Another go round with the 28 Nosler.

So while the Browning Xbolt SLR is a very nice hunting rifle, I could never manage to get consistent groups out of it.
Turns out there was someone who liked it more than I did anyway, so it went down the river.
What I did with the funds was turn them into another Christensen. This time a Mesa Long Range.

Im much happier with this rifle for my expected usage (I even like the muzzle brake which is pretty rare with factory brakes).
Its big, blocky, and stable.
The stocks harder to adjust but gives me much more range, and has more adjustments. Its also much nicer feeling and banging it into stuff doesn't "pong" the way the X-bolts stock did. Ive used bits and pieces of stuff as spacers to adjust the stock to my liking.
The barrel is a significantly heavier profile (.825 at the muzzle), and is topped with a brake that pretty much does exactly what I want it to.
The Triggertech is miles ahead of the factory X-bolt trigger (and most other factory rifle triggers) which is a plus. This one seems to be adjustable down to about 2.5lbs, so Ill have to see what model it is. Both the Primarys in my other Christensen CFs will go down under 2, but the field in my Ranger stops at 2.5.

Honestly I cant say that the rifles actually "better" than the X-bolt over all, but I like it better. It also cost about 500 bucks more than the X-bolt did......Well, It also dosent try and eject shells straight into the scope turrets....that kinda sucked......

Ive installed a Riton X5 Conquer in Riton/Contessa rings on a Weaver picatinny rail.
All of that stuff got ordered when my buddy ordered the rifle for me, otherwise, Id have had to use spare parts and leftovers in terms of optics and mounts.

Anyway heres pictures of the rifle set up.










Needed more than 3/8" spacers could give me....so i used the thead protectors off my other christensen barrels....Ill be going to ACE to get aluminum cable stops to use for spacers in the next day or three.....




Went to the range today with the 28 and a few other rifles for sight and load work. I only had 19rnds all using the same load (which is what i used in the X-bolt also) of 85gr RL-33 with a Coal of 3.535 for a jump of .015.
Velocity was running at 3050, and accuraccy wasnt too shabby.
I need to use my phone to add the ballistic-X measured groups but heres the raw pictures.

marksman13 said:

Very nice. Looking forward to seeing you do what you can do with this rifle. You really are going to make me give Christensen another chance.

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WisBorn said:

@LoonWulf love the rifle! Have fun making a new favorite!!!

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Hope to get out and shoot this thing a bit more in the next few weeks. I only have that one box of Peterson brass for it right now tho, so Ill probably run it a little on the light side for a bit. Im already enjoying not having to focus so hard on keeping the gun pointed where I want it when shooting lol.

tbs said:

Very nice rifle loonwulf. That weighs the same as my H.S. Precision HTR.

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Im finding I really like guns in this weight range. My "heavy" Creedmoor is about the same weight.

South Prairie Jim said:

Just throw a dime next to them fine looking groups.

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thats what I used to do actually, but we dont retrieve the targets very often and they usually get shot up unless im at the range by myself.
Im actually covering a bullet hole that was there from helping get one of the guys get sighted in today.....tho I guess I could have just held a coin over the hole too....didnt think of that.

This one I got to shot 9 and my buddy took a poke at the same shoot and see with his 300. Of course, I sat up to give him crap, then pulled the last shot wide by almost the group width. THATs usually how the day goes.....
(This is from my CM)

I forgot to note that the second group i posted a picture of was from my 6.5CM, not the 28.

I think Christensen went with the 1-9 simply because thats what all their 7mms use. Id have preferred a 1-8 myself, even if i dont need it. It does take bullets the length of the 190 A-tip off thr table. The shorter ones ive got should all be fine tho.
I also threatened to run some 120ttsx thru it and my buddy got all mad at me....."gonna reduce the barrel life"......

Thanks guys!

Man if your covering fliers i wanna see the group!




Yes i do think I'm funny.......

I ment to mention the scope in my first post but i obviously forgot......
So far Im actually really impressed with the Riton scope. Glass is really good, easily as good as my Meopta HTR or Zeiss Conquest, the turrets are positive and track well from what ive seen, and all the controls are smooth.
Ill need to spend more time with it to develop a more specific opinion, but so far im really happy.
If theres one thing I really DONT like its the Christmas tree style reticle, I find it very difficult to use the scope to pick up impacts from other shooters, or even find my own holes unless they are above my point of aim....PROBABLY a practice/usage thing, ive had other christmas tree reticles, but they have all been thinner and simpler.....and second focal plane.
This scopes a first, which isnt usually something I like the idea of, but for 400 bucks i wasnt going to pass on it.

I checked the trigger on both of my Mesa, and they are Triggertech Fields. My Regular Mesa will go down to 2lbs, but the trigger on my LR stops right at 2.5.
So ill either switch them or ill order a primary/special (which ever i can get cheaper) and keep the Triggertech Field for the next 700 based general use gun.

troy fairweather said:

2.5 lbs is what I like for hunting, had the walker in my last 700 at 1.5 and very clean. Next 700 I'd like to try a nice 2 stage.

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Yeah, Im thinking Ill swap the trigger from Mesa to my Ranger and replace the trigger on my Mesa LR with a Primary ID....that'll leave me a spare Field to grow another gun.....

For the "long-range" rig I want a 2- trigger, the same for the stupid light Ranger.....All my other guns are right at 2 or 2.5lbs now.....used to all be at 3, but I've found that going from 2+/- to 3 I can feel a major difference and the trigger doesn't break when i expect it to.