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Hunting & Fishing Building MY perfect hunting rifle...

R

Ridgerunner665

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 22, 2008
365
0
northeast Tennessee
Well, maybe not "building"..."putting together" is probably a more accurate description.

It began as a Winchester (FN) model 70 Ultimate Shadow in 30-06...a pretty decent rifle right out of the box, but the stock leaves a lot to be desired.

2012-05-21_14-03-04_624-1.jpg


Out of the box accuracy...reloads, but not worked up for this rifle, just a load I picked (168 NBT, 58 grains H4350), shot using shooting sticks...prone may have been a tad better.

Untitled-9.jpg


I have a McMillan stock ordered...its their "Winchester Supergrade" model. The color is marbled with olive, black, and tan (33%-33%-33%)...that color reminds me of a ghillie suit, its not really pretty but I thought it may be functional. It will have the machined in pillars and a Limbsaver pad.

I also have a Vortex Viper HS 4-16x44mm scope on the way, with the V-Plex reticle. It will be mounted in TPS super low rings...if they fit, I think they will work though.

I set out to build me a decent medium range (600 yards) hunting rifle...I didn't expect to end up with almost $2,000 in it though...damn, guns have gotten to be an expensive habit! With a little luck though...I'll be hunting with this rifle for the rest of my days (because my wife is gonna kill me if I buy any more guns, LOL)
 
Re: Building MY perfect hunting rifle...

Yep! Doing the same thing as you. I cannot decide on what stock to get though. I am going with either McMillan or Manners. I would love to see a picture of the stock once you get it. I have also been interested in that same color combo. I think I will also cerakote my rifle.

Phil
 
Re: Building MY perfect hunting rifle...

Almost forgot to update this...

I have my scope mounted now (Vortex Viper HS 4-16x44mm), I put it in TPS super low rings on Warne 2 piece bases and it fit PERFECT with about 3/16" under the objective.. I've only shot it 7 times since putting the scope on it, its been too damn hot, but its looking great so far.

I did take the scope with me one evening to check out the deer where I hunt...mostly wanted to see what that thin reticle (V-Plex) was like as the light faded...I think I'm gonna like that reticle just fine, by the time I couldn't see the reticle it was well after legal shooting hours anyway. The fact that the sun is at my back in the evening probably helps...but its gonna work fine I think.

Still waiting on the McMillan stock though...come on October!
 
Re: Building MY perfect hunting rifle...

Berger 175 grain Hunting VLD's, 58.5 grains of H4350, 3.36" COAL...2,775 fps
photobucket-3154-1349794648260.jpg




168 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, 58 grains of H4350, 3.34" COAL...2,850 fps
photobucket-8378-1349796767708.jpg



Still waiting on the McMillan...should be here soon!
 
Re: Building MY perfect hunting rifle...

Got the call from McMillan today...my stock is on its way, should be at my house Thursday...but i won't be there until Nov. 15th
 
Re: Building MY perfect hunting rifle...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fire-4-effect</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yep! Doing the same thing as you. I cannot decide on what stock to get though. I am going with either McMillan or Manners. I would love to see a picture of the stock once you get it. I have also been interested in that same color combo. I think I will also cerakote my rifle.

Phil </div></div>

The pics showing the whole stock don't show the colors very good, and the checkering makes it look sorta faded in the pics (forearm and pistol grip)...the close ups show the colors a bit better.

IMG_1435.jpg

IMG_1434.jpg

IMG_14381.jpg
 
Re: Building MY perfect hunting rifle...

Everyone has to start some time. Looks good.

I did a lot of of the same to a Left Handed Tikka T3 Stainless in 308.

Added larger bolt handle, metal bolt shroud, had the action Cera Coated and I painted the stock. It only required minimal bedding and I had a gunsmith cut and thread the barrel. Can't get a lightweight replacement stock so had to stay with the factory one.

It was my first project like this and turned out pretty well. It's my primary light truck and walking around rifle.

It shot well before I started and shoots probably a little better now.. Or at least I like to think it does.
Good luck with your project! It's a lot of fun customizing your own rifle.

P8290132.JPG
 
Re: Building MY perfect hunting rifle...

helluva fine looking stick. Hope she shoots as good as she looks.

Now all ya need is one of timberbutte outdoors backpack slings to keep that thing in the middle of your back while you're humping around them mountain sides. Too nice of a stick to have it slip off your shoulder and whack something.

Cheers,
Breeze
 
Re: Building MY perfect hunting rifle...

It shoots great...so far, since bedding, it has shot everything I've fed it sub-MOA, even cheap factory ammo.

It doesn't even care about bullet weight...150, 165, 168, 180 grains...every load hits the target 2.75 inches high and dead center at 100 yards (sighted in for 250).

I'm not sure how that works exactly...but I had a Rem 700 BDL in 25-06 a few years back that was the same way...didn't matter if the bullet was 87 grains or 120 grains...at 100 yards they hit the target the same.
 
It took me a while....but I finally got the load sorted out for this rifle.

Lapua brass
CCI BR2 primer
Nosler 168 grain Ballistic Tip
57.5 grains of H4350
2,850 fps

Bullet seated .005" off the lands

One hole groups at 100 yards, ragged hole at 200, and so on....600 yard head shots on those targets shaped like an upper torso and head are getting pretty boring.

The Lapua brass and Redding National Match dies made a big difference!

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Did you keep the factory barrel? Curious what contour you would estimate? I'm looking at getting a supergrade stock as well.
 
The factory barrel is still on there...it shoots far too good to waste...I had originally planned on making it a 280AI, but after seeing what the factory barrel was doing...I changed my mind, I'm not about to throw away a sub-moa barrel just to replace it with a name that probably won't do much, if any, better...seriously, it is a very good shooting barrel.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
 
Don't shoot the donor!....I have done the same thing, plan on rebarreling something and find out I don't need to.

I have several large caliber hunting rifles but find I grab my 30-06 and 280 more often than the 300wsm and 338wm. I keep thinking I want to rebarrel one of my 30-06s to 280 AI but haven't figured out which one needs a new barrel yet.
 
I'm too far invested in 30-06 to change now...Lapua brass, Redding National Match dies, a few thousand bullets...the 280AI will probably never happen, and that's OK...the old 06 will do nicely.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
 
I don't blame you....I have 5 30-06s for a reason. 125gr-250gr they seem to do it all and they make excellent cast bullet rifles.
 
Ridgerunner665,

First, I gotta say, that is a really nice rifle. It took me a bit to figure out it was a 30-06. I thought it might have been a .280.

So, have you taken this to the range and fired long strings like you would in a match? For cold shooting I've come across some pretty phenomenal barrels on 'off the shelf' rifles. Most of them though start drifting when you shoot in or practice for a match, i.e. long strings.

I also like the Win 70 actions, post and pre style, over the Rem 700's.
 
sandwarrior said:
Ridgerunner665,

First, I gotta say, that is a really nice rifle. It took me a bit to figure out it was a 30-06. I thought it might have been a .280.

So, have you taken this to the range and fired long strings like you would in a match? For cold shooting I've come across some pretty phenomenal barrels on 'off the shelf' rifles. Most of them though start drifting when you shoot in or practice for a match, i.e. long strings.

I also like the Win 70 actions, post and pre style, over the Rem 700's.
Click to expand...

I don't compete in matches...I'm just a hunter...I have never fired more than 5 rounds in a string with this rifle...and probably never will.

I understand where you're coming from...but for a hunter...long strings don't matter.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
 
I take that back...I did fire 10 rounds in a string once...after I bedded it...I did that to see if the bedding under the chamber caused any vertical stringing as the barrel warmed up...it didn't.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
 
Good looking rig, and good job on the bedding,all that matters is does it shoot and it apparently does. congrats
 
A little update...

I changed scopes, or rather I'm in the process of doing so...I've sold the Viper HS and the TPS rings and have a Zeiss HD5 3-15x42 on order to replace it....I'm gonna mount the Zeiss in Talley lightweights...lows if it will fit, mediums if I have to.
 
Sounds like a great combo. Which reticle are you going with? Does the HD5 also come with duplex/external adjust turrets?

Are you handloading? I have a M70 in 7x57 and it is very finicky. I did find a few Nosler BT and ABLR loads that will print very decent, but it took me a while to finally get there (clover leafs). The good thing is with Hornady Superformance GMX, it will print right at 1 moa, so good to have a factory load option.
 
roggom said:
Sounds like a great combo. Which reticle are you going with? Does the HD5 also come with duplex/external adjust turrets?

Are you handloading? I have a M70 in 7x57 and it is very finicky. I did find a few Nosler BT and ABLR loads that will print very decent, but it took me a while to finally get there (clover leafs). The good thing is with Hornady Superformance GMX, it will print right at 1 moa, so good to have a factory load option.
Click to expand...

I got the Z600 reticle....you can get them with open turrets, but mine are capped.

Yes...I reload my ammo.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
 
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