Hello, new member here with an idea I'd like everyone's input on. If you would like, you can read my new member introduction here: http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f65/new-oregon-72270/#post505090
To start, my expectations and intended uses for this rifle. I am mostly a coyote hunter, and am in an entry level position that will hopefully get me into full time permanent employment with my agency (Wildlife Services, a federal agency that deals with animal damage control) in a mostly coyote control oriented county. I already have an excellent .223 which covers the short calling ranges well, out to 400 yards or so. I want to put something together for the occasional times when a longer shot is appropriate (mostly "drive-by's" or when I can glass fields for coyotes. My idea here is 400-700 yards.). So this will be an all business, "working" rifle. However, I do have a few rifle big game hunts on the bucket list for the next few years if the controlled hunt gods smile on me (though I'm mostly a bow hunter), and I want this rifle to double down well for those as well at similar ranges. Those hunts will be for Mule Deer, possibly Antelope, and hopefully eventually a Sheep hunt. I'm a western open country hunter (think Eastern Oregon and Nevada), so long walks/stalks over some fairly rough terrain are the norm. So weight is pretty important, this won't be just a truck gun. If I can keep the weight down enough, this will be the "work" calling rifle for coyotes as well, since pelt damage isn't a concern with ADC work. If I can use this rifle for everything it'll be impossible to not be super familiar with its capabilities when crunch time comes on a big buck, ram, or bad killer coyote...the "Beware the one rifle man" concept.
These uses present a challenge to put together a good rifle that will work well for all of them, and I'm not sure I can get everything I want out of it. But I'll present my basic idea and you all can shoot holes in it for me so I can adjust fire
First of course is caliber choice. While I'm not recoil sensitive in a girly way, I've mostly shot the .22 and .24 center fires. I don't particularly care for more recoil in a standard weight rifle than my .308 Model 70. Since I want as light a rifle as I can pack the required features/accuracy into, I can't go with the 7mm which would be one of my first choices for a longer range cartridge. I don't always have the ability to handload (seasonal employment living conditions in this field means a travel trailer) so I want a caliber that good factory ammunition can be ordered in if I have to (which nixes the .257 Weatherby Mag. or the many wildcat's and oddballs that would be appropriate). So right now I'm leaning towards…the .25-06 Remington. I like what I've seen of Berger Bullets, and as of now anyway they offer in quarterbore a 115 grain hunting bullet that I think would work well for my big game hunting needs. And there are several reputable factory loads with a 115 Nosler Partition and similar bullets if I can't get the handloading done or if the rifle doesn't like the Bergers. As far as the coyote side, with the high velocities possible with the various 85 grainers I think the .25-06 will be great since I don't have to worry about pelt damage.
Next, the rifle itself. With my job (basically a paid hunter and trapper), the powers that be know it isn't neccessary to pay us a ton to keep guys grinning doing something we do for fun on our own time. So at this point I can't afford a full blown custom rifle, nor am I sure I would want one for work…it will be used daily with the accompanying wear and tear. So the first choice would be an accurized factory rifle. The problem: The .25-06 is at its best with 24 or more inches of barrel to work with, and the light factory rifles that I can find seem to end at 22. Not such a big deal for typical sportsman use so I totally understand the manufacturer's choice on this. But I'm not a typical sportsman, and want the extra benefits that come with that longer barrel…unless someone has a recommendation here? (more on barrel later)
So my next option is a rebarrel/build/lower end custom gun. At this point, I'm leaning towards a build with a Savage or Stevens action, trying to keep the cost similar to or not much over a good factory rifle. Keep in mind, the rifle/optics will get camo'd at the end, probably at first with a rattle can and if it's everything I hope it will be a professional camo finish of some type later. So the idea of a frankengun doesn't bother me. Again, work gun.
Back to the barrel. Since the finished rifle will probably have between a 24 and 26 inch barrel, we'll say 25" for the sake of discussion here. My intended use of this rifle does NOT include any type of rapid fire. At 400-700 yards, a running coyote after a miss is likely a safe coyote from me (and most others I suppose). Same goes for big game. So I don't think heat dissipation should be a factor in the decision. However, how stiff a barrel is it going to take to get "minute of coyote" at 700 yards? Joking aside, MOA is the goal and I'm hoping for closer to half MOA mechanical accuracy, leaving me no excuses. But on the other hand I want a rifle I'm not afraid to pack up a mountain after a cougar or ram, the lighter the better. Because of the weight considerations, if I could I'd go with a No. 1 contour. The 2 things I don't know: Is a No. 1 contour in a modern barrel going to be accurate enough to do what I want? And are No 1. contours available in 24-26" lengths? If anyone has experience or a recommendation here I would appreciate it. Or if it won't work, what's the best compromise? Please don't say "A Christensen's Carbon Fiber"…If I could afford it I would, so that would just be cruel
Optics: I'm still pretty much in the air on this one, but something that can be custom turreted is what I'm thinking now. Probably a Leupold of some sort, unless research/comments shows something different to be a better option and in keeping with the budget for the rifle. I know good glass costs, and if I can keep the rifle reasonably priced I will be able to spend more on it.
I think that covers my major dilemma's on the project to this point, should be more than enough to get a good discussion going, and probably earn a few nominations or raised eyebrows for most long winded newcomer of the week. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks,
dmr400
To start, my expectations and intended uses for this rifle. I am mostly a coyote hunter, and am in an entry level position that will hopefully get me into full time permanent employment with my agency (Wildlife Services, a federal agency that deals with animal damage control) in a mostly coyote control oriented county. I already have an excellent .223 which covers the short calling ranges well, out to 400 yards or so. I want to put something together for the occasional times when a longer shot is appropriate (mostly "drive-by's" or when I can glass fields for coyotes. My idea here is 400-700 yards.). So this will be an all business, "working" rifle. However, I do have a few rifle big game hunts on the bucket list for the next few years if the controlled hunt gods smile on me (though I'm mostly a bow hunter), and I want this rifle to double down well for those as well at similar ranges. Those hunts will be for Mule Deer, possibly Antelope, and hopefully eventually a Sheep hunt. I'm a western open country hunter (think Eastern Oregon and Nevada), so long walks/stalks over some fairly rough terrain are the norm. So weight is pretty important, this won't be just a truck gun. If I can keep the weight down enough, this will be the "work" calling rifle for coyotes as well, since pelt damage isn't a concern with ADC work. If I can use this rifle for everything it'll be impossible to not be super familiar with its capabilities when crunch time comes on a big buck, ram, or bad killer coyote...the "Beware the one rifle man" concept.
These uses present a challenge to put together a good rifle that will work well for all of them, and I'm not sure I can get everything I want out of it. But I'll present my basic idea and you all can shoot holes in it for me so I can adjust fire
First of course is caliber choice. While I'm not recoil sensitive in a girly way, I've mostly shot the .22 and .24 center fires. I don't particularly care for more recoil in a standard weight rifle than my .308 Model 70. Since I want as light a rifle as I can pack the required features/accuracy into, I can't go with the 7mm which would be one of my first choices for a longer range cartridge. I don't always have the ability to handload (seasonal employment living conditions in this field means a travel trailer) so I want a caliber that good factory ammunition can be ordered in if I have to (which nixes the .257 Weatherby Mag. or the many wildcat's and oddballs that would be appropriate). So right now I'm leaning towards…the .25-06 Remington. I like what I've seen of Berger Bullets, and as of now anyway they offer in quarterbore a 115 grain hunting bullet that I think would work well for my big game hunting needs. And there are several reputable factory loads with a 115 Nosler Partition and similar bullets if I can't get the handloading done or if the rifle doesn't like the Bergers. As far as the coyote side, with the high velocities possible with the various 85 grainers I think the .25-06 will be great since I don't have to worry about pelt damage.
Next, the rifle itself. With my job (basically a paid hunter and trapper), the powers that be know it isn't neccessary to pay us a ton to keep guys grinning doing something we do for fun on our own time. So at this point I can't afford a full blown custom rifle, nor am I sure I would want one for work…it will be used daily with the accompanying wear and tear. So the first choice would be an accurized factory rifle. The problem: The .25-06 is at its best with 24 or more inches of barrel to work with, and the light factory rifles that I can find seem to end at 22. Not such a big deal for typical sportsman use so I totally understand the manufacturer's choice on this. But I'm not a typical sportsman, and want the extra benefits that come with that longer barrel…unless someone has a recommendation here? (more on barrel later)
So my next option is a rebarrel/build/lower end custom gun. At this point, I'm leaning towards a build with a Savage or Stevens action, trying to keep the cost similar to or not much over a good factory rifle. Keep in mind, the rifle/optics will get camo'd at the end, probably at first with a rattle can and if it's everything I hope it will be a professional camo finish of some type later. So the idea of a frankengun doesn't bother me. Again, work gun.
Back to the barrel. Since the finished rifle will probably have between a 24 and 26 inch barrel, we'll say 25" for the sake of discussion here. My intended use of this rifle does NOT include any type of rapid fire. At 400-700 yards, a running coyote after a miss is likely a safe coyote from me (and most others I suppose). Same goes for big game. So I don't think heat dissipation should be a factor in the decision. However, how stiff a barrel is it going to take to get "minute of coyote" at 700 yards? Joking aside, MOA is the goal and I'm hoping for closer to half MOA mechanical accuracy, leaving me no excuses. But on the other hand I want a rifle I'm not afraid to pack up a mountain after a cougar or ram, the lighter the better. Because of the weight considerations, if I could I'd go with a No. 1 contour. The 2 things I don't know: Is a No. 1 contour in a modern barrel going to be accurate enough to do what I want? And are No 1. contours available in 24-26" lengths? If anyone has experience or a recommendation here I would appreciate it. Or if it won't work, what's the best compromise? Please don't say "A Christensen's Carbon Fiber"…If I could afford it I would, so that would just be cruel
Optics: I'm still pretty much in the air on this one, but something that can be custom turreted is what I'm thinking now. Probably a Leupold of some sort, unless research/comments shows something different to be a better option and in keeping with the budget for the rifle. I know good glass costs, and if I can keep the rifle reasonably priced I will be able to spend more on it.
I think that covers my major dilemma's on the project to this point, should be more than enough to get a good discussion going, and probably earn a few nominations or raised eyebrows for most long winded newcomer of the week. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks,
dmr400
Last edited:
