Started this little project several months ago after several months of research. Not all smooth sailing along the way tho. The first difficulty arose in the simplest task of ordering a reamer. Turns out everyone is backlogged and custom reamers aren't that easy to get quickly with expected completion of a reamer being 12months or so I took a chance. Ordered a standard .375 Ruger reamer and set about custom grinding it to suit. Alterations made included a sharper shoulder to give a slightly longer neck and more case capacity. Minimal neck clearance and tightening up the body of the reamer. Not an easy job but the outcome was worth it.
The stock started life as a Savage/Stevens Choate Tactical Adjustable I picked up for a song. At the time the price was too good to not buy it but wasn't sure what I was gonna do with it. Eventually it got a home on this project. Extensive modifications to fit my Howa 1500 LA into it included modifying the inletting, fitting a trigger guard and rear pillar (front is full ally bedding block) moving the bolt handle clearance slot to suit, a new trigger guard, opening the barrel channel, milling out the adjustable cheek piece for bolt clearance as well as a few other bits and pieces. Don't have any pics of the stock work but heres the Cerakote application (well some of it).
Started off with cutting out some vinyl stencils.
First coat black and OD Green with stencils for second coat.
Second coat was a little more black to overlap the OD Green as well as some Bae Green to overlap the black.
Forgot to take a photo after that until it was finished. But the process was paint the whole stock Dark Earth. Then apply the larger stencils and finish up with a Desert Sand to get something like this.
All up there was about 5 hours work in Cerakoting that stock. Definitely labour intensive but a good result I think for my first camo job.
Here's What I've been waiting on for a few weeks, The bloody rings. Blasted up ready for matching Cerakote.
Waiting on the rings didn't stop me taking it for a shoot last weekend tho. Down to Belmont Range it went to start fireforming the brass and running in the barrel for a few hours and this thing is an absolute delight to shoot. Sighting down the rail and putting 250gr GK into the mound at 50 yards at 2600 ft/sec (mild load) punched some decent craters into it. Not so delightful for the punters on the benches next to me but you get that at a rifle range. Even gave a couple young chaps a shot so I could feel the muzzle blast spitting out the brake and WOW. Like a fricken freight train to the chest and they loved it.
Here's what I've ended up with. Howa 1500 LA Magnum Action, TSE 26.5" finished length custom fluted barrel. 338-375Ruger Improved chamber. Case capacity is 101gr h2O. So not quite a LM or and Edge but not that far behind either. Nightforce 20moa Rem LA rail, 8-40 mount screws, yes I've double the rings up again. Not like I'm trying to save weight with that truck axle barrel. Devcon bedded rail and stock, Custom trigger guard, Atlasworks bolt knob, Savage 10 Muzzle Brake modified to suit barrel thread and bullet size. Cerakoted Bushnell 4.5-30x50 6500 scope.
Everything Cerakoted up and looking ready for some LR critters and some steel just as soon as I get the time to knock out some load testing. Expecting to push some 225gr Hornady SST's at about 3050 or so if QL is on the money.
All that's left is for the new bipod to turn up. Get a Slap of Cerakote and some custom claw feet slapped on and its all done.
Just for comparison left to right.
204 Ruger (33gr h20), 308 win (56gr h20), 300 winmag (89gr H20), 338-375 Ruger(101gr H20), 375 Ruger(99gr H20).
I plan to run 225gr SST and VV N560 powder initially. Hopefully I get good results with 300 pills on the shelf and powder for 700 or so shots. I guess time will tell. Bring on Sunday I say.
PS. Apologies if you read this thinking is was a Lap Mag or Edge, but the Australian poly's don't think we're responsible enough to own them generally speaking.
The stock started life as a Savage/Stevens Choate Tactical Adjustable I picked up for a song. At the time the price was too good to not buy it but wasn't sure what I was gonna do with it. Eventually it got a home on this project. Extensive modifications to fit my Howa 1500 LA into it included modifying the inletting, fitting a trigger guard and rear pillar (front is full ally bedding block) moving the bolt handle clearance slot to suit, a new trigger guard, opening the barrel channel, milling out the adjustable cheek piece for bolt clearance as well as a few other bits and pieces. Don't have any pics of the stock work but heres the Cerakote application (well some of it).
Started off with cutting out some vinyl stencils.
First coat black and OD Green with stencils for second coat.
Second coat was a little more black to overlap the OD Green as well as some Bae Green to overlap the black.
Forgot to take a photo after that until it was finished. But the process was paint the whole stock Dark Earth. Then apply the larger stencils and finish up with a Desert Sand to get something like this.
All up there was about 5 hours work in Cerakoting that stock. Definitely labour intensive but a good result I think for my first camo job.
Here's What I've been waiting on for a few weeks, The bloody rings. Blasted up ready for matching Cerakote.
Waiting on the rings didn't stop me taking it for a shoot last weekend tho. Down to Belmont Range it went to start fireforming the brass and running in the barrel for a few hours and this thing is an absolute delight to shoot. Sighting down the rail and putting 250gr GK into the mound at 50 yards at 2600 ft/sec (mild load) punched some decent craters into it. Not so delightful for the punters on the benches next to me but you get that at a rifle range. Even gave a couple young chaps a shot so I could feel the muzzle blast spitting out the brake and WOW. Like a fricken freight train to the chest and they loved it.
Here's what I've ended up with. Howa 1500 LA Magnum Action, TSE 26.5" finished length custom fluted barrel. 338-375Ruger Improved chamber. Case capacity is 101gr h2O. So not quite a LM or and Edge but not that far behind either. Nightforce 20moa Rem LA rail, 8-40 mount screws, yes I've double the rings up again. Not like I'm trying to save weight with that truck axle barrel. Devcon bedded rail and stock, Custom trigger guard, Atlasworks bolt knob, Savage 10 Muzzle Brake modified to suit barrel thread and bullet size. Cerakoted Bushnell 4.5-30x50 6500 scope.
Everything Cerakoted up and looking ready for some LR critters and some steel just as soon as I get the time to knock out some load testing. Expecting to push some 225gr Hornady SST's at about 3050 or so if QL is on the money.
All that's left is for the new bipod to turn up. Get a Slap of Cerakote and some custom claw feet slapped on and its all done.
Just for comparison left to right.
204 Ruger (33gr h20), 308 win (56gr h20), 300 winmag (89gr H20), 338-375 Ruger(101gr H20), 375 Ruger(99gr H20).
I plan to run 225gr SST and VV N560 powder initially. Hopefully I get good results with 300 pills on the shelf and powder for 700 or so shots. I guess time will tell. Bring on Sunday I say.
PS. Apologies if you read this thinking is was a Lap Mag or Edge, but the Australian poly's don't think we're responsible enough to own them generally speaking.
