So I've got two boys (6 & almost 2) and I've decided that I want to buy them each a rifle to give them when they turn 15 or 16. My plan has been to buy three identical rifles with consecutive serial numbers and put two of them away. I'd set mine up and we would all use it for the next several years. When they are of age, they would get their own gun just like mine.
So I've been thinking on the idea for a while but hadn't done anything about it. I thought I knew what I wanted. My plan was to buy 3 Montana Rifle Co. ASR's in consecutive serial numbers chambered in 6.5x284. I already own one in 260 and it's a definite shooter (less than 1/2 moa). So I look on their website and lay my eyes on the ALR. Beautiful gun. Basically an ASR with a higher grade wood stock. Only problem is that they only offer it in long actions and they show 6.5x284 as available only as a short action. No problem. A 6.5x284 can easily be run in a long action. So I call. First answer I get from Dean (guy I happened to get on the phone at Montana Rifle Co) is "nope we can't do that. It can't be done." I try to explain to him that I know that it "can" be done but I didn't know if they would do that. He told me that there was no way to run a 6.5x284 in a long action but finally agreed to check with their head gunsmith. Heard back today. They will do it but want a $200 upcharge per gun because it is a caliber they don't offer in the ALR and another $200 per gun "for the extra gunsmith work we will have to do to match the 6.5x284 barrel to the long action." I'm no genius but I wasn't born last night. I have no problem with a company making money.....at all. Hell, I was fully willing to pay full retail to the manufacturer for a gun that can regularly be bought through a dealer for several hundred under retail. But I'll be danged if I'll let em poke me in the eye for $1,200 extra above and beyond full retail for something that requires absolutely no extra work on their end.
So here is where I need help. I'm still wanting 3 rifles with consecutive serial numbers and I want them to be a classic look. Decent/good/great wood and blued. I want something that will shoot. I don't mind spending a bit of money but I'm not looking to totally break the bank either. I'd like to stay under $2,000 per gun (preferably well under that.....it's x3 after all).
What direction should I look? Cooper?
So I've been thinking on the idea for a while but hadn't done anything about it. I thought I knew what I wanted. My plan was to buy 3 Montana Rifle Co. ASR's in consecutive serial numbers chambered in 6.5x284. I already own one in 260 and it's a definite shooter (less than 1/2 moa). So I look on their website and lay my eyes on the ALR. Beautiful gun. Basically an ASR with a higher grade wood stock. Only problem is that they only offer it in long actions and they show 6.5x284 as available only as a short action. No problem. A 6.5x284 can easily be run in a long action. So I call. First answer I get from Dean (guy I happened to get on the phone at Montana Rifle Co) is "nope we can't do that. It can't be done." I try to explain to him that I know that it "can" be done but I didn't know if they would do that. He told me that there was no way to run a 6.5x284 in a long action but finally agreed to check with their head gunsmith. Heard back today. They will do it but want a $200 upcharge per gun because it is a caliber they don't offer in the ALR and another $200 per gun "for the extra gunsmith work we will have to do to match the 6.5x284 barrel to the long action." I'm no genius but I wasn't born last night. I have no problem with a company making money.....at all. Hell, I was fully willing to pay full retail to the manufacturer for a gun that can regularly be bought through a dealer for several hundred under retail. But I'll be danged if I'll let em poke me in the eye for $1,200 extra above and beyond full retail for something that requires absolutely no extra work on their end.
So here is where I need help. I'm still wanting 3 rifles with consecutive serial numbers and I want them to be a classic look. Decent/good/great wood and blued. I want something that will shoot. I don't mind spending a bit of money but I'm not looking to totally break the bank either. I'd like to stay under $2,000 per gun (preferably well under that.....it's x3 after all).
What direction should I look? Cooper?
