Need Opinions on a Lightweight Rifle for Friend....

Rackmastr

Rackmastr

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Hey Guys,
Have a friend who is trying to either build or buy a very lightweight gun with a few criteria. Some of them may not be acheivable for what he's looking at, but wanted to get some opinions from some of you guys who own or have been involved with several custom guns...
Anyways....here is his criteria....I'd LOVE to hear as many options, opinions, etc on options so I can pass it along to him. He is currently shooting a Browning A-Bolt and was considering spending some $$ to have some work done on that gun, or going a different direction....

What would YOU do if you were working within the following objectives:

- lightweight - got to be less than 6 lbs (without scope/sling), target of 5.5-5.75

- accurate - got to shoot 3 shot 0.75 MOA or better with factory ammo, target of 0.5 (which might be a dream)

- tough - got to be tough as nails, take a beating, never fail me, SOB

- detach magazine - got to have 3 round mag

- calibre - either 7mm Rem Mag or 270 WSM

- no muzzle brakes allowed

- cost - got to be less than $3,500 without scope
Would you buy one of the "semi-customs" like the HS-Precision or Nosler Custom, OR would you have one built?

If you bought, who would be your favorite manufacturer?

If you built, what major components would you use in the build?
 
"...7mm Rem Mag or 270 WSM..." In a less than 6 lb rifle, either will pound him into next week. Both the Savage 'Hunter'(no 7mm either, WSM weighs 6.75 lbs) and Remington M700 'Mountain'(no 7mm mag or WSM) weigh just under 7 pounds.
"...3 shot 0.75 MOA or better with factory ammo..." That isa dream. He'd have try try every brand and bullet weight he can hoping to find factory ammo that will do that consistently, if at all.
I'd be telling him to re-think the whole thing.
 
Ya....some of his expectations are high.....but I guess he's just feelin around and hopefully can accomplish as many as possible.....

Either way I think he's leaning towards a Rem 700 build.....not positive though...
 
the whole plan is a pretty tall order.....it can probably be done but it'll take some serious planning and weighing of components..he might start with a new 700 Alaskan Ti and go from there...but, the desired accuracy with factory ammo will be a problem no matter how you build the rifle...
 
I think the biggest hurdles to overcome would obviously be the accuracy, the calibre choice and options, and the detach mag.....but ya....a guy's gotta aim high.....heh
 
Here are 2 7-08 AI's that I had done up (one for me, one for my brother).

The bottom one is mine, and weighs 6lbs all up as it sits in the picture.

Details:

Trued Rem 700 SA electroless nickel
Gaillard 22" 1:9 twist
Wildcat M7 stock inletted for the Rem 700 SA
Bolt helical fluted
Bolt Shroud turned down

Rifle was chambered by Ted Gaillard, and then I spent the next few months shipping parts around Canada to be cut/chopped, painted, plated, etc....

Both shoot very well (the other is identical except w/different bolt knob work and it wears a Brown stock).

They are VERY easy on the shoulder, easy to shoot, and hard on game.

The 7-08AI leaves me wanting for nothing w/regards to accuracy and potency on critters (big and small).

They have been very robust, and I've packed mine on numerous trips for sheep, goat, elk, moose......with bombproof results so far.

Truthfully, I'd not build one in 270 WSM or 300 Win Mag (ouch)!

W/the exception of the DMag, your target is easy to reach (short action Rem 700) and will be WELLLLLL under $3500 scoped!

P1010179.jpg


P1010180.jpg


A few of the groups I've shot with it

P2250007.jpg


Group.jpg


Close up of some action work

7-08AIPhoto2.jpg
 
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I sold a Leeper built 284Win and have been kickin myself ever since....

I'd build the LVSF into a 284 Win if I thought feeding wouldnt be an issue..I would be ALL over that....in a second...
 
the detach mag screws everything up. otherwise just pick up a 700, lightweight fiberglass stock, pencil thin barrel, some talley lightweights, and a trim 3-9x scope

the 270wsm would get the nod over the 7mm Rem
 
I kinda figured the DM was the biggest issue as well, and with some metal work and a Rem 700 SA you could get her pretty light with a pencil bbl. Either way, I guess its always good to toss ideas around....
 
I think you have realistic goals, it won't be a problem.

I'd start with a short action m700, or model seven, get the bolt fluted, handle skeletonize an the action slabbed.

Aluminum bolt shroud and titanium firing pin.

#1 contour barrel @ 22 inches

And spend some money on a good lightweight stock

If you pick the right scope and rings you'll be under 6 lbs Scoped.:)

Here's my rifle its 6 lbs 3 ounces scoped but its a long action and a 23.125" barrel, drop floorplate, a match recoil lug plus a heavy limbsaver recoil pad. All these things added extra weight. I'm swapping out the stock so I will be a fair bit under 6lbs scoped.

It shot .75 MOA out to 300 yards with the first and only load I tried so far.

IMG_0717.jpg
 
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7.08 "Super Improved"!

Your Super Improved is still in my gun cabinet Trev!Just let me know when you need it back(I'm kinda storing it for ya!).I haven't picked up any of my other 7mm's since I started shooting the .280AI I got from Rembo(3/4" @ 200yds with 140ABs). Cheers,Mur
 
Mur said:
Your Super Improved is still in my gun cabinet Trev!Just let me know when you need it back(I'm kinda storing it for ya!).I haven't picked up any of my other 7mm's since I started shooting the .280AI I got from Rembo(3/4" @ 200yds with 140ABs). Cheers,Mur
Click to expand...

Ya one of these days I'm gonna come knockin on your door for that Super Improved back...heh. That 280AI sounds like a nice rig.....
 
Mur said:
Your Super Improved is still in my gun cabinet Trev!Just let me know when you need it back(I'm kinda storing it for ya!).I haven't picked up any of my other 7mm's since I started shooting the .280AI I got from Rembo(3/4" @ 200yds with 140ABs). Cheers,Mur
Click to expand...

OK...that about decides it:cool:...from now on I'm going to get someone else to shoot my rifles before I sell them:cool:......I can't shoot that well at 100 yards....:rolleyes:

I have a near copy of it in 25-06.......:)

glad it's treating you well..but it's just a King tube screwed together in a garage by an old oilfield machinist...and fluted on a CNC machining center that spends most of it's time on down-hole drilling motor parts....you better get your ruler calibrated....:D
 
Rembo,
You know much about a SA Rem 700 and the feeding issues involved with a 284Win? Who would be a good guy to talk to about reaming the 7-08 to AI? Its really been itching at me to switch the gun up a bit...
 
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