One of these things might be different than the others
I received an exciting invitation today; I was asked to take part in a comparison between 3 different items that are all the same; Ok, so maybe not all the same, but similar I suppose. The three items are the Ruger Precision Rifle, Tikka TacA1 and Ritter and Stark SLX. If you know anything about rifles you'll know that order I put them in is low to high from a dollar-value perspective with the Ritter And Stark being one of the best around. It will be interesting to see the results.
Here’s myRuger Precision Rifle wearing a Kahles 624i scope. I have shot this reliably and repeatedly to 1551 meters. A good trusty shooting iron.
The business doing the comparison is owned by a good friend of mine and is a dealer. He is supplying the Ritter and Stark and another good mate is supplying his Tikka TacA1. The Ruger will be supplied by yours truly. We will be using the same ammunition through each one: Federal Premium with a 130gr Berger projectile for continuity. Also, I'll be demounting my Kahles and we will be using the same scope across all three rifles, in fact we'll utilise the same bipod also so the test will be fair and equitable across each system. The scope we are using is a relatively cheap delta Optics 4.5-30x56 at around $2,500 or so. We will all shoot each rifle so the test should be a clear indication. We hope.
Oh, all rifles are the same calibre also: 6.5 Creedmoor.
Ritter Stark SLX (Image from their webpage)
The test will be shot at two distances being 760 meters and 1000 meters (831 yards and 1093 yards respectively) and we will be looking for accuracy, repeatability, accuracy after multiple rounds (barrel temperature changes accuracy), how the action cycles and feels etc. There's a whole list of things we will evaluate over the afternoon and I hope to put together a little post about the comparison. Target size is about 25cm in diameter (9.8 inches) and will be steel. (About the size of an average dinner plate.
The Tikka TacA1 source
It'll be interesting how it goes I think and to see whether there is significant benefit in the significantly more expensive Ritter and Stark when compared against the cheaper TacA1 and even cheaper Ruger Precision Rifle. Just so you know the Ruger is around $2,300, the TacA1 is about $3,000 and the Ritter and Stark is about $5,000 (All in Australian dollars).
So, I'm pretty excited to get it done. It'll be a good afternoon of shooting with a couple of mates on the farm (cattle farm in the Adelaide Hills) and it'll be really interesting to see how the results come out. I'll probably do a post about it if doing so doesn't compromise my mates business; He is doing the comparison for commercial purposes after all. That's why I have't mentioned the business but once given the approval I'll be happy to give him a plug!
[- Design and create your ideal life, don’t live it by default - @galenkp -]
Really looking forward to the review. I'm kind of a Ruger fan and considering that it is cheaper, I really hope that it does as well or better than the more expensive rifles. @myhuntingfishing has upvoted and resteemed this post. :)
Thanks mate, for the comment and UPV! Yeah, I am quietly hoping that my RPR smashes the shit out of the others! Of course I am not sure it will. As I said, I have shot it reliably and repeatedly to 1551m on 1moa gongs so I know it shoots. It has been a reliable and competitive long range and PRSAus comp gun and I believe it's performed well in the PRS in the States as well. I bought it because of the price and performance it offers for that price. I only have so much money and so needed value. It has not let me down. I just built a 6mm on a CTR action to take over as my comp gun though, it's lighter. I also cull with that gun so the carbon fibre stock works well to keep the weight down. (4.7kg with the Kahles 624i on top!)
Anyway, thanks for the UP and for reading.
We shall see how it goes then! What kind of kulling do you do?
Deer, kangaroos, foxes, rabbits and hairs on a Cattle property. Used to hunt pics in northern NSW and outback QLD but difficult to get time off work these days. The few properties I went on were 1700km away from home. (A long way). I cull a couple times a month, sometimes three.
Sounds like a lot of fun! But a long way to go indeed. Darn that work, right? We need $100 steem, lol!
Damn, this got my blood pumping. I'd enjoy nothing more, well almost nothing, than to take part in this shoot with you. I had never heard of Ritter & Stark rifles before this post; and I follow this stuff pretty close. It seems the Austrian and German stuff always sells at a premium. The Tikka is essentially a baby Sako TRG, and they're top shelf. So many variables in LR shooting, so its good you're eliminating as many as possible. My bets on the Tikka for personal reasons. Let us know how it goes; preferably some video...please?
I thought you'd be into it. Yeah, I hope for some video. I may not post the video for all to see but will work out some way of getting it to you. (The dark web?) :) I don't think we are officially filming for the comparison but there will be some personal video taken I'm sure.
The shoot is on for next Thursday at this stage. Also, you may be interested in the comparison my mate writes for his business. It's de cool if you could be involved though. Smacking steel at 1000m is great fun, (as long we don't hit any cows). I see what @dennyducet has been doing in the snow up there and that looks cool too! That shooting stick he's been featuring on Instagram looks awesome! (The bolt gun).
I hadn't heard about the Ritter and Stark either but they sent one to my my mate to do an evaluation on. He is thinking of stocking it. http://ritterstark.com/
You have the TacA1 right and dennyducet the RPR? I'd like to see the RPR keep up with the other two but I am not sure it can. I have not shot the TacA1 much so will be good to go from gun to gun and see how it goes against the others. (A mate has the TRG M10 and it's a nice shooter.) I think the TacA1 will be also. We are all intending to go for a cold bore shot at 1000m so that'll be interesting. You'll see a video of me dancing if I get an impact. :)
So, stay tuned. I hope to have a reasonable blog about it.
Oh, I'm going to shoot my iMac too, not on the same day though. Will do a blog about it with some video I hope. It's time for it to die. :)
amazing gun and long range shooter...sir
its really impressive
thanks for sharing @upvoted
This sounds like a fun experience! It's always nice to shoot other people's weapons, and for "educational" purposes 😎
I prefer to shoot my own as I know it back to front but it’s always good to have a shoot of something else now and then. I’m looking forward to it.
That makes sense. It's your gun, you've customized it in the way that you enjoy shooting with it. You're familiar with shooting it. You know if it shoots to the right or left or true. You've put the time and energy into keeping it clean and in working condition.. there's a lot that goes into owning a weapon .. or a car :)
I've noticed that you have a lot of pride in the things that you own.
I grew up with very little and so had to care for my stuff. From the age of seventeen and a half I provided for myself and wife and so had to work very hard for what I achieved. I guess that’s why I am like I am these days also. Having pride, and respect, for what a person has is important I think.
I Agree, 100%!
I tend to believe that one can't truly understand the value of the items they own until they've experienced how difficult it can be to earn the money to pay for the items. Once someone has that understanding and appreciation, they are more likely to have the pride and respect for their belongings, as I'm sure you have.
Agreed.
Nice gun bro.😍😍
Follow me back to back @upvoted
Can’t wait to read the outcome! What cal are you going to use I saw that they will be the same but are you shooting .308 or .223 or something else?
Hi Mate, I said the calibre, you must have missed it. All good. They are all 6.5mm Creedmoor and we are using the same ammo, bipod and scope across all rifles for continuity.
I sure did miss it thanks man.
You shoot?
Yes I do but I had to look up the 6.5 Creedmoor I was not familiar with that. I don’t get to shoot such long distances as you. Most of the shooting I do is within 200 yards with my rifles. I shoot mostly handguns anyway within 25 yards.
That’s ok, I shoot handguns too. IPSC.
That's some serious looking weaponry there. Would love to hear more about your predator hunting experiences there...It would definitely be a shock to see a kangaroo in the scope...
Hey @huntbook, thanks for your comment. Yes, I am looking forward to the comparison shoot which is set for Thursday 15th.
Culling kangaroos is a necessary thing I'm afraid. Shooting Australia's iconic animal is a bit of a bummer but they do so much damage. I'll do a piece on it someday I guess. Most shots are taken at 200-400m and head shots are the order of the day. It's very hot here at the moment, summer, so it's difficult to get up there as often as I'd like but a couple times a month I'm there working I suppose. Anyway, I'll write about it sometime.
Yes, I would love to see a piece on that. In comparison, perhaps our predator hunting is, well, different. Coyotes are our main problem here. They kill a lot of deer, and probably more than most people are willing to believe...