heikki02003
Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2009
- Messages
- 26
Hey folks,
I have finally received all the parts I need to assemble my new long range hunting rifle (for Saskatchewan whitetails). The project started in November 2008 and the first part (McMillan Stock) was ordered December 1st. The inspiration for the build was Charales Ballard winning the 1000yrd F-Class Nationals using a "staight" .284 win. To me, the .284 sounded like an ideal long range hunting rig. Awesome BC's for bullet diameter and weight, very little recoil (comparatively), and a light weight short action receiver. Here came the first obstacle. I did a lot of research and found that if I was going to shoot bullets no longer that Honady's 162gr A-max out of the short action, I would be able to get enough powder into the case and still fit mag length while not hindering velocity. The second obstacle was the apparent feeding problem when feeding the fatter .284 cases from the mag. So, I knew I had a few challenges ahead of me to get this to work. What I decided was that I was going to go with a quality, very tight tolerance bottom metal and magazine to hopefully help alleviate some of the feeding problems. Badger makes the best in the business and I quickly had one on its way with a five round Accuracy International magazine. What I can say is that I can only get four rounds in the five round .308 mag (again because of the fatter cases), and that, sure enough, they did not feed properly. Because the feed lips on the magazine hold the fatter cases lower in the mag well, the bolt would pick one up but quickly push it down below the bolt and jam. I very simple bending of the feed lips to raise the cartridge in the well eliminated the problem and now feed smoothly and reliably like any badger/AI system. Another bonus using the AI mag is that it fits 2.88 COAL rounds, helping me get a little more powder in the case.
Dave Kiff helped me with my reamer specs. The reamer is set up for Win brass shooting both 140gr and 160gr Accubonds (same ogive) and should shoot the 162gr Hornady A-max's for target shooting. It has a freebore of .090 which will allow rounds of 2.88 COAL to just kiss the lands with the steeper 1degree30 leade. My virgin loaded Win brass necks measured .313 to .315. I brought them all to .313 loaded which cleaned up about 80-90% of each neck. A few, maybe 20 per 100 allowed for a full 100% clean up. Dave cut my reamer with a .317 neck which gives me .002 per side of neck/chamber clearance which is ideal. It has been said by a few respected builders/shooters that too tight tolerances in neck/chamber create accuracy problems with the .284.
Build Specs:
Surgeon SA Repeater
Kreiger 1:9 #5 SS 24"
Badger M5 & AI 5 round mag, 2.88COAL max
McMillan A3
Jewel HVR
Dave Kiff reamer .317nk, .090fb, 1 degree 30 leade
Leupold Mark4 30mm aluminum rings.
Will be Cerakoted mate black
Everything less the barrel weighed 4lb 10oz. The barrel, still 30" long, weighs 4lb 6oz but will have 7" cut off of it plus will get a bit lighter after threads and chamber. So, before scope it will weigh approx. 8lbs.
So now a little more waiting for it to be assembled then some load development. I'll be sure to keep you updated with pictures of it assembled and range reports.
Take care,
Kyle
I have finally received all the parts I need to assemble my new long range hunting rifle (for Saskatchewan whitetails). The project started in November 2008 and the first part (McMillan Stock) was ordered December 1st. The inspiration for the build was Charales Ballard winning the 1000yrd F-Class Nationals using a "staight" .284 win. To me, the .284 sounded like an ideal long range hunting rig. Awesome BC's for bullet diameter and weight, very little recoil (comparatively), and a light weight short action receiver. Here came the first obstacle. I did a lot of research and found that if I was going to shoot bullets no longer that Honady's 162gr A-max out of the short action, I would be able to get enough powder into the case and still fit mag length while not hindering velocity. The second obstacle was the apparent feeding problem when feeding the fatter .284 cases from the mag. So, I knew I had a few challenges ahead of me to get this to work. What I decided was that I was going to go with a quality, very tight tolerance bottom metal and magazine to hopefully help alleviate some of the feeding problems. Badger makes the best in the business and I quickly had one on its way with a five round Accuracy International magazine. What I can say is that I can only get four rounds in the five round .308 mag (again because of the fatter cases), and that, sure enough, they did not feed properly. Because the feed lips on the magazine hold the fatter cases lower in the mag well, the bolt would pick one up but quickly push it down below the bolt and jam. I very simple bending of the feed lips to raise the cartridge in the well eliminated the problem and now feed smoothly and reliably like any badger/AI system. Another bonus using the AI mag is that it fits 2.88 COAL rounds, helping me get a little more powder in the case.
Dave Kiff helped me with my reamer specs. The reamer is set up for Win brass shooting both 140gr and 160gr Accubonds (same ogive) and should shoot the 162gr Hornady A-max's for target shooting. It has a freebore of .090 which will allow rounds of 2.88 COAL to just kiss the lands with the steeper 1degree30 leade. My virgin loaded Win brass necks measured .313 to .315. I brought them all to .313 loaded which cleaned up about 80-90% of each neck. A few, maybe 20 per 100 allowed for a full 100% clean up. Dave cut my reamer with a .317 neck which gives me .002 per side of neck/chamber clearance which is ideal. It has been said by a few respected builders/shooters that too tight tolerances in neck/chamber create accuracy problems with the .284.
Build Specs:
Surgeon SA Repeater
Kreiger 1:9 #5 SS 24"
Badger M5 & AI 5 round mag, 2.88COAL max
McMillan A3
Jewel HVR
Dave Kiff reamer .317nk, .090fb, 1 degree 30 leade
Leupold Mark4 30mm aluminum rings.
Will be Cerakoted mate black
Everything less the barrel weighed 4lb 10oz. The barrel, still 30" long, weighs 4lb 6oz but will have 7" cut off of it plus will get a bit lighter after threads and chamber. So, before scope it will weigh approx. 8lbs.
So now a little more waiting for it to be assembled then some load development. I'll be sure to keep you updated with pictures of it assembled and range reports.
Take care,
Kyle
