Questions about a LR Build, mainly rifle weight

[youngtrout]

Hello

Well, just can't make my mind up on a build. What I'm looking for is a small caliber, 6.5mm-7mm, ranges would be up to 600-700. It will be carried, on sheep and caribou hunts, but a majority of the rounds through it will be from a bench.

I started the build hoping to make a lighter sheep rifle than the one I have, started with a savage 10, 22 inch 260 barrel, shortened factory stock. Actually did pretty good, bare rifle weighs 6.25 pounds.

Problem is, scoped up and ready it only weighs 1/2 less than my current sheep gun, a rem 700 in 300wm, this gun sports a lightweight hart barrel, and pretty much every off the shelf product to loose weight,, and is a shooter, as long as I really watch my rate of fire, light barrel contour so it starts walking pretty bad if I don't keep the heat down.

So,,, my thoughts now is to make a rifle more suited to extended ranges, My first question is rifle weight, a lot gets posted here on light 6-8lb walking long range rigs. I guess I question the accuracy of these light weights at distance? Might being opening a can of worms here, but what would an honest distance be with a 6 pound rifle? So much is also talked about the heavies, 10 pound and up rifles too,,,,,my experience here would be a super lightweight 7-08 of a buddies, he did (and I) shoot it great to 200 or so but after that the gun really opened up, not discounting the fact that it could be the load too, but at ranges past 300 that gun was just hard to hold well

As for my own personal best shooter at distance was a 22-250 remington varmit rifle, shot that rifle great to distance, partly I feel because it weighed 14 pounds and had a more suitable scope (more magnification) But only shot that particular rifle to about 400 or so.

I'm thinking of something in the 9-10 pound range, ready to go. As for caliber, started with the 260, and not that I'm questioning the effectivness of the round, living in AK, I always come back to what the minimum caliber I would take a interior grizzly with? (might be why my two current centerfires are a 300wm and a 375ruger) So my current lines of thinking is to go with either the 270wsm or the 7 wsm or saum, puts me up into the heavier bullets and better bc's

These do take me out of the "light recoiling" relm a bit. Another wish list item is a gun I can shoot more, I've found I need to watch how many time I fire my 300wm,,(30 rounds is typical in a session, don't like to shoot many more than that between cleaning anyway) I find myself flinching a bit, its even a bit more pronounced with my 375,,,,, Figure I'd build it up then see if a muzzle brake is in order. The other option is back to the 7-08 too,

So whats everyones thought on rifle weight for 600-700 yards?

And then caliber,,,looking for a flat enough shooting rifle, could live with bullets as light as 140.

Thanks for any input

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Well I would suggest a Manners MCST ultalight stock to get the weight down. A 26" light countour barrel from a good maker.

Nothing wrong with the 260rem but if the bear thing is an issue then I would consider a 300 or 338 wsm add a muzzle brake to tame the recoil of the light rig.

 

[bogger01]

i don't know what your budget is but have you considered a carbon wrapped barrel.i have read some articles where people have been having good success with them.here is one of the articles i read that got me thinking about a good lightweight accurate rifle


High-Tech Hunter in 300 WSM

 

[youngtrout]

Man, may have mislead you guys, I'm figuring on a heavy sporter or light varmit barrel. Either 24-26. For the stock I may go a bit old school and use a properly sealed, pillar and regular bedded wood stock

I guess just wondering on the typical weight of most folks 600 yard guns?

Also, the more I think about it, figuring on the 7-08. Most of my shooting will be paper, I'd like a nice soft shooter to work with for form and trigger time.

Not too worried on the bear thing, if targeting them I'd pick a different rifle, but give the chance at a interior griz, like to know I'm at least bringing a 140 to the table

 

[SBruce]

A 7-08 will use a short action, that'll save some weight. Also, a 7-08 is highly efficient and doesn't need a 24 or 26 barrel to get optimum velocities. You could go slightly heavier on the countour and fluted and 22" length and be good to go, or stay with the lighter countour and still go 22" finished length.

My newest light weight rifle is 9 1/2 lbs with scope, about 7 1/2 without scope and rings. Kirby Allen (Allen Precision Shooting) built it and said it shot 5 rounds into a sub 4" group at 900 yds. I haven't shot it yet, just got scope mounted today. It's about the perfect weight for an all around packing and cross-over to long range rifle IMO.

If you want to go really light, as previously mentioned; look into the carbon wrapped barrels. Christnson Arms has made some good ones. I know a guy that shoots one and he says it'll hit milk jugs at 800 yds every time if he calls the wind right. It's a very light rifle.

 

[youngtrout]

SBruce, don't leave me hanging, what's your build? Your new rifle specs

I started with the 260, actually picked up a lightweight 22 sporter, currently trying to sell that ( not even shot it for accuracy). Figure I want to be around 9 or 10. And want to put the weight in the barrel

So for those of you shooting 7 pound ready to go rifles, what's you effective range? One of those things, when you drag everything in on your back, everything gets micro managed. You should see me sort through gear! Taking two or three pairs of socks could be a 2 hour decision!?

But for the important stuff like a rifle, don't mind a bit more weight if it's going to help close the deal

As for barrel length, I've see some software that gives a idea of complete powder burn charts? That ringing any bells with people??

 

[The Surgeon]

I use to shoot a factory Rem 700 BDL 308. With scope and five rounds the rifle weighed in just over 7 lbs. On bench it was decent out to 650 yards + or -. 650 was as far as I could take the rifle at that time due to range limitations. Under field conditions, I have harvested White Tails out to 450 yards. Since then the rifle has been retired.

I currently run heavier rigs. I find that I do better with the heavier setups at the distances that I am shooting at now.

 

[diriel]

For the 7-08, I would consider the 162gr Amax bullet with Alliant 2000MR powder, Win LR primers, and Win Brass. This is actually a really sweet combination.

For the rifle, I would go with something along the lines of a #6 or 7 taper and have it fluted and finished at 20" to 22" length. The great thing about the 7-08 is how efficient it is. Just make sure to have it twisted at about 1 in 8.5 and you will be fine. For the stock, Manners MSC-T is a really nice option, but then any of the Manners stocks are pretty sweet.


Good shooting,
Gary

 

[kiwi3006]

My rifle weighs 9lb 10oz. It is a rem 700 long action in 7mm rem mag, has a 26" No5 barrel on it. Leupold VX III 4.5 -14 x 40 LR scope in Burris Zee rings. This will lose a bit of weight when I finish my carbon fibre stock for it. The stock will be similar to a McMillan Hunters edge.
This is good for the 600 -700 yds you want with 168 berger or 162 a-max at 3070 fps.

Stu.

 

[midnightmalloy]

Ok so I would go around 9-10 lbs. I would shoot a 280ai or a 7saum. #5 contour 25-26" barrel. And a micmillan A3 sporter with the edge package. Talley style ringmounts and a 4-16 scope like vortex lr or something. Shoot the 168 bergers for game and then load it down and shoot targets with a 140gr something. If you use a backpack like an eberlestock you won't even notice the 2 extra pounds. This is pretty close to what I have and another that I'm building. My thoughts but its easy enough to hold steady and still not too heavy. Kind of like what the gunwerks idea is.

 

[diriel]

Another possible option might be the 338 RCM.


Gary

 

[youngtrout]

Kiwi3006

Whats your process going to be for the custom stock? Using a mold or are you hand laying over a form? Just kind of wondering, I've toyed around with the thought of it in the past, like to hear how you are going about it and what you figure on a finish weight??

Past that, thanks guys,,,,,pretty much set me straight, 9-10 pounds, thinking of trying one of the viper 6-20's out, or maybe its 6-24?

Last real decision is caliber,,,7-08 or 7saum??? I want kind of a ***** cat to shoot alot but hate leaving so much on the table,,,,,guess I can always go with the saum and if recoil is a bit more than I'd like, then get a brake screwed on.

Thanks

 

[midnightmalloy]

Kiwi3006

Whats your process going to be for the custom stock? Using a mold or are you hand laying over a form? Just kind of wondering, I've toyed around with the thought of it in the past, like to hear how you are going about it and what you figure on a finish weight??

Past that, thanks guys,,,,,pretty much set me straight, 9-10 pounds, thinking of trying one of the viper 6-20's out, or maybe its 6-24?

Last real decision is caliber,,,7-08 or 7saum??? I want kind of a ***** cat to shoot alot but hate leaving so much on the table,,,,,guess I can always go with the saum and if recoil is a bit more than I'd like, then get a brake screwed on.

Thanks

I would definatly pick the 7saum. You can load lighter 2700fps loads and hunt with the 3050 loads. Same action length as a 7-08 buy many more options in terms of reloading. For a muzzle break my buddy at benchmark barrels is doing a muscle break with a set screw to ensure it keeps its timing when removedand then screwed back on. Excellent idea. It seems most of us western hunters are going or have already gone a very similar route. I like the ideas in this thread.

 

[kiwi3006]

Youngtrout here is a link to the thread I wrote a while back on how I made my first fibreglass stock http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f37/homemade-fibreglass-stock-58325/

I am using a different mold this time. More like a rem sps stock except I have raised the comb about 0.2" and made a longer but to increase the length of pull, I am 6'5".
The finished weight with a limbsaver recoil pad will be around 660gm or 23oz.

Stu.