So the boy, bless him, has decided on what he wants out of a rifle. He likes stainless steel. He absolutely wants CRF. Must be a .243. He likes the m70 coyote, and the hawkeye FTW (though not available in .243). Not a single Kimber tripped his trigger. The MRC x2 was acceptable. What other options have I not thought of? We're also contemplating an m99 action with an ss bbl and custom stock. Primarily he is concerned most with varmint hunting, doesn't care much for deer hunting. So weight is not a primary concern so much as value and accuracy.
Let's talk CRF
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someguy2800
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For a varmint gun I would actually rather have a push feed gun. I do know someone with an older winchester coyote, thats one of the nicest guns I have ever shot. I would avoid a mk77 if accuracy is the goal. If I were buying a dedicated varmint gun in a .243 I would get a Tikka T3 light.
someguy2800
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Oh another option to look at with crf, Montana rifle company.
To me a varmint gun is the gun I keep handy to grab when I spot a skunk or fox or whatever that's needs medicine, and it's the one that gets put in the truck when I'm going somewhere, and I hump it over the hills on foot and drag it through the brush and sit in the rain and snow and sleet. So for me it needs to be light, relatively compact, have a tough finish, a stock you don't mind scratching, and needs to be flat shooting and tack driving accurate.
To me a varmint gun is the gun I keep handy to grab when I spot a skunk or fox or whatever that's needs medicine, and it's the one that gets put in the truck when I'm going somewhere, and I hump it over the hills on foot and drag it through the brush and sit in the rain and snow and sleet. So for me it needs to be light, relatively compact, have a tough finish, a stock you don't mind scratching, and needs to be flat shooting and tack driving accurate.
Yup, the MRC X2 was definitely on the list, currently tied with the coyote. Our varmint hunting involves lots of long shots for prairie dogs to coyotes and everything in between in snow or sun. Accuracy is of course required, we looked at tikka but the crf is a must so that was a no go. Personally I favor the crf myself, so I won't attempt to dissuade him and ultimately it's HIS choice so I'm OK with it as something we can both use as an excuse to get out for more trigger time.
On a rifle that absolutely, positively must function no matter how dirty or if it has been abused and neglected I like CRF rifles. My go-to big game rifles are CRF, but my most accurate rifles are all PF. Maybe coincidence, maybe not. If I wanted the most accurate rifle none of the above. But of those listed I think the odds of a tack driver are better with the Winchester.
Corn-Picker
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The CZ 550 full stock is CRF and available in 243. Probably not what he's looking for, but I think that completes the list of somewhat affordable CRF rifles.
http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-550-fs-6-5-x-55-adj-5-rd-fixed-mag/
http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-550-fs-6-5-x-55-adj-5-rd-fixed-mag/
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Yes we looked at them but alas he didn't fall for any of them, thank you. And before anyone brings it up, yes I remembered the mausingfield and no I'm dropping 1600 on a whole rifle maybe but not just an action at this time.
Yup, I figured on truing it up either way, but I haveta ask, the mrc m99 is based on the pre 64 m70, have YOU ever used one Bart? If so, how did your experience leave you feeling? I ask because even without the extra attention I have one m70 .243 that'll rock a prairie way out there with 85 flat based Sierras. So is the m99 bringing anything that awesome to the table?
Never used an M99, but one article mentioned a 5-shot 4" record group at 1000 yards made with a 50 caliber BMG one. Note all other groups are bigger and they're seldom made public.
I've shot the same size test groups at 1000 with a 1965 Win 70 push feed action and 30-338 Win Mag barrel. That rifle shoots bigger groups, too. Some test groups are near 10" or so.
I've shot the same size test groups at 1000 with a 1965 Win 70 push feed action and 30-338 Win Mag barrel. That rifle shoots bigger groups, too. Some test groups are near 10" or so.
My rule of thumb reacting to tiny, few-shot groups, is to multiply their stated size by the number of shots to estimate the accuracy they have for all shots fired over the life of the barrel.
For 20-shot groups' sizes, I add 10 percent.
For 20-shot groups' sizes, I add 10 percent.
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Multiplying the number of shots times the size of the group.....that means that a 3 shot .5" group looks better than a 5-10 shot .75" group?????
Nature Boy
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You didn't mention a budget but I like the idea of taking a MRC action, picking a quality barrel and having a good smith true it up. Then it's down to picking the furniture your son likes best and you have a rifle exactly like you want
Heck yes! Isn't that the way so many people think?
Hahahaha I guess so!
Well, that would depend on whether we're getting much more bang with the m99 than the m70, and cost basis for it cuz we'll true up the m70 too, but if the m99 costs $xxxx and the coyote costs $xxxx, are we gaining that much with the m99? If the value is truly there, that's one thing, if not, then the price isn't justified......we can budget for it but I haven't seen what the m99 has that you can't get with a polished trued m70. If I'm missing something, I'm all ears I swear, but that's why I'm asking here.
Nature Boy
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Honestly I could not tell you if there's a qualitative difference between an off the shelf Win70 vs the clone from MRC. My gut tells me that by the time you make the stock Win70 the way you want it you could have built it that way from the ground up. Just 2 different paths to the same result
But hey, we all like helping other people spend their money, right?
Another option for CRF that's REALLY off the deep end is to start with the Mausingfield action. I did that recently and wallet is still in intensive care, but I'm very happy with the final product
Yes I get what you're saying, and don't misunderstand me, after I wear out a savage 6.5x284, (test driving you know) I WILL have a m99 in that chambering more likely than not, but for the boy's purpose and choices, he's truly more motocross than avid shooter, so if $1500 nudges him further down the rabbit hole with me, then it's a good start,
. The mausingfield is WAY down the line, but still on the horizon .
I owned and sold two Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather rifles that I bought about five years ago. The machining of the receivers was poorly executed and neither shot that well and both were heavy for what they were. That said, I'd buy the Coyote Light over anything from MRC any day of the week and twice on Sunday, assuming that I had the chance to thoroughly look one over before buying. The sports store up the road always has a number of MRC rifles in stock and they're not impressive (to me). They're "clunky" with cast receivers, they typically have poor overall finishing, really poor barrel to stock fit and they're heavy. I like that a local company is making rifles but I wish that they'd make some improvements and offer a really nice rifle since I like having lots of good choices.
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