dddoo7

You are knocking on the door of building a full custom rifle with a custom action. TS Customs builds some of the best rifles out there. Give him a call and see what he can do. You will be way ahead of the game with a custom built rifle. BTW— stick with a Timney trigger as opposed to the Jewel. The jewel is difficult with dirt or even just dust as I have experienced.

I wouldn’t want to deal with a factory barreled rifle for precision shooting. It can be done, but it is luck of the draw as to whether or not it will shoot. Of the two options you listed I would rebarrel with a benchmark barrel and I would get TS Customs to do the Smith work.

If you are looking for a rifle that will allow you to change out barrels without a smith and an extremely tough action then a desert tech will fit the bill. It can take a massive amount of torture without failing. Look for primal Rights videos on YouTube where he loaded up a 338LM with pistol powder. As far as the specific actions you were asking about...I don’t know the answer.

I appreciate you working on keeping tapatalk working. Some of the forums I follow have let it go...and so far tapatalk is the most convenient way to follow multiple forums.

TS Customs in South Dakota can build you a full custom rifle on a custom action in a fully adjustable chassis for less than your budget. I don’t think you will find a better rifle for the money than that. You ought to give him a call.

I have had Leupold and now have two Tangent Thetas and a S&B. Leupold doesn’t even compare to the higher end scopes. They are really lacking in every category. Can it accomplish your purpose? Yes. However other brands have better features in the same price range. In my opinion Tangent Theta is at the top of the hill right now and any rifle that I was really serious about shooting any distance would have a TT on it.

I know you don’t like what you are hearing, but you are being steered in the right direction. The magpul stock is not that great. Remington quality has really gone down hill. The Remington trigger is one of the first things that will need to be replaced. If you really get into precision shooting the stock will soon follow. Then the barrel as it will likely not shoot to your expectations. However for almost the same price you can get the howa HCR which is a decent barreled action in a nice chassis. Buy the howa...shoot it as it is. When you are ready to upgrade buy a full custom or a desert tech.

Optics are important and one should never skimp on optics. However, Custom rifles built by competent smiths are much nicer than factory rifles. There is a difference. Now...sometimes the problem is finding a competent Smith.

Custom rifles are pricey, but they are worth the money. They offer much more in reliability and accuracy than a factory rifle does. Custom actions are also worth the money as they are much nicer than a trued factory action. As far as smiths go, TS Customs does all of my smith work for precision rifles. He has good turn around and the rifles I have from him shoot in the teens.

It is a custom conversion built by “short action Customs” http://shortactioncustoms.com/desert-tech/ Any other caliber I would go with a barrel from TS Customs. Mine is sub 1/4 moa.

Howa Chassis Rifle. Desert Tech will do .223 with a conversion from short action Customs I think it is.

HCR is really the one I would choose in all three categories. It typically performs well and is fairly reliable. Next step up in my opinion would be a Desert Tech or a custom build. I really don’t see anything in between that warrants more than $1K. Some of the RPR’s have done well...but many of them have had problems. Enough so that I would not risk buying one.

Also depends on the scope. My tangent Theta is Paralax free past 270 yards. Most scopes that number is about 500 yards. If you have time to adjust it you will shoot more precisely.

I use the small tab gear bag. It has three "sides" for different heights and is small and easy to carry. If you need it taller than the small tab gear will allow then just raise the bipod.

And a Honda Civic can be built to run 10's. However there is an easier way for precision shooting than loading on dillons. Also, people's definition of precision shooting often varies. I am not happy with 1/2 moa. 1/2 moa is easy and probably can be achieved on a Dillon...but sub 1/4 moa is a different game altogether.

My performance is not nor ever should be based on those around me

Money and equipment does not a shooter make. However...in the hands of an accomplished precision shooter a bolt gun has a distinct advantage over a gas gun. Precision shooting is an art all its own. Many shooters try to be precision shooters. Few master it. If you intend to master precision shooting then you will need the proper equipment to do so. Personally...I am not happy with the groups my quality built AR's shoot. My bolt guns have no trouble putting my AR's to shame...especially at distance.

I have a tangent theta 315P on my .22 trainer. It matches the scope on my centerfire. If you want to shoot precision inside of 50 yards then you need to carefully choose which scope to buy. If you are more concerned about long range then it doesn't matter much. I have dialed and gotten hits out to 340 yards with my setup.

Could be either. If it is a thin barrel then it is likely the barrel. If it is a factory heavy barrel then it is likely the barrel. If it is a custom barrel on a trued action built by a good smith then it is likely you. Best way to tell is to get someone who you know can shoot and see if it does it with them too.

I am well accustomed with both...and the pelican storm (3300, 3200, etc) are nicer cases than the pelican 1750, 1720, etc.

I used to use pelican storm 3300. You probably won't find much better especially for the price. Lately I have been using a tac ops drag bag and like it better. It is easier to carry and fits better in a car/truck...and I can put the entire bag into the pelican case.

Don't forget the desert tech. I love mine...and the bull pup design is an advantage over the longer versions. It is 308-338 and I can change barrels with little to no impact change. Msrp about $5000

There have been many problems reported with the pst's, but with their warranty you really don't have much to worry about. If it breaks they will fix it.

**The CPS_lite** http://primalrights.com/equipment/base-cps-lite I received the new CPS_lite and have it set up and running now. Just like the CPS, the CPS_lite is packaged very well and is a very well made unit. I have the CPS_lite set up on a lee press and it is working just as well as it would on any number of single stage presses. The CPS_lite comes set up for large and small primers...the only additional thing you will need is the appropriate shell holders (lee, sinclair, or 21st century primer shell holders...not press shell holders). **Setup and Adjustment** The set up is a little bit trial and error...but not bad. I screwed the CPS_lite into the press to about the right position (as long as it is close it will work fine) and locked down the Forster lock ring. The shuttle handle on the CPS_lite needs to be pointing in the desired position when the ring is locked down. I then set the dead stop adjustment to seat a primer intentionally long so I could slowly adjust it until it was seating exactly the depth I was looking for. The dead stop is then locked down with a cross-bolt set screw so that it will not move until you are ready to change it. The really nice thing about this setup is that it is infinitely adjustable...meaning the primer can be set to absolutely ANY seating depth...not just on every 0.001". Speed/Reliability As far as speed goes...the CPS_lite is right on par with the CPS. I perceive no problems with loading 800-1000 rounds an hour once one is used to the setup...and that includes poking primers into the tubes as well. The primer shuttle feeds flawlessly regardless of how fast the handle is moved. The lite model gives up nothing in regards to speed and reliability when compared to the bench model CPS. Comfort As far as comfort goes...this is one of the most comfortable priming units I have used. I would see absolutely no problems with priming 1000+ rounds in one sitting without getting a hand cramp like with hand priming units. The pressure on the press handle needed to seat a primer is very comparable to the pressure needed when just using a de-capping die. It requires very little force...yet even with greater force it will still seat to the same depth because of the dead stop adjustment on the bottom of the die. Feel The feel of the CPS_lite is probably going to be different depending on which press it is mounted to. The cam action of the press is going to feel different with different presses. I could feel the primers seat with the CPS_lite on the lee press, but it was not as defined as the feel of the bench model CPS. The feel is comparable or slightly better than the feel of other bench mounted or press mounted priming units I have used. A comparison between the CPS and CPS_lite The advantages of the CPS_lite over the bench mounted CPS are few...but there are some. The CPS_lite is infinitely adjustable on the seating depth...although I can’t imagine needing a finer adjustment than the 0.001" that is available on the bench CPS. Also...if bench space is an issue, the CPS_lite can easily be removed from the single stage press and stored on a shelf when not in use...while the bench model CPS will take up permanent real-estate on your bench (unless you have removable mounts). While this is not an issue for me as I have a removable mounting system...it will come into play with some who are loading in a small closet or similar. Also...the main advantage to the CPS_lite over the bench mounted CPS is the lower price. There are some advantages to the bench mounted CPS over the CPS_lite as well. The handle throw on the bench mounted CPS is shorter and therefore slightly easier than using the CPS_lite. Also...the setup is quicker and easier on the bench mounted CPS over the CPS_lite. If you are only priming one type of brass it won’t matter much, but if you are changing between large/small primers and different shell holders frequently then the bench mounted CPS will be easier to fine tune with each change over. Also...the feel on the bench mounted CPS is phenomenal in comparison to any other unit I have used and this alone is a major advantage when priming for precision shooting. Which unit to choose is going to depend on your situation. Either unit is head and shoulders above anything else out there. They are better built, more precise, faster, and more reliable than any other precision priming system I have used. If your budget allows, I would recommend the bench mounted model as the advantages are worth the extra coin...however as I said before...either unit is a great investment for your reloading bench.

I use Dillon presses exclusively for loading handgun rounds. Everything from 9mm to 500 s&w and many in between. I do not consider handgun rounds to be precision rounds. Most of my precision rifle rounds are however not loaded on a Dillon as I want more precision from my rifles than the Dillon presses offer.