What would you build?

BlackRam said:
Great question to the original poster of the question...
No worries...at least for me....but others may be more sensitive to these type of remarks, so remember, if you are teasing those you know, make sure other know it! (RESPECT!)

I have dealt with this type of reply and attitude for almost 30 years since i got my first left handed rifle, so my typical response to day is referring to us lefty's as being in our "right minds", as right handed people are left brained and lefty are right brained. I am actually right handed and left eyed dominant, so in order to become the most proficient that I can be with a weapon, rifle or bow, I shoot left handed.
I guess this means that I use both sides of my brain! LOL

Most lefty's are taught to shoot with right handed firearms, as only 10% of the population is left handed and only 10% of those individuals shoot. That means that only 1% of the firearms manufactured are left handed. They do not consider that nearly 30% of the population is left eye dominant. In my experience with setting up and teaching new archers how to use their equipment, it hhas been my experience that 27% of my customers have been left eye dominant, and of those, most are female and of aboriginal descent.
It does cost manufacturers more money to retool their production lines to be able to make left handed, so many have neither done this or have opted to discontinue the practice.
I do see a number of manufacturers starting to make firearms specifically for youth and women (our fastest growing segment of this challenged industry), yet most are not offering these in left hand configurations. Savage and Remington seem to be the main ones to do so.

Put a left handed firearm into the hands of a right handed, right eye dominant person and ask them to use it, and most will give you that blank stare of a monkey trying to solve a trigonometry problem. Yet they do not stop to think what it is like for the lefty to have to deal withthis same issue most of the time. They really cannot relate to the issue.
Not trying to belittle these people in any way, but to open their perspectives. I do not think many stop to think about the issue, so are unaware.It takes a little awareness training to do so. Most respond well to this when made aware.
I laearned to shoot right handed on right handed rifles, as that is how my grandpa taught us, as he was taught in the US Navy. I still practice right handed with my firearms, as you never know when something may happen, such as an eye injury, and you may need to shoot from your weak side. (some pistol sports require shooting from the weak side, such as IDPA, but I have not seen them make you shoot from your non-dominant eye). Get a stick in the eye when following up a wounded bear; what are you going to do? Food for thought.
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Yes I’m left handed. He had to point it out twice on this thread presumably because he didn’t get the reaction he was hoping for the first time.
 
BlackRam said:
it hhas been my experience that 27% of my customers have been left eye dominant, and of those, most are female and of aboriginal descent.
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Interesting.

Id sit on that action because as soon as you sell it, you will need it for your latest dream.
 
BlackRam said:
I have a new Montana 1999 LH SS short action with magnum bolt face that I picked up for a project (338Win Mag). Originally told that it was a long action with a magnum bolt face.
Have since decided against the project, in favour of a Sako 85 LH Hunter. (You know how that goes! LOL)
Have had this up for sale for a year at a reasonable price ($400 under cost) with no interest.
Have been thinking that if I build a rifle, it may sell easier...or may just keep it. Nothing fancy.

Been thinking of either the 6.5 PRC, 270 WSM or the 338 RCM. 6.5 PRC is first choice, and the 338 RCM second. (I already have a 6.5x55 and a 6.5 Creedmoor, and a 338 Federal and a 338-06)

Which would you build?
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I've read some great reviews on the Montana bolt action rifle, and would not hesitate to build from it. A short action with a magnum bolt head rings WSM or SAUM. Most in particular, the 7mmWSM or the 7mmSAUM. Accurate Shooters web-site has several great load development pages on these cartridges..........very accurate load data.....reloading manuals have data as well. Canada has great barrel and gun makers, therefore, between $1,000 to 1,300, you can rebarrel that rifle with a nice 26" stainless steel barrel accompanied with a Cerakote colour finish of your choice.
 
My suggestion is also to go 7mm rsaum or 7mm WSM. But since you're covered in the 7mm category. 6.5 PRC. But you are pretty well setup in 6.5 too.
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions! Keep them coming!

I thought abot the 7mm WSM and do like what I see and have read about them.
The oldtimer (my mentor) that I have been hunting and fishing with for the past 20 years now has one, and it (Model 70 Featherweight FN build in the US) is about his most accurate rifle, and has absolutely gorgeous wood. When he passes, I have been instructed to help his wife dsipose of his rifles, reloading equipment, etc., and in return I am supposed to choose one of his rifles as a gift. Have thought I would choose that rifle. So would have an heirloom in the 7mm WSM, which would mean more to me.

While I appreciate that longer barrels wring more velocity out of many cartridges, I do not shoot or hunt long range. I am limited to 500 yards at my local range, and while I practice to that long-for-me distance, I do not want to take shots at unwounded game at that range. So I am looking at barrels for whatever cartridge in the 24" length.
 
BlackRam said:
Thanks for all of the suggestions! Keep them coming!

I thought abot the 7mm WSM and do like what I see and have read about them.
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If the idea is to build and sell, I would highly recommend that you do not build a 7mm WSM. Take it from someone who had three 7mm WSM rifles and sold them... don't get me wrong, I love the cartridge, I think it is the best of the WSM family... but they just don't sell, people are afraid of it going completely obsolete. You would be taking money out of your wallet to go that route... however, if you are going to keep it, I am sure that you will be pleased. Two of my 7mm WSM rifles were Ruger M77 MKII stainless models and both were very accurate. I took a nice ten point (Eastern) WT buck with one at 320 yards, two jumps and down... the next day I passed up an even bigger buck at 270 yards because the wind had picked up and I was in a treestand, the crosshairs were swaying from the brisket to the paunch and I just did not like the odds of making a clean kill.
 
hometownhero said:
7mm prc
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If they build one, do you believe that they would use the same case as the 6.5 PRC, or go longer as with the 300 PRC? I am curious!

The PRC cartridges make sense from a case designed purely from the ability to wring the utmost efficiency out of the cartridge design and fit to the available action design parameters, and the ability to load long, high BC bullets so as to not intrude on the powder space.

As I have never been as excited about the 30 cal as I have been with the 6.5, 7mm and 338's, I see no needfor the 300 PRC in my battery.If it cannot be done effectively with the 300 WSM (or 30-30, 307 or 30-06), then I need to practice my hunting skills more and get closer. Kudos to those who can shoot to 2000 yards with consistency, but as I am not that good of a shot,and may never be (I shake like a leaf in a high wind on my best days) I will stick to a cartridge that I can use effectively within its limitations.

My 7MM STW shoots far better, and farther than I am capable of under most field conditions, and I have taken a lot of game with it. I have even taken whitetail at 15 yards and mountain goat at 30 yards with it! LOL My favourite 7mm is the 280 Rem. A sensible cartridge for the game and environments that I mostly hunt in. Truthfully, the 7mm-08 would work just as well, and is why my last rifle build is a Winchester Model 88 in this cartridge. It is finally ready to pick up and bring home!

I am really fond of the 6.5x55 Swede and have had a lot of fun shooting and hunting with this cartridge. I have the Creedmoor too and am liking it too. No, I do not believe that the CM will make the Swede obsolete; rather the opposite! I think that the current trend in 6.5 is bringing the older cartridge back to life again! I do appreciate the thought and consideration that went into the development of the CM, and now into the PRC. As the 264 Win Mag never did pique my interest, but the PRC has. I have also owned the 260 Rem and 6.5x284 and thought both were very good too, just needed them to be in good left handed rifles. And the PRC will give a sensible step up in performance over Swede and CM velocities. Do not need the velocities of the 26 Nosler or 6.5-300 Wby. Yes, I use my 6.5's for 500 yard shooting, but not for hunting. Not saying I would not use them for an opportunity on deer, sheep or caribou at 400 yards with a solid rest, without any opportunity to get closer, but would like the extra retained energy of the PRC.

Back to the 7 PRC...will have to see if it happens and what it will actually do.
 
If it was me 416x2" or 458x2" but those would be hard to move.
My local walmart and tsc carry 7wsm and sometimes even 325wsm so i dont see those cartridges fading out anytime soon.

Can you not order a standard bolt face for the action?
 
To clarify, I did not order the action.
I bought it from a local gunsmith's estate for fair market value with the idea of building a lh 338 Win Mag, and as previously stated, was told it was a long action with a magnum bolt face.
Have since decided to go with a Sako 85 LH Hunter in 338 Win Mag, when I get around to replacing my old Remington.
The gunsmith had ordered it for a customers build, who later cancelled the order. They had made a mistake in telling mewhat action length it was.

As stated, if it sells great, but if not, and it is sold as a rifle, then it needs to be practical and sellable, and if not, it has to be a factory chambering that interests me.

Have not looked into or thought of seeing what a standard bolt face replacement bolt would cost....
 
Put a Proof carbon barrel on it and drop it into a McMillan. Should be able to recoup the whole works for $1500
 
tim3500 said:
Problem is the short action magnum its not the action if it was a standard bolt face it would have sold long ago . A Winchester 70 lh wsm is a hard sale on its own but if its a 3006 it will sell $300 more and quick lefties are mostly buying common calibers as a rule . Iam a lefty and have seen your action listed I think a 25 wsm would be kool but it would have to be a keeper cause you would never be able to sell it so a PRC 6.5 .
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let me know where i can find a 300wsm win md 70 left hand in good conditions not bubbaed ....
 
BlackRam said:
I have a new Montana 1999 LH SS short action with magnum bolt face that I picked up for a project (338Win Mag). Originally told that it was a long action with a magnum bolt face.
Have since decided against the project, in favour of a Sako 85 LH Hunter. (You know how that goes! LOL)
Have had this up for sale for a year at a reasonable price ($400 under cost) with no interest.
Have been thinking that if I build a rifle, it may sell easier...or may just keep it. Nothing fancy.

Been thinking of either the 6.5 PRC, 270 WSM or the 338 RCM. 6.5 PRC is first choice, and the 338 RCM second. (I already have a 6.5x55 and a 6.5 Creedmoor, and a 338 Federal and a 338-06)

Which would you build?
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With what you have - 7 RSAUM for Sure - Great Cartridge ! Second Choice would be the 270 WSM - RJ
 
7MM-270 WSM. Lots of brass available and should be short enough. Only marginally less powder capacity then the 7wsm and you have a long neck to boot. Also quite easy to load for, you would just have to buy the reamer and dies for it.
 
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