Critique My First Build (Pic Heavy)

[Yaaker]

Hey guys. I just finished my build as of this morning when the FedEx delivery showed up with my optic and I mounted it up. I have been shooting in the ranges of 0-500 for the last 5 years or so through hunting, but I was finally bit by the long range (and tacticool) bug, and this build is what I ended with. I can't wait to start shooting in the 600-1100 yard range. I went with the .308 since I don't plan to reload any time in the near future (being a college student has some financial limitations), but I hear these guns like 168 and 175 FGMM, so i'll start there. Let me know what you think of it, and whether you might have done something differently (or the same). I had a high end AR build that I sold/traded/parted out to fund this project, and I couldn't be happier. Also, if any of you are local-ish to me (Bozeman, MT) and know of a place I can take this out to stretch its legs, please let me know, as well if you know of any LR matches in the area this summer. I hope to get enough trigger time in to be a good competitor at the 2015 SH Cup!

Without further adieu, here she is.

Remington 700 AAC-SD
McMillan A3-5
Vortex Viper PST 6-24x FFP Mil/Mil
Surgeon DBM
Timney Flat Trigger
Nightforce Rings (Matched w/base)
Nightforce 20MOA
Seekins Precision ATC
Vortex Bubble Level
Badger ACI
KRG Bolt Lift
Kryptec Hydrodip
Harris 6-9" Bipod
DIY Sling w/Troy QD's (Para-Mountain Survival Gear)
DIY Bipod Pull (Para-Mountain Survival Gear)
I also have a Pelican 1700, 2 AI 5rnd mags in the same kryptec, a nice DIY rear bag (not a sock!), and a data book is in the works.

In the future I plan to have it blueprinted, have the lugs lapped, and have the bolt fluted.

 

[VJJPunisher]

strap on

 

[jakelly]

Pat Sinclair has an icebreaker shoot in the "spring" in Glasgow, MT. Should be about a 70 dollar flight from Bozeman.

 

[DRAGON64]

Why are there no full images of the rifle?

 

[alphadogg56]

What he said ^

 

[thrusty]

Glamour shots...gotta love 'em.
It's hard for us to critique the touched-up porn...we need the "girl next door" photos.
I do thoroughly enjoy the photo of the sun shade tube though. lol

 

[Vargmat]

Whats not to like?
Other than that I would mount the scope rings so that the cross bolt nut is on the left hand side of the rifle.
I mount them that way to keep the area around the ejection port less cluttered.

 

[Yaaker]

Whats not to like?
Other than that I would mount the scope rings so that the cross bolt nut is on the left hand side of the rifle.
I mount them that way to keep the area around the ejection port less cluttered.

Aha! I didn't think of that. Well, like I said i finished it yesterday, so she hasn't seen a round, been zero'ed, or even boresighted yet, so maybe i'll switch that around before doing any of the above. Thanks for the suggestion!

To everyone else, these photos aren't touched up at all. Haha. I hate taking overall weapon shots because they just don't look as good. I figured between what photos I posted and a complete build list, that would be enough for you to go off of.

 

[Yaaker]

Nonetheless, here are some crappy cell phone pics for your guys' enjoyment.

 

[Carl_Ross]

Do you have a Logan card? I go other places to stretch things out, but do most of my week in/week out shooting there...

 

[thrusty]

Much better.
+1 - turn your rings around and put the bolts on the left side.
Other than that, you're gonna enjoy what you have.

You'll have to let me know how it shoots. My AAC-SD likes the 168gr flavor of projectiles. Didn't care at all for the heavy or lighter bullets. Loves 168FGMM!

 

[29aholic]

Pretty easy to lap the bolt lugs yourself. Get some valve lapping compound from the auto parts store (usually comes with a tube of course and a tube of fine). Start with the course on the lug that is making contact and work the bolt handle up and down (try not to open the bolt all the way) for 20-25 cycles. I found it's less strain to set the butt on an object with the barrel up and put downward pressure on the bolt handle while working it. Repeat until you start to see rubbing on the off side lug. I finish up with a dab of course on both lugs for about 10-15 cycles then switch to fine on both lugs for one final set of 20-25 cycles.

BTW what brand of brake is that?

 

[Cascade_Sherpa]

What brand muzzle brake is that? Seekins?

 

[thrusty]

Seekins ATC (he listed it above)
Muzzle Brakes - Parts & Accessories

 

[siscoe308]

Great looking rifle, I love Kryptec coat

 

[29aholic]

Guess you have to know what a Seekins ATC is to know it's a break.

 

[Yaaker]

Thanks for the kind words thus far everyone. I can't wait to get out with it.

Carl_Ross, I shoot at Logan every now and then, but with this rifle, the 400 yard gong isn't going to be difficult. Hell, I hit the 400 yard gong with my Zastava M92!

29aholic, thanks a ton for that info regarding lapping lugs. I am not very gunsmith savvy beyond breaking down guns, cleaning, etc, so lapping the lugs seemed like something that might be out of my comfort zone. You have me thinking otherwise now.

Yes it's a Seekins Precision ATC. I had one on my AR but it overgassed the gun like nobody's business so I switched that over to a Maximum Ordinate Precision MK1 and it works wonders. I don't see overgassing being an issue on a bolt gun though but I may still switch it over to the MK1 since I like it so much.

 

[fx77]

Nice paint..where are the group shots?

 

[29aholic]

Thanks for the kind words thus far everyone. I can't wait to get out with it.

Carl_Ross, I shoot at Logan every now and then, but with this rifle, the 400 yard gong isn't going to be difficult. Hell, I hit the 400 yard gong with my Zastava M92!

29aholic, thanks a ton for that info regarding lapping lugs. I am not very gunsmith savvy beyond breaking down guns, cleaning, etc, so lapping the lugs seemed like something that might be out of my comfort zone. You have me thinking otherwise now.

Yes it's a Seekins Precision ATC. I had one on my AR but it overgassed the gun like nobody's business so I switched that over to a Maximum Ordinate Precision MK1 and it works wonders. I don't see overgassing being an issue on a bolt gun though but I may still switch it over to the MK1 since I like it so much.

Yeah it's not that hard, just takes patience. Take what I said about the position of the rifle when doing it to heed. First one I did I just had the rifle on the table resting on the pod and worked the bolt like I was operating it to shoot it. That got old real fast and cramped my hand like a bitch. Butt down takes less effort with little strain.

 

[NWnewguy]

Rifle looks great. I would submit though that if money is tight, you can't afford not to reload. I started out with an inexpensive Lee kit, and honestly, even though I have spent a bunch more money on equipment since then, I don't reload drastically better ammo. You can certainly reload more rounds and more accurate ammo for considerably less money than factory stuff. If it's not something you enjoy doing though, then I can understand.

 

[Yaaker]

Rifle looks great. I would submit though that if money is tight, you can't afford not to reload. I started out with an inexpensive Lee kit, and honestly, even though I have spent a bunch more money on equipment since then, I don't reload drastically better ammo. You can certainly reload more rounds and more accurate ammo for considerably less money than factory stuff. If it's not something you enjoy doing though, then I can understand.

That's very true. A lot more up front cost but it definitely pays for itself in the long run. For me, aside from the cost, time and space is also an issue. I'm currently in a 1bd apartment with the lady and our dog. Also, being a full time student in Mech Engineering doesn't leave me with as much free time as i'd hope. I have some free time - enough to shoot! But not enough to reload AND shoot quite yet. One day hopefully soon though!

 

[Vargmat]

Aha! I didn't think of that. Well, like I said i finished it yesterday, so she hasn't seen a round, been zero'ed, or even boresighted yet, so maybe i'll switch that around before doing any of the above. Thanks for the suggestion!

To everyone else, these photos aren't touched up at all. Haha. I hate taking overall weapon shots because they just don't look as good. I figured between what photos I posted and a complete build list, that would be enough for you to go off of.

Im not saying that it is absolutely necessary, but it does look a lot nicer.
Its all in the details, you know.

It is a very nice setup you have got going.

 

[Yaaker]

Thanks Vargmat, and to everyone else for the kind words. I was honestly expecting to have quite a few negative comments, but I have been pleasantly surprised!