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New Surgeon Rifle

T

Timl

Private
Minuteman
Dec 17, 2010
41
0
54
Washington State
I'm lucky enough to have a wife that allows me to own guns. I don't hunt, but I grew up in Texas and have always owned and shot guns. With the current politcal climate, my wife asked if I should purchase another rifle. I already have an AR, so I asked if I could go ahead on another rifle. I'm afraid that the government will outlaw any rifle with an external mag, so I went ahead and purchased a Surgeon Remedy in 300 Norma Mag. I mounted a Kahles 624i (M10 American Rifle Rings) on it this weekend along with the bipod. I'm hoping this weekend to get to the range and do some load testing (Big thanks Josh at Copper Creek for making up a load pack). I think this will be the last rifle for me as I can't see needing anything more. I would like to thank everyone on the hide as over the last several years I have been reading and learning about tactical rifles and what works and doesn't. This rifle is a culmination of lurking here. Thank you all for helping me learn.


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Re: New Rifle

Thats a great position to be in right now.. having an encouraging wife!

I have family members that are aware of the coming restrictions of liberty, but their women are blind and ignorant. This may be a common issue in the homes of fellow patriots!

Enjoy your rifle. I enjoyed seeing it.
 
Re: New Rifle

Congrats on both the beautiful rifle and the understanding wife! I don't even try to kid myself I won't buy another rifle anymore.

Mike
 
Re: New Rifle

That is a great rifle. You couldn't ask for a better built firearm than what Surgeon produces.

On a side note, if you are being serious, I find the first sentence of your post sad and at the same time disturbing. If you have to ask me why, it doesn't matter.
 
Re: New Rifle

The sentence that I find amusing is "I think this will be the last rifle for me, as I can't see needing anything more". How many of us have had this thought pass through our heads, 2,5, or 8 rifles ago.
 
Re: New Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Trevor300wsm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is a great rifle. You couldn't ask for a better built firearm than what Surgeon produces.

On a side note, if you are being serious, I find the first sentence of your post sad and at the same time disturbing. If you have to ask me why, it doesn't matter. </div></div>

HAHA, he lost me after that first sentence. I went straight to the pics. You have to condition your wife. I came home the other night with a box full of lowers and my wife did not even bat an eye.
 
Re: New Rifle

I find it funny that you are bashing me and my wife. She is the one who approached me saying I should get another rifle.
 
Re: New Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Timl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I find it funny that you are bashing me and my wife. She is the one who approached me saying I should get another rifle.</div></div>

I think what he is saying is that you say that your wife LETS you own firearms. Believe it or not there are those out there that choose their spouses based on freedom of choice. He isn't bashing you and your wife, just the attitude you stated that lends us to believe she wears the pants in your relationship.
 
Re: New Rifle

Whatever the case, this dude's wife encouraged him to have en effing Surgeon!

Maybe not the best motivation but, I have actually learned to listen to my wife a little better when she says she wants something (Le Crueset cookware, some whatever-the-hell-shoes), and I buy them for her at random times. In turn, I have a wish list on the fridge and she occasionally says "why don't you go buy that one", or she just orders something from my Midway wish list.

Timi, this will NOT be your last rifle, but look no further on the wife front. Congratulations on both. Oh yeah, NICE RIFLE! Now how about a complete list of build specs...
 
Re: New Surgeon Rifle

Timl, no disrespect meant. It was just the comment "I'm lucky enough to have a wife that <span style="color: #FF0000">allows me to own guns</span>." My wife does not allow me to have anything and I do not allow her to have anything. If one of us wants something we plan accordingly and make the purchase.

You will love the rifle. Surgeon makes fantastic rifles. Give us a range report when you get a chance.
 
Re: New Rifle

Specs:
Surgeon 1581XL action
Jewell trigger
300 Norma mag
Kreiger barrel, 27", MTU contour, 1x10
PSR brake (external threads for suppressor)
McMillan A5 in woodland camo, adj cheek and butt
Harris bipod
Kahles 624i scope 6-24x56
American Rifle Co. M10 rings
Eberlestock drag bag/case
Weibad rear bean bag

I think that is everything. My bullet of choice for load testing is the Berger 230 hybrid.
Thanks for the compliments. It looks better in person. The action is massive and the bolt is very smooth. I estimate the rifle, scope, bipod weighs around 23 pounds. The MTU contour on that action starts at 1.35" diameter. There is a lot of weight in the barrel. I will try and get out this weekend and do some testing. Report will follow. The crew at surgeon are great to deal with too!
 
Re: New Rifle

I bought the same gun/caliber this summer for the Gunsite ELR course, your going to love it. 230 Bergers are the ticket BTW,,,congrats
 
Re: New Rifle

Tom,
Can you give me an idea on your load for the 230 berbers? That will give me an idea on where I should be.
Thanks
 
Re: New Rifle

Your wife is lucky she has a husband who owns guns!

Sweet looking rifle! She's big!
 
Re: New Rifle

looks like a heck of a rifle. would be a blast to be able to shoot that
 
Re: New Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Timl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tom,
Can you give me an idea on your load for the 230 berbers? That will give me an idea on where I should be.
Thanks </div></div>
Andrew McCourt did the load development on my Surgeon. I know the powder is Retumbo
3000fps got me out to 2000 meters at Gunsite 5 out of 10 on a fullsize frank
 
Re: New Rifle

Epic rifle. Having a wife that allows you to put something like that together is yet another reason to smile.
 
load testing

I went to the range yesterday and started the load testing. Josh at Copper Creek made up a load pack for me. The best group is below. 5 shots at 0.19" at 100 yards. Next I will test seating depths, but I could not be happier with the performance of this rifle. Everything about this surgeon is top notch. Thanks to Wade at Surgeon for taking time to answer my questions and talk me into this rifle!

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Re: load testing

Looks like you found the load. Just need to verify at distance. I would have him send more of the same load and test it out at further ranges. You probably wont have to mess with seating depths.
 
Re: load testing

I thought I would test at 200 yards and see if seating depth would make any difference on grouping. I don't think I would see any difference at 100 yards but might as distance increases. Am I wasting time with seating depth??
 
Re: load testing

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Timl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I thought I would test at 200 yards and see if seating depth would make any difference on grouping. I don't think I would see any difference at 100 yards but might as distance increases. Am I wasting time with seating depth?? </div></div>

With groups like that yes. You need to push it further than 200 though. Try to get out to at least 400. 600 would be better. I would have him load a few boxes of that load and really test it out as far as you can.
 
Re: load testing

Awesome rifle! Congrats.

You said the group pictured was the best of the day. What was the average of several groups? This will be more telling as to whether or not more testing is warranted.

My very best rifles shooting my best loads average in the .3s under good conditions. If you are doing better than that, I wouldn't waste barrel life on a lot more testing, especially with a barrel that shoots as well as that one.

By the way, don't sweat the "who wears the pants in the family" comments. I always get spousal approval before any major purchase (which has never been unduely denied) and it's part of the reason I'm still happily married after 29 years.

That being said, I too have my doubts about this being your last rifle, lol.
 
Re: load testing

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Timl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I went to the range yesterday and started the load testing. Josh at Copper Creek made up a load pack for me.</div></div>

Do you know what the initial powder weight and increments were on your load pack? How did the other 4 do in comparison assuming you purchased the standard stage 1?
 
Re: load testing

ss7
Josh did not give that info. I would assume they like to keep that for themselves as that would help repeat business. The best load was the 4th out of 5 loads. The first load was around 1.7 inches, the next was around 1", the 3rd was .66", the 4th was .19 and the 5th was .44".

Sorry I can't be more of a help.
 
Re: load testing

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Timl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The first load was around 1.7 inches, the next was around 1", the 3rd was .66", the 4th was .19 and the 5th was .44".</div></div>

Oh, wow! I bet that was exciting seeing those groups tighten up like that! That was a steady dramatic increase.

Good luck with continued success.
 
Re: load testing

With a rifle shooting groups like that, you need to focus on how much of that ammo you can make for it and dont worry about tweaking a thing.
 
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