build a budget rifle around this bullet...7mm 180gr Berger hunting VLD

[hmbleservant]

How would you do it? Stay as factory as possible....cheap accuracy please

Objective: Long range hunting

That bullet traveling >=2950fps will do the trick ballistically, but I need the accuracy to make ethical shots at extreme ranges...looking for less than 1moa out to at least 1000yds.

gun)

 

[geargrinder]

Stevens 200 in 7mm mag. Usually less than $300.

How's that for cheap?

Then you can add as necessary
Stock- $100+
Barrel- $250+
Trigger- $25+

 

[hmbleservant]

So, you think I can get less than 1moa with that past 1000yds?

 

[hmbleservant]

Are there any factory options in a 7WSM? Or, can I even find a way to shoot that long of a bullet in that cartridge?(and it still feed from magazine)

 

[BIG MO]

Weatherby Vangard. You can seat into the lands if needed and still fit the magazine. Mine does .75moa @1000 with 180 Berger @3000fps with RL22. Get a Vortex Viper 6-24, $249 from cameraland, and some Talley lightweights from Natchez for $35 and have at it. You will be able to dial to 1000yds+.

Rifle $399
Scope $249
Talleys $35

 

[hmbleservant]

I guess you're not talking about the 7WSM, right? Weatherby's website doesn't show that cartridge as an option for the vangaurd...at least at a glance.

But no matter, that is impressive shooting on that rifles part and yours anyway! I would be happy with factory groups that hold 7.5" at 1000yds!

 

[ewallace]

For a rifle capable of shooting 5 shots in MOA at 1000 yards I would start with a used Magnum long action Rem 700 that is beet up and cheep $300 ish

Custom barrel $350
Chambering $175
Stock $200

Total around $1000 + or -

 

[hmbleservant]

Ok...and which of the 7mm cartridges would u suggest I push that bullet with? I will be handloading...but I'm not into fireforming brass or anything like that right now. Keeping in mind accuracy first of course!

 

[ScottB]

Stevens 200 in 7mm mag. Usually less than $300.

How's that for cheap?

Then you can add as necessary
Stock- $100+
Barrel- $250+
Trigger- $25+

The best answer! Look upward....

The great thing about Savage/Stevens rifles is the ability to swap out barrel with an inexpensive wrench and a vise. Pac-Nor makes some nice barrels for not a lot of money... A drop in trigger and a nice laminated stock will get you moving in the right direction.

As far as the 7mmRM or the 7mmWSM cartridge. Can't answer that one for ya... Just pick one, develop a load for it, shoot it a lot, make your drop chart for the load and go whack some critters!



Scott

 

[roninflag]

For a rifle capable of shooting 5 shots in MOA at 1000 yards I would start with a used Magnum long action Rem 700 that is beet up and cheep $300 ish

Custom barrel $350
Chambering $175
Stock $200

Total around $1000 + or -

HUMBLE- this is the way i would do it. in 7mm rem mag. geargrnd and mo are going about it another way. its your choice.

 

[LouBoyd]

I shoot the 180 Bergers in a 7mm STW Rem 700 LA. A Wyatts magazine is box is a cheap modification which gives just enough more magazine length for the Berger 180s. It will keep the 180 Bergers supersionic well over a mile, to 2000 yards at the mile high elevation where I shoot. That rifle with a 29.5" Hart barrel and jewel trigger was made from a donor 7mm Rem Mag 700. About $2000 invested including a Leupold LR scope. I consider it my "best" long range rifle. Better accuracy and wind deflection than my 300 Rum, 338 RUM and 300-378 Wby. Also less recoil.

My best totally stock factory rifle is a 7mm Rem Mag Lardo. Paid $600 and only added a scope. It shoots 168gn Bergers very well at 1000 yards, but doens't have magazine space for the 180's. A Sendero Rem 700 is similar but has engough for the 180's in 700 Magazine with the 7mmWM cartridge. Forget the 7mm WSM and 7mm SAUM \ in a Win 70 or Rem 700 unless you build it with a long action for shoting the 180's.

The cartridge I'd like in a wildcat made from a 7mm RUM shortened to the same length as the 7mm Rem Mag. for use in a Rem 700 LA, But I'm not interested in the hassles of custom dies and reamers.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

7mm STW. There is a reason I have six of them. If you want the fastest with great accuracy the 7mm caliber tops out with the 7mm STW and 7mm-300 wby. 7 STW is a standard cartridge so that settles that. I have worked with many 7mm's the last 35 years. In late 1998 I necked the 300 RUM case to calibers from 7mm to 358 testing it. My two 7mm-300 RUM's lost accuracy to throat erosion while testing them. 400 rounds and they were toast. Not an option in my opinion. The 7 STW has the best performance in 7mm while retaining good barrel life. It outperforms my 7mm remingtons on average about 200 fps. My 7mm remingtons get no use since my wildcats off the blown out 280 and '06 cases virtually duplicate the 7mm remmy's performance and make more sense. Cheaper to load for with less powder, noise and recoil. They are the 7mm JRS and 7mm Gibbs. Just left no place for the 7mm remmy for my use.

You want top accuracy and power in 7mm while retaining good barrel life the 7mm STW is the one. When the 8mm rem mag came out in 1977 every wildcat gunsmith in the country immediately jumped on wildcatting it. The 7mm-8mm rem mag quickly became very popular in the late 70's because of the popularity of the 7mm-300 wby setting records in 1000 yard matches and now it could be easily duplicated with cheap remington brass. It was a great day several years later in the 90's when Layne Simpson used the clout of Shooting Times to name the cartridge and get it standardized. In my opinion it is still the top 7mm.

If you want the top 7mm get a donor action and a top match barrel in 7mm STW. With a 30" match barrel it is very possible to get 3300 fps out of the 180 Berger with good barrel life. Run the ballistics on that. My accuracy load in one of my 26" barrel STW's will get 3245 fps with the 175 grain SGK.

Velocity equals kills with every fps gained getting you another yard further downrange with the same reliability. Not exactly but you see the point. My 264 STW also does a great job running .612 BC bullets near 3400 fps and .579 BC bullets over 3500 fps. This case is good in several calibers without scorching barrels.

 

[BIG MO]

Hmbleservant- Yes, the 7 rem mag.

Guys- the op is asking for something off the shelf and cheap he can get started with.

 

[LouBoyd]

Hmbleservant- Yes, the 7 rem mag.
Guys- the op is asking for something off the shelf and cheap he can get started with.

How to go cheap? The OP did say build, but uou can buy a used rifle at a gun show cheaper than you can have even a small amount of work done by a qualifie smithe or buy tools to do the work yourself. I've bought clean 7mm Rem Mag 700 ADL's (plastic stock) at gunshows as low as $350. They'll handle the 180 Berger though the magazine and may stablize them depending on where you shoot. You can shoot with factory metallic sights or get a decent used scope for under $50. Don't get too hung up on the 180 Bergers. Out to 1000 yards the 168 Bergers will do as well or better than the 180's in most factory rifles.

Some external barrel rust and dings in the stock can drop the price of a rifle way down without affecting how it shoots.