Thread: Auckland Long Rang Shooting/rifle help.

Originally Posted by The Claw

Personally, I would keep the Hogue stock on it. If you want to stiffen up the fore-end then buy a carbon fibre arrow shaft and epoxy it in there. If the rifle shoots MOA or better as it is now, it will be good enough for 500-600m (this should be your limit on game). You might gain a little accuracy by changing the stock, but that $600 would be much better invested in a better scope. $600 + $700 mentioned above gets you pretty close to a Mk4 4.5-14 x 50 from the States. This will also mean that you probably won't need a 20 MOA rail either as the Mk4 has 100 MOA of elevation adjustment (from memory), so theres another $100 for your scope. A nice light, and crisp trigger will do wonders for accuracy, so it should be a priority as well.

A clicky scope is a must. Holdover past 300 odd metres (and you need a rangefinder to know...) isn't very ethical in my books. If an animal is 300+ away, its probably not going to know you are there unless the wind is up your arse, or you have been blazing away at it already using holdover (all this is assuming your zero is at 100m).

A short action is in theory stiffer than a long action, and the strength doesn't come from the long/short action, it comes from the lock up (bolt lugs, dia of the bolt, barrel tenon size etc). Opening up the face to magnum would be the same as buying a magnum in the first place (i.e. the action is the same, just a different boltface)

Thanks for the reply, you have definitely given me new areas to research, especially in regards to rechambering to a magnum once the time arises. I'd love to keep the rifle as its the first one I ever bought, only reason I want to change the stock as its starting to show signs of wear, the rubber is peeling in certain places, and its pretty floppy (around the action even after bedding, admittedly probably poorly by me), but its last on the list, i would change the stock at the same time as I change the barrel, as this one is bedded for this contour... Trigger job is now first, ill drop in in after my next trip to the range as I have to "use up" the last of my SST projectiles. Looks like ill be selling my buckmaster and upgrading. Will keep an eye out for a good deal on a mk4 from the states. should be able to afford it b y July, if no other bills pop up, or I might just sell my damn (safe queen) shot gun and but it now lol. Any one want a Maverick pumpy