]

That's just a given.
Everyone should start with a 22.
The younger the better.
I started with a 0.177.

Randall is so right on here. A 22 is definitely the way to go to learn to shoot. Not only is it cheap, but you can just rule out recoil and focus on positions, sight picture, trigger squeeze, and wind.

Wind especially since it all eventually comes down to sight picture and wind once the basics are learned.

While 22 is great to learn rifle with, it's even better to master handguns with.

[ar15barrels]

Hiding all 7/9 posts from Markinfolsom.

[LynnJr]

The basics to me have always been to HIT what your shooting at. That said start with something good ballistically in the first place and avoid the struggle which will only frustrate you and make you want to quit.

[NorCalFocus]

The basics to me have always been to HIT what your shooting at. That said start with something good in the first place and avoid the struggle which will only frustrate you and make you want to quit.

Ding ding ding!

People always wonder why experienced shooters recommend higher quality guns, scopes, ammo, and whine about not being able to get into this aspect of shooting with a budget of $500.

[TMB 1]

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62_974/products_id/97911/Savage+10FCP-SR+308+24%22+10RD

[EndoDef]

Dollar for dollar the Ruger precision rifle is gonna be your best bet.
Doesn't have the best finish/fitment and the trigger is trash but it's well under a 1 Moa gun.

308 should he your first precision rifle caliber. Like others said 6.5 creed is a great caliber but barrel life is lacking.

Also to one of the comments I shoot I 300wm often and I don't get "tired" I'll easily shoot a box of 50 each time I go out.

[OC_Gunner]

Dollar for dollar the Ruger precision rifle is gonna be your best bet.
Doesn't have the best finish/fitment and the trigger is trash but it's well under a 1 Moa gun.

These are really hard to come by lately. Considered picking one up myself but Out of Stock EVERYWHERE and highly allocated distribution. Would love to get my hands on one to check it out though. Especially if the old pricing returns around $1K.

[NorCalFocus]

Dollar for dollar the Ruger precision rifle is gonna be your best bet.
Doesn't have the best finish/fitment and the trigger is trash but it's well under a 1 Moa gun.

Isn't that a contradictory comment?

Honestly for the cost of a RPR you can buy a Remington 700 5R and put in a Timney trigger. Better barrel, better trigger, decent stock that doesn't need upgrading.

I think the RPR is a fantastic rifle that has really filled a void for entry level precision bolt guns. But not at the price they're going for.

[EndoDef]

These are really hard to come by lately. Considered picking one up myself but Out of Stock EVERYWHERE and highly allocated distribution. Would love to get my hands on one to check it out though. Especially if the old pricing returns around $1K.

I've seen a few up for sale second hand for around 1,300 on 6.5 & 308 on Hide

Isn't that a contradictory comment?

Honestly for the cost of a RPR you can buy a Remington 700 5R and put in a Timney trigger. Better barrel, better trigger, decent stock that doesn't need upgrading.

I think the RPR is a fantastic rifle that has really filled a void for entry level precision bolt guns. But not at the price they're going for.

Slightly yes, but for a guy who just wants a rifle to try out precision rifle without dropping money into it immediately it works well.