waiting patiently

[kendog]

Not so much. Took my rifle to get it pillar bedded a couple weeks ago, smith said February before he will get to it. Man... Anyway hoping it will cure all my ailes, loaded and ready to go. I even loaded a couple batches of 130s to try, would NOT should them worth beans, fingers crossed.
I have high hopes, really don't want to re-barrel, if I did, not sure if it would be 7mm08 next trip.

 

[JD338]

Pillar bedding can really improve the accuracy but you have to take the barrel and load into account.

What rifle are you getting pillar bedded and what caliber are you shooting?

JD338

 

[kendog]

It's a new M70 featherweight 7mm08.

 

[JD338]

kendog,

Nice.
I bet she will be a shooter.
Looking forward to your range report when you get her back.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

I love the Featherweight, Kendog. I've looked at several chambered in 7-08, but have kept turning other ways. One thing that I have found objectionable with all my Featherweights, and you addressed it with yours, is the hot glue that Winchester calls bedding. Some have shot very well despite the lack of good bedding, but most have commonly required bedding. Several have only been satisfied with pillar bedding. I believe you will be pleased with this rifle.

 

[kendog]

I have, well had a 30-06 featherweight from the late 80s, early 90s that shoots very good, all I did with it was freefloat the barrel and put a timney trigger in it. Had it from new, ended up giving it to my oldest son last year.

 

[kendog]

Yeehawww, the smith just called, muh gun is ready. COOL. Very excited. Just found a tripod to set my chrony on today too, joined a new range/club and my old system wouldn't work so I was going commando for the last little while.
Let the games begin, hopefully the weather will warm up a tad and I get a chance to get 'er out.

 

[JD338]

kendog,

Post a picture of your rifle. There are quite a few Winchester Featherweight fans here. :grin:

JD338

 

[kendog]

Will do, I will probably pick it up friday.

 

[DrMike]

Sounds great. I'll be looking for the pictures.

 

[SJB358]

Same here! Never enough pictures of FWT's! Scotty

 

[kendog]

Picked her up today, pillar bedded and re-crowned. Hope it makes a difference, for the better. Range tomorrow, hope the wind dies off, it's frickin cold.

 

[JD338]

kengog,

Beautiful rifle! If it shoots half as good as it looks, you will be in fine shape.
Looking forward to your range report. What load are you using?

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Man, those Featherweights are just handsome! The steps you have taken in anticipation of potential deficits almost guarantee that it will shoot very well. I'll certainly be looking forward to the range reports.

 

[kendog]

I am going with a few different loads, just "feeler" loads to see if the work made a difference.

My best load before the work was 42/N150150 NBT and a WLR primer, have that. Someone here suggested that was hot so I loaded another 3 rounds with 40 grains of the N150.

Trying 45/R19/175 SBT WLR primer

42.3/W760/175 SBT WLR

and what she would not even come close to grouping before the work, the 130's

44/IMR4064/130SP rem 9 1/2 primer

49/W760/130 sp cci 250

 

[kendog]

Not geared up for the chrony yet so that will have to wait until next weekend, excited to see how fast she is slinging those slugs and the deviations.

 

[SJB358]

That is a great looking rifle! Wow, I imagine it will really come around now that you have the pillars in it. I hope it shoots better than it looks, but that might be tough! Scotty

 

[kendog]

Got back from the range, it was a quick shoot, -11 and a little breeze, barrel didn't get too warm anyway.
She still favors the heavy slugs, my load with the W760 and 175sbt gave me a 3 shot group @ .636"
The load with R19 and 175sbt gave me .872" 3 shot group.

My 150 NBT with 42 grains of N150 gave me a 3 shot group @ .969"

the 150 NBT with 40 grains of the same stuff opened up to 1.360" but I also seated it 20 thou deeper. Will try this one again at the same depth as the load with 42 grains.

My 130s that would barely stay on paper shrunk down to 1.730" with the 760

 

[JD338]

kendog,

That is some fine shooting. Did the pillar bedding help?

JD338

 

[kendog]

I will say yes it did, will know better if I can duplicate these groups or do even better next time out.
It was pretty chilly so a milder day will help with my shooting I am thinking, hoping.