Cory Trapp spotted for the author and called out scope adjustments.
offi cer and instructor at the facility. He would show us to the range where we were scheduled to shoot and would spot for us. When we arrived we placed shooting mats on the ground and got out two rifl es equipped with the Saber- Forsst Modular Rifl e Chassis System.
Ashbury Precision Ordnance refers to these rifl es as “…the evolution of mod- ern sporting rifl es.” One was chambered in 300 Winchester Magnum and the other in the even-more-powerful 338 Lapua Magnum. These are a bit more cartridge than typically used for hunting prairie dogs, but the military likes them as sniper rifl e rounds. Plus, the weight of the basic rifl es is approximately 12 pounds … and that’s not including weight of scope, mounts, and bipod … so this weight helps dampen recoil. And both rifl es had a thick LimbSaver recoil pad. The result is that the rifl es were surprisingly easy on the shoulder despite the size of the cartridges. (One thousand-yard prairie dogs, anyone?) The best comparison I can make is that shooting these powerhouse cartridges in this rifl e was just as comfortable (or even more comfortable) as fi ring a 22-250 in a typical sporter-weight rifl e. (It must be noted that Ashbury
itself is not a gun company – but it is a company that makes equipment that gun companies use. In this case the equipment is the Saber-Forsst Modular Rifl e Chassis System. A complete sniper team system might, for example, include a rifl e action and barrel, stock, scope, rangefi nder, night vision optics, com-
puter and software, ammunition, and possibly much more.) Dave and I took turns with the
rifl es while Cory spotted for us. He came equipped with a spotting scope and a hand-held tactical ballistic computer system. Steel plates more-or-less the shape and size of a human torso were hanging at 500 yards, 650 yards, and 750 yards. They are 42” in total height, including a 6” by 9” head. Each had a small aiming point (which appeared to me about the size of a baseball) in the middle of the target. We simply aimed at this spot (using the 300 Win. Mag. Rifl e) and if we missed Cory quickly could give us corrections we could dial in on the Schmidt & Bender scopes. With such a system we soon began to make “kill shots” on the targets. After we got acquainted with these targets we switched to the 338 Lapua rifl e and be- gan fi ring at a target at 1,427 yards, left of the previous targets and much farther out. This new target was 18” wide by 24” high with a 6” by 6” “head.” Once we got this rifl e “dialed in” I had no trouble making consistent hits … with several shots close enough together to qualify as a group. As with the previous rifl e, this one was surprisingly pleasant to shoot. Yeah, you knew when it went off … but it didn’t really slam you. This stock was doing its job! The several hours we spent on
this range gave me an increased ap- preciation for how military and law enforcement sniper teams work together to accomplish their missions. And I also began to consider how such a rifl e, scope, rangefi nder, wind indicator, etc., could be applied to ultra long-range prairie dog shooting! A quality action (Surgeon, McMil-
lan, Remington 700, and SAKO TRG-42 are available) and barrel (Rock Creek is one that’s available) mated to the Saber-Forsst Modular Rifl e Stock Chas- sis System (plus a high-grade scope like the Schmidt & Bender) will equip you very well for long-range varmint hunt- ing. Quite simply, there is not another rifl e stock that can offer everything this one does.
Breaking things down, the Center
Dave Brown is Commercial Sales Manager for Ashbury Precision Ordnance Mfg., the company makng the Saber-Forsst Modular Rifl e Chassis System.
Page 192 Spring 2012
Chassis Section is the heart of every- thing, and it is modularly interchange- able. It can accommodate fi ve-round and two styles of 10-round magazines. Plus, an accessory insert for the maga-
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