First precision/long range build. Photos Post 25, Range Report post 33

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Fire306

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For a long time now I have wanted to build a custom long range rifle setup.
Reality is that I have no real reason to, or any need to, but as most guys will agree who get hooked on this sport, I'm going to do it anyways, just because I want to.

Growing up shooting Sako's in my fathers collection, and building a collection of my own, is driving me to build one on a Sako action.

Then comes the caliber selection, I have a Sako 75 in 7mm STW and absolutely love the caliber. Great long range capability, .284 bullet selection is awesome, recoil is manageable, add a muzzle brake and its great.

So, here's where I'm starting. I have a Sako m995 TRGs rifle in 7mm STW that is going to become my donor action. I think so I am going to go with a Krieger
SS Barrel in #5 Bull sporter weight 26" finished length. (I would go with a heavier profile, but I may decide to hunt periodically with this rig) I haven't decided on the twist rate yet, I am thinking 1-9 but may opt for the 1-8 for heavier VLD bullets.
I am going to put the rifle in the Whiskey-3 Chassis from Kinetic Research. The Chassis requires use of a AI magazine.
Optics will be the last decision I will make on the set-up. I would like to outfit it with a Nightforce 5.5-22x56 NXS NP R1, Opti-lock bases and Rings I have for all my other rifles, I like them, but maybe someone could chime in with other good recommendations.
I haven't decided on what kind of muzzle brake to use, but I will have one installed. Yes I know they are loud and all the implications. 99% of the time I am shooting by myself, and am not bothering anyone with the muzzle blast.
I will likely look at a bi-pod set-up as I near completion. Probably the m-pod from Mystic Precision.

Am I out to lunch considering this build? Any recommendations about the components I have chosen, or any you would not recommend?
I am also looking for anyone with experience with the Whiskey 3 Chassis.
Thanks in advance.
 
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STW is a heavy hitting hunter for sure, but very poor barrel life. The project will be a hummer, just don't expect match-grade accuracy for very long. Have you thought of maybe just a 280? gives up little in terms of performance but double the barrel life.
 
paperslayer said:
STW is a heavy hitting hunter for sure, but very poor barrel life. The project will be a hummer, just don't expect match-grade accuracy for very long. Have you thought of maybe just a 280? gives up little in terms of performance but double the barrel life.
Click to expand...

This is good advice. Worth considering. Some of the metric bullets are worthwhile to consider as well. ie 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5x284, etc.
 
I have a 280 already as well in a Sako AV. Love that caliber as well, also have a 260 rem in a Sako 85 that is a super rifle in its stock format, shoots under 1/2moa.
I really like the STW, and the donor action I have is a Magnum action, I think (correct me if I'm wrong) I would have to change at least the bolt to step down to the smaller base of the 280/260.
It will take me a long time (years) to shoot this thing enough to burn up a barrel. If I put 2-300 rounds through it in a year, that would be a lot of shooting for me.
 
By all means dont hesitate building an stw I have built a few [ my reamer is still fresh only cut 3 chambers so far lol] and they work great at long range.
They buck the wind incredibly and shoot really flat.
If you only plan on shooting a few hundred rounds a year you should be good for 4-5 years , they are hard on barrels but no worst than some of the other overbore cartridges.
 
like my 300rum.. Its equipped iwth 1/10 twist @ 30" and #7 contour.
atm I am testing with 215 grain bullets @ 3200-3300 FPS which will just sucker down my barrel life.

I also have the M-pod from Mystic, if you want to use them for benchrest, prone, or nothing used with hiking, is a good bi-pod. since it is designed for F-class, it does not fold. I carry Atlas Bi-pod for the bush and M-pod for everything else and they seem to work just fine,

I believe jerry from Mystic carries few extra 30cal barrels with him and i Actially have A NF that is on my 30-378 and bought a Sightron 8x32 LRMOA to test it out. from what i hear from jerry and few other F class chooters... you cannot tell the lens quality from NF, Huskemaw, Zeiss and such.
Since i do have all those scopes mounted on my rifles.... I shouldnt say this since few of NF guys might get upset.... but I cannot tell the difference at all.... I am talking about cheap $1000 scope VS $2800 scope that i tested at the range..

I decided to go with sightron just because i wouldnt feel bad about dropping it or wrecking the scope when its getting abused in the bush and i think i made a right choice on this one. just letting you know there are few "gem" scopes that you can invest few grand more into the rifle it self and get equal quality optics. Its also featured on the sticky thread for scopes in Precision.
 
thats my 338 LM on the same action
if you want a scope rail of the same type, I can make one for you the angle and height you want
img0635np.jpg
 
I used a 75 action that was a 7 stw to build my long range rig. I was going to do another stw but the mag really limits you when trying to seat 180 bergers as you barely have any of the bearing surface in the neck. I could single load them but ejecting a loaded round would be a pain. I'm not sure if your action is longer but it's something to consider. I went with a mcmillian Sako varmint stock with a sendero contour barrel channel and wide forend. Chambered it in 7mag with a 26.5 Ron smith gain twist that ends in a 1-9 twist. Using under the max load from Berger I get 2975fps with retumbo.

I'm not sure what your action looks like but I used optilocks with a 8-32 night force and without a canted rail Im limited to about 1125 yards. Not a problem with a 5.5-22 nightforce but something else to consider. There's a fellow in Alberta that makes rails for Sako's though. I just can't remember the company right now.

Myself and a buddy have the same twist rates in 7mags but neither would shoot the 168 Berger very well. Works great for the 180's though.

Hope this helps a bit
.284
 
The Whiskey Chassis requires a AI CIP length magazine, from what I understand it is 3.850" long. My Sako 75 magazine is maxed at 3.700" That should help with the longer seating depths. I'll measure the ejection port and compare to my 75. I have optilocks for the m995, it has the same mounting system as the Sako 75 and other Sako's. Optilock's slide right on, and fit tight.

Dero338, What stock is that that you used? And does your scope mounting rail fit securely onto the factory Sako system? Or does it require drilling and tapping to mount it?
 
My mag is 3.725. I don't have any 7stw brass left but I don't think that extra .125 will be enough to get close to the lands with a 180 vld with a standard reamer. I'm not sure what bullet you were thinking of but apparently the hybrids are not as sensitive to seating depth.
With a standard 7 mag reamer I have .220 left in the mag with rounds loaded 10 thou off the lands(180 vld's).
If that is of any help
4A129FE5-DBBA-44B2-A226-A6284317D7A9-10887-000010196FA4A2B4.jpg
 
my stock is a manners mcst5-a
the base slides on the action's taper dovetail slightly tap with a hamer and wood block to make it thight and I used the clips from the optilock bases to secure it in place
the action eject at a fairly high angle so in order to let the case escape freely, the base opening has to be high enough
and then, if the scope is installed low and the windage turret is long, the case will hit the windage turret and wont eject properly

I made this base because the optilock rings were not strong enough to hadle the recoil of the rifle
the screws had stretched and the rings were looses on the bases but the screws were still jamed solid in locktite
 
Well the stock is ordered. I post some pictures when it arrives.
When it comes to optics, I have always used Leupolds on my other rifles. I was considering the Night Force, but would like to hear input as to comparisons.
 
Another option for a scope base is Near Manufacturing out of alberta. Richard built the 20moa base for my sako 75 based build. top notch workmanship with his products. I was very happy with his product and service. I will be following this build as I recently aquired a m995 for a donar action for my next build.
On a side note Jard builds triggers for that action if you are not happy with the factory trigger for some strange reason.
 
thunderstruck said:
Another option for a scope base is Near Manufacturing out of alberta. Richard built the 20moa base for my sako 75 based build. top notch workmanship with his products. I was very happy with his product and service. I will be following this build as I recently aquired a m995 for a donar action for my next build.
On a side note Jard builds triggers for that action if you are not happy with the factory trigger for some strange reason.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with the factory trigger as far as I'm concerned. What caliber are you considering for your m995 build?
 
Well I found a Krieger #6 contour, Stainless, 1-9 twist barrel in stock in Canada, so I went with that. Also ordered the muzzle brake, a JP Enterprises Bennie Cooley Large profile.
Can't wait to get it all together and sent off to be assembled.
 
the donor action I have is a Magnum action, I think (correct me if I'm wrong) I would have to change at least the bolt to step down to the smaller base of the 280/260.

You are correct about the action. All M995's are a magnium length. the only thing that changes is the bolt face. Who is doing the biuld for you?
 
thunderstruck said:
the donor action I have is a Magnum action, I think (correct me if I'm wrong) I would have to change at least the bolt to step down to the smaller base of the 280/260

You are correct about the action. All M995's are a magnium length. the only thing that changes is the bolt face. Who is doing the biuld for you?
Click to expand...

If the action is a magnum action on all of them, then if a 260 AI or 280 AI was built you could load the rounds with the bullets seated way out, correct?

Jerry at Mystic Precision has been very helpful to me in deciding what parts to use and so on. So I am going to send it to his guy at Black Art Rifle Company to have the machine work done.
 
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