Need advise on new rifle

[NDBob]

I'm new to this board and need a little help choosing a target quality AR rifle.  I want a 223 and have about $1200-$1500 to spend.  I want to shoot the light and medium weight bullets at targets out to 300yds.  I will never be involved in competition but I want the most accurate gun I can get.  I have a medium amount of reloading experience but certainly not at the benchrest level.  I'm thinking about a Rock River @ $1000 or maybe saving for a few more months and getting the Les Baer @ $1900.  Is the Baer worth the extra $?  What other suggestions do you have?  This time I'm going to do my homework first and spend the money after a thoughtful decision.  

Thanks,
Bob

[Jose Grande]

I'm guessing that you are not a member of a CMP club. The Bushmaster target gun that is CMP legal is about $1600. But in a CMP club, you could get one for a little less than $900. Those are accurate rifles. I have no personal experiance with Les Baer.

[Green3845]

Bob-

For the money, you are not getting a top of the line product with either Bushmaster or Baer.

John Holliger at White Oak Precision was the 2003 Civilian Service Rifle Champion. He is a builder of fine AR's, and shoots them well enough in competition to be National Champion. He builds fine rifles, whether they are for Service Rifle Competition, Match Rifles, or a target grade varmit upper which seems to be what you want. He is  a lot more reasonable price wise than Bushmaster, most certainly better than Baer. I can't believe the prices that Baer extorts with their half truths in advertising.  Talk to John, tell him what you want, he will not steer you wrong. Probably more than half of the top AR shooters in this country use John.

www.whiteoakprecision.com

[NDBob]

Jose and Green,

That is exactly the advise I needed, thanks,  

Green3845,

Yes, you have me pinned well....an upper level target grade varmit rifle is exactly what I want.  I'm going to the website now.  I'll probably be writing more questions.....please stay tuned

Thanks again,
Bob

[Green3845]

Bob-

Call John and speak with him. Ask about barrel choices. John probably has Kreigers and Pacnor's in stock, as well as Wilson's. His free float tube is the best on the market, and comes in  about any color you could want, including camo!

You can buy any lower, but talk to John about his tweaked RRA trigger. JOhn takes the standard RRA National Match 2 stage trigger and cleans it up. SInce you don't have any weight limitations on trigger weight, have John set you one up for your varmint rifle. You will love John's trigger!.

Tell him some really strange guy from Houston, Tx, who babbled a lot about 6.5 twist PacNor barrels and JLK90s sent you!

[NDBob]

Green,

Well, I took your advise from way back in October and researched White Oak Precision/Armament.  After a number of different sources pointed to White Oak I gave John Holliger a call.  We talked a couple of times and I decided to buy a WOA upper from them.  Mine has a 22" Wilson 1-7 match barrel and a varmit forend for bipod.  I took John's advice on RRA lower with the 2 stage trigger.  I put a Zeiss 6.5-20 Conquest in an Armalite extension mount.  I have done just a little experimenting (ND weather is brutal) with Black Hills ammo and several handloads.  This rifle is a thrill everytime it goes to the range.  It is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned....all groups going under an inch, many going .5xx and several going .3xx.  It even has shot several groups to 1.1xx" at 300 years.   I really couldn't be happier with it.  Just thought you might like an update.    :-)    :-)  

Thanks,
Bob

[Green3845]

Bob-

I'm glad it worked out well. I have used Holliger for a number of years and have never heard of anyone being dissapointed with his work or products. I think because John is one of the top rifle shooters in the country, you get the benefit of his experience. This is unlike a Baer product that is "hyped" by Baer, but is just put together by soemone with no competitve shooting experience.