1st Rifle Build...Help with details please.

[7mmaniac]

I was referred to this site by a fellow shooter. He said ya'll knew your business, from what I've read over the past several weeks I must agree. My usual shooting website don't really 'agree', for a lack of better terms, with long range hunting tactics. I'm confused about what I need to build a precision LR hunting rifle.
I'm looking to build a custom long range hunting rifle, 1000y for paper and only as far as I feel comfortable for deer. I've been shooting out to 500 for several years with tuned factory rigs. I want to make sure that I make well informed decisions that will compliment my shooting/hunting style. I will tell you what I want, hopefully you will enlighten me as to what I need. I'm looking to build a true long range hunting rifle. I will shoot it year round on my range. I love to tinker with handloads and try new components. I want it light enough that it's functional as a hunting rifle. It will be used from 'shooting houses' on pipeline right of ways. 10-12 pounds or so all up. One of the various 7mm's (7RM, STW) will be chosen, probably STW. Barrel in the 27" range. Stiller action, McM stock, Krieger barrel, resprung 700 trigger.
1) Actions - I'm LEFT-HANDED. Stiller Predator or TAC comes in Lefty. Is Stiller my only choice? I've heard the Predator wasn't exactly a true long range action, just a real nice all around unit. Is the TAC300 a better choice.
2) Stock- HTG design like M40A1.
3) Barrel- Krieger SS at 27", #5 straight, 6 or 7 fluted?
4) Do I need a 20 moa base or not?
5) Which rings?
6) Scope is undecided.

I'm not sure how much rifle you ACTUALLY need to shoot long, I know the heavier the better but where is the middle ground. My two long range shooters I've been using are in the 9-10 pound range.

I know that's a lot of info but I'll take what you throw at me.

Thanks, Tim

 

[alexkeyser]

Welcome to the site! This place has been great to me. I've learned a great deal from everyone here as I am sure you will to. It sounds like you have a good idea of what you are looking for. All good products. I use a leupold mark 4 6.5-20x50 on my long range rig, but I'm sure alot of others here would recomend a Night Force, I personally don't have any experience with one yet As for the componets of the rifle, you should track down one of the smiths on the site and pick their brain. They are all very helpful and honest. Oh, and they build kick *** rifles too hope this helps AL

 

[Captn C]

I too am a big fan of 7mm guns and just bought a 7mm RUM...it looks like it is the biggest factory 7mm you can buy. I have yet to do much with it, but you might keep it in mind when you select a caliber.

Good luck!

 

[NYLES]

#3.....Fluted 6.....#7 fluted JUST a touch on the heavy side for our style hunting (very simular by the way).

#4 might as well have it price is not that big a diff...I have it

#5 NF lightwieght

#6 NF

And at least the 7RUM....but Id get a bigger 7 if was to build a new gun.

 

[AJ Peacock]

Keep an eye on barrel life.

In reading your post, it seems that you shoot a lot (which is great). One thing you should consider as you decide on caliber is barrel life. Obviously larger caliber rifles will generally have better barrel life.

AJ

 

[7mmaniac]

Thanks for the information guys.

AJ...I get the feeling your a .30 cal fan. I've come to realize, from personal experiences, that a .284 can run with a .30 with less recoil. Now that I've said that, I have no experience past 500 yards. Does the larger caliber have any advantages father out? It seems the B.C.'s and S.D.'s of each are very comparable. Energy is slightly off for the .284. I'm thick skinned, let me have it. I'm here b/c you guys know the difference between fluff and flash. I want the flash.

 

[AJ Peacock]

Actually I'm a big 7mm fan. But just want you to take barrel life into consideration. I have 7mm, 30cal and 338cal and they are all very capable out to 1000yds and beyond. But powder volume to bore diameter will favor the larger calibers for barrel life.

As far as recoil is concerned, a 7mm RUM is at the top of the factory heap for 7mm velocity and can also have substantial recoil. On the other end, a little 338 WSM will still get you to 1000yds, but with exceptional barrel life (not as flat trajectory though).

There are tons of chamberings that will meet your requirements. How many rounds/year are you planning to shoot with this rifle? If you plan on 1000/year, you should plan on a barrel every year or so with some of the chamberings and only 1 or 2 / decade with others.

7mm STW is a terrific round (as is the 7mm RM) I'd guess that gilt edge accuracy will typically drop off for both chamberings somewhere between 1000 and 2000 rounds.

In my opinion, a 7mm STW built to around 12-14#'s would be a great LR rifle for your needs. 7mm RM would be one step down and a 7mm RUM would be a big step up from there.

AJ

 

[long ranger]

Actually I'm a big 7mm fan. But just want you to take barrel life into consideration. I have 7mm, 30cal and 338cal and they are all very capable out to 1000yds and beyond. But powder volume to bore diameter will favor the larger calibers for barrel life.

As far as recoil is concerned, a 7mm RUM is at the top of the factory heap for 7mm velocity and can also have substantial recoil. On the other end, a little 338 WSM will still get you to 1000yds, but with exceptional barrel life (not as flat trajectory though).

There are tons of chamberings that will meet your requirements. How many rounds/year are you planning to shoot with this rifle? If you plan on 1000/year, you should plan on a barrel every year or so with some of the chamberings and only 1 or 2 / decade with others.

7mm STW is a terrific round (as is the 7mm RM) I'd guess that gilt edge accuracy will typically drop off for both chamberings somewhere between 1000 and 2000 rounds.

In my opinion, a 7mm STW built to around 12-14#'s would be a great long range rifle for your needs. 7mm RM would be one step down and a 7mm RUM would be a big step up from there.

AJ

I would have to agree with all of this. Having built my share of big 7s have found barrel life especially in the STW and RUMs to be far shorter than a comparable 30 or bigger.
At real long range you will find bigger, longer bullets are easier to get predictable trajectories with, which is why the big 30s and 338s at so much more popular for extreme long range work.
For sake of argument a 7mm 175 gr SMK will bemuch more affected by wind drift and will loose velocity faster than a 338 cal 300 gr SMK will. The 7 will likely have a faster muzzle velocity than the 338, but any ballistics calculator will show you what I mean when you stretch way out there.
I love the 7s but have found real long range to be easier with the bigger calibers, and if you shoot alot you will find the "hot" 7s are hard on barrels.

 

[7mmaniac]

As for a round count, that's hard to say. Once I get a good load figured out, maybe 250 rounds a year.

Are you aware of any other lefties on this site?

Lefty actions besides Stiller? Just like to know what my options are.

Is the predator a good long range action? Should I use the TAC instead?

 

[7mmaniac]

When you say the fast 7's are much harder on barrels, what kind of round count are we talkin' about? If the 7's will give 1000 - 1500 at best, where will the big .30's come in? 300WM for eaxample.

I will also use this rifle for lightweight TSX's and NBT's for lazerbeam deer killin' inside 500y. (Small deer...100-140 lbs) The long heavy target bullets will be just for fun, for now anyway. Once I develop enough trust in turret twistin', I'll probably move in that direction. This is the reason I'm not considoring the venerable .308 and the like.

 

[7mmaniac]

As for a round count, that's hard to say. Once I get a good load figured out, maybe 250 rounds a year.

Are you aware of any other lefties on this site?

Lefty actions besides Stiller? Just like to know what my options are.

Is the predator a good long range action? Should I use the TAC instead?

 

[Supermag]

I think that the Lawton 7500 is available in lefty and the 7000 will be soon. If you are interested in a wildcat you may find Kirby Allen on this sight and ask about the 7mm Allen Mag (based off the 338 Lapua, I think) or maybe a 270 Allen Mag.

 

[CAM]

Lot's of Lefties on this site!
I have LH bolts in WBY, REM, and my custom is Nesika

CAM

 

[Buffalobob]

My son and I watched 8 whitetails sidehill at 1050 -1150 yards this morning but they had already been shot at and never stopped long enough for us to decide whether to use the 308 or the 7mm Allen Mag for a shot.

All that means is that there are a lot of cartridges that will kill a whitetail at 1000 yards. Your choice seems good to me except for one thing. I would also buy me a practice rifle that I could shoot a lot of rounds with and not burn out the barrel. I would shoot my expensive custom 1000 yard deer rifle only enough to get it dialed in and be familiar with its characteristics. I would choose a 243, 260, 284, or 308 as the practice rifle and I would practice at long range and learn how to shoot well at that distance. Then when you have eight deer on a sidehill at 1050 yards you can decide which rifle to get ready.

For killing whitetails I don't think you need more than a 7STW but if you want to knock them into the middle of next week, I am sure that the 7mm Allen Magnum will do that being as it will knock a big elk into the middle of next week at 1K. It shoots a high BC 200 grain rebated boattail hollowpoint bullet at 3340+ fps so there is no reason to get nervous just because the wind is blowing. I like the Nesika action.