The Frugal Sniper Rifle

You can put together your own tactical precision rifle without spending thousands of dollars.

Back in the '70s, the "rage" in shooting was machine guns; in the '80s and '90s, the assault rifle and tactical shotgun. And, throughout, interest in "combat" handgunning has continued to run strong. Now, the precision rifle is all the rage.

And why not? At least two generations of "tactical" shooters have now matured and, having gained skill and experience, have come to realize that on an individual basis, there is nothing as efficient as a precision rifle. The machine gun, assault rifle, shotgun and handgun all lack the flexibility and overall tactical capabilities of the precision rifle.

Recently, precision rifle shooting has grown in leaps and bounds, as have the custom-makers who cater to its proponents. Even the commercial manufacturers have responded with "out of the box" rigs, to corner their share of this burgeoning market.

Their rising popularity notwithstanding, there is a common negative denominator that runs across the entire spectrum of precision rifles currently available -- expense. Nearly all custom-made precision rifles will cost you more than $3,500. Add another $800 or so for a scope, rings, mounts, swivels and a sling and/or bipod and the picture is complete!

Yes, it's certainly true that such rifles are extremely accurate; they should be, given their expense. With just a bit of intelligent thought, however, we can buy or build a precision rig that is second to none for a fraction of the cost.

Tactical And Frugal

First, a careful analysis of your needs is necessary. What tasks will require the rifle? Will it be used for long-range hunting, targeting or other recreational shooting? Or do you want it strictly for "tactical" functions? Obviously, this question must be answered before further efforts are undertaken.

The first item to consider is the type of rifle -- boltaction or self-loader -- that best suits your needs. Generally speaking, mechanical simplicity makes the boltaction more intrinsically accurate than self-loaders. However, with careful work, self-loaders can produce excellent accuracy.

If your needs are tactical, then self-loaders have an advantage -- to operate, you don't have to manipulate the bolt handle for each shot. Such movement attracts attention, especially if your target is another precision rifleman.

If your requirements don't include target engagements past a sharpshooter's range of 400 to 500 meters, a self-loader, usually with a telescope of medium magnification, will perform quite well. However, if the criteria includes shooting at longer ranges or under circumstances where extra power and "punch" are needed, bolt-actions offer more choices. This is because the cartridges for which the majority of self-loading rifles are chambered -- .223, .308 and .30-'06 possess limited capability in those areas.

It isn't that these cartridges are less accurate, far from it. However, they do lack terminal ballistics past ranges of 400 to 500 meters, a critically important issue for the longrange hunter or "sniper.

Tuning The Gun

The accuracy issue can be overcome with careful examination and removal of as many pressure-points as possible, especially in the areas where stock-to-barrel pressure exerts the most pronounced negative effect -- the fore-end. By free-floating the barrel from the handguard, nearly all of this pressure is relieved. Because auto-loaders, by design, require the mechanism to contact the barrel, these guns should generally be limited to less precise and shorter-range missions.

Bolt-action rifles, too, should be free-floated for best results, especially if the rifle is to be used in a "real-world" environment, where heat, cold, dust, mud and other natural elements are involved.

Barrel diameter and length are also important. Within reason, larger diameter barrels are more accurate because they vibrate less and what vibration they do produce is more consistent from shot to shot. To get the most performance from a cartridge, especially if it is capable of producing over 3,000 fps, the barrel should be at least 24" to 26" long. This way, maximum velocities are achieved from cartridge propellant powder, muzzle flash is reduced or eliminated, and the rifle isn't too long to be handled. To best satisfy this goal, barrel diameters from .80" to .92" at the muzzle are best.

Target muzzle crowns are also a good idea, since this custom touch allows the most consistent escape of propellant gases as the bullet exits, therefore enhancing accuracy.

Custom barrels are marvels of technology and worth their price. However, be careful that you don't spend more money than necessary on them. Nearly all commercial barrel-makers offer different "grades," ranging from "standard" to so-called "match" or "precision" levels. Nearly any "premium" barrel, such as those marketed by Douglas, produce accuracy way beyond the capabilities of any shooter and only cost about $250.

Going Off The Rack