7mm Berger 180gr VLD's...Build Ideas???

[strombeckj]

Ok... I want a light weight mountain rig to shoot the 180gr VLD 7mm Bergers from. Price and barrel life are not factors. What stocks, what optics, barrel length, twist, contour would you break it, action, and of course caliber for the 7mm Berger. 800 max elk rig with some sheep and deer sized game mixed in.

Please no mention of a Savage. I would use a trued Rem 700 or Model 70 action or one of the custom hunting actions (I have used BR actions in hunting situations with poor results)

You might just see some of your Ideas in a new rifle 12+ months from now.

Thanks for the input.

Jon

 

[DZelenka]

Ok... I want a light weight mountain rig to shoot the 180gr VLD 7mm Bergers from. Price and barrel life are not factors. What stocks, what optics, barrel length, twist, contour would you break it, action, and of course caliber for the 7mm Berger. 800 max elk rig with some sheep and deer sized game mixed in.

Please no mention of a Savage. I would use a trued Rem 700 or Model 70 action or one of the custom hunting actions (I have used BR actions in hunting situations with poor results)

You might just see some of your Ideas in a new rifle 12+ months from now.

Thanks for the input.

Jon

I am having (waiting to be bedded) a hunting rifle in 7 Saum built. It is on a trued Rem LA, 26" Kreiger #5, McMillan Rem Classic stock, BDL bottom metal, Seekins rings and mount and a Leupold Custom 6.5 - 20 x 50 LRT. It looks like it will come in at 9.75 lbs. You could save 1/2 lb with a #4 barrel and another 1/2 with a 40 mm objective scope. It will give you the horsepower you are looking for in an under 9 lb rifle. I built an identical spec rifle in .300 Jarrett with a 3.5-10x40 Leupold that weighs 8.75 lbs. You could play with other stocks and save a bit more weight. You may even get it under 8.5 lbs. Just my thoughts.

 

[rscott5028]

I'm not a fan of light weight, long range rifles. But, some people report good results.

A factory generation 1 Sendero 7mm Rem Mag with a 1:9.25 twist will do everything you want.

Whatever you do, get the best optics and electronics you can afford. A good NF scope on a factory Sendero will likely be better than a custom rifle with a mediocre scope.

I like the Leica 1200 CRF. But, there are some more current choices worth consideration.

Good software on a PDA with a manual backup plan will be essential.

If you have all of that covered, then anything you can do to improve will be gravy.

You should start with a trustworthy smith. There are several in these forums that I wouldn't hesitate to use.

Finding the right barrel without a 6-9 mo wait can be a challenge. I like Kreiger and Bartlein with a 1:9" twist. My recommendation would be for nothing less than a light Palma contour. But, that'll blow your weight budget.

Also, the more overbore your cartridge choice, the longer the barrel needs to be to take advantage. Hence, more weight.

A Stiller TAC300, Lawton, or similar action won't cost you much more by the time you pay for a Rem 700 to be blueprinted.

You might want to consider 7STW for a little more punch at the expense of barrel life and longer/heavier barrel.

I would definitely go with a brake so that you'll enjoy practicing. Holland QD, Muscle brake, and Painkiller are my top picks although, I've only used the QD. You can have your smith make a thread protector if you want to shoot sometimes without the brake.

Consider EGW HD or Nightforce 20MOA picatinny rail with Burris extreme tactical rings.

I like Timney triggers. I have not tried Jewell, but they are highly acclaimed.

I like Manners and HS stocks. They are solid but heavy. I beleive the XLR chassis (XLR Industries | evolution) might be lighter weight with a few nice features.

I have a featherweight stock for Win M70 LA that's very solid that I would part with. I know it's top quality, McMillan, B&C, etc. I just don't know which for sure since it came on a custom rifle that I've since rebarreld with a Kreiger palma contour.

Hogue is another option for a good stock that's not too heavy. I have one with the full length bedding block on my Mauser 98 and really like it. These are much improved over the Hogue stocks that Rem sticks on factory rifles.

Hope this helps. Let us know what you end up with.

Good luck,
-- richard

 

[pyroducksx3]

The gun smith I talk to says he has a 7 rem mag remer that gets 3000+fps with the 180 bergers this or a 7 stw would be good options on a trued up 700 if you already have the action. If you dont have a donor action from what I hear from most smiths is just go custom as its really not much more expensive and much better. If you're not afraid of wildcat options a few people have been playing with the 7x300 win mag which would probably be my first choice if I were to be using the 7mm bullets a 7x300 wby is interesting also. Personally I'm am looking into a 300 RUM with the 230 bergers as my choice for the same thing you are doing. For stocks I would look at the manners as the hs are fairly heavy

 

[rscott5028]

The gun smith I talk to says he has a 7 rem mag remer that gets 3000+fps with the 180 bergers this or a 7 stw would be good options on a trued up 700 if you already have the action. If you dont have a donor action from what I hear from most smiths is just go custom as its really not much more expensive and much better. If you're not afraid of wildcat options a few people have been playing with the 7x300 win mag which would probably be my first choice if I were to be using the 7mm bullets a 7x300 wby is interesting also. Personally I'm am looking into a 300 RUM with the 230 bergers as my choice for the same thing you are doing. For stocks I would look at the manners as the hs are fairly heavy

..all good points.

But, I have a Manners T4a stock and it weighs more than most rifles. If you run out of ammo, you can still club 'em to death and then hose it down.

 

[TikkaShooters]

For a light weight mountain gun I would say 284 winchester. No brake needed. Use a long action and the 180 vlds will fit like a dream.

Any standard long action caliber will limit your use of a mag to either jumping long distances to the lands or loading single shot.

7 saum is another good short round that shines with vlds in a long action.

 

[rscott5028]

For a light weight mountain gun I would say 284 winchester. No brake needed. Use a long action and the 180 vlds will fit like a dream.

Any standard long action caliber will limit your use of a mag to either jumping long distances to the lands or loading single shot.

7 saum is another good short round that shines with vlds in a long action.

While it's a great cartridge for the reasons you stated, I suspect that the 284 Win may not have enough juice to benefit from the 180 Bergers.

The same may also apply to the 7saum.

-- richard

 

[DZelenka]

While it's a great cartridge for the reasons you stated, I suspect that the 284 Win may not have enough juice to benefit from the 180 Bergers.

The same may also apply to the 7saum.

-- richard

I don't think that is a problem, at least not with the 7 saum. With that the 180 is still doing about 1900 fps at 800 yards.

 

[TikkaShooters]

There are some very impressive results with both cartridges being seen in long range competition.

Check out the 7mm page at 6mmbr.com

 

[strombeckj]

I am having (waiting to be bedded) a hunting rifle in 7 Saum built. It is on a trued Rem LA, 26" Kreiger #5, McMillan Rem Classic stock, BDL bottom metal, Seekins rings and mount and a Leupold Custom 6.5 - 20 x 50 LRT. It looks like it will come in at 9.75 lbs. You could save 1/2 lb with a #4 barrel and another 1/2 with a 40 mm objective scope. It will give you the horsepower you are looking for in an under 9 lb rifle. I built an identical spec rifle in .300 Jarrett with a 3.5-10x40 Leupold that weighs 8.75 lbs. You could play with other stocks and save a bit more weight. You may even get it under 8.5 lbs. Just my thoughts.

9lbs is a bit much. I am thinking 7-8lbs max. My smith has given me some ideas on components but just like everyone he has his own opinions on what he likes and I am trying to stay away from some of my normal builds. Hence the reason for asking the opinions of those here on LRH.

Thanks for the input. I have thought about the 7mm SAUM and the 168's. I like that combo of power and bullet weight.

Jon

 

[DZelenka]

9lbs is a bit much. I am thinking 7-8lbs max. My smith has given me some ideas on components but just like everyone he has his own opinions on what he likes and I am trying to stay away from some of my normal builds. Hence the reason for asking the opinions of those here on LRH.

Thanks for the input. I have thought about the 7mm SAUM and the 168's. I like that combo of power and bullet weight.

Jon

Well, if you are serious about it, you can cut out 10 ounces with the McMillan HUNTERS EDGE ULTRALIGHT stock and another 8 ounces going to a #3 barrel. That should put you in the 7.75 lbs range. Look for a light weight scope mount and rings. If you are going to be shooting elk capable loads, I would also recommend a muzzle brake.

 

[rscott5028]

There are some very impressive results with both cartridges being seen in long range competition.

Check out the 7mm page at 6mmbr.com

I guess that answered my question about velocity.

But, recoil is subjective and he is talking about a light weight rig. So, I still think a brake is worth considering even if he goes with the 284 Win.

-- richard

 

[midnightmalloy]

Get the new mcmillan A3 sporter with the edge package (mine weights 30 oz) a stiller, pierce or even a titanium action and then spring for a 27" carbon wrapped barrel. Shoot a 7saum, 7wsm or a 7-375 ruger. Should do everything your asking for. Or I see gunwerks has a LR-800 that has most of these features and then that will take the bs out of all of the ordering and waiting.

 

[midnightmalloy]

Get the new mcmillan A3 sporter with the edge package (mine weights 30 oz) a stiller, pierce or even a titanium action and then spring for a 27" carbon wrapped barrel. Shoot a 7saum, 7wsm or a 7-375 ruger. Should do everything your asking for. Or I see gunwerks has a LR-800 that has most of these features and then that will take the bs out of all of the ordering and waiting.

Just checked gunwerks site and its called there LR-CARBON. with a titanium action and muzzle break it costs (with nightforce scope and the whole shabang) $8550

You said price wasn't an issue!