Remington vs Custom/7mm vs. 300/What would you do?

[gaps]

Hey Everyone I am just starting out and have done a lot of reading on here and I'm looking for some advice and opinions. I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I bought my first two rifles last winter and I am addicted to long range shooting/hunting. I want to build a great hunting rifle that can hunt out to 1000yards and practice even further.

I bought a used Ruger M77 mark II in 7mm RemMag and put a Vortex Viper PST scope on it. It has a muzzle break and is supposed to be glass bedded and a trigger job. I would say the trigger is at 2.5#s. The rifle shoots better than what i expected. I have shot at rocks from 400 out to 960yards and is more accurate than i thought it would be. I haven't had time to put it on paper and see how well it groups, but I would be supprised if it was more than moa. The second rifle is a Remington 700 RockyMountainElkFoundation 300WinMag. It is stock. I bought because of the scope on it (Vortex Razor 5-20x50). I have not had time to shoot this rifle and I am not sure how it shoots.

Now I have learned some things I have decided neither of these rifles are my dream rifle so I was thinking, should I sell them both and the PST scope and then use that cash to build a custom? Should I keep the Remington action and Razor scope, have the action blue printed, and sell everything else to pay for the custom? What caliber should I build the new rifle with, 7mm or 300wm. Those are the two calibers I want to choose from. I don't reload right now but will do so down the road so I want the most accurate rifle that can shoot factory ammo and reloaded vld's down the road.

I live in the Phoenix, AZ area and was thinking about talking with the guys at phoenixcustomrifles.com. Or does anyone recommend another smith in the area? I am on a budget and would like to not break the bank. Thanks for your time and any suggestions that you have!!!

 

[captacademy]

I would keep the Razor scope and the Rem 700 action and build from there! New trigger, Blue print/true action, stock, barrel etc. You can now have your dream rifle built the way you want it. Be careful and choose a good smith. Call others that have had RECENT work done by them!!! Look at this site and see who is putting out great rifles, ask for a timeline on the build!

It's addicting, I sold all my stock Wby and Rem rifles years ago and never looked back.

 

[barnesuser28]

+1 ^

 

[captacademy]

The 300WM is a great caliber as is the 7mm. Either would be a great choice for factory, as well as reloading. Great over the counter ammo on both.

Each is a very capable round for big game. Just do some research and pick one.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[gaps]

thanks for the info, keep it coming! if i keep the remington action from the 300 and do a custom build off of it, can i make the custom rifle a 7mm with the 300 action? sorry, learning as i go....

 

[FEENIX]

thanks for the info, keep it coming! if i keep the remington action from the 300 and do a custom build off of it, can i make the custom rifle a 7mm with the 300 action? sorry, learning as i go....

Yes! ... http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f37/bolt-face-diameters-36661/

 

[gaps]

Thanks for the link Feenix...after reading the thread on here 7mm vs 300win I think I am leaning towards the 300. Here is a question for all, is there a difference in barrel life between the two? Which is longer?

 

[gaps]

Thanks for all of the info...it looks like I'm leaning towards the 300 but I am not sold on it, still need to look at the ballistic charts more, especially with some of the vld and newer bullets out there...will the 300 have a better barrel life than the7mm? Either one I will put a brake on it. I am only in AZ October through March so that is why I haven't shot much at paper and can't until I get home. Its not a lack of wanting to shoot, it is that i cant because of my job. However, I do know that I want a custom and I am trying to get everything lined up so that when I get home the smith can start the work, if not sooner. It looks like I will talk to the guys at Phoenix Custom Rifles but I am still open to any other local smiths. For now I can only do one rifle but down the road I would like to get a .223 or similar to shoot

 

[Aldon]

It seems to me that the 300 winmag is so close to be ready for gameday already that I would not be in any hurry to do much other than change the stock.

Then work up a load and see if you have a solid long range keeper.

If the 7mm is a shooter, then sell it to get a nice foundation for the winmag.

I would pull the PST off of it and sell it separate.

That's the best I can hypothesize on saving you cash. But there is no end to how I can tell you to spend money

Although Ity looks like one of them triangularized barrels which I loath. So a new barrel and blueprinted action would be required in my stable.

 

[FEENIX]

Thanks for the link Feenix...after reading the thread on here 7mm vs 300win I think I am leaning towards the 300. Here is a question for all, is there a difference in barrel life between the two? Which is longer?

Handy Excel Formula Predicts Useful Barrel Life « Daily Bulletin

Check out the TC dimensions "D" ...

http://www.tcarms.com/

You might also want to check out the 7MM STW thread ... http://www.longrangehunting.com/for...who-shoot-7mm-shooting-times-westerner-88228/

 

[roninflag]

Gaps- sell both. get a remington sendero in the caliber of your choice. i have both 7mm and 300. they each have their strengths. but you are spliting hairs. keep the best of the two scopes or get a leupold. only need one good rifle. then start shooting . enjoy.

 

[roninflag]

one of the best ways to get better at long range is to shoot in the matches they have in phx and mesa. since they don't allow muzzle breaks i shoot a 6.5-284. i would say there is no difference in barrel life from a 7mm or 300. i do not know anyone that shoots those enough to wear a barrel out. 1500 to 2000 rounds for each

 

[gaps]

@feenix: thanks for the links!

@ aldon: thanks for the info, i am leaning that way with the new barrel that i could put a brake on and also a new stock and maybe trigger along with blueprinted action...

but roninflag has me thinking about the sendero, which i have always liked and though that it felt nice holding it in the store...

if i get the sendero will it still need to be blueprinted? i guess it depends how it shoots out of the box?

 

[Dick Tinsley]

I've got to agree with roninflag to a point! Can't really beat a Remington Sendero as far as a out of the box shooter!!!! As far as a custom build, keep the Remington action an start with it! Caliber is a personal choice, but my vote goes to a 7mm mag!(less recoil,great long range!) Ive owned both. Just favor a 7mag more. I am in the progress of building(really my smith is) a 7/300 win mag! Best of both worlds! If you are on a budget a Sendero is the way I would go,but that's just my input! Hope this helps!

DT