[MarkCO]

1) Top tier ammo costs less than half as much per round.
2) It's a lot quieter.
3) Barrels last longer.
4) There's no temptation to get into handloading (which, although a great hobby in itself, can consume a lot of time and money).

1. .22 Ammo costs as much, usually more than my centerfire reloads
2. I have suppressors
3. Barrels are a consumable. The cost of ammo far outstrips barrels. Oh, and Ruger Americans are $400.
4. Already there. Saves me a lot of money actually.


Sure, some of those things might come in to play for some folks. I'm not sure I know any top tier shooters who either don't load, or get their ammo for free. It still takes a lot of centerfire to be an accomplished shooter. Yeah, I have friends who have given up centerfire and only shoot rimfire matches. Eh, still, lacking a lot of things.

For me, the advantage is shorter range practice. Errors are magnified, even wind calls. And with the lack of availability of primers and powders, yes, still lets me practice.

Ruger Americans were, by far, the cheapest capable rifle for me to shoot. Spend $400, put 7K through it of low charge weight .223 (about 15 cents a round) pull the scope, sell it for $300 and buy another. But they caught on to me and dropped 223 in everything but the Ranch, which is another $100.

 

[bacch]

I was in the same boat recently. Wanted to get a bolt gun similar to my 308/6.5 to practice as well as get my daughter into shooting bolt gun. I didn't want to go Vudoo or RimX money (yet?) but wanted something good and able to grow with her if needed.

I bought a Bergara B14r steel rifle. The advantage for me was a lot of things: very adjustable chassis right out of the box. Remington 700 pattern action so I can use any R700 accessories and stocks. triggers are the same, chassis is the same, rail mounts are the same, etc. Threaded barrel so I can add a can when wanted (stupid quiet with CCI quiet ammo and a dead air mask).

I put a 25MOA Burris pic rail (again, r700 pattern), a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x FFP, an extra Timney Elite trigger I had around, and will eventually put an ARCA rail under the forehand of the rifle.

the best part is I can swap out a barreled action to a center fire round in the future if I want and move over all the accessories, or just keep playing with it and leave it as is. Lots of options, especially if you have any other remington 700 parts around that you might be able to use.

You can purchase it as a barreled action, full rifle build, with steel or carbon barrel.

I looked at the CZ457 series (the AT-One specifically) and the Tikka T1x but decided to go with the Bergara.

 

[jspook]

I have a Winchester 9422 that is pretty accurate at 30 yards on sand bag. Makes a dime sized hole.

 

[Glock-O-Rican]

Its the shooter, not the rifle that makes to tool work.

Accuacy is skill, not the tool. JMHO

 

[gamecocks]

Its the shooter, not the rifle that makes to tool work.

Accuacy is skill, not the tool. JMHO

It's both, but very obviously some rifles are going to be more accurate than others.

 

[ThomasM4]

Cz 457 varmint factory barrel 50 yards with SK red box ammo 5 shot group.

 

[Glock-O-Rican]

It's both, but very obviously some rifles are going to be more accurate than others.

Great shooter will get most out of great rifles, and the piss poor shooter, will still be piss poor with BEST RIFLE.