Help With a New Rifle

[fortyfivecolt]

I am new to the site and have spent countless hours reading the vast amounts of knowledge stored here. However, I am still having a hard time finding an answer to my question. I would like to have a rifle in 7mm wsm for mostly hunting purposes. I would like it to be able to shoot around 700 yards. I live on a south Texas ranch that has abundance of hogs and after many years of hunting trying to slow down the population the weary beasts are getting further away making it more of a challenge. I am pretty stuck on the 7 wsm since I was given 27 boxes of fail safe ammo and no rifle to make them go away ( I would reload to shoot the long distances) . I was trying to stay under $1500 on the rifle itself and then I am thinking of putting a Night Force on top, unless someone has any other suggestions. Any info and suggestions for the rifle would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[landcbeitner]

If you build the rifle off of a Savage action yourself you can save some dough. It's very easy to install a match grade barrel yourself. I'd also suggest a long action so you can seat the high BC bullets close to the lands and still mag feed. I've gotten great deals from pawn shops on savage rifles for donor actions. You should be able to make your budget on a remmy as well, it'll just cost a little more due to the cost of a gun smith's labor. The Night Force are excellent scopes. Also check out Leupols Mk 4's, USO, and S&B. I love my Bushnell 4200 6-24x50 tactical 30mm tube ($527) but if you have the money for some nicer glass definately go for it.

 

[fortyfivecolt]

That sounds like a pretty good idea for a start. Would I be better off buying a new savage in 7 wsm and then changing out the barrel vs. buying a used gun. I work on all my competition "cowboy guns" and do all my own action work on the revolvers and lever guns and I have worked quite a bit on my AR's, so I think could do the work. I would like to check out some USO glass but sounds like bang for the buck the Night Force may be the way to go. I have a MK4 on a .308 that I really like but I like to try new things.
Thanks for the advice

 

[James Jones]

The Winchester Coyote in 7WSM is a good rifle , good laminated stock , medium heavy barrel and all the ones I've seen will shoot sub 1moa right out of the box and with a bedding job and some trigger work they will get down to the 1/2 moa range.

Tell me more about your 308 , make modle , barrel length and so on.

 

[Bravo 4]

Wow, somebody gave you 27 boxes of failsafes.....is this loaded ammo? What are you planning on shooting with them might I ask?

 

[fortyfivecolt]

I actually have 3 308's
Remington VTR with the MK 4 and a badger detach mag
Winchester model 70 "heavy Varmint" 24" with a Burris XTR
AR 10 with a 20" and a Burris Laser Range scope

The ammo is 17 boxes of 160 gr Fail Safes and then 10 of some 140 gr. Don't really remember what the specifics of the latter 10, but there are some pigs running around out here with their name on them. A friend of mine bought a winchester 70 (not sure exactly which one but it had a blind box magazine on it) in 7wsm and about 35 boxes of various ammo, he said the gun shot terrible and gave up on it. He then gave me his leftovers

 

[Rupe]

Wow, good deal! Welcome to the site!

 

[adam32]

I actually have 3 308's
Remington VTR with the MK 4 and a badger detach mag
Winchester model 70 "heavy Varmint" 24" with a Burris XTR
AR 10 with a 20" and a Burris Laser Range scope

The ammo is 17 boxes of 160 gr Fail Safes and then 10 of some 140 gr. Don't really remember what the specifics of the latter 10, but there are some pigs running around out here with their name on them. A friend of mine bought a winchester 70 (not sure exactly which one but it had a blind box magazine on it) in 7wsm and about 35 boxes of various ammo, he said the gun shot terrible and gave up on it. He then gave me his leftovers

I'll throw out another option to you.

Have you thought about getting a 7mm WSM upper for your AR-10, that would make a sweet long range rig.

 

[fortyfivecolt]

Thanks to everyone for the ideas 'yall have been a great help.

the 7wsm upper for the ar 10 sounds cool. I have seen 300wsm uppers but have not seen a 7wsm. Any thoughts on where to get one?

 

[adam32]

Thanks to everyone for the ideas 'yall have been a great help.

the 7wsm upper for the ar 10 sounds cool. I have seen 300wsm uppers but have not seen a 7wsm. Any thoughts on where to get one?

I know Accuracy Systems makes them, they are the only people I know of.

Heres the link: Accuracy Systems Inc Custom Gunsmithing AR15 AR10 Ruger Mini 14

 

[NM_Varminter]

Wow, good deal! Welcome to the site!

FourtyFivecolt...

How do you like the VTR? I have been drooling over one in .308 at a local shop but not having seen any balistic reports on it yet I've held off on getting one. If you have some info them in general and or personal info you can email me with it. I'd greatly appreciate it.

NM_Varminter
[email protected]

 

[kc]

Heck guy you got problem hogs? give me a call, I would gladly drive from Michigan to help in the solving of this problen! The Winchester is a great Rifle no doubt about it! The Savage? I would hit the pawn shops too, I make a killing on Remingtons. you can get a Savage for under $300 bucks at the pawn shops. Just dont let them set the price they ask $400 no way $300 and no more give the rifle back to them and walk away. they will call you back before you hit the door. Start with the rifle you wont. don't be afrade to pull the barrel and install another calibre. Get a good barrel..I have a question to the readers.....How would the 6.5X284 be for a Hog rifle? I know it great on Deer.

 

[Gary Kaney]

I've got a Model 70 Coyote that i'm wanting to part with. I just don't shoot it that much, i'll send you an E-mail. Heading 7mmWSM

 

[fortyfivecolt]

Sorry guys for the late reply....been away for the past week at our National Championships. So far I like the VTR, I have not shot much at targets other than the sight in. I have made it my current truck gun and shot a few pigs with it but nothing really out past 300 yards. The trigger on it is fair, noise level with is muzzle break is not too bad, just really have'nt sat at the range and played with it much. I really do like the size and weight of the rifle for carring in the truck, I sure can get it out the window quick.

Again thanks for all the helpful advice, I am planning on going the savage route.