New precision build, all parts FINALLY here!--Update with PICTURES.

Crashman

Crashman

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So this build has been in the works for several months now. It will be (hopefully) a precision rifle to shoot for fun and maybe some of the ORA PR matches next summer. I was initially going to build it off a Rem 700 action, but after waiting for ever and not getting an action, I contacted Gary at Big Horn Sales (he is the BEST!)and he set me up with a Stiller Predator long action and 20 MOA rail, Stiller bottom metal and 5 round AICS mag, Timney 510 trigger, Benchmark CSR muzzle brake and Boyds Tactical laminate stock (yes I know, now this stock can come in to Canada with out an importer), the barrel came from our very own barrel pimp Juan Valdez, a Broughton 7mm 9 twist fluted in a 5.75 contour. I will have it chambered in 284 winchester with 140 freebore that will hopefully shoot the 180 grain bullets well. I also will order the KMW Loggerhead cheek piece hardware but I am not sure if I will need it as the stock seems to have a higher comb than I expected, so I will wait for the rifle to be assembled to see if I need the extra height. I will be mounting a Vortex Viper PST 6-24 FFP MRAD in low Precision Matched Rings with a bubble level and have the barrel and brake Cerakoted by Select Shooting Supplies. I will be looking for an Atlas bipod for up front, so if someone can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Here are some pictures...



I will try to post some assembly pictures if I can, and of course some pics once it is completed and a range report.
 
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Wow! Bad camera angle looks like I have a bent barrel! It is actually straight!

Thanks Shooter, I really wasn't sure on the Boyds, I know they are popular with the hunting crowd and I intend to put one on my M77 Hawkeye, but I normally favour a McMillan or a Bell and Carlson for a precision rifle. But I thought I would like to try one for a change and to try to save some cash. I am really liking it so far and the price is right and there are lots of options.

I am also thinking I might put my Razor HD Gen II on this rifle, I was going to save it for a TRG 42 but I think that will be on the back burner for some time now, so no point in putting a great scope to waste.
 
Do you have your gen II on a rifle now? How do you like it? I'm thinking of one for my PR build. Doing a rifle for US style matches. Obviously the bbl will be cut back. Its a work in progress, just bolted her up to see how it balances before cutting back. Gonna get the scope and rail on tomorrow hopefully then cut it and thread for a brake. Chambered in .260 rem.

 
Currently no, it is not on a rifle. I did have it on my T3 Varmint earlier this summer for a while and it is awesome, better than my 5-20 that I will never part with. I took it off for some testing on another rifle and it proved itself beyond my expectations.

You have a good looking build happening there too. Are you doing the work yourself? Your chassis looks like a cross between an XLR and MDT LSS, I did a build on an AI chassis last year but I ended up selling it because of other projects and commitments limited my time, can only shoot and enjoy so many rifles at one time, right? Well that is what my wife thinks anyways!

Shooter1971 said:
Do you have your gen II on a rifle now? How do you like it? I'm thinking of one for my PR build. Doing a rifle for US style matches. Obviously the bbl will be cut back. Its a work in progress, just bolted her up to see how it balances before cutting back. Gonna get the scope and rail on tomorrow hopefully then cut it and thread for a brake. Chambered in .260 rem.

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A few changes have been made, I swapped out the detachable mag and bottom metal for Orbendorf style BDL bottom metal and the Viper PST is going to my son's rifle so the Razor HD Gen II is going on this rifle. Not a bad trade I guess! Smith still has the rifle but I will be going next week to pick it up, then to start cutting and inletting the stock for the KMW adjustable cheek piece and Devcon bedding. I will hopefully have it all finished up before Christmas and get some range time before the new year. One other thing is coompeting for my time right now though, the boy still have a buck tag and two weeks of bow season left!
 
That's great. My next PRS rifle will be 284WIN. I almost thought of getting 284 Shehane after searching for Shehane Wilson dies. Not easy to find at a reasonable price. I changed my mind and go for 284WIN and a longer barrel, 30" to help a bit of speed. I have collected all the part information and prices online however I haven't started ordering them. I gonna do it very soon.
Do you prefer to order parts yourself and send them to the gunsmith or let the smith takes care of them for you?
 
I prefer getting my own parts, then I get exactly what I want. If you deal with Gary at Big Horn Sales you will likely get everything g you want just from him and then you don't have to go to several sources chasing your tail. Then just get a good smith and you are away to the races.
 
Update with PICS. Got the rifle completed over the Christmas break, got out to the range and had some promising results. Ended up using my Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27X56 EBR 2C MRAD on this build and gave the Viper PST to my son, put it on his 284. Loads were Lapua 6.5X284 brass necked up, CCI BR2 primers, stout load of H4831SC, and the new 180 grain Lapua Scenar L bullet. Tried several different loads and the best 5 shot group went 0.317" at 100 yards, with a velocity of 2705 fps. I ran it out to 404 yards on my iron buck and whacked the vitals every time after just 1.6 mils of elevation (iSnipe called for 2.3 mils). Here is a picture of the completed rifle...



And my sons 284 on a trued Rem 700...

 
Right now I am using regular Hornady dies while I wait for my competition dies to show up. I haven't ordered a bushing yet, haven't even measured it yet to be honest. In fact, the brass is brand new Lapua 6.5X284 so all I have done so far was neck it up in the full length die and load it up and shoot. Not bad results so far. Best was 0.317" and average was about 0.6", so I am feeling like a good load won't take long to find.
 
Shawn_338 said:
Was it hard to install the adjustable cheek rest hardware?
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Hard? No, time consuming, yes. I do not have a proper set up like a milling machine or table so I used my bench top drill press and some chisels, then cleaned it up with some careful dremeled work. My gun smith has a mill and he did some other minor stock clean up for me on his machine so my next stock will go to him and I will do it that way instead. My job turned out great, I just think the mill will cut work time in half or less.
 
What length barrel are you running with your .284? I am getting 2820fps running 4831SC out of my Broughton 25 1/2". 2700fps seems a little light. 180 berger hybrids. I will check my OAL and exact load data when I get home. Seems like it has been a long winter already!! Love my .284 Great in the wind.
 
I will check my data when I get a chance, but there is definitely more room in the mag box, and the boat tail is below the neck/shoulder junction so it could be pushed out, but I am maxed out for the chamber, however I did just receive a 7mm uni throater and will look closely at maybe pushing it out to get more of the bullet out of the case and more powder into it! And yes, I was hoping for 2800-2850 fps.
 
Im seated long. Somewhere around 3.12 with the boat tail at the neck shoulder junction. I run a 1.40 freebore as well. Lapua brass necked up with a K&M mandrel. Found after 2 firings I had a nice little donut inside the neck. Had to start turning the necks inside and out.

I would definately recommend starting by turning them before you get the donut. I started getting wierd fliers and took me a bit to figure it out. Turned a little off the outside and it tightened right up. Printed a sweet 9" 10 round group at a mile with it at the Edson range after fixing it.

Every 3 firings I have to fullsize, so I just ordered up a Wilson fullsize with a neck bushing in it. Best dies Ive ever used. Wont ever spend money on Redding again. Got one for my .338 IA as well. Wilson does great work, and you can order custom for your reamer print if they dont have what you are looking for.

I think my load is 55.4 grains of H4831SC and Federal 210M under Berger 180 Hybrids. Gotta double check the charge, but pretty sure.
 
Mine is 140 freebore too, get yours from Juan Valdez? Mine is built from his reamer, actually both rifles in the picture are chambered on that reamer. I have never neck turned, I do have the Hornady kit for outside neck turning but I would have no idea about inside neck turning. I have a set of Whidden dies inbound from Gary at BigHorn Sales, just have to order the bushing from Redding, will see them at SHOT next week and find out exactly what I need.
 
Schecter 81 said:
Im seated long. Somewhere around 3.12 with the boat tail at the neck shoulder junction. I run a 1.40 freebore as well. Lapua brass necked up with a K&M mandrel. Found after 2 firings I had a nice little donut inside the neck. Had to start turning the necks inside and out.

I would definately recommend starting by turning them before you get the donut. I started getting wierd fliers and took me a bit to figure it out. Turned a little off the outside and it tightened right up. Printed a sweet 9" 10 round group at a mile with it at the Edson range after fixing it.

Every 3 firings I have to fullsize, so I just ordered up a Wilson fullsize with a neck bushing in it. Best dies Ive ever used. Wont ever spend money on Redding again. Got one for my .338 IA as well. Wilson does great work, and you can order custom for your reamer print if they dont have what you are looking for.

I think my load is 55.4 grains of H4831SC and Federal 210M under Berger 180 Hybrids. Gotta double check the charge, but pretty sure.
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Back up a second, you printed a 10 shot group at 1760 yards under 0.5MOA?! Nice shooting dude!
 
Yup, Northshore build. It was my reamer. He order it for me. I spoke with Dave Kiff and he helped me pick out one.

Checked my load, 56.5gr H4831 and 3.471 OAL. 2820fps from a 25 1/2"barrel. broughton 5c.

I had a first load I was running before neck turning that was 55.4, but when I finally chromodynamics it, it was high2600-low2700. Really struggled to 1200 so I pushed to the next node I could find. Brass seems to be doing ok, but I do have to FS every 2-3.

Lesson learned, go with a 30" barrel for .284 or next time maybe a 7LRM!!
 
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