Bolt action pistol opinion and caliber

[Major Wader]

Sorry if this has been posted before. I have had recent difficulty searching then going to the found thread.

I may be in love. Saw the Pork Sword bolt action pistol, and then read a bit about the .375 Raptor cartridge.

I would like to hear opinions about this platform and caliber. For me, it would be for hunting use only, always suppressed, and bought with the 12" barrel. Suppressor would be a Silencerco Hybrid 46, and I would use the 270 grain load currently available from Omega. Lots of my hunting in the Southeast is under 200 yards.

Any other thoughts on other platforms/calibers for a bolt action pistol?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Timgunner]

There is a cult following for these and other bolt action pistols. The xp-100 has been around for a long time and it is so ugly and awkward in its factory appearance that it scares most people off, however when built into a custom they are kinda cool. I recently acquired a Nosler independence bolt action pistol in 6.5 creedmoor and it shoots as good if not better than any 6.5 creedmoor rifle I’ve seen. Remington has a chassis pistol like the Pork Sword that comes in 223, 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor it doesn’t come with a brace but can have one added it runs just under $1k. I know guys who have built everything from 17remington to 338 Snipetac on a pistol so the sky is the limit.

 

[99106]

If your goal is a SBR then I'd personally build an SBR and stay away from the pork sword. If you want to dabble in the pistol realm for shortness, I'd suggest going and XP'ish type platform. There are plenty of examples / info over on Long Range Hunting about them or you could call Chris Rhodes and pick his brain at Bay Side Custom Gunworks. Another rabbit hole is go search for IHMSA 500 Meter matches and see what those guys are shooting. They need enough boom to knock over Rams at 500.

My initial thoughts are I wouldn't want to shoot a 308 based cartridge with a 270gr load out of a pistol chassis with an arm brace. So if you're "stuck" on that cartridge I'd suggest going SBR or maybe do a TC build but those come with their own issues as well. You could also do it in an XP but I don't think I'd want to.

If you want to go pistol, I would go with something that wasn't too punishing on the recoil. Depending on game I might suggest a 6 BR, 6.5 creed or 7mm-08. Suppressed, with a 12" you will be shooting with a heavy barrel, but I would be investigating those suppressors that supposedly vent like a brake. Never shot one, only seen them so not sure how effective that would be. I do know braked XPs are manageable and don't punish your hand as much as an unbraked ones. The other advantage to and XP is you can run a McCree Precision Chassis or you can go lighter with HS precision or MacMillan fiber glass. You can even find wood still with a little research.

As pointed out above before Rem went out there were making a new version of the XP, where a lot of the older ones were non repeaters, the most recent and the more recent before production ceased on that model years ago were repeaters. Diff being newer ones use a detachable mag, older are blind magazine. Reason I suggested Chris is because he takes virgin receivers and turns them into an XP like platform.

 

[buggz]

Wow, Nosler M48 looks like a winner, I now want one!

 

[buggz]

Anyone re-chassis the Rem 700CP to be more a true pistol like the Nosler?

 

[swampbuck]

To me these pistols are toys. Most everybody can shoot a rifle better and if you can then I believe that you should when hunting. Too me the point of a pistol is concealable or portable. These pistols don't offer either so I have to say that I don't really get them. But as a toy or to hunt with something different they are capable. Like I say I just don't get it but to each his own. Sorry to come across as a Scrooge. Maybe you can enlighten me?

 

[buggz]

Interesting, though it would seem the XP100 or Nosler forward grip style would be better for use?

Competition Stocks

Competition rifle stocks have one goal — create an easy path to the podium. Working with many top-tier competitors, MCS has designed several competition stocks to assist you in the many challenges you’ll face over the course of fire. Why risk valuable points on a stock that prevents you from...

mannersstocks.com

MCS-CP (COMPETITION PISTOL)​

The MCS-CP was designed in a joint venture with Vapor Trail Bullets to be a long-range hunting/competition pistol platform. The CP will accept any Remington-based 700 short or XP-100/Seven based action and barrels up to 1.25” straight.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Interesting, though it would seem the XP100 or Nosler forward grip style would be better for use?

Competition Stocks

Competition rifle stocks have one goal — create an easy path to the podium. Working with many top-tier competitors, MCS has designed several competition stocks to assist you in the many challenges you’ll face over the course of fire. Why risk valuable points on a stock that prevents you from...

mannersstocks.com

MCS-CP (COMPETITION PISTOL)​

The MCS-CP was designed in a joint venture with Vapor Trail Bullets to be a long-range hunting/competition pistol platform. The CP will accept any Remington-based 700 short or XP-100/Seven based action and barrels up to 1.25” straight.

For hunting purposes, the center grip pistols are best in my opinion.
They balance better over a pack or with a short Harris bipod attached.

The rear grip pistols/stocks you mentioned above are better suited for steel/target use.

 

[buggz]

Anyone know of a manufacturer of center style pistol grips for bolt actions?
Yes, I have been searching...

 

[Mike Casselton]

Anyone know of a manufacturer of center style pistol grips for bolt actions?
Yes, I have been searching...

H-S Precision in Rapid City, SD.

MacMillan, Phoenix AZ.

Herrett's were in Twin Falls, ID. Now closed.
Some of their beautiful work is available here and there. Someone sold two of their stocks here on the Hide last year.

Kimber, Rampro, H-S, Nosler and Remington all made center grip pistols at one time

 

[buggz]

@Mike Casselton
Thank you for this information!

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

Hunting in the southeast USA? If so, its a total waste for a 375 anything. A 7BR will pretty much take care of anything that walks south of the Mason Dixon excepting in zoos.

We have a close friend and IHMSA competitor who hunts with his XP-100 in 7BR and regularly kills whitetails out to 150 yards using his own custom cast bullets (he does it just because he can) Never any problem. Black Bears are not much bigger and hogs all fall to this caliber. Now I understand that there is some limited hunting of elk in Kentucky, but otherwise, the 7BR or a 15 inch barreled 7TCU should do the job.

Brenda and I own three full custom XP-100’s a couple of small bore Anschutz including one customized to center grip and have owned a Kimber Predator, a custom Savage Striker and two other XP-100’s including a factory 7BR. (With a custom stock). Another center grip Anschutz and a Savage Sport Striker, so Will knows Center grip single shot bolt action handguns.

I don’t hunt with my current XP’s as they are all optimized for IHMSA competition and each has a Dell Taylor Trigger, set between 2.5 and 3 ounces and none has a safety. When I handgun hunt I either use a Ruger SB Hunter in .44, 45 Colt or 41.

Below is a custom .221 Fireball with a fast twist barrel. Good for taking down rams at 200 meters.

 

[buggz]

I should receive a 6.5CM Nosler M48 Independence this Wed.

Thinking of getting the Area 419 Hellfire Match brake.

What is everyone else using?

I figure a tuner would probably not work so well on such a short barrel, 15"
Anyone try one?