Savage 110 custom build - 7mm Valkyrie

[chuckhammer]

Here's a summary of the improved version of a 7mm-300 Win Mag I drew up for my first custom rifle build. I named it the 7mm Valkyrie after both the buxom blonde "chooser of the slain" from Norse mythology and after the incredible XB-70 Valkyrie bomber from the 1960s.

I chose the Savage 110 due to the barrel nut and floating bolt head. Both of these features make for a very home gunsmith-friendly build. I managed to keep the total cost below $1500 for the whole rig. As a result, some of the parts are not cream-of-the-crop but I believe they will serve me perfectly well for now.

First shots are shown at the bottom! These five were touched off on Sunday 12/8 and were only the 11th through 15th shots ever fired from the rifle. Yes, that is two bullets that formed a single nearly concentric hole. My goal is to find a FAST 1/2 MOA load at 100 yds and then move out to longer distances. I have several different powders and bullets to try so it may take a couple of hundred shots before I reach that point.

All in all, I am very pleased with how it's turned out thus far.

[stangfish]

Love it. I got to do that!!!! IS R-22 or R25 to fast for it?

[Wildboarem]

I'm sorry but I'm stuck.Where in the heck was 85* and calm on Sunday? So Cal or Florida? I'm guessing Florida because you can't have guns in Cali. Still have to wrap up my own load development but the -16* inhibited that. Nice rifle!! I like Wildcats, and that seems like a cool one.

[chuckhammer]

Love it. I got to do that!!!! IS R-22 or R25 to fast for it?

Thanks. I believe RL25 is about right for 140-150 grain bullets from this cartridge, maybe as heavy as the Hornady 162s. RL22 for 120-140 grain pills seems right. For the heavies, yes, I'm into RL33, RL50, US869, N570 territory. Definitely the latter three if I can ever get my hands on the boutique 190-200 ULD bullets.

[chuckhammer]

I'm sorry but I'm stuck.Where in the heck was 85* and calm on Sunday? So Cal or Florida? I'm guessing Florida because you can't have guns in Cali. Still have to wrap up my own load development but the -16* inhibited that. Nice rifle!! I like Wildcats, and that seems like a cool one.

hahahaha....yes, I'm in South FL.......Jupiter to be exact. My club is in Stuart a bit north of where I live. It's convenient at only 30 min away but maxes out at 100 yds so I'll be driving an hour+ once I get a perfect load sorted out.

[ShawneeB]

Chuckhammer. Excellent read, thread and build. I enjoyed it from the name/round Valkyrie to where we are. Keep us updated. Just a beautiful rifle.

[chuckhammer]

Thanks for the kind remarks. Think I should Cerakote or Gunkote it? Or leave it in the raw? I'd considered doing all the metal in a dark "titanium gray" and the stock in olive drab with black webbing. It's a bit of work but I think the result would look great.

In case anyone is interested, I did my fire-forming in the bullet-less "cream of wheat" manner. I loaded 16gr of Bullseye powder with a compressed column of cornmeal over it, topped off with a 1/4 sheet of single-ply toilet paper. The Valkyrie case you see in the second pic in my original post was formed in this manner and had not yet been fired at full pressure with a bullet. Now that I have fired some full-pressure rounds, the shoulder-to-body junction came out nice and sharp. I'll post a pic showing loaded rounds of 300WM, 7-300WM, fire-formed 7 Valkyrie, and fully-formed 7 Valkyrie.

[ShawneeB]

I like finishes, sometimes, but that's pretty nice the way it is. Critters and targets don't care. Finish is optional there

I notice that on the shoulder/body now that you mentioned it! Miss my 7x61 Sharpe and Hart, that one sold me on 7mm. Had a slightly rounded shoulder. I could use 7mag brass but the base was a bit thicker than the Norma factory loading.