Breakdown of my DREAM rifle (what is yours?)

[Terry Lightle]

One laying beside a dead animal

 

[OregonHunter2]

My dream rifle:

Weighs 5lbs scoped and suppressed
18" barrel
Smoothest action that feeds like running a bolt when it is unloaded
Trigger @ 6oz
Stock that fits like a glove, and is fully adjustable for anyone
Glass clearer than the Hubble, mag range from 2-30x, bright as the sun
Shoots a 160-230gr bullet @ 3000fps+
Recoils like a braked .223
Swings like a fine O/U upland gun
Accurate enough to win KO2M on a cold bore shot or a 1000yd BR tourney
Consumes powder like a 17 Rem Fireball
Brass available from Lapua and cheap
Barrel life about 15k rounds

Don't forget that it would make huge bucks just jump in the back of your truck lol

 

[Lee Deming]

I had a Whitworth express in 375 H&H. It was an excellent rifle. It would shoot 1moa and recoil was mild compared to others I have owned. Those rifles should not be confused with the ones made by Interarms. They were assembled in England by hand and used FN patented actions. A custom one would be in my opinion second to none. The Interarms rifles sell for around $500, a Whitworth Mauser $1500. One with a custom AAA grade stock and barrel $2500 and up and I can guarantee it will shot sub MOA. Nice rifle!!!

Had a rookie gunsmith reduce the trigger pull on that .375 to 3.5 pounds. Still a little tight but it shoots very well after all these years. While he looked rifle over he admired the beautiful hand checkering. Then said that it was like putting VW engine in a Maserati, or something like that. I've taken his word for it ever since. Thanks for the info.

 

[memtb]

Nice package.....I hope that it works well for you! May the two of you share many happy moments! memtb

 

[ARlife4me]

That would be a long range weapon! Don't forget your Spartan bipod or tripod to support it

I'm currently building a savage110lam with a mcgowen 32" 264wm 7.5twist savage magnum contour and a carbon6 30" 9twist 300wm on a savage 110 action. Long barrels too get those heavy bullets sped up. Hoping too get 33cal 300gr bullets going 3k making muzzle energy about 6k. 1 day I'll shoot a hog or a prairie dog with the 338lm. For now maybe just shoot them with a 45-70.

 

[7magcreedmoor]

My dream rifle is always the one I just finished building.
So: This week I put one of my tried and true PacNor 280Ackley barrels on a new Origin from Bighorn, TriggerTech, in a new magnesium/carbon fiber chassis from MDT. PST Gen2 3-15x on top, MDT brake.

 

[sierracharlie338]

That would be a hammer! What's your experience been on game with Bergers?

Great taking heart or lung shots. Bone in the shoulder can be hit or miss.

 

[LongBomber]

I built a 260ai a couple years back, covers most of my hunting needs. Gen 1 rem ti action, 24" frozenfiber (benchmark liner) carbon wrapped barrel, Manners eh1, TT diamond trigger. Bld bottom metal with a 3" wyatt mag box. Nightforce direct mount and a vx6hd 3-18x50. Fairly light, balances just right and shoots very well, everything I need in a hunting rifle.

But the next one will be something with a really amazing hunk of walnut. Carbon and synthetics are great for a working rifle, but I want to build a wall hanger. Maybe a case hardened action. Still working on the specs for it.

 

[Sako28]

After building all those rifles, what are a couple takeaways you've learned? What would you do different next time?

I think my main mistakes were building them too heavy. I would go all EDGE stocks and one size smaller barrel contour. Maybe do a couple more Proof barrels.

 

[skipglo]

Dream rifle....I have 58 of them...fine line between dreams and Nightmares! The dream...wow...that's awesome....the nightmare...paying for it! And then DREAMING again....vicious circle...or maybe it's just me..
Confusing dreams and obsessions!

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

I think I'm on the 3rd iteration of the same gun:

Caliber: 338 Norma mag
Stock: gunwerks magnus
Action: kelby nanook or terminus kratos-light round bolt knob
Barrel: carbon wrap Bartline 20 in 9 twist
Bottom metal: Hawkins M5 BDL
Quality rings
Tanget Theata 3-15 tactical hunter TT315
Trigger: trigger tech
Suppressor : slincerCo 36M

My barrel tends to get shorter and my glass gets more expensive

 

[lancetkenyon]

To be serious, I am getting closer to my dream rifle with every build. I have found things I like, and things I wish were different. I have also been blessed enough to shoot many other rifles. Some have swayed my own decisions on personal builds, while others have confirmed a route I do not want to go.

For me, I am not quite there, but I know new items are coming out, and I anxiously await getting my hands on some.

My "dream rifle" may be very close at hand. But, I have a couple different "dreams". Shooting and hunting. No one rifle could fill both paths. So slight compromises must be made.

My dream "Shooting" rifle, I have several that are very close. But all have slight compromises.
Kelbly Prometheus SA
24-26" Bartlein M24 CF
TBAC Ultra 7 Gen 2 6.5mm
Manners MCS-PRS2 w. Gen 2 mini chassis in Tac Americana
Bix N Andy Tac Sport Pro
ARC M10 rings
Tangent Theta TT525P 5-25×56 w. Gen 3XR or ZCO 5-27×56 MPCT3
Chambered in something like 6x47L/6 Dasher, 25x47L/25CM, 6.5SLR/.260AI

My dream "Hunting" rifle, I have a few that are right on the verge:
Kelbly Nanook (if it is close to as smooth as the Atlas) or Defiance AnTi X SA mag bolt
22-26" Bartlein #13 CF or Proof Sendero CF
TBAC Dominus
Manners MCS-LRH in Tac Swamp or High Plains
Hawkins Hunter DBM
Bix N Andy Tac Sport Pro or TriggerTech Diamond
ARC M10 rings
Tangent Theta TT315M 3-15×50 or S&B PMII 5-20×50US
Chambered in 25SST, 6.5SS or 7SS (depending on game to be pursued with it)

 

[Lee Deming]

This was a fun thread. Thanks.

 

[del2les]

What made some nightmares? What would you do differently next time?

A different gunsmith, which I did. Lessons learned as a younger man.