Done With My Budget Rifle

[Trigger Monkey]

Remington 700 AAC-SD
Badger Bolt Knob Conversion
Old-style Remington Trigger tuned to 2.5#
Weaver 20 MOA Picatinny Base (Bedded to receiver)
Daniel Defense 5/8-24 Muzzle Brake (Not Installed)
Bell & Carlson M40-style stock (Inletted for Badger M5 DBM)
PTG Stealth DBM Assembly
Eagle Stock Pack
Harris Bipod (6”-9” notched swivel)
Mountain Shooter Sling
SWFA Super Sniper 10X42 Mil-Quad with MRAD Turrets
Burris XTR Low Rings
Holland’s 30mm Bubble Level

This was all orginially planned to be a .243 based off a Remington Varmint but I couldn't find one anywhere so I went with the AAC SD. The rifle turned out pretty much exactly how I imagined it and I can't wait to get it to the range, I'm sure I won't be disappointed with the AAC-SD. As happy as I am right now with how it all turned out it will continue to evolve as funds allow. I'm already planning to DuraCoat the barreled action and DBM, upgrade the optics since the SS was originally intended for my 10/22, and possibly skim bed the stock.

As I mentioned in an earlier thread I managed to come exactly $13 under my $1500 budget thanks to some finds here in the classifieds and the MidwayUSA discount codes. Granted I had to sell off some of the take off parts and extra gear I had laying around but my total out of pocket cost came to $1487 all said and done. I actually had a good bit of fun putting this all together and now all that is left is to get rounds loaded up.

 

[Truth223]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Damn nice rig. I ordered a AAC-SD from Buds last night myself. Cant wait to see how yours shoots.

 

[Rainier42]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Very nice! How is it shooting?

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

I don't know yet, I haven't had time to shoot it yet, the stock and bolt just came back from GAP this past week. I also wanted to get it all painted before I shot it, which took most of the weekend. If I can get some rounds loaded this week and the weather cooperates I'm headed out next weekend. I doubt I'll be disappointed though, from what I've seen and heard the AAC's are accurate rifles.

 

[PatrickChewing]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Looks fantastic!

 

[twb1178]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

That looks awesome. I'm piecing together almost exactly the same build right now, except for the paint and scope. I went with the Vortex mil/mil from Midway. Have everything so far except the rifle(still waiting for it to ship from Bud's). And I need to find someone to inlet the stock for the DBM. How long was the turm around from GAP?
Thanks,
Travis

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

It took about four weeks to get everything done which is what Ken quoted me just prior to me mailing my stuff off. Now I got a Badger bolt knob conversion and stock inlet done at the same time so I don't know if that factored into the lead time or not.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

I was able to hit the range earlier this morning to send some initial shots downrange to get a feel for the rifle. Commerical match ammunition has pretty much dried up around here so the best I could scrap up was a box of Hornady 155 TAP FPD. I don't have any experience with this loading so I wasn't sure what to expect going in. The accuracy was reasonable I'd say, for four five-shot groups the accuracy was right at 1 MOA but that's just me with a tape measure. I'm going to load up some 175's to try in the morning and I suspect that they'll do better. If not then I'm going to try skim bedding it.

In regards to the Daniel Defense Muzzle Brake I'm pretty pleased with its performance given that it cost me $70 including the shims. Installation was simple and it seemed to reduce the recoil significantly but I can't comment on any increased noise or concussion to the sides. There are a couple of other sub-$100 brakes that I want to try but this one is definitely staying.

I'll get some pics up shortly.

 

[twb1178]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Looks like its shooting pretty good. Definately keep us updated as to how it does with your loads. Its good to hear that you like the Daniel Defense Brake. I've been looking at either one of these, or one of RWS' brakes from here on the hide for mine. If they ever decide to ship it from Buds that is. I keep going back and looking at the pic of yours, and its making me anxious to get mine in.

 

[long range dogr]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Looks great!

What are your thoughts on the stock? Thinking about picking one up for my sons rifle.

 

[Paulus]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

budget build? thats one heck of a neat rifle. nice job.

-Paulus

 

[russ10x]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Very nice! Keep the SS.

 

[az_paul]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Very nice! Congrats on every aspect!

 

[kaseyfield]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Dude thats nice stick let us know how she shoots scope should be first on the list i have friends that have shot the guts outta those things a few times

 

[GLB]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Very well done. Like to see your range report when you can. I have a AAC-SD in a Manners Chassis. Mine has been sub moa in the .7s & .8s

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

TacticalHunter,

I just got back from the range and the rifle did much better with the 175's. I'll get some stuff up soon.

 

[GLB]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Thanks. I load the 175s with varget and shoot the FGMM 175. The FGMM 168 grouped slightly better .6-.7

 

[Joe Perlo]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

That is one good looking rifle. Good luck with it. Joe

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Ok here it is, the good, the bad, and the ugly from yesterday and today's range trips.

Two of the groups from yesterday using 155 TAP FPD on a Shoot-N-C Target.

1.014 MOA

1.079 MOA

Today's range trip:

This was the first group of the morning trying out the 175's over top of 44.9 grains of Varget. The group is .835 MOA according to OnTarget.

This is the second group using the above load making my corrections. This group measured slightly worse at .897 MOA.

While it was an improvement over yesterday I was really hoping for a bit more. However in my defense I did have to shoot those from the bench and I've never been very successful at shooting from the bench at my range. They're just ergonomically horrible to try to get a rifle set up on. After the two guys next to me left I was able to lay out in the prone and try again...things got much better.

The last group of the day and even though it looks like only four shots, there are five...unless that one bullet decided to vaporize in midair.

That's a 3/4" dot and the group size came to .546 MOA.

The rifle is showing promise and while I'm not sure I'm going to mess with the load any it will more than likely get a skim bed job. All in good time though.

 

[jsthntn247]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Looks great man. 44.9 gr with the 175's is a little stout, might try backing it down a hair and see if it tightens up, but it ain't shootin too bad the way it is.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Oh it's not my first time with this, I also tried charges of 44.3 grs and 44.6 grs but those groups weren't even worth the pictures. It seemed to like 44.9 though and it's not too bad...plenty of dudes run 45.0 grs under a 175 and many more pack cases for a 155 scenar.

 

[Bill Larson]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

you`ve done a great job..... all who want to start shooting tactical/LR should follow.....
To get from .8"MOA to .3"MOA costs another 2K$ to have one built....
GOOD WORK
BILL LARSON

 

[jsthntn247]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Trigger Monkey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Oh it's not my first time with this, I also tried charges of 44.3 grs and 44.6 grs but those groups weren't even worth the pictures. It seemed to like 44.9 though and it's not too bad...plenty of dudes run 45.0 grs under a 175 and many more pack cases for a 155 scenar.</div></div>

Mine gun which is very similar to yours had a node at 42.8 and 44.9. The lower node stacks them in one hole, the 44.9 looked very similar to your groups and would throw a flier every now and then.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Wow, that's a low charge weight. I didn't have a lot of time to prep loads for today's range trip so I started with the recipe for my other .308 and worked back a little. It wasn't ideal but it would give me an idea of what I was working with.

What's your velocity with the 42.8 grs and your barrel length?

 

[GLB]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

My load is 44 grn of Varget with the 175s in Lapua brass. That is where I stopped. I plan to tweak it some and move up .2 grns to see if I can shrink the groups. I have gotten a few .5 grps with that load but .7 and .8 are consistent out to 300 yards.

 

[islandermyk]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Good stuff man! A beautiful rifle build for a budget project!
I would've mistaken it for a $3K rifle.

As far as loads go. I found the speed my rifle likes (Keeping a consistent 5 shot group) and played with OAL. Maybe it will help you out a little to get'em groups tighter with the 44.9g charge you're using now or as stated earlier back down a hair or two on your charge.

Either way... looks like your having a great time with that beautiful rifle... enjoy and shoot safe!

 

[Hennig]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

My pet load for my AAC-SD was 178gr Amax over 44.5gr Varget, Lap brass and CCI primers. Plenty of .3-.4 groups.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Some would say stuffing a Lapua case with 44.5 grains of Varget is a bit on the stiff side lol.

Next weekend I'm probably going to load up another small batch and see if I can dupilcate the results or improve upon them. I'll also get some chrono data and if all looks good then that's probably the way it will stay. I personally hate doing load development on a new rifle.

Thanks for the compliments on the rifle, I was thinking today what will be changed in the near future and that list is kinda short. It will probably be skim bedded at some point while I recoat the barreled action and DBM in DuraCoat, and I'm already saving pennies for a new optic. I'm keeping the SS but it will eventually find it's way over to my 10/22 like I originally planned.

 

[Hennig]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

I was using the ADI equiv - AR2208. Wasnt crushing powder at 2.82" (off the top of my head).

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

I only said that because several years ago I was having issues with some .308 Lapua brass and when I contacted them they said my load of 43.5 grains of Varget under a 175 was too stiff (2.830 COAL if I remember right).

 

[Twisted300Win MAG]

Re: Done With My Budget Rifle

Nice looking rig. My 5R mill spec shows pressure sings at 45.0g of Varget. But loves 44.5g with Lapua brass and fed 210's pushing 175 SMK's @ 2620 and 168 SMK's and berger VLD's @ 2655 with 44.5g Varget. These are my pet loads, most groups in mid .6s some in .5s and better.