MarinePMI

Ummm...I enlisted into the Marines, two months after I turned 17 (graduated from high school early). Age isn't the issue, it's training and upbringing that determine behavior under stress. As to police shootings, if you want to be free, then it comes with responsibilities and consequences. It's actually much more rare than Sky News and BBC would have you believe...

A 17 year old EMT, volunteers to stand with others who are protecting a gas station from rioters and looters. He goes around asking people from each side of the conflict, if anyone needs medical attention. Then, when trying to return to his group at the gas station, rioters refuse to let him pass, and begin to chase him, leading to the events described in this video. (warning: graphic) Don't believe what your media may be saying about this, it was a justified response under our laws. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdMTghlrFiw&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3OXfUTFy-bVMYirHeFxivvoJHt_yqvc9e7sazh7ZLjweSvZnYfVH4qxu0&bpctr=1598543035 To add to the irony, hours before all this he is interviewed by a reporter, and clearly states he's not there to protect the gas station, only to render aid for those that may need it, and that he is carrying a rifle for personal protection in case things get out of hand. This is why the 2nd Amendment matters in the US; the right to protect and defend yourself and your property. And now the reports say the protests last night were much more peaceful. You think? Of course they were, because they knew regular, everyday folks are tired of this crap, and are not going to stand by while people who have been bused in, burn their town to the ground. Protests tend to remain peaceful if they know they'll likely get shot if they start looting and burning stuff. At any rate, kudos to the 17 year old kid, for keeping his wits about him...

With respect, your examples are flawed. Anything hit with an FMJ, is likely going to need another FMJ to put it down. They just don't expand for crap. Sometimes they're dead and just don't know it yet... As for the VMax, the opposite happens with the same result; another round is needed. Varmint bullets like the VMax are designed for violent expansion, causing "bullet splashing" where the round comes apart before it can penetrate enough to do the deed. We see it all the time on coyotes and wolves here in the States A properly expanding bullet AND a penetrating shot to the vitals or CNS, is what reliably puts an animal down. One or the other is (largely) a false argument.

The RRS kit is top notch. Their stuff is at the top of the heap, when it comes to fit, finish and quality. I can't recommend them enough.

I think it always boils down to the same basic criteria (albeit a different vernacular); Size, Weight and Power. With Mods I'd say efficiency would supplant "power" in that standard metric. But, that being said, I'd also consider materials (durability) as well as maintenance (how easy is it to clean and maintain). JMTCW...

Yes, I agree to a large extent. Here in the States, they are mostly baited (hog pipes), or shot as they move into pastures at night. As to the helo boar vids, I'd imagine a few get up and walk away, but not many. We have too many predators for them to last long, regardless. Honestly, I think the difference is in perspective. In UK/Europe they are a source of game/meat. And as such, are afforded the status that comes with all game; respect and fair chase. In many parts of the US however, they are a pest/vermin (and a destructive one at that), and so are treated the same as rodents, coyotes and foxes. Something to be thinned out, as efficiently and effectively as possible.

I hear what you are saying, and agree there are better options for pig/boar. But saying a 400lb boar has to be shot with a certain sized caliber because it is law is...flawwed. I lived in the UK, and can say fairly confidently that a most of the game there is (legally mandated to be) over gunned. Shot placement and a good bullet is, and has always, been key. Not some subjectively approved ft/lbs of energy chart...but I digress and am not trying to start an argument; merely a perspective. And yes, the feral pigs/boars are increasing in size here as they spread further north...

I have to chuckle. I've shot boar with .223 (light AP rounds), an put them down easily...

Here in the US, most hunters go up 1-2 shot sizes (2 for steel, and at least 1 for heavy shot or similar). So ducks get #2's, and pheasant, dove and quail get #6's. Rabbits get #4's. Last time I hunted water fowl, I used Blackcloud and it was extremely effective (a mix of heavy shot and steel pellets). It's been a few years, so it may have changed some... YMMV...

If you can source it there, the NammoTech 5.56 brass is an easy way to get Lapua quality brass, on the cheap. Made in the same factory, same drilled flash hole and same consistency. Here in the US, 1000 pieces can be had for $169 or so, which is a damned sight cheaper than blue boxed Lapua. The distributor here orders it by the shipping container load, and has no issues selling it all in short order (nudge to my UK brethren in the trade). Just an FYI...

To be clear, I don't think it is the action that is different, it is the stock. Can you get a CTR stock? Or have your stock inlet for the slightly larger, deeper bottom metal? If you were in the states, I'd just send you a stock, as I have two hanging on the wall in the garage/workshop. FYI: The 5rd AI mags are perfect for hunting, as they sit near flush to most mag wells/bottom metal.

Did you ever source some CTR bottom metal?

Might consider a 6x47Lapua. A lotta guys think it's the perfect marriage of caliber and case for the 6mm.

I'd recommend the 260 for PRS. The recoil is manageable for the less stable positions, to see your bullet splash, and the bullets are cheaper than .30 caliber. IDK about the UK PRS, but in the US, you can easily expend well over a 1000 rounds a year, so lower cost in bullets, powder, etc adds up. I'd also be opting for 130-140 gr bullets as a decent compromise between BC and weight/velocity to be in the sweet spot for typical PRS engagement ranges (400-600yds), with the legs to reach out to those longer engagement stages (800-1200 yds) when needed. There's a reason 6.5mm and 6mm cartridges dominate PRS....

The footprint is exactly the same. That being said, the mag latch is part of the stock/ chassis. The CTR in 223 isn't available (yet) in the US, so am unsure if the CTR mag in 223 has the same location as the 308 CTR Mag. I would think they would be the same, purely from a manufacturing perspective. Is the bifrost stock intended for CTR mags, or AICS mags? To me that would be where I'd start first. BTW; I have two CTR's currently in my possession as well as a 223 Varmint. When using AICS pattern mags (all my chassis on all my Tikkas are set up for AICS mags), the stocks/chassis are completely interchangeable.

Don't forget the "L" sized drill bit.

Interesting. A 55gr Nosler BT is supersonic for me out to 700. And that's with a much crappier BC than .272...

You could do far worse than a Vortex Gen 2 PST...

IME, the TMK's have a very soft jacket, and when seating, you can easily crush/deform the ogive if there is too much neck tension. So, you need either a better fitting seating plug, or you need to set a lighter neck tension, via an expansion mandrel/die. Dealing with the same thing in my CM, but haven't ordered the mandrels yet. Had the same issue as well in my 224 Valkyrie, and the expansion mandrel did the trick quite well.

My thoughts on barrel coolers? Waste. Of. Time.

Just an FYI, the Thermions and Trails are being discontinued, and being replaced by the Thermion 2 and Trail 2 this year.

Looks like the rifle version. As an aside, the clicks on these are adjustable. They can be set to 6 clicks per major number, or 4 (can't remember the second option for sure). They are delivered usually with 6 clicks per number

You're just using a 223 body die on formed 20 Practical brass? That may be your problem right there. FL resize the brass in your bushing die and see if that fixes the problem (ensure you're bumping the shoulder back). A body die only sizes the body and shoulder, which means a 223 body die will not bump back all of the shoulder on a 20 Practical case. You need to FL size in you bushing die. This another reason why I dislike wildcat cases that try to bypass proper dies, to save on expense. It leaves too many variables available for the novice reloader to inadvertently mess up. Another reason why the 20 Tactical is a better answer IMHO. At any rate, try to FL resize in your. 223 bushing die with you 20 caliber bushing in place. If that fixes the issue, then you'll know why; the shoulder near the neck wasn't getting bumped back.

BTW, the same thing can happen with certain actions and their scope mounts (like Savage rifles) where the forward screw is too long (one of the four screws is shorter for this reason), and can protrude enough into the lug recess to prevent the bolt from turning/closing the breech.

As you tighten the screw (the forward one), you said your bolt began to bind. This happens when the screw is too long and ends up protruding in the lug recess of the receiver (typically where the forward action screw is drilled and tapped). If you wish to tighten the receiver into the stock/chassis at a certain recommended value, but the bolt is binding, then the screw is ever so slightly, too long. You'll need to shorten it slightly so it doesn't protrude when the action is tightened down into the stock/chassis. The rear screw can do the same to the bolt body in some actions (where the action screw is not in the tang, but further forward, in the bolt raceway). It's a fairly common occurrence when folks start swapping things around, and tolerances begin to stack.