.308 build update: + Bushnell 4200 6-24X50 T

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dpopl8r

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Update on pg 3, 5.....

It has been a quick and easy budget project that was based on an old Rem 700 SA BDL .243 Win I had taking up space in my safe. Got thinking about a build that would be dedicated to serious trigger time out to 1000 yards. I needed something I could shoot, and shoot a lot.

After much thought on caliber from 6mm Rem. (but I already got one), to 7mm-08 (kinda boring next to my .280 Rem), .260 Remington (maybe next) to 300 WSM (but I have my 300 RUM), I finally decided on the .308 Win. Accurate, 5,000+ round barrel life, cheap to handload, and with enough steam for some long range shooting.

I picked up a “take-off” Remington fluted 26” barrel, never fired from CGN (tnx LD), and a Badger Ordnance bolt knob and shipped it to Dennis Sorensen to put it together and tune the trigger to 2.5# (great work..Tnx) . I ordered a Bell & Carlson medalist (with aluminum bedding block) vertical grip stock. Folks, this stock is bloody brilliant. ### provided the TPS 20 MOA 1 pc base and rings…splurged a bit, but good for a many lifetimes of service! All in build was $830 for a top-drawer, do-it-all rifle that I love and can shoot the piss out of. If I stuck with the original plan to use the old rings and mounts, and skipped the bolt mods, the build cost would have been $540.

For now, I will use my Leupold PR 4.5-14 x 40 with TMR. The plan is for a new, as yet undetermined and unfunded scope to permanently occupy the .308….hmmm, anybody know the ETA on the new Bushnell 4200 6-24x50 ?

Got some handloads ready to test, Winchester brass, Varget, and, for starters, some 165 Nosler BST tips I had sitting around. I want to run the Hornady A-Max. Range report soon next.

P3250195.jpg
 
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Does 830 include your optics and rings? Cuz I thought I wnet cheap on my Savage setup and I bet I spent $1200

I really like you stock BTW. I think I will be getting one of those in the forseeable future.
 
The $ 830 includes the TPS rings and 20 MOA base, but not the optics (which belongs to my 300 RUM).

Yeah, this is my second B&C medalist (the other is the Rem 700 Titanium LA version)- I am very impressed with them, so far. You just cannot beat the bang for the $$.:rockOn:
 
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So I assume $830 is for the stock, rings, mounts, the barrel, and the work rebarreling and tuning your action? This is too chep to include the action itself. Real nice looking rifle!

Troutseeker
 
Your right TS! I had the M700SA .243 for a long time, but all it was doing was taking up space in my safe...so the cost of the action is not factored in. I figure it's kind of a freebie...;) Basically, the build started because I didn't have a use for the .243, so I decided to make it into a crackin' range rifle on-the-cheap, that I could use for some serious LR trigger time, and to take the odd whitetail :rockOn: .

If I stuck with the original plan to use the old rings and mounts, and skipped the bolt mods, the build cost would have been $540 :rolleyes: ...but I guess I got a little carried a way...but I couldn't be happier with my new rifle, still very reasonable I figure:evil: .

BTW, the wife still figures it was $540 and no need to tell her about the .308 reloading supplies:bigHug:
 
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Wow, nice rifle. I am glad to see someone build a F class rifle on a budget and deciding it did not have to be a .338LM. I have seen .308's go as far as 8000+ rounds and still win matches in TR. What bullet weight do you plan on running?
 
maynard said:
Wow, nice rifle. What bullet weight do you plan on running?
Click to expand...

Thanks a bunch ! 1-12" barrel so I have many options. For now I am gonna use some left over 165 Nos BST, but next will be some Hornady 168 A-Max, and then maybe some 175 SMK's. I have some left over 168 TSX as well (elk anyone ?).

I plan on shooting this one a lot, so the Hornady's seem like a good mix of BC and price. However, with what sounds like maybe a 8000 + round barrel life :rockOn: , I am gonna have fun figuring out what works and what doesn't, and that's the whole idea behind this rig.

Any and all load suggestions (and recipe's) are welcome :popCorn: ?
 
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My factory Remington 24" Varmint profile barrel packed it in around the 7K mark for rounds fired. Took a decade of shooting to do it though.

New barrel, and it's all good again. 1/2 MOA groups at 100m (5 rd) fired today lying in the mud. Best 3 of 5 shots was sub 0.3 MOA for several of the 9 test groups fired.

VERY pleased with the "plinker". Rock barrels are a good thing.

NS
 
Oh yeah, and the funding....lemme see, a $500 barrel, a $400 HS Precision stock, $200 20 MOA Nightforce rail, $600 to assemble it all...and then discover that my old rifle-bag/case doesn't fit the new 27" barrel, so I had to toss in on one of the Artkis drag-bags, another $200. Add to that the original cost of the scope (Leupy 3.5-10 VXIII) and the rifle (Remy 700 Varminter) and the Harris BR 'pod, well, you're into the $3.5K range, not including the rings, the reloading gear, etc etc.

Oh yeah, the re-barreling job as described to the wife was the barrel and installation...the new stock and the drag-bag might not have been fully described as part of the...renovations....of the rifle.

Damn, this hobby is expensive!

NS
 
Yeah, for a decade my off the shelf R700 Varminter went toe-to-toe with some of the best PR shooters in the country in matches from 200m back to 800m. I took a provincial championship once with it, and placed in the top 3 a lot. I proved my point, an out of the box rifle will shoot with the best. You don't need a $$$$ rifle to be able to come out and play, and to win. That said, for a lot of those years, I looked in envy at the custom jobbies on the line that I was shooting against, and when I wore the barrel out, I saved the action and upgraded.

NS
 
dpopl8r said:
Any and all load suggestions (and recipe's) are welcome :popCorn: ?
Click to expand...

In a survey of long range shooters on what loads, bullets, brass, etc.

Lapua brass seemed to be the top choice, followed by Norma and Win.(Hornady was not in this survey from about 2 years ago)

Bullets were 155 gr Lapua, Sierra, Nosler and A-Max.
Varget seems to be the winner for powder choice with the load being within a 1/2 gr of 46 gr. IMR 4895, 4895sc and 4064 were the next powders.
 
dpopl8r]Thanks a bunch ! 1-12" barrel so I have many options. For now I am gonna use some left over 165 Nos BST, but next will be some Hornady 168 A-Max, and then maybe some 175 Sierra BTHPMK. I have some left over 168 TSX as well (elk anyone ?).

I plan on shooting this one a lot, so the Hornady's seem like a good mix of BC and price. However, with what sounds like maybe a 8000 + round barrel life :rockOn: , I am gonna have fun figuring out what works and what doesn't, and that's the whole idea behind this rig.

Any and all load suggestions (and recipe's) are welcome :popCorn: ?[/QUOTE said:
i found this load shot well for me

168 A-MAX
varget 46.3 gr
WLR primers
Remington Brass
2.928 OAL
2688 fps
Click to expand...
 
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