Rifle for Comps in Colorado

I was looking over the list of comps every month here in Colorado with an eye towards figuring out what is rally needed to shoot the matches. Mainly looking for a centerfire rifle for my son to transition to from rimfire.

While it seems 1k yards is the 'standard' reach for accurate rifles, what is the real range for the matches that I can shoot. I'd say that getting down to Raton will not happen often if at all. What is the max range for these local matches, and maybe min target size?

Also not looking to get into reloading ammo right now, so commercial ammo. I guess a 6.5CM with a 5-25 scope and ancillary gear would be the standard. Is the round and scope overkill? Looking at a 224V upper for the boy to keep ammo cost and recoil low. It's new, it's cool, and the boy runs an AR platform pretty well.

I've got a 308 LMT and a 700 bolt gun that I have a 6-24 scope on that I'll shoot for the time being. Is a 3-15 scope enough for the competitions?


Precision Field Rifle, not Benchrest Rifle
1st Sunday, Raton, Feb - Sept
2nd Saturday, Pawnee
4th Saturday, Ft Carson / Colorado Springs
3rd Saturday, Pueblo
4th Saturday, Colorado Rifle Club
4th Sundays, Nov-Feb and other months, 22 lr only, Pueblo

Magnum Rifle, Raton

Silhouette, IHMSA & NRA
3rd Saturday, Pueblo
4th Sunday, Aurora Smallbore
4th Sunday, Colorado Rifle Club

You might also consider 6mm Creedmoor since there is now factory ammo available. Shoots very flat and maybe a little less recoil for your son vs the 6.5. You want him focusing on fundamentals, not being recoil shy. Just a thought.

Honestly, for your kid, you could get away with a 223 (or 223ai) bolt gun at most of these matches. Ballistics can be better than 308 and way less recoil.

For you I would stick to 6.5 Creedmoor (magazine-fed) and a 4-20 or 5-25 scope with first focal plane. 6.5 Creed will allow "off the shelf" ammo in quite a few flavors, one is likely to shoot. 3-15 should be enough scope depending on the glass quality. FFP is a must!

I would start at Hoser's match in Pueblo or CRC. Great people, fun time, lots of help (especially at Hoser's). Distances are not too far either. After that look at the Raton match. It is a great match, any you will love it. The ranges are 200-890, but most is 200-600, with a couple pokes out to almost 900. The Come out and shoot! You will have fun. You will learn a ton and no so much more of what you need after that first match.

Before the 224V came out, I was moving towards a 6CM Ruger Precision Rifle for him. I have a 18inJP 223 that I might start him out on. It shot great when I got it, but it has a fair number of shots down the tube and i need to check it. I’ve done Hosers PD match a few times and the CRC one twice, but that was a few or more years ago.

I would be looking at the 600 yd matches at crc and buffalo creek. Great way to learn position and wind before you go down prs path.

How old is he? I think driving a bolt gun is much easier than shooting a semi at long distance. 6.5 Creedmoor could be a little heavy, depending on his size. You of course want to build his confidence up, right up until he can beat you, then you got a problem...

One problem with 6Creed is if the factory Hornady 108 doesn't shoot, what then? And you really want to see how well it shoots at 500y, not just at 100y. The 6.5 is much better in selection. I might also hold off on 224 Valkyrie. It may be great, might be a flop. It also might be too popular and impossible to find ammo in 6 months. Meanwhile 223 (77gr) and 6.5 Creed will be around.

The Buffalo creek was one of my first matches! I think I met esaabye there too. If you want to get into PRS go to Ryan's Cheyenne Mountain match, it is very positional and is good training for PRS. If you really want to learn to shoot long range and shoot in the wind, go shoot Raton. We will all be there this weekend for the first match of the year :)

Totally off subject (although I am interested in this thread as well):

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Originally Posted by Delfuego

. You of course want to build his confidence up, right up until he can beat you, then you got a problem...)

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FMCDH, remember that match for steel dogs where he took first and you took last....................with the same rifle!!!!!

Lol, that must have been quite the quandry for you that day :)

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Originally Posted by Wolfshoon

Totally off subject (although I am interested in this thread as well):




FMCDH, remember that match for steel dogs where he took first and you took last....................with the same rifle!!!!!

Lol, that must have been quite the quandry for you that day :)

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That was humbling....

The boy has skills. He's 12, but he's 5'11 and 140 pounds so he can handle most regular rounds. We've done a lot of prone work with that CZ455 and a lot of standing with the ARs (22lr and 223).

I'm going to buy a rifle, eventually, and I want to make sure I don't buy-twice or cry once. There are so many options at the price points on ammo, rifle and scope I think there are a lot of chances to dial in the price-performance relationship.

I'm relieved you took that with a sense of humor, I got to thinking after I posted that reply that it might be a touchy subject. Gotta admit though, you must have been a proud dad that day!

I've got a couple 6.5 bolts you can try out if you want, a bergara in XLR chassis and a tikka CTR in MDT HS3 chassis. I've been impressed with both, but only gone to 200 yd so far.

No worries, it really helped his confidence. The first time he won, I ran his elevation knob for him. The second time he won he ran everything by himself, including confirming zero and all that. Besides him being a good shot, we figured out for some reason, our windage to POI is about 0.3 mils different. I wear prescription lenses (the Rudy's with and insert, so four surfaces and a fair amount of astigmatism) and he has perfect vision. I don't think it is as simple as head position since I've noticed that is consistent on a few occasions. Gave me more reason to get my 40X converted....

Did they finally get some railroad ties to shore up the front of the shooting area so that we aren't shooting downhill?

I just looked and I need to put those matches in my calendar. Might try to get my daughter into it. She is the perfectionist.

railroad ties are in, it helps a fair amount but there is still a slight grade. Still waiting for the Vudoo to get finished and shipped. Hopefully march will have good weather.

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Originally Posted by Delfuego

How old is he? I think driving a bolt gun is much easier than shooting a semi at long distance. 6.5 Creedmoor could be a little heavy, depending on his size. You of course want to build his confidence up, right up until he can beat you, then you got a problem...

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I feel like you're calling me out😑

Why not 243? It can be a great round too.

My 13 year old just got a Bergara B-14 HMR 6.5CM with a Burris XTR 3-15 on it. First time shooting it he went 4 for 4 on the 18" plate at 1045 at CRC with factory ammo. He is only 5'1" and 130 pounds and does fine with the recoil. He shot the NoCo Precision match in January as his first precision match and finished above the others that were shooting their first and a few of the regulars. That is a great package for not a lot of money.

He does not have a tri-pod yet, but he borrowed one on a few stages. The CRC match on the 4th Saturday is probably the most beginner friendly and Raton is probably the most challenging, but I would not worry about it. Pick the one that fits with his (and yours) schedule and get out there.

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Originally Posted by J

Why not 243? It can be a great round too.

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Barrel burner. Sold my R700 243 back in the 90's when I couldn't figure out why it went to absolute crap for groups. Didnt know back then what I know now, dumb mistake made in my mid 20's. Round count between me and my dad was probably around 900 +/-100 which is around the life of a 243 barrel as they erode the throat pretty quickly. Wish now that I had kept it and rebarreled, old remington quality far and above current remington production.

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Originally Posted by Zach O

I feel like you're calling me out��

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[Poke]

With him being that size, he'll be fine with a 6.5 Creedmoor, and for factory ammo, that's the best bet. Put a good brake on it and it'll be fine. The Bergara Mark mentioned is a good option among a pile of them out there. I'd go that route before an RPR or some of the others without hesitation. Put the best glass that fits the budget and a bipod on it, get a rear bag and go shoot. Figure out the rest of the support gear as you go to avoid wasting money, plenty of opportunity to try before you buy on that stuff.

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Originally Posted by XC700116

The Bergara Mark mentioned is a good option among a pile of them out there. I'd go that route before an RPR or some of the others without hesitation.

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AND, I recommend the Bergara even though I have a RPR in .243Win listed in the classifieds. :) Not that it is not a good rifle, but the Bergaras are a full letter grade up IMHO.

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Originally Posted by Wolfshoon

Barrel burner. Sold my R700 243 back in the 90's when I couldn't figure out why it went to absolute crap for groups. Didnt know back then what I know now, dumb mistake made in my mid 20's. Round count between me and my dad was probably around 900 +/-100 which is around the life of a 243 barrel as they erode the throat pretty quickly. Wish now that I had kept it and rebarreled, old remington quality far and above current remington production.

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But in price difference in ammo, surely that barrel cost is made up some with cheaper ammo, no?

Not a lot of match grade 243 available as factory ammo mostly hunting / varmit bullets .

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Originally Posted by C Ward

Not a lot of match grade 243 available as factory ammo mostly hunting / varmit bullets .

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Ah. Gotcha.