olympicmotors
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2013
- Messages
- 42
Another vote here for hill country rifles. I an very pleased with my 300 win mag harvester.
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Long Range Elk Gun
- Thread starter treillw
- Start date
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You already have this and it won't cost you a dime. True accuracy lies between the ears. Feed knowledge first. Money can't replace this.
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
Three places I personally would look for a custom:
GAP
Long Rifles Inc.
Phoenix Custom Rifles
I would avoid Christiansen Arms. I have seen some shoot, and I was not impressed.
I have two PCR rifles I have had built. A 25-06 Ackley Imp. 40° & a 6.5 Super LR. They are almost done with my third, expecting a call this Friday to go pick it up. A .300RUM throated to push the 215-230 Hybrids.
My .25-06AI will shoot under .250" @ 100, and well under MOA out past 1K.
My 6.5 SLR will shoot under .400" @ 200, and my best group ever at 1371 was 6.27".
My 13 year old daughter shot these this weekend in rain and wind, prepping for her deer hunt in 3 weeks.
.25-06 Ackley @ 100 yards in 8-12 mph. wind/rain.
6.5 SLR @ 200 yards in same conditions as above.
My .300RUM will be my long range elk rifle.
GAP
Long Rifles Inc.
Phoenix Custom Rifles
I would avoid Christiansen Arms. I have seen some shoot, and I was not impressed.
I have two PCR rifles I have had built. A 25-06 Ackley Imp. 40° & a 6.5 Super LR. They are almost done with my third, expecting a call this Friday to go pick it up. A .300RUM throated to push the 215-230 Hybrids.
My .25-06AI will shoot under .250" @ 100, and well under MOA out past 1K.
My 6.5 SLR will shoot under .400" @ 200, and my best group ever at 1371 was 6.27".
My 13 year old daughter shot these this weekend in rain and wind, prepping for her deer hunt in 3 weeks.
.25-06 Ackley @ 100 yards in 8-12 mph. wind/rain.
6.5 SLR @ 200 yards in same conditions as above.
My .300RUM will be my long range elk rifle.
Broz
Well-Known Member
This!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We have taken 25 elk so far this season on the ranch with a management hunt going on right now. I have been next to 99% of the shooters and many used my rifles. By the end of this season we will have taken 50+ head. I see dozen of elk taken each year. What I can tell you for sure is there is no substitute for heavy for caliber bullets and the big .338's flat get it done. Last night I put a gal behind my LRKM in .338 Terminator and she stones one at 450 yards. Then the second gal got behind the rifle and took one at 625 yards, then a second at 813 yards. Not bad for a couple ladies with a single shot rifle thinning a herd of elk as they keep moving out. All 3 were one shot kills.
Just this season we have used 7 Rem Mags, 7STW's, 7mm-300's, 300 win's, 338 Win Mags, 300 RUMs, .338 Lapua's and the .338 terminator. With Bergers, Long range Accubonds, Nosler Partitions and a few others.
Nothing compares to the terminal performance of the 338 Terminator with a 300 Berger. Next would be the .338 Lapua then the 300 RUM and 300 Win Mags.
Some may not like to admit this, but a large cased 338 is the way to put elk down fast. I have seen it too many time to sugar coat it.
Jeff
You are smart Sir, "knowledge is indeed power" (Francis Bacon).
6point5x284
Well-Known Member
I would think about the weight goal as well for the completed rifle. I have friends who had long range builds get away from them and never get carried anywhere but to the bench. I like about a 12lb rifle. Some like more. Just depends on how, what, and where you hunt. As far as caliber, I like one I can shoot comfortably in a lighter package at 12lbs (light for LR). I shoot a .300 Win Mag with the Berger 215's and love it. It's a hammer. I'm a big fan of the .300 Win Mag for elk, and shooting in general. Inexpensive to load, doesn't kick much, can get ammo anywhere in a pinch when flying to hunts, etc... I would feel comfortable with an elk purpose built rifle anything in 7 Rem Mag and up for your range. The big 338's are appealing if you get to take game year round, but for someone who gets more time in on rocks anymore than elk and speed goats, I like something a little easier on the shoulder and wallet. As far as competant smiths, I have an Rbros that I love, and I wouldn't hesitate to use Dallas at LPR in a second either. Good luck! Best part is the research and the wait! I'll echo one other reply as well...for your budget, get a full custom, don't blueprint a factory action. Like he said, it will probably shoot the same, but the feel is completely different. I still smile every time I close the bolt on a Defiance! Good luck.
We usually do a lot of running around in the mountains when we elk hunt. Hiking 10-15 miles a day probably. So I definitely need a gun that is on the lighter end.
You guys seem to lean towards custom smiths. Does this include or exclude Gunwerks? Looking at rifles from some of the suggested smiths, they seem to be similarly priced. Are they similar in quality?
One last question, delving slightly into the caliber discussion. I intend to put a muzzle brake on the rifle. Does a .300 RUM with a brake kick significantly more than a 7mm rem mag? I shot a .338 rem mag with a brake and I didn't think it was bad. That was standing up - I'm sure I would feel it a little more at least off a bench.
Thanks!
You guys seem to lean towards custom smiths. Does this include or exclude Gunwerks? Looking at rifles from some of the suggested smiths, they seem to be similarly priced. Are they similar in quality?
One last question, delving slightly into the caliber discussion. I intend to put a muzzle brake on the rifle. Does a .300 RUM with a brake kick significantly more than a 7mm rem mag? I shot a .338 rem mag with a brake and I didn't think it was bad. That was standing up - I'm sure I would feel it a little more at least off a bench.
Thanks!
Here is my .02
With a lighter weight pack gun stick with a .30 magnum or smaller if your shooting 1000yds or less. Most people don't like 338's with 300gr bullets in a light weight gun. Some people shoot them OK but most don't shoot them as well as something with less recoil. Like Broz said the larger calibers do kill better but that doesn't mean the smaller calibers don't kill things every time too. He can attest to that with his 300wm. I would do a brake on whatever I built.
There are a lot of people that can build really accurate rifles and I don't think there is necessarily one that is better than the other that has been listed. Call them all and talk to them. Tell them what you want and ask for cost and lead times. Then see which one you get warm and fuzzy about.
A 300RUM burns 90+grs of powder with heavier bullets than the 7RM burning 70grs of powder with lighter bullets. All things equal the 300RUM will have a good deal more recoil. For example: A 300RUM with 215's at 3200fps in a 10lb rifle has 39lb of recoil. A 7RM with 168's at 3000fps has 22lbs of recoil in the same weight rifle. A 338 Lapua with 300's at 2800 in a 10lb rifle has 50lbs of recoil. Muzzle brakes only work on secondary recoil which is the gases created by the ignition of the round and not on primary recoil which is the acceleration of the bullet. The heavier the bullet the more primary recoil. So muzzle brakes aren't as effective on .338's with 300gr bullets as they are on 300's with 215's. Also as the bore get's larger brakes become less effective because more of the gases escape the brake behind the bullet.
You can compared recoil in different rifles on JBM's website.
JBM - Calculations - Recoil
With a lighter weight pack gun stick with a .30 magnum or smaller if your shooting 1000yds or less. Most people don't like 338's with 300gr bullets in a light weight gun. Some people shoot them OK but most don't shoot them as well as something with less recoil. Like Broz said the larger calibers do kill better but that doesn't mean the smaller calibers don't kill things every time too. He can attest to that with his 300wm. I would do a brake on whatever I built.
There are a lot of people that can build really accurate rifles and I don't think there is necessarily one that is better than the other that has been listed. Call them all and talk to them. Tell them what you want and ask for cost and lead times. Then see which one you get warm and fuzzy about.
A 300RUM burns 90+grs of powder with heavier bullets than the 7RM burning 70grs of powder with lighter bullets. All things equal the 300RUM will have a good deal more recoil. For example: A 300RUM with 215's at 3200fps in a 10lb rifle has 39lb of recoil. A 7RM with 168's at 3000fps has 22lbs of recoil in the same weight rifle. A 338 Lapua with 300's at 2800 in a 10lb rifle has 50lbs of recoil. Muzzle brakes only work on secondary recoil which is the gases created by the ignition of the round and not on primary recoil which is the acceleration of the bullet. The heavier the bullet the more primary recoil. So muzzle brakes aren't as effective on .338's with 300gr bullets as they are on 300's with 215's. Also as the bore get's larger brakes become less effective because more of the gases escape the brake behind the bullet.
You can compared recoil in different rifles on JBM's website.
JBM - Calculations - Recoil
6point5x284
Well-Known Member
Lots of competent smiths out there. I've never seen a GW rifle, so I can't speak to them. I have no doubt they build a great rifle however. I had specific requirements in mind when I had a rifle built. I had to have a Defiance action (including the many re-branded Defiance actions used by smiths), and I had to have a Manners EH-1 stock for example. I found some smiths built awesome rifles, but some specialized more with action X, and stock Y. If you have no preference on componenents, there are a ton of awesome smiths. If you want certain components, maybe see if there are any smiths that are really good at those components, or use them frequently and start calling them and getting information on lead times, cost, referrals, etc... The barrel I was not picky about in my case for example, so I went with what my smith does the most of and liked the best, kept in stock, and had a short lead time on the barrel. Most smiths can make a gun with whatever components you want, I just chose to go a route that made sense to me, and to go with a smith who primarily used the components I was looking for in my build. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the names thrown out thus far. With GW (again, I have ZERO experience), I would research their possible stock choices. I only ever see them with the same one pictured. I would have to research their stock and try to get time behind a few before I pulled the trigger on an order. They may let you build it with any stock you want however. But I would be hesitant to buy a gun with a stock I had not at least got to lay behind, and see how I liked the fit. My .02
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
Not many "elk cartridges" I would want to shoot in a 7# rifle without a brake.
I think 10# is a minimum. I carry 10.5 to 12# rifles all day, and my long range rigs weigh 15.2 and 16.5# respectively.
I think 10# is a minimum. I carry 10.5 to 12# rifles all day, and my long range rigs weigh 15.2 and 16.5# respectively.
lilharcher
Well-Known Member
A 9.0 lb LR ELK rifle in 300WM is very doable.......I just took possession of my custom 300WM that I specifically had built for Elk out to 600 - 700 yrds if needed......and will kill paper well past 1000. Rifle weights 7.5lbs with additional 23 ounces for scope (Swarovski z6 3x15x44mm) with NEAR alpha mount (lightest mount I have ever used). With custom break made by barrel manufacturer (Benchmark barrels), my 300WM has a very light recoil, equivalent to my 6.5 Creedmoor........very impressed with performance.
7magcreedmoor
Well-Known Member
My favorite rifle (this week) is a 12 pound 280AI pushing a 168berger @ 3015, with a brake. Even my creedmoor weighs 10.5 lbs. I have a 13 lb 6.5/284 (no flutes in the barrel). I have carried all of them on hunts. I'd rather save weight in another area than in the rifle. Some folks say a rifle has to be carried a lot and only shot once, but for me, that once is more important, and I prefer the hefty stick.
KillerBee
Well-Known Member
Hi, I am very happy to find this site!!!
I am in the process of buying a 7mm and I am not exactly sure which one to go with but I want my new rifle to be able to shoot out to 1000 yards and have the energy to kill elk and moose at that distance. The scope I will be using is a Huskemaw Blue Diamond 5-20x50.
Which would be a better choice to accomplish this a 7mm Remington Mag, 7mm RUM or a 7mm STW?
Any advise would be more then welcome, thank you.
I am in the process of buying a 7mm and I am not exactly sure which one to go with but I want my new rifle to be able to shoot out to 1000 yards and have the energy to kill elk and moose at that distance. The scope I will be using is a Huskemaw Blue Diamond 5-20x50.
Which would be a better choice to accomplish this a 7mm Remington Mag, 7mm RUM or a 7mm STW?
Any advise would be more then welcome, thank you.
