Winner of Manners contest looking for help on first build

[phpd1295]

Hello all.
I am the winner of the long range hunting March Manners stock contest. I am looking for a gunsmith to work on my build. I have an old (1988) remington 700 bdl in 243. This rifle is left handed short action and I was never able to get it to shoot well. I am looking to get it re-barreled in 300 wsm (I already have a 308 in right hand) and get the action trued up. I ordered the manners MCS-T4A stock in LH Remington 700 SA. Since I won the stock from this site I thought it would be best to get this sites input on where to get the work done and what to get done.
I had some advice from a local amateur gunsmith because I needed to order the stock to fit the build. Based on his recommendations I ordered the stock to fit a Tubbs oversize recoil lug, M-40 barrel contour, and get the pillars installed.
Any opinions and suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Bill

 

[yotehunter243]

i am currently having a gun built by Benchmark Barrels. Super nice guys, they stay in contact thru out the built and never act like i am asking a stupid question (cause i do ask alot) I have shot 2 of the Benchmark barrels in Alaska last year. Both were in 300wsm, and both were shooting factory ammo, and both were shooting well under 3/4" and touching 1/2" (did i mention factory ammo) Winchester supreme 180gr. While i was there our "guide" friend was shooting a 6.5 SUAM built by Center Shot Rifles with a Brux barrel. It was also SUPER accurate. I am pretty new to this also but my Advise would be to look at some of the sponsors and get on the phone and talk to them and see who you like.

 

[pyroducksx3]

What are you wanting to do with the gun ie purpose. With that m-40 barrel it is going to be heavy! And where are you located? I have had great feedback from kevin cram at montour country rifles. I ended up using a local smith that is a sponser here as well but if I was mailing the work out I would have used Kevin.

 

[phpd1295]

The rifle will mostly be for hunting deer and a little larger game and target shooting. Almost all of the hunting down here in south Texas is done in blinds so weight isn't much of a consideration. I live in south Texas but I can ship to where ever.

 

[pyroducksx3]

I would think a sendero contour would be adequete and save more than a pound of weight but to each his owm, the M-40 contour will shoot great Im sure. I dont know the specifics of taking a standard bolt face and openeing it up to the magnum bolt face either but that would have to be done. I think the 300 wsm is a good choice (I have one) but if nothing larger than deer and with target shooting I like the the 7 wsm with the 270 wsm being a good choice as well. Keeping in the standard boltface the 308, 260, 260 AI, 6.5x47 lapua are great choices and would serve you well also. Email Kevin Cram he is full of good knowledge and willing to share it. I believe he also guarantees his biuld to hold 1/2 MOA @ 100 yards as well

 

[phpd1295]

@ pyro- Thank you for your input. I wasn't aware that the bolt would have to be worked on to convert to a 300 wsm. This is the type of valuable information I was hoping to get from this forum. I know that if you ask 100 people what they would do you will get 100 different answers. This will be my first ( and possible last) 100% custom build and I want to make sure I get as much information from as many knowledgeable people so I only have to do it once!. I am a natural lefty but I've been shooting right handed since I was a boy due to not having any good rifles in left hand configuration. Now that I can do this I want a left handed rifle build for me. I was thinking about the 6.5X47 lapua but I am not too sure about its suitability for hunting large game and I heard that the round is super hot and it needs barrel replacement sooner that most other cartridges.
What has anyone heard about this?
Also I will be using factory ammo. I have been using federal gold match 168gn and my 308 loves it.

 

[pyroducksx3]

The 6.5x47 lapua isnt a barrel burner as far as I know of, I have no expierence with this round but I think you will find a consensus that shooting a barrel hot affects it accuracy barrel life more than the round. I dont know how difficult it is to open the face or even just get a different bolt like from PT&G with a magnum face, these are things to talk about with your smith. With not reloading and if you were to keep your standard both face and short action I would say the 260 rem, I dont know the availability of the 6.5x47 lapua factory ammo. I think the best advice I can give you is call or email kevim cram. He has far more knowledge and can build you a great rifle. Montour County Rifles

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I love when a lefty gets a rifle he wants, instead of the plain jane stuff the factories are selling to us lefty's. I finally got my lh 7mm stw in a rem 700 just a month and a half ago. Please don't choose a plain vanilla round just because.
If you really want your rifle to be a 300 wsm, go for it, but you could get a tikka or browning in that cartridge for around the price of a good barrel and blueprint job. Your rifle is a short action, so the 7stw isn't an option, but there are a whole lot of short action calibers that you'll never see lefty, like the 6.5x55 swede, the 385win, the 6.6 or 350 rem mags, and the 376 steyer.
Ya gotta get what suits you, but you can get pretty creative when you don't have to do what the factory wants. How about a 257x300 wsm, equaling the mighty 257 Roy in a short action.

 

[pyroducksx3]

The only reason why I went with factory loads is he doesnt reload. Reloading does open up a better variety. I believe the 6.5x55 swede from what I've heard is better suited to a long action? so that you can seat the bullets out and take better advantage of the case capacity.

 

[phpd1295]

I do reload but I don't have all the equipment to do load buildup like a chrono. I only have a single stage hornady press, scale, and the rest of the basics.

 

[pyroducksx3]

I do reload but I don't have all the equipment to do load buildup like a chrono. I only have a single stage hornady press, scale, and the rest of the basics.

Oh well you have all you need then. You can use your groups ie ladder testing that will make not having a chrono not a very big deal. I like the digital scales but you can do just fine without. Dont be intimidated by the special reloading steps they really aren't that complicated. Shawn Carlock at defensive edge has a video on reloading for longrange hunting that really helps you get the basics of precision handloading. On your standard bolt face I really like the 6.5x47 lapua option , I really think (and I may be wrong) the 6.5x 55 swede it better suited to a long action but it will fit in the short action just wont be able to seat the bullets long. If going to the magnum boltface, which I really dont think will be hard I like the wsms I think your choice of 300wsm is a great choice, I might go with the 7mm wsm but you cant go wrong either way the 7 will have less recoil and do every thing you want. But again get with a gunsmith who actually does what you are asking about for example longrange hunting and get his advice he will be best to help you as he has probably built and shot many more gun combination than anyone of us regular shooters.

 

[phpd1295]

Thank you everyone for all your input. I could probably spend a lot of time and money trying a bunch of different caliber and load options that you guys are helping out just to help a newbee. That is why I like the outdoor lifestyle. Everyone is willing to help just to help.
Once again thank you and please keep up the hints and advice. Right now I am leaning towards the 6.5X47 lapua but I want to be sure it can make a humane kill on a deer sized animal at around 600 yds. Can any hunters out there give me some input on this? The main use of this rifle will be to hunt and take game but I do want a "tack driver" I can show off at the range.
Bill.

 

[pyroducksx3]

Thank you everyone for all your input. I could probably spend a lot of time and money trying a bunch of different caliber and load options that you guys are helping out just to help a newbee. That is why I like the outdoor lifestyle. Everyone is willing to help just to help.
Once again thank you and please keep up the hints and advice. Right now I am leaning towards the 6.5X47 lapua but I want to be sure it can make a humane kill on a deer sized animal at around 600 yds. Can any hunters out there give me some input on this? The main use of this rifle will be to hunt and take game but I do want a "tack driver" I can show off at the range.
Bill.

Well this is where I will step out my longest shot on an animal is at 352 so I can't give you personal expierence. From a theoritical stand point many people consider min 1000 ft. lbs of energy to be ethical on deer. The 6.5 x 47 lapua with a 140 berger should be able to get up to 2750 fps I believe and with those numbers at 600 you will have 1129 ft. lbs at 700 you have 987 and I think you're still good. Hopefully other will take over from here, good luck

 

[Outlaw6.0]

The 6.5x47 actually has very good barrel life & from all reports is capable of incredible accuracy. The setbacks are the initial reloading costs, factory ammo is, well.... rediculously expensive, you are going to want to reload & since Lapua is known for being the best brass on the planet you have that going for you. The 6.5 bullet diameter is starting to catch (again), with new offerings from several manufacturers, you're in good shape. You should be able to utilize your .243 bolt & magazine, which will reduce overall cost.

The 6.5x47 won't have the "lazer" like trajectory (which is why it will have far more usable bbl life than a 7wsm), but should offer what you need to make your 600yd shot. (very close to 260rem performance).

The 300wsm will also offer longer bbl life than the 7wsm. Either wsm will carry "killing power" at much greater distance than the x47 at the cost of bbl life, powder & recoil. As stated, this will not fit your .243 bolt, opening it up is possible but in respect to cost, a proper bolt from PTG w/better extractor (read M-16) is far easier & an a much better overall quality product. The WSM, when utilizing the high BC projectiles will also be MUCH longer than originally designed, you will have to install an extended magazine (or DBM) which will also increase cost. (unless you run single shot)

Hopefully that helps muddy the water a little