Rich Coyle
Well-Known Member
Six years ago I posted I was going to use my Klienguenther K14 to make a long range 7mm. Finally, I got the money for the build. Instead of using the K14, I purchased a Pierce Titanium long action. It is much smoother that the one I used a few years ago. It has a Wyatt's 4" magazine so I can use long bullets if I want. The barrel is a 7mm proof carbon wrapped 26" long with a 8" twist because it was in stock. I think the brake is a muzzle Brakes and More titanium five port beast. The trigger is a Trigger Tech set at twenty ounces. The March 2 1/2-25X52 is in Talley aluminum light weight rings. Finally, the machining and stock were done by Jack Kiester Custom. The stock actually came in at twenty ounces like he said. It is the only carbon fiber stock I purchased that came in at the claimed weight. The homemade sling is 1" wide and weighs one ounce. The rifle with three rounds weighs exactly eight pounds.
I ordered some sample packs from Hammer Bullets. Right away I used ignorant prejudice to pick the Hammer Hunter 131 grain bullet over the 120, 143 and 150 grain bullets. It looks good to me. almost immediately I started getting poor accuracy and unexpected high pressure. I switched out the March for a Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50 and the groups were no better. I was very happy about that. Finally, I discovered the necks needed to be trimmed after every firing. They were pinching on the bullets at the end of the neck area. Even after solving the problem, accuracy is not what I was hoping for, but hunting season was upon us so I stuck with the 131s. The velocity seemed to settle about 3,670 feet per second with 300 yard, five shot groups 2 1/4" or under.
On the first day of hunting the illuminator nob fell out and I didn't know it till later. March told me for $180 they will send me another. Despite me telling them it was the first time I took it out the nob was gone. They told me they would pay the international shipping. I was warned about March's warrantee, but didn't think I would need it. The worst part is I didn't even order a scope with illumination.
Opening day of deer season came and I was ready to play with my new toy. After a whole week of hiking my area with no success, I decided to go back to my 8mm Coyle. It's a game getter. I took it on Monday and right away saw deer. By about quarter after ten I had a buck down. The Hammer Sledge Hammer 181 starting at 3,120 feet per second hit the back of the left shoulder and exited behind the right shoulder. Drop at the shot is what I experience since I switched to Hammers six years ago. That includes eleven deer and two pigs. Tomorrow I will go looking for a doe, Lord willing.
After deer season I think I will try some 7mm 143 grainers in the RUMLN.
I ordered some sample packs from Hammer Bullets. Right away I used ignorant prejudice to pick the Hammer Hunter 131 grain bullet over the 120, 143 and 150 grain bullets. It looks good to me. almost immediately I started getting poor accuracy and unexpected high pressure. I switched out the March for a Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50 and the groups were no better. I was very happy about that. Finally, I discovered the necks needed to be trimmed after every firing. They were pinching on the bullets at the end of the neck area. Even after solving the problem, accuracy is not what I was hoping for, but hunting season was upon us so I stuck with the 131s. The velocity seemed to settle about 3,670 feet per second with 300 yard, five shot groups 2 1/4" or under.
On the first day of hunting the illuminator nob fell out and I didn't know it till later. March told me for $180 they will send me another. Despite me telling them it was the first time I took it out the nob was gone. They told me they would pay the international shipping. I was warned about March's warrantee, but didn't think I would need it. The worst part is I didn't even order a scope with illumination.
Opening day of deer season came and I was ready to play with my new toy. After a whole week of hiking my area with no success, I decided to go back to my 8mm Coyle. It's a game getter. I took it on Monday and right away saw deer. By about quarter after ten I had a buck down. The Hammer Sledge Hammer 181 starting at 3,120 feet per second hit the back of the left shoulder and exited behind the right shoulder. Drop at the shot is what I experience since I switched to Hammers six years ago. That includes eleven deer and two pigs. Tomorrow I will go looking for a doe, Lord willing.
After deer season I think I will try some 7mm 143 grainers in the RUMLN.
