Talk me into it or talk me out of it

[mrb1982]

I have the chance to buy a 300RUM in Remington 700BDL. Not many rounds down it, great shape from a buddy who it is just too much gun for his needs. I hunt mostly mule deer with some elk mixed in. My 5 year goal for this gun is to turn it custom wit a long barrel and a brake. Would you buy a large cal like this in a sporter barrel? I am interested in out to 1200yds. I have a 7RM sendero right now so no hurry to get this 300RUM finished, but would like to get a little shootin out of it before full custom. Any advice input or opinion would be appreciated, one way or the other. Thanks

 

[HARPERC]

Pass. A heavy barreled version might hold some appeal, but only if I'd shot it some and knew first hand it performed well enough. Presumably your 7mm has got you covered for now.

My experience having done this more than once, and I still have to resist the temptation.
Is to forego this route by the time you've modified all of it you've saved no money, and really haven't got quite where you want to be.

Basically, you're buying a project the center of which is the 700 action. Buy a custom action the way you want it, put it in the safe, next year pick up a barrel, or stock, or a scope. Given the wait times on some of the quality items, and lead times of the better smiths it could easily take five years.

 

[James Kiser]

^^ i agree and disagree somewhat. I bought a Rem action STW and had a semi custom built because that was all i could afford at the time. If you want a semi custom build then do it man, but like he said above me if you can shell out the coin for a full on custom build with a custom action such as surgeon (my favorite) id wait.

Having said that id talk to your gunsmith/gunmaker and talk to him and see what he says about this and that person may give you the best answer.

I absolutely love my semi custom 7mmSTW that Robert Gradous built me. It was around $2000 with parts, labor, paint, install.

Talk to your person about your decision.

Let us know what you decide though!!

 

[HARPERC]

My answer came with 3 conditions. 1) He has a rifle meeting his current needs, 2) He has five years to prepare for the next step, 3) The rifle has been verified by first hand shooting to meet his needs and expectations.

 

[TOM H]

I have the chance to buy a 300RUM in Remington 700BDL. Not many rounds down it, great shape from a buddy who it is just too much gun for his needs. I hunt mostly mule deer with some elk mixed in. My 5 year goal for this gun is to turn it custom wit a long barrel and a brake. Would you buy a large cal like this in a sporter barrel? I am interested in out to 1200yds. I have a 7RM sendero right now so no hurry to get this 300RUM finished, but would like to get a little shootin out of it before full custom. Any advice input or opinion would be appreciated, one way or the other. Thanks

I would it's not for much volume shooting might be great shooting when letting the 7Mag cool down.

I just as soon build on something I already have and my latest 270 Wby used
Rem action,Mike Rock barrel,D.Holland stock with his pillar system.

You really have to sit and decide what you want if a custom action is wanted vs using factory then that's the way to go. In a 5yr wait lot could change in bullets/barrels that be something really want to keep current on. As to picking gunsmith now who knows if he'll be in business.

Well good luck

 

[Doublezranch]

Mr. Harper is right. If your heart is truly into a custom in 5 years, then I would wait. The problem I have is that I say ? years and then the kids need clothes, the car breaks down, the house needs repairs. Before you know it, your gun nest egg is gone. If your on the fence at all about this, buy it. You can always build off the action if you want. Also, you can shoot it and get the feel of a larger bore rifle. You can play with loads/ammunition for when the full custom arrives and at the very least kill some targets at longer ranges. Lastly, it will not hurt you to own it, shoot it and then use it to help fund your full custom. By doing it this way, you gain helpful knowledge about the caliber and what you want or don't want on your custom gun. Plus, it s ultra mag!! Everyone should own one....or 2.....or 3.....4??

My 2 cents.....

 

[mrb1982]

Mr. Harper is right. If your heart is truly into a custom in 5 years, then I would wait. The problem I have is that I say ? years and then the kids need clothes, the car breaks down, the house needs repairs. Before you know it, your gun nest egg is gone. If your on the fence at all about this, buy it. You can always build off the action if you want. Also, you can shoot it and get the feel of a larger bore rifle. You can play with loads/ammunition for when the full custom arrives and at the very least kill some targets at longer ranges. Lastly, it will not hurt you to own it, shoot it and then use it to help fund your full custom. By doing it this way, you gain helpful knowledge about the caliber and what you want or don't want on your custom gun. Plus, it s ultra mag!! Everyone should own one....or 2.....or 3.....4??

My 2 cents.....

Yeah, I know what you are saying about the wife/kid stuff. I guess the reason why I probably wanted it was for the "ultra mag" maybe. In all actuality, there isn't a darn thing I would ever hunt that I couldn't kill at a long ways away with my 7RM. Just a dandy of a gun to shoot. Probably be best to just buy a 300 RUM in a Sendero and go from there if I thought I really wanted to have one. Who knows. Everybody here makes very good points though. Keep the input coming.

 

[Derek M.]

Don't buy it.

 

[HARPERC]

The problem I have is that I say ? years and then the kids need clothes, the car breaks down, the house needs repairs. Before you know it, your gun nest egg is gone.

LOL, you left out divorce, orthodontics, tuition, weddings, and having enough left to actually get out and use the thing. I get it, sometimes right now trumps getting it right.

I'm a year behind in my plans for a dedicated long range rifle. My son did a double major thing that added another years tuition.

Technology changes every Shot Show, just figuring out which scope to use is a moving target on the run. I just bought a Nightforce ATACR, 2 years ago when I started saving for a Schmidt and Bender, this scope was not available. Now I'm saving for mounts, they don't give away 34mm rings, and an angle/level indicator has to be added.

Then there are the accessories, something to measure atmospheric inputs is handy.

I'm struggling with temptation myself, I sold a rifle to a friend years ago to pay divorce costs. This year he gave it back, said it really didn't shoot. It's a Remington 700 light sporter that originally was a .222 Remington. I had it chambered .223 Remington for cheaper ammo, and it was a gun I started kids with. Not real high expectations, but I don't remember it being a poor shooter. The problem seems to be it's a 1:14 twist, and the newer, longer bullets don't work but the 40-45 grains are decent.

Now at this point in time I have absolutely nothing invested, I have a heavy barreled .223 Tikka that shoots great, and I've got it in my head an ultralight 6.5 TCU would make a great transition gun for the kids I take shooting/hunting. Perfect for filling youth tags with small does, at close range.

It's not always about logic, and as often as not we don't get there in a straight line.

Another way to look at it is what could you do for your 7mm that would make it more useable for what you want, using the money you would spend buying another rifle?

I have a safe full of stuff, so trust me, I haven't always taken my own advice.

 

[mrb1982]

I gotta be honest, I am kinda surprised by the overwhelming amount of "don't do it" type responses. I am guessing that a 300 RUM in a BDL would have to be some punishing recoil, wouldn't it?

I tend to agree with most of your comments. Probably best to buy a custom action or a good custom made gun rather than build off this one.

In all actuality, my Sendero is a darn good gun and I probably don't really need the 300 Ultra Mag, but you know how it is, we always want something bigger, right? lol

 

[cohunter14]

I guess my questions would be:
1) Do you know how the gun shoots?
2) How much is he selling it for?
3) What would your long-term goal be as far as a build?

If the gun shoots great, then it could be worth it depending on the price. For me though, a BDL just isn't typically worth the money. For the same price, you can typically buy a brand new SPS and put a B&C stock on it. If you are going to be ditching the BDL stock with a build anyway, why not just buy an SPS and replace the stock? No other real differences in the SPS versus the BDL.

As far as your long-term goals go, are you looking for a heavier gun or something lighter that you can tote in the woods? If you are looking for a lighter build, then again the BDL (or a new SPS) wouldn't be terrible, provided it shoots. Shoot it for 5 years until the barrel goes (while possibly replacing the stock and/or trigger during that time) and once the barrel goes, buy a new one and true the action.

Just my two cents...

 

[ProfessorM]

If you have the money and want it, buy it! I had a 300 RUM in a BDL with tupperware stock. Factory loads weren't that great in it. (or so I thought) I started loading for it and the groups tightened up. Bought an HS stock and had the trigger worked and it would hold well under a moa to 700 yards with 208 Amax's. During this time, I bought a used Sendero in 300 RUM, had it bedded and the trigger worked and it will flat out shoot! I will say, I don't know if the BDL kicked more than the Sendero. The difference was not much (to me anyway). Looking back, I think the BDL probably shot as well as the Sendero, it was just me that was getting better, the more that I shot and tweaked loads. I sold the BDL and kept the Sendero but wish I still had it for a future project. Good Luck!

 

[mrb1982]

This might be a dumb question, but do you ever have just too many choices in the safe when you go out? hahahaha I but the 300 RUM and decide I want to shoot the lights out of it, then my nice Sendero sits in the safe at hunting season. I got a 270win that shots great that is already in taht spot and is probably gonna end up a coyote gun. hahaha

The short answer, you never have too many guns!!!!!! Man I will have to think this one out.

Plus the other problem with a 300RUM right now is getting brass for the thing. I would like to shoot some 215gr Bergers out of it and those are nearly impossible to come by right now also.

 

[cohunter14]

This might be a dumb question, but do you ever have just too many choices in the safe when you go out? hahahaha I but the 300 RUM and decide I want to shoot the lights out of it, then my nice Sendero sits in the safe at hunting season. I got a 270win that shots great that is already in taht spot and is probably gonna end up a coyote gun. hahaha

The short answer, you never have too many guns!!!!!! Man I will have to think this one out.

Plus the other problem with a 300RUM right now is getting brass for the thing. I would like to shoot some 215gr Bergers out of it and those are nearly impossible to come by right now also.

300 RUM brass is becoming easier to find. I have seen it in the for sale section here quite a bit. The 215's are still hard to get, but they will come back. In the mean time, you can get 210's, 230's or even the 200 Accubonds.