Reply With QuoteThose are some very nice builds!
Be sure to post your results!
I think you'll like the 7mm, I really like that caliber.
Scooter
I built a couple new rifles in the last week that I had been collecting parts for over the last year. I pursue long range precision practical/tactical shooting in a fairly 'budget minded' manner because of all my other hobbies. :) I tend to use Savage actions for my bolt action rifles because I can do my own gunsmithing. This saves money but mostly TIME.
The first one is a 223 Rem intended to be used for short/medium range (out to about 600 yds) practice for me and for my wife when we're plinking on the 'short' 300m range. It's a Savage varmint SS action, Choate stock, McGowen 24" Shilen #7LV contour 1:7 twist barrel, NSS precision lug and barrel nut, EGW 20MOA scope base, Burris Extreme rings, and SWFA 12X fixed scope, and Harris bipod. I plan to shoot A-max 75s using Lapua brass with this rifle.
Next is a 284 Winchester. I wanted to try a 7mm but I wanted to use a short action so the 284 Win seemed like the best choice. With the Savage short action and after-market magazines I am limited to 2.99" COAL for magazine feeding. My initial A-Max 162 rounds are 2.97" COAL.
It's a Savage LRP Target action, Manners T5 stock, McGowen 25" Shilen #7LV contour 1:8 twist barrel, NSS precision lug and barrel nut, EGW 20MOA scope base, Burris Extreme rings, and SWFA 12X fixed scope, and Harris bipod.
I may also try Berger 180 VLD Hybrids but I won't be able to magazine feed them.
Finally, I'm going to try out a new/inexpensive scope on my 264 LBC (6.5 Grendel) semi. The scope is an Atlon Talos BTR 4-14 FFP and it costs only $300 on Amazon. Their scopes have gotten pretty good reviews value wise with good tracking and decent glass so I figured would give it a shot.
Sorry for the off-kilter photo, but I find it challenging to take photos thru the scope using the phone camera.
Last edited by Onewolf; 07-01-2016 at 08:03 AM.
Those are some very nice builds!
Be sure to post your results!
I think you'll like the 7mm, I really like that caliber.
Scooter
Nice work. Do you set a budget for each build, or just continue to look for the items needed to be on sale and go from there. ?
Very nice!!!!!!!!!!! let us know how they perform
Nice.
What's that in the last picture's background? I am guessing a model train platform of some kind?
28x32 ft HO gauge layout under construction....Originally Posted by foxx
http://www.onewolf.org/Album/LayoutC...ion/index.html
^^^^ slouch.
Incredible layout, Onewolf.
Absolutely incredible!
I am dumbfounded.
Since it takes so long to get custom barrels I generally decide what caliber(s) I want for future builds and go ahead and order them in the barrel 'recipe' I have standardized on. Once a barrel is ordered I try to find/buy a suitable action if I don't already own one that's available for use in a new rifle. I have bought 'donor' rifles and I have bought just actions. I really like the Manner T5 stock and Stocky's Stocks used to stock them inletted for Savage SA DBM. That was very convenient because I could get them in less than a week (and it's a bonus when all my rifles appear the same to the untrained eye because my wife doesn't realize how many I have unless she checks the gun safe. :) ). However Stocky's no longer stocks Savage inletted Manners and it takes 6-8 months to get one direct from Manners. For my next build I think I'm going to try a chassis system (either XLR or MDT).
The budget for each ends up being about the same I try to use all the same/similar pieces parts. I used a Choate in the new 223 simply because I didn't want to wait for a Manners or a chassis system.
I've standardized on the SWFA 12X fixed scope ($260 including rings during their annual Black Friday sale), EGW 20MOA HD mount, NSS barrel nut/lug, Shilen #7LV barrel contour, Harris bipod.
The basic cost of my standard build is around $2000 or $1600 in the case of the Choate 223 build.
Wow on the train layout! That's awesome! Can't even imagine how much work you put into that. VERY cool!
Scooter
Thanks for the info on how you do your builds. I'm no where near that yet but good info. Thanks again.
One other item I failed to mention is that I start collecting reloading supplies like dies, brass, bullets, and a trimmer during the 'collect' phase. This helps spread out the cost of the whole rifle system.
I've started that on the 12FV in 204R I got a few weeks ago (going backwards with getting the rifle 1st), I have the scope and rings but haven't had time to install yet, now looking for reloading stuff on sale. LOL
Great looking guns! You've got some well thought out setups there.
When you get around to it, I think we'd all appreciate a more in depth review of the Athlon scope. They look very much like a known quantity, but it'd be good to know if this one lives up to the speculation.
"What's that in the last picture's background? I am guessing a model train platform of some kind? "
I think it's called a vacuum cleaner.
"An armed society is a polite society"
"...shall not be infringed" What's the confusion?
It's the SharkNado vacuum. :)
Performed my first CFE 223 powder load test with the 223 on Sunday.
Powder loads: 24.0, 24.3, 24.6, 24.9, 25.2
Brass: Lapua
Bullet: Hornady A-Max 75
Primer: CCI small rifle
COL: 2.39"
I did not have my chronograph setup.
24.0gr, 24.3gr, and 24.6gr all look promising. I will load 10 rds with each of those loads and shoot 10 rd groups at 300meters to see which powder load works best.
I got the 284 Win barrel threaded and installed a MuzzleBrakesAndMore.com Beast 3 port brake. As expected the brake makes it much easier to stay on target.
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