Any plans for a new rifle in 2025?

[wvbuckbuster]

And here I go again!
If you recall my earlier post from January (#14), I still had the Winchester 1885 Low Wall in 6.5x55 on my Bucket List?
Well, 3 months ago, a fellow put one up for sale NIB, and I couldn't pass it up! Three months later, after making payments, it is on its way here.
(Probably paid a little too much, but when I wasn't even able to find one for sale anywhere while it was in production, I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to acquire this rifle, as I have always drooled over my friend's Low Walls!)
Will mount a Kahles Helia 3-9x42 TDS on it when it arrives and try it out with the Nosler 140 gr AccuBond ammunition.

I understand you saying you might have paid too much. We do that when the opportunity arrives for something we have sought for. I have made the mistake of waiting for a lesser price and never found it and what was available gets bought. Enjoy your rifle.

 

[Ralt71]

When I posted earlier I had forgotten about this one. I am having shoulder problems and most of my rifles are now to heavy. So I've been considering a Savage lightweight. This one has the carbon wrapped barrel and only weighs about 5 1/2 pounds. I've never been a Savage man but this one looks interesting. According to reviews I've read this rifle shoots tiny groupsl
Any opinions or knowledge?

Those are decent little guns. They have a model that has a barrel from BSF, the same barrel used on some Weatherby 307 model rifles. Their 110 Ultralite has a Proof Research barrel, which in my opinion is one of the better "off the shelf" type barrels you can get. To me the biggest draw back on these is the accu trigger. I know some people really like them, they just don't work well for me. I did a pile of research on lightweight guns a few months back before buying my CA Ridgeline FFT. I love it, the trigger tech trigger is great, their barrel is nice, and it comes in just over 5lbs. I really struggled with the Alpine CT though and am now considering getting one in the 7mm Backcountry haha.

The last few years I have gotten into the lightweight rifles. I carry all the gear while my wife or oldest daughter are with me hunting. Sometimes I end up with all the gear, my rifle, and theirs while we walk up a hill or in the thick or if they are slowing down. These lightweight guns are amazing for that. Last year I carried a Begara Premier Divide and it was a major game changer with the weight savings.

 

[Blkram]

I understand you saying you might have paid too much. We do that when the opportunity arrives for something we have sought for. I have made the mistake of waiting for a lesser price and never found it and what was available gets bought. Enjoy your rifle.

While I may have paid a little too much, I do not feel guilty, nor have buyers remorse about, as I too have not bit the bullet, so to speak, when I should have in the past and have missed out on a fine rifle or two. As this was a Bucket List rifle, I didn't hesitate on it!
I look forward to owning, shooting and hunting with it!

The seller said he didn't think he would ever sell it, but life got in the way and needed the cash...so I offered him first right of refusal should I ever be in the same boat and need to sell it. Although, I too don't think that I'll ever want to sell it...

 

[Seabreeze]

Not really because I can’t decide. 17 WSM would be nice but Savages just don’t do it for me. Nothing on the new side maybe Winchester 70 but sure on the caliber. I’m in a holding pattern until something comes along.

 

[GregoryB.]

Just put a bid on a 308 on Gunbroker. We will see if my highest price will be able to hold off the last minute bidders. Auction ends tomorrow night.

Update. A couple of others wanted it more than me. Still has a day to go.

 

[Wenaha]

I already posted about a rifle I recently received from Mark Bansner - a LH M70 classic in 308 Nprma Magnum. I aleady owne the rifle and took it to Africa a couple years ago when it was factory stocked 7mm RM. Excellent rifle, but I never really clicked with the Model 70 factory stocks and I already have my trusty old LH Mathieu in 7mm RM with a custom fitted stock and it's killed a lot of game for me over the years.

The above is a preamble to explain that I have another LH M70 Safari Express in .375 H&H... same issues with the factory stock and the rifle has been at Aaron Little's shop for quite a while now, along with the English walnut blank for a new stock. Aaron did a nice job on yet another LH M70 for me in 280AI and I am pleased with the rifle. I am hoping that Aaron has the 375 done before the Fall... and he might. Or might not, dunno. Anyway, it will be a "new" rifle when I finally receive it.

 

[wildcatter]

This really is a disease, and sadly the older you get the more immune to the cure you become. But it isn't my fault! I think I was setup! But, yes, another new custom, or maybe just call it a modified custom rifle? You know like a tractor puller adding a third engine, for better performance from the custom build he already had, of course only to do more.

In my case, I'm just making a rifle more capable? See a fellow on another forum had two barrels, a Lilja and a Shilen, less than 60 rounds on one and only around 500 on the other. But it was also being sold with the custom reamer used to only to chamber those two barrels,,, oh and the custom wilson in line bullet seater. I would have turned away right there, but after reading on, it also had 100 rounds of peterson brass, 50 in the Shilen and were only fireformed? The other 50 with 5 or 6 firings on it, as well as 100 rounds of Lapua brass with less than 4 firings on it?

Well for less than the price of a new barrel, and set of dies, which also included a Harrel's FL bushing die, custom for this reamer,,, I buckled! I have a new 1-10 twist Krieger setting in the safe, and a 1-8 twist Krieger on a Savage Axis setup for 600 yards in 6BR, that I have been trying to decide what to do with it,,, until now! I bought the package, then last weekend at our monthly match. I gave my smith the Lija 20 cal 1=17 twist 22.5" barrel, the rifle in 6BR with the new 1-10 krieger and will set on the Shilen 1-17 30 cal for now. SO, HERE IS WHATS IN THE WORKS.
1) cut the 26" 1-8 6BR barrel down to 25.5" and punch the chamber out to a no turn neck, .040 freebore 6x47 Lapua.
2) cut the new HV taper 1-10 6mm to 6BR, and thread for the break that is already on th BR barrel.
3) cut 3/4" of the Lilja HV tapered 30 cal, 1-17 twist barrel and recut the 30x47 Lapua chamber with the same reamer that originally chambered it for the Remington. This was before the Brake was installed, with a Vortex Golden Eagle at the time.


All on the Stainless steel Axis that wears a SSS prototype trigger that pulls around 4 oz. in a SSS 3" forearm BR stock that is weighted for 16.5 lbs with the 1-55x52mm NF and 26" HV barrel with the 3.5" SSS Muzzle break. This will get me real close to 13 pounds with the 21 3/4" HV 30 cal barrel for short range BR matches at legal weight. Plus I can run 105's in the 6x47 now for 600 yards, and use the same 95 grain bullets I was using for 600 yards in the BR chamber, in the new 1-10 barrel, for 400 yard Varmint matches in unlimited class.

So I really aint spending a bunch of money, and really could recoup the cost if I sell the barrel and reamer along with the Peterson brass when I get the rifle back. At least that was how I justified it to Jeannine. Like I say,,, it ain't my fault, this really is a disease, and sad thing is, at my age it's to late for the cure,, sadly I'm immune to it,,

 

[TackDriver284]

Getting a new build not for hunting, but F Class, but it won't be for 2025, but in 2026,,, 6 BRA
Nitride Bat Machine MST or Model B action, right port, right bolt with teardrop, no ejector or safety, single shot, 30 inch Bartlein SS polished 1.250" breech, slight taper to 1.100" muzzle, 7.5 twist, Bix and Andy Competition trigger, 4 ounce break, pillar bedded, McMillian Kestros BR stock with butt plate / spacers, topped with a March 60X or a Nightforce Competition. Will be mainly for 600 yard F Class, can be used out to 1000. Bullets of choice is Berger 105-109 Hybrids and Vapor Trails.
Easy to fireform Lapua BR brass to BRA, will be using Micron die sets. Attached will be the color of my choosing, but the stock shown is not a Kestros, just a color sample.

 

[RL338]

Sounds like a great build , plus I’m a sucker for blue

 

[Vince]

My down payment on a .416 Taylor was received by the seller.
It was a rifle I found here on the forum.

Vince

 

[sako2]

Got the virus again today and bought 2 ars.

 

[Blkram]

The Winchester 1885 Low Wall in 6.5x55 arrived on Friday, and due to other chores, I finally got the scope mounted tonight. Hope to shoot it on Tuesday as I have a day off work. The scope is the Kahles Helia 3-9x42 w/ TDS reticle.
Scoped, it weighs 7 lbs 7 oz.
Have always liked these Low Walls!

As a comparison, the High Wall in 6.5 Creedmoor with the same scope weighs in at 9 lbs 12 oz. (Heavier action and 28" barrel)