I have decided against the Kimber 84L due to the very mixed reviews. I have decided to rebuild my first rifle into a new set-up that I will use. It is my Dad's old Winchester 670 in 243. Although it is a 243 it is a long action. The throat is pretty much gone on the original barrel and I can't even get long 100gr bullets out far enough anymore to shoot well. Since the gun has sentimental value and I already have it, it will be the base for my new build.
So I have an action and recently got a stock for it, a blind magazine MPI synthetic that will finish out at 28oz with a Limbsaver pad and Rapid Pivot bipod attachment.
I'm going to have my gunsmith remove the old barrel tomorrow and get a weight on the action with my postage scale so I know exactly what my action weighs with all it's necessary hardware.
My Leupold 4.5x14 CDS weighs in at 13.8oz and I think Talley 1pc rings and bases will take that up to a pound or a shade more. I don't have any of them to weigh. My old Leupold 1pc base and rings were 7oz so I think I will switch for this rifle.
My sling weighs 3.5oz, and a 140gr 280 reload I had sitting around from an old rifle weighs 1oz, so I figure 7.5oz for a sling and 4 rounds in the gun.
That brings me up to 52.3oz before the action and barrel. My target weight is for an 8lb gun scoped, loaded, and ready to hunt. This leaves me 75.7oz for the barrel and action with all it's hardware. or 4.7lbs I'll update this when I get an actual weight of the action & hardware after the old barrel is removed.
So I'll finally get to the point. I'm looking to build a mountain rifle weighing 8lbs ready to hunt. It will primarily be a deer rifle since I plan to add a Browning mountain TI in 300WSM to my arsenal someday for elk and bigger critters. I only draw an elk tag about every 4yrs, so this will likely only be my primary elk rifle on one hunt if I draw before getting the Browning. I'm trying to decide what the perfect match of performance and recoil will be for this. My choices using this action are the 6.5x284, 270 win, and 280 ackley improved. I'm planning on staying with a 24" barrel as anything longer gets unhandy to hunt with and carry in my eberlestock scabbard. I'd actually prefer to go 23" but I know I'd lose to much unless I go with a 270 win. I'm proficient with my current rifles under decent conditions at 500 but not comfortable shooting game past that unless conditions are ideal. I'm going to consider this a 500yd gun and not worry about chasing BC because at 500yds there just isn't that much difference in drop or wind drift. I'm also going to figure my velocites a little under max for barrel life and so I won't be disappointed. Here is what I'm considering as options and their 300, 400, and 500yd drops with a 200yd zero, plus the approximate powder charges of IMR 4831 to get them there in a 24" barrel.
6.5x284 140gr berger at 2800fps -7.29, -20.84, -41.43 /50gr powder
6.5x284 140gr AccuBond at 2800fps -7.62, -21.97, -44.12 /50gr powder
270 win 140gr AccuBond at 3000fps -6.54, -18.95, -38.13 /58gr
280 ackley 140gr AccuBond at 3100fps -6.10, -17.72, -35.72 60gr
280 ackley 150gr scirocco at 3000fps -6.48, -18.72, -37.60 /?
280 ackley 160gr AccuBond at 2850fps -7.06, -20.24, -40.32 /57gr
Wind drift numbers are all within 3 inches at 500yds also, the differences in BC are mostly offset by the differences in velocity at this range. Another factor that I consider in this is that if I set my turret to MPBR with a max rise over line of sight of 2.8"and leave it like I normally do unless I have time to range for a long shot it favors the higher velocity choices.
So if you were building this, what would be your choice for an ideal light recoiling muley rifle that would also take elk if necessary? Thanks for the help.
So I have an action and recently got a stock for it, a blind magazine MPI synthetic that will finish out at 28oz with a Limbsaver pad and Rapid Pivot bipod attachment.
I'm going to have my gunsmith remove the old barrel tomorrow and get a weight on the action with my postage scale so I know exactly what my action weighs with all it's necessary hardware.
My Leupold 4.5x14 CDS weighs in at 13.8oz and I think Talley 1pc rings and bases will take that up to a pound or a shade more. I don't have any of them to weigh. My old Leupold 1pc base and rings were 7oz so I think I will switch for this rifle.
My sling weighs 3.5oz, and a 140gr 280 reload I had sitting around from an old rifle weighs 1oz, so I figure 7.5oz for a sling and 4 rounds in the gun.
That brings me up to 52.3oz before the action and barrel. My target weight is for an 8lb gun scoped, loaded, and ready to hunt. This leaves me 75.7oz for the barrel and action with all it's hardware. or 4.7lbs I'll update this when I get an actual weight of the action & hardware after the old barrel is removed.
So I'll finally get to the point. I'm looking to build a mountain rifle weighing 8lbs ready to hunt. It will primarily be a deer rifle since I plan to add a Browning mountain TI in 300WSM to my arsenal someday for elk and bigger critters. I only draw an elk tag about every 4yrs, so this will likely only be my primary elk rifle on one hunt if I draw before getting the Browning. I'm trying to decide what the perfect match of performance and recoil will be for this. My choices using this action are the 6.5x284, 270 win, and 280 ackley improved. I'm planning on staying with a 24" barrel as anything longer gets unhandy to hunt with and carry in my eberlestock scabbard. I'd actually prefer to go 23" but I know I'd lose to much unless I go with a 270 win. I'm proficient with my current rifles under decent conditions at 500 but not comfortable shooting game past that unless conditions are ideal. I'm going to consider this a 500yd gun and not worry about chasing BC because at 500yds there just isn't that much difference in drop or wind drift. I'm also going to figure my velocites a little under max for barrel life and so I won't be disappointed. Here is what I'm considering as options and their 300, 400, and 500yd drops with a 200yd zero, plus the approximate powder charges of IMR 4831 to get them there in a 24" barrel.
6.5x284 140gr berger at 2800fps -7.29, -20.84, -41.43 /50gr powder
6.5x284 140gr AccuBond at 2800fps -7.62, -21.97, -44.12 /50gr powder
270 win 140gr AccuBond at 3000fps -6.54, -18.95, -38.13 /58gr
280 ackley 140gr AccuBond at 3100fps -6.10, -17.72, -35.72 60gr
280 ackley 150gr scirocco at 3000fps -6.48, -18.72, -37.60 /?
280 ackley 160gr AccuBond at 2850fps -7.06, -20.24, -40.32 /57gr
Wind drift numbers are all within 3 inches at 500yds also, the differences in BC are mostly offset by the differences in velocity at this range. Another factor that I consider in this is that if I set my turret to MPBR with a max rise over line of sight of 2.8"and leave it like I normally do unless I have time to range for a long shot it favors the higher velocity choices.
So if you were building this, what would be your choice for an ideal light recoiling muley rifle that would also take elk if necessary? Thanks for the help.
