LR hunting rifle project

[Guy Miner]

Am in the process of collecting all the parts & pieces necessary to build a custom long-range hunting rifle. Based on my favorite, the Rem 700 of course! Just picked up this real nice laminated wood target stock made by Joel Russo:

Have a good-shooting .300 Rem Ultra Mag that could serve as a donor action and barrel to start with. Eventually though, I plan on a heavier contour, 28" - 30" match grade custom barrel.

Have a couple of good scopes sitting around that are somewhat under-employed at the moment, a 6.5-20x Leupold that is doing nothing right now is attracting my attention... :grin:

Still early in the process, so I haven't made a final decision on a LR cartridge. Pretty sure I'm going to stick with the big Rem Ultra Mag case. The more I work with it, the more I like it. Don't know if I'll keep it a .300 RUM, or go bigger and get a .338 barrel, chambered for either the .338 RUM, or the .338 Edge... Decisions, decisions... :grin:

Fancy custom barrel and getting the action trued will likely have to wait until next year, but for now I could actually have this thing assembled, up and running within a couple of months. That could make this hunting season very interesting...

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks, Guy

 

[JD338]

Guy,

You are well on your way to a sweet LRH hammer. :grin:
Either the 338 RUM or 338 Edge will serve you well. The Edge will give you 100 fps over the RUM and has an advantage if you are using the 300 gr SMK's.
Take a look at the Hart barrels, a #5 flutted 28" tube would get you max velocities and give you manageable weight. As you know, you will want the action blueprinted to get the best accuracy.
The 6.5x20 Leupold will get the job done.

Keep us posted. :grin:

JD338

 

[Guest]

What does a rig like that weigh, Guy? I have considered a variation on the 'walking varminter' but in a big game caliber, something like the Sendero/Laredo/beanfield rifles from various manufacturers, but built for the 7mmWSM cartridge. I don't know if I'll ever get it done, as I just started in on a truck project that will likely eat up all of my new firearm budget for a few years, but I have the rifle built in my head, and wonder how much it would weigh and if it would be useful or not.

What I am thinking is something like a Howa or Vanguard action, and the B&C wide-forearm, vented Medalist stock (with the full length aluminum bedding block), in a short action, but carrying a moderately heavy barrel of about 25-26" with fluting to lighten it a bit. Not really useful around here, but then again, nothing larger than my 30-30 is, to tell the truth, and that hasn't stopped me before. I think it would make a great powerline easement gun, as well as a nice gun for some kinds of hunting out west, where the truck would be relatively close and the walks not so long. I figure it will come in close to 10lbs before the scope, depending on what the fluting does to the weight.

I'd love to have your input.

 

[Desert Fox]

Guy, get the Edge. You can duplicate 338 Lapua ballistic using inexpensive brass. My buddy build a 338/300 RUM Improved on a Winchester push feed action. He ordered the reamer specifically to seat the 300 grain Sierra MK farther out. That made the rifle single shot. He can push the 300 MK at around 3000 fps on a 32 inch barrel. I will be building a long range hammer using his reamer, on a single shot action. I haven't decide yet what action I'm going to use. Good luck on your build :wink: . RJ

 

[Guy Miner]

dubyam - I believe this one will finish up at around 13 pounds, or about the same as my match rifle. For general purpose hunting I greatly prefer a 7 - 8 pound sporter type rifle. This one isn't going to be a general purpose hunting rifle, but a more specialized piece of gear. I plan on getting up on the ridgeline pre-dawn, with it, a good pair of binos and a laser rangefinder... Then quietly waiting and watching... :grin: Hiking with it isn't going to be a lot of fun, but shooting it should be a hoot. I'll let ya know! :grin:

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

My dad and I are having something built similar to your specs, minus that beautiful stock...

We are going with a Rem 700 SS action that will be trued up by Shawn Carlock. Next were going with a #7 SS/fluted HART 1 in 10" twist, 28" bbl + Defensive Edge Brake, making it close to 30" overall. Its going to be chambered for the 338 EDGE (338-300 RUM), and throated for the 300g SMK. Should shoot 2850-2900fps with a .780 BC bullet, should be a real long range hammer..Were keeping the factory LSS stock, just opening up the channel..Were keeping the factory trigger, but tuning it down to 2lbs..I'm going to be putting a Lupold vari X 3, LR/T 6.5-20x50, 30mm tube, SF, fine duplex..The weight of this rifle will be no more then a Sendero type rifle, but will be fully packable. Yah it will be on the heavy side, but you give up a little weight to be able to shoot 1500 yards..In my opinion, well worth it. 12 lb rifle isn't that bad anyways, no more then your standard varmint/sendero type rifles...

Our rifle is going to be used for Long Range elk/bear. It will be packable, but it is also going to be used for sitting on top of ridgelines and glassing, waiting and watching for its next victim...

I think with that Russo stock and that 6.5-20 Lupy, you could have a real nice looking 300 RUM. Give it till next year and get the action trued and custom barrel in 338 EDGE w/300g bullets, and you'll have a great shooter!!

Most of the guys say that have a big 338 say its about as much fun as a guy can have with his pants on, ha ha. Were about to find out. Shawn is planning for our rifle to be done first of October, cant wait!!

 

[JD338]

Remmy,

Nice rig you and your Dad have in the works!
What is the weight difference between the #5 and #7 barrel contours?
I've been thinking of an Edge as well and spoke with Shawn Carlock last fall about it. No real advantage of going with the 338 Edge unless you use 250 gr or heavier bullets like the 300 gr SMK.

Nosler, now you really need to offer a 338 cal 250 gr AB.

Guy, look what you started!!! :twisted: :lol:

JD338

 

[rick smith]

I have had two built both 300RUM, both with 28"barrels. First was a full custom wearing a McSwirrly stock, PacNor fluted, can't remember if it had any taper, think it was a 7 or 8. Jewell trigger, Single shot. All black metal work. My smith did an outstanding job but put a Vais type muzzle break on it. Never could warm up to that. It would shoot three touching at 100yds, 165gr bullet 3500fps and that was not max. Loaned it to a friend to hunt a power line right of way. Shots could be very long but he was sitting in a solid four legged 15' stand. He killed the biggest buck of his career at a lasered 75yds. Could have killed him with a 223. I sold that rifle to a friend who has towers set for some true long range shooting.
The other rifle was put together for a lot less. Same barrel but not fluted and no damn muzzle brake. Factory HS Precision stock I had taken off an old Rem 25/06 Sendero, reworked factory trigger, single shot, Rem 700 action. Had to remove some barrel channel for the larger barrel but it worked. This rifle shoots as well as the other, not quite as heavy.
Neither should be considered as walking hunting rifles, they are carry to a well built stand and sit with rifles.Rick.

 

[Guest]

So do you think it's possible to build a 25-26" barreled short action gun that will come in close to 9.5-10lbs with scope, with a heavy enough barrel profile that it would be stable for those long range type shooting situations? Obviously it is possible, depending on what barrel taper you use, but could it be done with a reasonably heavy (fluted) barrel and a scope that weighs in about 1.25lbs? I'd sure love to try. I was thinking to skeletonize the bolt handle (both the 'knob' portion, and the shank), and flute the crap out of the barrel, and also to us a fairly lightweight synthetic stock with the aluminum bedding block for stability. I guess a good 'smith might also be able to take a little weight out of the action overall? What does a 26" varmint contour barrel weigh, anyways?

 

[JD338]

Guy,

Take a look at the attached link. It shows the 338 Edge in action.
http://longrangehunting.com/ubbthreads/ ... art=1&vc=1

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Absolutely I think you can make a LR rifle that comes in at around 10 pounds!

Select the components with care. A few ounces here and there can add up to a pound or two pretty easily.

Stock - there are some nice light ones avail. McMillan's "hunter's edge" is extremely light and very high quality.

Consider a short action rifle/cartridge. A .308, 7mm-08 or a .284 can be very effective at 500 - 600 yards.

Barrel - Rather than go ultra thin like some factory barrels, consider a medium varmint type taper, heavily fluted. A 24" tube is fine, I get 2850 fps from a 24" .308 with 155 grain bullets. It does very well at 600 yards.

Scope mounts and rings. Aluminum rather than steel. http://www.seekinsprecision.com

Scope - consider sticking with a 1" design rather than a 30mm tube. Look closely at the weights. Consider a fixed power. Stick with a 40mm objective.

Go with a light nylon sling instead of a thick leather sling. Consider leaving off the bipod and shooting from the sling, or rested from a backpack instead of from a bipod.

Lots of ways to shave weight. When I re-make my custom .308, it's going to shed at least a couple of pounds. :grin:

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I'm thinking short action in 7mmWSM, just because it would be cool to have one, and the reach will be astounding as far as energy is concerned. I love that cartridge for some reason. Too bad it didn't take off. Beyond that, I hadn't thought about the aluminum v. steel mounts, but I was looking at scope weight and shaving what I can off the action and stock. What would an extra 2" of barrel weigh in a medium taper? I am thinking about 3-5oz., but I could be wrong there. Anyway, I think I could shave a bunch off the action, if the gunsmith is good at detail work. I was even thinking about having the bolt pretty deeply fluted (as much as is safe) to shave a bit of weight there. Sounds like I ought to get this truck done so I can start in on the rifle!