Well the day is finally here...... I have finally shot my 338-06!
It was a cold, windy day. -10 with a wind from right to left @ 20K gusting to 30...... Good thing I was only there to break-in the barrel! I only managed 3 shots in 4 hrs.
Barrel break-in is almost complete, I have had very little time lately to really go to the range for an entire day to break it in properly so what I have been doing is hitting the range after work firing one shot then packing her up to take home to clean.
On friday I finally shot my first 3 shot group. Thursday I fired 2 shots but I don't really see that as a group, I didn't even post a target, I just aimed at the target boards! Next group will be a 4 shot, then a 5 with cleanings in between. The only group I have shot to date was @ 25y to make sure my bore sight was acurate. The group would be real nice @ 100y but kinda lack luster @ 25..... Not bad considering I am using old water damaged (heavily corroded) 250gr Winchester ballistic silver tips. I ran them through my tumbler for a day and then picked out the best 40 to make test/fouler/break-in rounds.
I used Win LR primers, 46gr of Varget (min load) pushing a 250gr. Winchester Ballistic Silvertip as a starter round. I crony'd it at 2489 (avg for 3 shots) I plan on ladder testing 225 & 250gr Hornady SSTs first for this rifle. If they group well I will probably stay with them.
Another problem I have found is that I can't seem to get the set of dies I wanted...... I REALLY had my sights set on a set of Hornady's New dimension Dies, but they seem to be unobtainium..... So to make my brass for my break in I FLRS 55 30-06 cases then necked them up to 338 in my 338 LM dies. I just ran them up, the shoulder of the LM is a fair bit higher than the -06 so I didn't have to worry about bumping the shoulders. I netted 49 useable cases from this, that when it is all said and done will be fireformed in my rifle.
Now to wait for the redding dies I orderd to come in......
Lets rewind a bit.
July/10
-I ordered my barrel via my local shop, I figgured they were doing the work anyway, they might as well get what they like to work with.
-I still hadn't decided on what to do, buy a rifle and offer it up as a donor, or offer up one of mine. The only donor action I could firnd was a bit too spendy for me.....
Aug/10
-I bought a M700 MR of the EE, but it was too pretty to take apart so I decided to shoot it and build a load as it was a 30-06 (which I already had in a M700).
Sept/10
-Barrel and Stock arrive at the Smiths. I have to decide what I am going to do......
-Turns out the MR is a pretty good shooter once I worked out a few kinks. I have pretty much decided to offer up my other 30-06 as the donor rifle for the build...... But I'm fence sitting right now....
Nov/10
-I used the MR hunting this fall, it took a nice Mulie buck and 5 Coyotes a few other targets of oppertunity.
-I finally (to my smiths relief) decide which one of my rifles will be re-born. I decided on the M700 SPS DM that had only been in the safe for 3yrs as the donor.
Jan/11
-I pick up my finished rifle....... Well almost finished......
I still have a few things to decide.....
Do I want to go with a scope or with a peep?
The rifle is currently 23.5' long do I want to go shorter to 20 like I originally envisioned?
Do I want a muzzle brake?
Opps! I almost forgot! The parts List.....
Remingtom Model 700 (action, bottom metal, trigger, satety etc.)
Hart Barrel. 1:10
HS Percision stock
Extra fat recoil lug (dammed if I can remember the make right now)
Leuplod rings and bases
Redfield 4-12x40
Lapped the lugs
Trued the action
Trued the bolt face
Well with out further ado, here are the pics!
lol! I think I could get into a used beat up 700LA for under $500????
