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New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

B

buckey

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 3, 2007
1,932
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52
Pittsburgh, Pa
#1
Considering building a new hunting rifle. Been playing around with different specs and came up with 2 possibilities. Let me know what you guys think - good or bad. Give me your likes/dislikes.

Thanks,

Jeff

Possible 1:

*300WSM
*Surgeon WSM action w/ tactical bolt knob
*Broughton/Bartlein barrel = 24" long, 1-11 twist, #4 contour
*Vais muzzle brake contoured to match barrel
*McMillan Rem Hunter stock = standard fill,Woodland camo, pillar/skim bedded
*Jewell HVR trigger tuned to 2.5#
*Badger lightweight bottom metal/triggerguard
*CeraKote all metal in black matte
*Badger 30 MM rings


Possible 2:

*300 Ultra Mag
*Borden Timberline mag action w/ tactical bolt knob, oversized recoil lug
*Broughton/Bartlein barrel = 25" long, 1-10 twist,#4 countour
*Vais muzzle brake contoured to match barrel
*Jewell HVR trigger tuned to 2.5#
*McMillan Rem Hunter stock = standard fill, 50% olive,25% tan,25% gray, pillar/skim bedded
*Badger lightweight bottom metal/triggerguard
*Cerakote all metal in matte sniper gray
*Badger 0 MOA base and Badger 30 MM rings

Scope will be a S&B 3-12X42 Klassik.

Gimme thoughts/suggestions.




 
#2
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

Buckey,

Either will work, and you obviously put some time and thought into your build considerations.

But since you want feedback, consider:

Option 1:
- Your action choice is a fine one.
- 22" Broughton/Bartlein barrel 1-11 twist #7.5 Contour Fluted, so a shorter stiffer barrel, fluted to keep the weight in #4 contour range.
- Drop the break as a WSM does not kick very hard IMHO, and your rifle weight is going to be in the 10 lbs range w/ the S&B scope
- I like Timney triggers set @ 3 lbs for a hunting stick, and I always thought Jewel triggers to be more range orientated.
- McMcmillan HTG stock, standard fill, Woodland, skim bedded.
- Bottom metal fine
- Cerakote Metal OD Green, just a personal thing, black is passe

Option 2

I don't see anything you'd be hunting in NA that is not well covered by Option 1. Option 2 more blast, more recoil, more of everything, and 100 yds or so better range. Get closer....

Bottom line your Option 1 will do fine.

Bob
 
#3
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

Use 1-10" twist no matter which 308 cal you build....1-9" if you want to go really heavy....like this guy's.

http://www.jonaadland.com/Hunting/A-Bolt/A-Bolt/A-Bolt.html

For most though the RUM is too much rifle, truthfully the 300WM is too much for most people...my 17lb 300WM is almost too much for me to shoot it correctly...lined up so that your shoulder takes all of the recoil where it is supposed to be. However if it is just a hunting rifle then go for it and only shoot 20 rounds a year, but I built up a 270WSM that is the Elk and anything walking in NA medicene.....HS Stock and Sendaro contour around 23" long, pretty good bullet selection and once this barrel is gone I will probably build it into a 7WSM, it is fairly heavy but heavy is steady when you just ran a hill or have a shitty rest.

If it is just a hunting rig then go for it but if you want to be able to get good with it make it so you can shoot 80 rounds in a sitting and then do just that.

If you are paying for a MCM might as well get a little more practical stock...almost said tactical but it is actually practical....look into the A1-3....good tactical benefits but still packable and hunting styled.

My .02
 
#5
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

I dont like the WSM cases much (just personal) so of your two options I'd go the RUM. Infact I would do the second option but in .300 Win Mag.

Great components in both Options !!!!! Oh I'd Opt for Manners MCT with 90% Carbon Fiber Upgrade over the McMillan.
 
#6
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

Oh forgot to add..........I have owned a couple of 3-12 Klassics and There GREAT scopes but on a rifle thats capable of some long range work I swapped them out for NXS 3.5-15 scopes just so that you have the ability for wind ups and hold overs a little easier than with the Klassic Line of SB's. Obviously if you opt for 3-12 PM11 that changes.
 
#7
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

It would help a lot to know what you intend to hunt and what ranges you want to shoot. But these are my thoughts.

I'd do option 1 but in a 300 win mag. With what you are building the 300 WSM isn't gaining you anything. It's still going to be a heavy hunting rifle, well over 10lbs. My .308 LTR is right at 10lbs with alloy rail/rings, and a leupold 3.5-10 M3. Only way I'd go to a 300 WSM is if weight was of primary concern to go to the short action over the long action. In a hunting rifle having factory ammo options is important, while the 300 WSM is pretty popular these days, if you get into more remote areas you are going to find much more ammo choices in 300 WM than the short mag.

I would go with the vias brake, but make sure they make you a thread protector for it. That way you have the option to use or take it off.

I'd also not go with a Jewel trigger for a hunting rig, I'd prefer to go with something more proven in less than clean conditions.
 
#8
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?


I have broken Jewel triggers at the range, and it wasn't even a dirty field environment. Do yourself a big favor and go with a stouter, less delicate, trigger instead.
 
#9
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

I would like to keep the weight in the 8-9# range if I could. Shots won't exceed 400 yds. Rifle will be used for anything from whitetails to elk.

I heard different sides of the Jewell trigger on a hunting rifle. Some guys such as yourself, are concerned about the tight tolerances and failure, while others say they have run them pretty hard on a hunting rifle with no problems.

I am not a Rifle Basix fan. I have a couople of older tuned Rem triggers and they work nicely. Any other suggestions on triggers??

 
#10
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

Buckey,

"<span style="font-style: italic">I would like to keep the weight in the 8-9# range if I could.</span>"

Keeping under 9 lbs is going to be a problem.

Action 2.2 lbs
Barrel 4.0 lbs
Stock 2.0 Lbs
Scope 1.3 lbs
Rings .4 lbs

That's 9.9 lbs before adding a sling and ammo, and the Vais break will add some more weight. All up it will be a nice hunting rig, but not a light weight.

As to your trigger question, try a Timney....

Bob
 
#11
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

For hunting, I'd prefer a .30-'06; one can pretty much always find some on a shelf somewhere, and they seldom fail to terminate the game effectively.

As for details and luxury considerations, I genuinely appreciate the look and feel of a fine instrmuent, but my tastes (and pocketbook) run toward more utilitarian themes.

I have a lighter-weight M70 .30-'06 that's very utilitarian, downing deer with 150gr Core-Lokts and placing in tactical matches with 168gr FGMM. Despite its diminitive weight (I'm not quite clear about the memory, but stripped weight seems to come back to me as around 6 1/2lb). A good aftermarket B&C straight-line very lightweight Realtree stock design helps keep recoil down to where a brake is not needed. The comb line rises rearward, dropping the boreline to essentially eliminate muzzle flip, and reducing any tendency toward recoil pressure along the cheekbone.

Greg
 
#13
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

here are my thoughts...

1) i would not run a surgeon action on a hunting rifle, i would run a good ole rem 700

2) skip all the badger hardware it isnt needed and cost you alot of $$$, i would run williams bdl or i think pt&g has some aluminum b/m. even an adl would work fine.

3) run talley lightweight bases and rings, they work, you dont need a rail and tactical rings for this application.


a couple of questions: Where do you hunt? what type of hunting are you doing? what are you wanting to kill? what is the realistic yardages you will be taking game? stand hunting? hiking, backpacking?

without knowing exactly what you are doing its hard to suggest the best plan

knowing what i know now, if i were to build another hunting rifle, i would build this:
Rem 700
Mcmillan edge classic stock
slim #3 barrel at 24in
talley lightweight with scope
chambered in 280 Ackley
I would run a 140g bullet, probably barnes and be good to go for anything here in north america, would not kick that bad not need a brake, it would hold 4 down, be handy but still accurate to 500yds, knowing that most of my shots would be 200yd or less, I will take my 15lb 7wsm if i needed to reach out there
 
#14
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

Or.....you could have George and the boys put together a Non-Typical for you. this one is a .308...very light , very accurate. Scope is a 10X42 PMII. Can still go "long" if you need to.

002-1.jpg
 
#15
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

PGS,

I totally forgot about the GAP Non-Typical rifle - it may be the way to go!! The only change I would make from the standard rifle, would be to use the McMillan Edge stock.

NonTypical = custom action, top notch barrel, etc.. all in a lightweight rig.

Thanks!!
 
#17
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

Now is the perfect time to get the build going for next hunting season. I and others have make the mistake of not having a really nice hunting rifle built in advance and by the time you get notified in most states of the draw for the season, especially if it's a hard to get hunt, it's too late to have something built and have enough time to set it up, test loads, and shoot it enough to be really comfortable with it.
 
#18
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

Why not just pick up a tikka t3 light in 30-06. Sure the stock isnt great but its functionable. Nice smooth action in a lightweight package.I picked up mine for under $600 and it shoots 1/2 moa using 178g hornady A-Max.

Just a thought.

Mac
 
#19
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

I have a GAP 300 WSM on a Rem 700. If you handload go 300wsm Its my go to hunting rifle i fell in love with it when i started hand loading. I bring this one everywhere and for everything. Its a little easier on the barrels then some of the other mag rounds
 
#20
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

I also have a GAP 300wsm, but it's in a Manners T-4, I don't reload for it and it bugholes Black Hills 180gr Accu-Bond. Also has NXS sitting on top. I too don't believe you need the Surgeon action unless you just want to spend the extra money. It certainly is a fine action but my trued Remington action works just fine in the weapon.

Really just depends on your budget!!!
 
#22
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

buckey,

i looked back and seeing how you have 2 bad ass patriots i would definatley go lightweight and build something like the non typical
 
#24
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

To keep your weight down I would go with a Surgeon RSR, Borden or the Stiller Predator/Tac30, fluted #4 finished at 24" in an Edge or the Manners with the carbon construction. I can go either way on a brake but do not like the Vais, with the holes all the way around they blow up to much crap in the field.

One of my favorite rigs is a Rem M7 in .308, #2 Pacnor tube at 23". I have it in a Wildcat composite stockwith the DNZ combo bases/rings. Im only running a 2x7 sightron on it but it is submoa to 400 in a very easy to carry package, about 7lbs loaded up and ready to go.
 
#25
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

Looking at the Surgeon RSR and Borden actions also. I like the McMillan EDGE stocks - this will be probably the way to go.

I definetly want a #4 contoured barrel. Muzzle brake is optional - 300 WSM isn't too bad.

I appreciate all the feedback - exactly what I wanted out of this post!!
 
#26
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

Skip the Vais brake. It discharges gas in a 360 degree pattern, which stirs up clouds of dust and leaves which will cover you in a cloud of dust and dirt.

Try Jared Joplin's - Patriot Arms or whatever it is called now - 4 port brake. It discharges the gases at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and is the most effective brake I've tried, other than the Armalite brake which is too big for a hunting rifle. For comparison I have also used the Vais, Badger, Ops-Inc. and AI. I replaced the AI brake on my 338LM with Jared's and it dramatically decreased the felt recoil compared to the AI brake.


300 WSM vs. RUM - The key question that only you can answer is, what will the RUM do for your hunting that the WSM would not?
 
#27
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

I had something similar built a while back by Randy @ R&D - a Stiller TAC30 action .300WSM, McMillan M40A1 Edge stock, Badger M4 alloy metal and a #5 contour fluted barrel - shoots great. I haven't missed having a break at all, especially given the relatively low round count per year through the gun.

I should have probably gone with a slightly lighter barrel contour, but for most of the hunting I do, 10lbs all up works fine.
 
#28
Re: New hunting rifle build - What do you guys think?

What's wrong with a light and handy rifle that is potentially capable to take most game to 700 yards and some game to 1000?

Nothing that I can think of.

300 WSM
M70 CRF
21.75" 1/10 Twist #3 plain or lightly Fluted Barrel 11deg No Break
McMillan Edge Stock
Factory Trigger
Talley l/w Mounts
7 1/2 - 8 1/2#

Why?

A Rem build saves a few ounces but CRF feeds smoother in the Short Mags.

It's heavy and it's overkill, but gotta like that S&B...I'll give you that one...nice scope.

Otherwise, build it light...

A quality barrel is accurate whether it is heavy or not, and anything by those makers should be well in front of a factory hammer forged tube out of the gate. The only advantage to a heavier barrel is shooting 10 round groups or multiple targets of opportunity...that's not too likely in the hunting scenario...any herds of 6 or less would be at great risk.

A 300 WSM Montana is about the same spec...It's lighter and likely would need bedding, but other than that it's available in a ready-to-go package that can be had for 1/3 of the cost of building it.

Considering that more important decisions will need to be made regarding bullet choice that will affect the outcome more than all of these details taken as a whole....for about the same performance... just find a clean '06 anything...save about 3k... throw it in the back of the truck and go hunting.

Most game won't ever know the difference...or care!

Beat em Bucs!

TC
 
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