a ¾ scale stock using high quality cross laminated wood with a very high stability factor and quality waterproof finish
a CZ .22 black barrelled action for a truly competitive rifle, stainless barrel extra
an aluminium V-block bedding system is bonded into the stock providing an uncrushable maintenance free support
a simple, soft rubber WEGU curved buttplate with vertical adjustment
butt length adjustable with spacers (ordered separately)
a Freeland adjustable handstop with integral sling swivel
a Gehmann 590 compact rear sight with 1/4min clicks and full Vernier scale and RPA peep
an Anschutz 6832 globe foresight (not shown)
versatile underside Anschutz rail to accept all standard accessories, handstop, rest bipod, etc, or training aids such as shooting rest monopod for young cadets
sight rails to accept all metric target rifle sights
optional extra of a folding bipod for standing the rifle on when not shooting
[/quote]
Yours for a cool £1,400.
As well as the bare rifle (which is probably worth £800 once you tot up barrel, action, sights, buttplate, accessory rail and bedding system - though why you need a TR-style bedding system in a .22 training rifle, gawd only knows), you get the benefits of:
[quote]In addition to the described rifle system, the manufacturer is offering:
an annual armouring and maintenance service in order to prolong the service life of the rifles and allowing for periodic reviews of the product's performance
suitable modern and non-harmful cleaning products and guidance for each cadet unit, setting a common standard for the maintenance of the rifle
maintenance and repairs training to the adult cadet staff in order to maximise the use of each rifle
[/quote]
Purely out of curiosity, would you consider buying a couple of these for your unit?
(I have no connection to HPS, other than being a satisfied customer)
I begrudge the thought of forking out cash for something which is currently free…
What I also like about the No.8 is that its simple. Its a gentle introduction to real shooting. Throw in all the odds and sods and it starts getting complicated and younger cadets have to start thinking about complex sight settings and attachments. Fine if you’re a gun nut, but for 13/14 year old cadets?
The lowest price similar offering is the Anschutz 1903 at a shade under £800 without sights. HPS are offering something a bit better. The entry level rifles from Anschutz\Walther\FWB all come in at around £1750, so £1400 is a realistic pitch.
You can make it as complicated or as simple as you like, there’s no need to make shooting it any more complicated than a No8.
There are a reasonable number of secondhand rifles out there; until you start to look for them! Lots of knocked about a bit, 30 year old Anschutz 1407s if that suits you but otherwise it can be a bit sparse.
To summarise, pitched at £1100-1200 I think they would move quite quickly and at £1000 they would be flying off the shelf. Even at £1400 for a rifle that will give 10 years service (£140/yr) it isn’t too bad.
exmpa
No connection with HPS other than being a very satisfied long term user of their stocks and butt plates.
The issue for me in considering this as a COTS No8 replacement… is we have to pay for it, whereas No8s are “free”.
If/when the No8 goes, I’d hope that HQAC fund replacement… or at the very least, make arrangement for a “bulk buy” discount and servicing direct from manufacturer.
[quote=“exmpa” post=8505] Even at £1400 for a rifle that will give 10 years service (£140/yr) it isn’t too bad.[/quote]Ten years? If it’s to replace the No 8 we need at least 50!
[quote=“wdimagineer2b” post=8516]£1400 may be a good price…but I certainly wouldn’t spend £2800 or £4200 from Squadron funds just to buy 2 or 3 rifles.
If they were provided by the Corps then fine. Though I’d hope they’d get the damn things stained. That wood grain looks awful.[/quote]
I suppose they’d be the result of a specific fund raising effort as an aid to a structured shooting programme. But, yes, a bit steep for a purchase on a whim.
I wouldn’t condone spending that amount of money on 1 rifle, especially given the difficulties we have actually getting people shooting at the moment and looking at its long-term prospects.
Maybe it would be a good opportunity to ditch all the ridiculous SASC-dictated rules around smallbore shooting and follow a path more closely related to the civilian model.