I had a frustrating experience yesterday. I helped a friend sight in a new Browning AB3 that he bought for $600 with the Nikon Buckmaster scope already mounted. He brought boxes of the two cheapest 150gr ammo he could buy and that rifle shot more accurately than either of my Ruger Hawkeyes. I've been working on loads for one of my Hawkeyes for years (busy job and kids don't allow for as much hobby time as I'd like)!
So, there's no sense being bummed. I'm going to do something about it. So here are the options I'm considering. What do you all think?
1. Ruger Hawkeye Stainless/Synthetic in .25-06: Bought it last year and have only tried a few factory ammos and one handload. I could sell it and spend that money on a Tikka or AB3. Probably the simplest option, if I can sell the rifle. The LGS isn't interested in buying - he says no one is buying rifles right now. I've never sold a rifle and it seems like a hassle.
2. Turn the .25-06 into a project gun. I could put a better stock on it and take it to Hart Barrels (only about 1.5 hour drive from me) for a rebarrel. The cost would be about $1,000 for a Hogue stock with the full bedding and a rebarrel from Hart (more if I go with a McMillan stock). This raises a number of questions. Change the stock first and see what happens? Is a McMillan really worth extra money or just go with the Hogue? What to rebarrel it to? I bought the .25-06 because it uses the same powders for reloading as my .300WM. So I would probably rebarrel it in .25-06. Or is it possible to rebarrel it to .223/5.56 so I could shoot cheap factory ammo?
3. Sell the .25-06 and spend that money to accurize my Ruger Hawkeye Stainless/Laminate in .300WM. This rifle was a Christmas gift and I will never sell it. After several years of testing handloads, I've found one that will reliably shoot 1" or better at 100 yards. Everything else is about 1.5" - 2.0". Change the stock first or take it to Hart to rebarrel?
Thanks for comments.
So, there's no sense being bummed. I'm going to do something about it. So here are the options I'm considering. What do you all think?
1. Ruger Hawkeye Stainless/Synthetic in .25-06: Bought it last year and have only tried a few factory ammos and one handload. I could sell it and spend that money on a Tikka or AB3. Probably the simplest option, if I can sell the rifle. The LGS isn't interested in buying - he says no one is buying rifles right now. I've never sold a rifle and it seems like a hassle.
2. Turn the .25-06 into a project gun. I could put a better stock on it and take it to Hart Barrels (only about 1.5 hour drive from me) for a rebarrel. The cost would be about $1,000 for a Hogue stock with the full bedding and a rebarrel from Hart (more if I go with a McMillan stock). This raises a number of questions. Change the stock first and see what happens? Is a McMillan really worth extra money or just go with the Hogue? What to rebarrel it to? I bought the .25-06 because it uses the same powders for reloading as my .300WM. So I would probably rebarrel it in .25-06. Or is it possible to rebarrel it to .223/5.56 so I could shoot cheap factory ammo?
3. Sell the .25-06 and spend that money to accurize my Ruger Hawkeye Stainless/Laminate in .300WM. This rifle was a Christmas gift and I will never sell it. After several years of testing handloads, I've found one that will reliably shoot 1" or better at 100 yards. Everything else is about 1.5" - 2.0". Change the stock first or take it to Hart to rebarrel?
Thanks for comments.