Looking for Opinons! good and bad

[4xforfun]

I live in Eastern MT, little town by the name of Glasgow. anyone around these parts?

I am about 450 miles east of you in ND 5 miles from canada, 30 miles from MN. I have 3 different smiths that I work with....One in La Moure, ND, one in Central MN, and Clay Spencer out in VA.

 

[liltank]

Isn't Kirby in MT?

 

[WildRose]

If he's still there, there was a very good gunsmith in Timberlake SD years ago who did great work in a small shop on the farm.

Saw quite a bit of his work he'd done for a couple of friends in that area.

You could call the chamber of commerce there and ask if he's still around. His shop was about ten miles out of town or so off of the highway to Mobridge.

 

[BountyHunter]

ok like i said i am very new to this world!! please explain if you can or have time.



ok i have done some research on Fire lapping. from what i have read it increases accuracy in the short run but shortens the life of the barrel in the long run.

I am assuming you are refering to this being a bad thing because of the shortened life of the barrel. i guess i am wondering how much this shortens it? is it from 10,000 rounds to 5,000, 5,000-2,000, 1000-500?


thank you

Gary

Gary,

1. NO 30-378 has a barrel life of 10,000 rds, or any other centerfire caliber for that fact. Maybe 1200 if your lucky. However, I would bet on 800 or so.

2. Fire lapping is absolutely not needed for any match grade barrel to include Shilen. They are hand lapped before they leave the mftr.

3. Custom chamber normally means expensive custom dies. Did not see that on the list.

IMO is see a lot of expensive BS on that list.

FIND ANOTHER SMITH if he is telling you a Shilen needs to firelapped.


If you are looking for that class range and ballistics buy the new savage 338 Lapuas for under $1500 ready to go.

You need some trigger time shooting at distances. A 30-378 is not a cheap learning tool. You will learn a lot more for a lot less money with the savageand then you can sort the BS from reality. Plus it will out shoot you for the first 2 years in all probability

Model 110 HSC MSRP is $1549

 

[WesB]

Call Chad at Long Rifles @ 605-490-2561. You won't find a better gunsmith imho
LongRifles, Inc.
Wes

 

[WildRose]

Gary,

1. NO 30-378 has a barrel life of 10,000 rds, or any other centerfire caliber for that fact. Maybe 1200 if your lucky. However, I would bet on 800 or so.

2. Fire lapping is absolutely not needed for any match grade barrel to include Shilen. They are hand lapped before they leave the mftr.

3. Custom chamber normally means expensive custom dies. Did not see that on the list.

IMO is see a lot of expensive BS on that list.

FIND ANOTHER SMITH if he is telling you a Shilen needs to firelapped.


If you are looking for that class range and ballistics buy the new savage 338 Lapuas for under $1500 ready to go.

You need some trigger time shooting at distances. A 30-378 is not a cheap learning tool. You will learn a lot more for a lot less money with the savageand then you can sort the BS from reality. Plus it will out shoot you for the first 2 years in all probability

Model 110 HSC MSRP is $1549

Good point.

For someone needing lots of trigger time a much better option would be to start with a nice .260 or .308 win in a bolt gun.

The savings in ammo alone would pay for it in a year.

 

[AJ Peacock]

Kirby Allen is as good as it gets w/re to long range smiths. He's in Fort Shaw.

Check out his website at Home Page

I have one of his MONSTERS, words cannot describe them.

I agree with the other guys, get something less than the 30-378 if you haven't shot at long distance before. A 300WSM would be a GREAT learning tool.

Hope this helps,
AJ

 

[Nimrod]

ok like i said i am very new to this world!! please explain if you can or have time.



ok i have done some research on Fire lapping. from what i have read it increases accuracy in the short run but shortens the life of the barrel in the long run.

I am assuming you are refering to this being a bad thing because of the shortened life of the barrel. i guess i am wondering how much this shortens it? is it from 10,000 rounds to 5,000, 5,000-2,000, 1000-500?


thank you

Gary

Sorry I took so long to get back, I just got home from work. I see you are getting some good advise from some of the other members. I am new to the long range game myself, (unless you want to count Naval gunfire support ). I am not new to precision shooting, or custom rifles. I do most of my own gun work but on occasion will have something done by a professional smith. When I do, farm something out I try to find someone who is a specialist at whatever I want to have done.

I personally think that fire lapping is best used as a last ditch effort to get some use out of an otherwise junk barrel. I personally wouldn't bother spending the money on the kit, I would just order a new barrel but since I'm able to do the fitting and chambering myself it would only cost me half as much as it might if I had to have it done.

There are folks on this forum that specialize in building long range rifles, they build them for a living and they are experts at the craft. I don't know who you are talking to about building your gun but unless you specified a Weatherby action, I really can't see why anybody would want to use one for a long range build. Not to downgrade the Weatherby but I think there are easier ways to get where you want to go.

Do some reading here and keep asking questions, you have a wealth of information at your fingertips.

Bob

 

[Sully2]

My opinion, looking at the build sheet, I see firelapping included. I would find a new builder, good barrels are hand lapped from the manufacturer. I would have to question anybody who would automatically " fire lap" a new barrel.

JMHO

Bob

AGREED! Along with a lot of "custom" this and that which actually isnt getting the customer doodlie squat.

Find a new builder

 

[KidWalleye]

thank you all for the input and ideas! i am looking at other builder now and going to start making phone calls to talk to them. i have not ruled out the original builder as i have talked to him for a while now and he does seem to be very good at what he does. he is a certified weatherby dealer and smith!
he does understand and agree with what you guys are saying about firelapping a new barrel but done right it does improve the accuracy of the rifles he builds. he does garentee a sub MOA rifle or your money back!

but i am open minded and am going to talk to lots of smiths and pick all your brains as much as possible before i spend and money on a new rifle.

however i DO 100% agree that i will probably go to a diff call. instead of the 30-378 as the rounds for this are VERY high priced.

i am thinking ill go with the 300WSM as a training rifle. are any of these rifles off the shelf ready for long range or should i go with a semi custom/full custom one of these for a training rifle.

as the old saying goes a rifle is only as good as the shooter but am i going to eventually outperform an off the shelf 300wsm! i dont want to short myself quality. money is not realy a concern to an extent!!

thank you all VERY much for you time

Gary

 

[winmag]

thank you all for the input and ideas! i am looking at other builder now and going to start making phone calls to talk to them. i have not ruled out the original builder as i have talked to him for a while now and he does seem to be very good at what he does. he is a certified weatherby dealer and smith!
he does understand and agree with what you guys are saying about firelapping a new barrel but done right it does improve the accuracy of the rifles he builds. he does garentee a sub MOA rifle or your money back!

but i am open minded and am going to talk to lots of smiths and pick all your brains as much as possible before i spend and money on a new rifle.

however i DO 100% agree that i will probably go to a diff call. instead of the 30-378 as the rounds for this are VERY high priced.

i am thinking ill go with the 300WSM as a training rifle. are any of these rifles off the shelf ready for long range or should i go with a semi custom/full custom one of these for a training rifle.

as the old saying goes a rifle is only as good as the shooter but am i going to eventually outperform an off the shelf 300wsm! i dont want to short myself quality. money is not realy a concern to an extent!!

thank you all VERY much for you time

Gary

Gary,
First off, welcome aboard. You've definately come to the right place for continuing your knowledge, & goals of Long Range shooting/hunting.
Second, good call on talking to multiple gunsmiths. You made the right call. Is encourage you to talk to any of the fine sponsors & gun builders here at LRH. They are top notch professionals, & very good at what they do.
This long range community isn't huge, but its growing rapidly, & the shooters here are Very Demanding, & rightly so. They expect the best, because nothing less will do. The fine smiths here are fully up to that task, & know that thier reputation is on the line with every build when dealing with this crowd. Heck, many of the smiths here compete in long range, as well as hunt long range. They aren't just some dude who gets a higher profgit margine for peddeling his particular product or potion. Id encourage you to talk to as many members, & smiths here as possible. Even if you dont wind up doing business with them right away, they will all leave you with a better understanding of what's right for you, & why. Every person has specific goals in mind, & these guys will help steer you right.

As to the 300 wsm, its an exelent cartrige for Anything in North America- with the proper bullet-. The 30 cal has the largest selection of bullets, & bullet weights available. This means big or small, squirel to sasquatch, you have it covered. With the proper bullet there are guys here who smoke Elk well past 800 yds with thier 300 wsm's, & deer past 1k! They are also very practiced shooters. That part is a lifelong learning curve that only comes with tons of practice. You can, & will get there if your dedicated to soak it all up like a sponge, and practice, practice, practice.
It all starts with the right platform tho, so get the best you can. Customs far outclass production rifles, but there are MANY buildable platforms on the market that are good to go right outa the box, & just get better with upgrades as your skill, & needs change.

Again, I'd encourage you to talk to any or all of our very competent, & proven capable smiths & sponsers here at LRH. We as members may disagree from time to time, but at almost 40,000 members, were still a tight knit group, & we try to take care of our own.

Best of luck with the choices at hand, & glad to have another dedicated shooter aboard.

 

[AJ Peacock]

...
i am thinking ill go with the 300WSM as a training rifle. are any of these rifles off the shelf ready for long range or should i go with a semi custom/full custom one of these for a training rifle.

as the old saying goes a rifle is only as good as the shooter but am i going to eventually outperform an off the shelf 300wsm! i dont want to short myself quality. money is not realy a concern to an extent!!

thank you all VERY much for you time

Gary

Yes, there are off the shelf rifles that you can use (custom is better, but also will take a while).
My 'off the shelf' Savage 300WSM shot 1moa - 3/4moa right out of the box (with reloads). A new stock, bedding and a bit of small adjustments and it is a solid sub 1/2 moa performer.

I personally like the Rem 700 better, but I'm a tinkerer and the Savage is fun to fiddle with (barrel changes etc.).

A varmint contour Rem 700 in 300WSM with a good stiff stock and good trigger will likely be all the rifle you need for several years, as you learn to shoot long range and hone your reloading skills etc.

I'd spend your "extra-dollars" on a good scope and great mounts.

Hope this helps,
AJ

 

[KidWalleye]

Thanks AJ

I get some days off starting tomorrow so i guess ill be heading into the local sporting goods store to check into some rifles.

i just looked you up on the map and turns out i drove right past your place a few months ago. i was out in michigan on bussiness and drove from detroit to bay city. missed your place by about 20-30 miles. small world i guess!!

once again thank you everyone for all your insite.

Gary

 

[T3-OleMan]

If~n I was in tha KIDs place there is one more bit of info I would want. lightbulbIs there a class or sub class of Rem 700s that is the Holy Grail of Rems like saying in Win terms "Pre 1964 Mod 70 WIN..............."????

Good Luck Kid. These members know, you just have to ask the right Questions.