Bolt action vs. AR - accuracy and economy questions

[YodaVader]

They had some Bushmaster ARs for about $940 and said that for the money shooting at 100-300 yards the Bushmaster would be just as accurate as the bolt action using the "iron" sights.

I would like to know what they base this on? I own scoped Savage and Remington heavy barrel .223 bolt guns and the acccuracy of both with match ammo is pretty impressive IMO.

The ability to aim precisely at targets at a specific point repeatedly favors the scoped rifle. There are many shooters that can shoot a MOA group at 100/200 yards with a scoped rifle but there are far less that could do it with iron sights.

Or for a real life example , we have many iron sight AR shooters at the range I shoot at and none of them have come even remotely close to what I can do with a scoped heavy barrel varmin/tactical rifle.

True they are not match shooters , but then again , I'm not either! If they had said match barrel ARs with scopes vs stock bolt actions with scopes it would have made more sense.

All shooting will be done from a bench. 100-300 yard ranges are available to shoot at.

It sounds as though at any distance the 500 dollar bolt with the 500 dollar scope would have better accuracy than the 1000 dollar AR with iron sights.

Hard to compare iron sights to iron sights as most bolt action manufacturers do not supply their rifles with iron sights.

I bought a Savage 12BVSS for $599 last year , can get a good scope and still be under the 1 grand range. Laminated stock and stainless - definitely not an EBR! And later a super match Lothar Walther barrel could be bought for around $250 if the stock barrel was not accurate enough for you.

You are correct that only bolt action sporters might have iron sights.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I shot this 5rd group from the bench at 100yds with Black Hills 75gr. The AR had a SS match barrel, a stock trigger, a 3.5x scope w/donut reticle and I used a Grippod for a bipod and the rifle case as support. The grids are one inch.

So there is a decent idea of what an AR is capable of doing... whether or not that meets your needs I can't say.

 

[Wedge]

Nice shooting Mr. Roberts!

Thanks for everyone's advice.

When I said economy I meant more "bang for the buck" not "keep me under $XXX". In other words for a given amount of money I can make the bolt gun more accurate than the AR.

After input from this thread, some searching on THR and online in general, I think that a Savage 11G or 12FV (not sure if I want laminate or wood, I need to handle both more) topped with a Super Sniper 10x fixed power scope. Add in the cost of rings and scope base and Uncle Sam's cut and it should be right around $1000.

 

[Esoteria]

Well, in the end, your wife is more important than your need for an AR. Pick up that bolt action and love the heck out of the feeling you get when you pull the bolt back and a nice(r)-sized brass pops out.

...Then again, maybe I just love bolt actions. ...And women.

 

[YodaVader]

When I said economy I meant more "bang for the buck" not "keep me under $XXX". In other words for a given amount of money I can make the bolt gun more accurate than the AR.

I would say yes. The cost of my Savage 12BVSS was $599 last year , shot these two targets consecutively last time out with it. If I could find a $599 AR that would shoot as well I would buy it! Easy to change a barrel on a Savage also. Some of the shooters over on the SavageShooters forum have installed Lothar Walther or Pac Nor aftermarket barrels with amazing accuracy results.

 

[hagar]

Find a club that shoots Garand matches in your area, take the wife along, and go shoot a match or two or three. Then mention to her that you like it, you want to go shoot a highpower match. Ask her to join you if she is interested. Shoot a few, then start grumbling about the guys with AR's outshooting you, etc etc. Heck, she just may mention it to you, she wants an AR as well.

 

[dispatch55126]

If I could get my wife to a range it would be a miracle in the highest order.

 

[Wedge]

YodaVader, your right target appeared to have a couple fliers (2 shots weren't touching the other 3). HA! That is some great shooting!

dispatch55126, I make it a point to invite my wife every time I go. 3 or 4 times a year (about every 3 or 4 months) she surprises me and accepts the invite.

 

[Davo]

If YOUR not evil what does it matter what kind of gun you have?

Well I guess in your situation you may want to consider a good boltie, at least you can target practice, and maybe even get into reloading. It will be cheaper than blasting away.

 

[Wedge]

Already reload...wife got me the setup for Christmas a couple years ago. .223 for economy and low recoil. The mil-surps I plan to buy will be for fun but not really for accuracy.

The AR is a goofy situation. C&R, CHL, reload, carry, hunt...but the EBR is evil. (my EBG or evil black Glock is okay though) I figure 99 out of 100 isn't too bad so I won't press my luck. As comfortable as my dogs bed looks, he smells bad.

 

[poor_richard]

...

So if she's not quite ready for an evil AR, why not bring home... an AK!

I'm still relatively new here but have been lurking for a few weeks.

Something to think about along the lines of the AK. You can get a Saiga (some even are available with wood stocks) that are marketed specifically to look more like a hunting rifle than an evil military gun. They also come in .308. Not nearly as accurate as a AR or a bolt gun, but it would be an inexpensive way to acclimate here to a semi-auto experience.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

In other words for a given amount of money I can make the bolt gun more accurate than the AR.

I think a bolt gun will always have an advantage there. You can make an AR shoot like a bolt gun; but not at a competitive price.