So Ive paid for, but have not yet picked up (my permits expired, be a month before i can get it) a Ruger American Magnum. This one Is chambered for 300WM, which is far from my favorite cartridge, but also not my least favorite. I like pretty much everything about the Americans tho, so just being in the wrong chambering isnt enough to dissuade me from a good deal.
That said, It also immediately started my brain spiraling down into what cartridge I would rebarrel this thing to when i finally run out of the ammo that comes with it.
Then the other day @troy fairweather posted his thread about a 2 rifle battery for use around the US. Thats always a fun game to play, and I really enjoyed the mental exercise of balancing convenience, function, with my own near obsession with unusual cartridges.
This brought me to the thought that for at least larger medium game, the .300WM is really an ideal cartridge, never mind my personal aversion to it. So what would my "light" be if i were constrained by a belted magnum bolt head?...And would I be comfortable shooting EVERYTHING the light couldnt take comfortably with a .300?
This also brought to mind a PM conversation I had with @Varminterror, and some of the points he made.....
Wheels turn.....
So this AM I was wondering around work trying to get caught up, having wandered in 2 hours latter than I usually start, and I had a thought. Why not try build a "Traveling" rifle kit from this Ruger American as a starting point?
The premise is a self contained set that can take any "big game" comfortably from zero to as far as the shooter is comfortable with. (this excludes the African dangerous game for me. I simply have not interest in hunting them, I might included a heavier cambering simply to complete the Idea).
Weight is on the heavier side of medium, configurations running 9-12lbs or so. This is about as heavy as im comfortable carrying all day.
Optics should be removeable with minimal change of impact when reattached (tho im thinking a single wide range variable thats simply resighted (from range cards, and test shoot) might make more sense for MOST situations).
I have a case i could use, but Id like to shrink this down as much as possible so may build something, or see what double sided cases are available.
Do all this relatively cheaply. The idea being that i could loose this whole rig, and be out less than my ridgeline cost me.
Heres where Ive gotten to in terms of specifics.
Base rifle will be Ruger American RAM (Cause I already bought it, and for a cheap rifle I like them)
A savage might actually be a better choice, simply because you can switch bolt heads and DMs to go from one cartridge head family to another.
Pretty much ANY classic rifle action would be classier, but I LIKE the Americans.
The factory stock will be reinforced, and stiffened (probably re-contour it also with shaping foam and a layer or two of glass. If that fails to provide what I want, Ill order another B&C (tho ill have to check with them on the heavier recoil and the aluminum recoil lugs in the stock). This would primarily be used with the "medium" or "heavy" cartridge, as a stalking rifle etc.
I also had the idea to add a Boyds Provarmint adjustable (or similar), primarily for use with the "light" cartridge configuration, tho It could also serve for damping recoil if shooting from a fixed position with either of the heavier options. This appeals to me as I shoot this shape MUCH better from a pod, or from a solid rest. This would allow for a more dedicated "long range" set up.
Barrels, Factory and ershaw.
The factory .300 would be retained as the "medium", this would provide a solid "do all" for most non-dangerous game. It would also serve as my spot and stalk, still, and larger medium game at range set up.
24" (+/- a brake) medium contour
For a "light" cartridge im thinking id like to add either a .257, or .270 WBY magnum, with a fast twist barrel. Im leaning towards the .257 as the .270 and .300 are very similar in performance....but Ive been saying i was gonna build a .270 so perhaps I drop to a pair of barrels, which WOULD be easier to case and scope.
Another thought would be to split the difference and go with the .264WM.
26" medium heavy contour
The "heavy" would either be a .375 or 416 ruger, simply because they fit in the action. I could change this to a .458WM, which would give a bit more top end. The .300 would do well enough on most stuff that this might be a better choice...I wonder if the .458 would count as a straight walled cartridge in states that require them.
22/23" medium contour
All barrels would retain their own barrel nuts, and id either open the stocks and make a hole and spanner set up. Or simply remove the action from the stock and use the aftermarket flat sided nuts and a wrench.
Headspacing and return to "zero" would be handled by a set of dummy cartridges filled with epoxy, or if they all stick with the same cartridge family perhaps I can just get away with my belted mag gauge set (set on the go gauge).
Optics
Would probably consist of a wide range variable, say my athlon 2-15x50 Midas or Ares.
Also a "standard" 3/4-10/12x40, and a LPV 1-4x20/24. Not sure on branding, tho probably vx3i (or something similar) for the standard, and LPV.
I could probably get away with JUST the 2-15x50, and reset zero, But I figured something lighter/lower power might be preferable.
The rail would probably be a full length warne, with QD maxima rings on the scopes (as these are the only qd rings ive played with, and they seem to return zero pretty well).
For a case Im not sure what I want to do, honestly I almost never use hard cases. I do have a big, BIG, case i could reinforce and re-purpose, but....its BIG.
Tools included would be a basic bit/driver set with a torque wrench (wheeler fat wrench maybe), and the barrel nut wrench, tho if using flat sided nuts i can just MAKE a wrench or use an open end.
Again, just one of those interesting thoughts that popped into my head. Assembling this would/could easily take a year or more.
MOST of it I would end up buying any way, its just putting it all together in a way to make it useful as a whole that Ive never done.
Whatcha all think?
and Ive probably missed something in the typing.....
That said, It also immediately started my brain spiraling down into what cartridge I would rebarrel this thing to when i finally run out of the ammo that comes with it.
Then the other day @troy fairweather posted his thread about a 2 rifle battery for use around the US. Thats always a fun game to play, and I really enjoyed the mental exercise of balancing convenience, function, with my own near obsession with unusual cartridges.
This brought me to the thought that for at least larger medium game, the .300WM is really an ideal cartridge, never mind my personal aversion to it. So what would my "light" be if i were constrained by a belted magnum bolt head?...And would I be comfortable shooting EVERYTHING the light couldnt take comfortably with a .300?
This also brought to mind a PM conversation I had with @Varminterror, and some of the points he made.....
Wheels turn.....
So this AM I was wondering around work trying to get caught up, having wandered in 2 hours latter than I usually start, and I had a thought. Why not try build a "Traveling" rifle kit from this Ruger American as a starting point?
The premise is a self contained set that can take any "big game" comfortably from zero to as far as the shooter is comfortable with. (this excludes the African dangerous game for me. I simply have not interest in hunting them, I might included a heavier cambering simply to complete the Idea).
Weight is on the heavier side of medium, configurations running 9-12lbs or so. This is about as heavy as im comfortable carrying all day.
Optics should be removeable with minimal change of impact when reattached (tho im thinking a single wide range variable thats simply resighted (from range cards, and test shoot) might make more sense for MOST situations).
I have a case i could use, but Id like to shrink this down as much as possible so may build something, or see what double sided cases are available.
Do all this relatively cheaply. The idea being that i could loose this whole rig, and be out less than my ridgeline cost me.
Heres where Ive gotten to in terms of specifics.
Base rifle will be Ruger American RAM (Cause I already bought it, and for a cheap rifle I like them)
A savage might actually be a better choice, simply because you can switch bolt heads and DMs to go from one cartridge head family to another.
Pretty much ANY classic rifle action would be classier, but I LIKE the Americans.
The factory stock will be reinforced, and stiffened (probably re-contour it also with shaping foam and a layer or two of glass. If that fails to provide what I want, Ill order another B&C (tho ill have to check with them on the heavier recoil and the aluminum recoil lugs in the stock). This would primarily be used with the "medium" or "heavy" cartridge, as a stalking rifle etc.
I also had the idea to add a Boyds Provarmint adjustable (or similar), primarily for use with the "light" cartridge configuration, tho It could also serve for damping recoil if shooting from a fixed position with either of the heavier options. This appeals to me as I shoot this shape MUCH better from a pod, or from a solid rest. This would allow for a more dedicated "long range" set up.
Barrels, Factory and ershaw.
The factory .300 would be retained as the "medium", this would provide a solid "do all" for most non-dangerous game. It would also serve as my spot and stalk, still, and larger medium game at range set up.
24" (+/- a brake) medium contour
For a "light" cartridge im thinking id like to add either a .257, or .270 WBY magnum, with a fast twist barrel. Im leaning towards the .257 as the .270 and .300 are very similar in performance....but Ive been saying i was gonna build a .270 so perhaps I drop to a pair of barrels, which WOULD be easier to case and scope.
Another thought would be to split the difference and go with the .264WM.
26" medium heavy contour
The "heavy" would either be a .375 or 416 ruger, simply because they fit in the action. I could change this to a .458WM, which would give a bit more top end. The .300 would do well enough on most stuff that this might be a better choice...I wonder if the .458 would count as a straight walled cartridge in states that require them.
22/23" medium contour
All barrels would retain their own barrel nuts, and id either open the stocks and make a hole and spanner set up. Or simply remove the action from the stock and use the aftermarket flat sided nuts and a wrench.
Headspacing and return to "zero" would be handled by a set of dummy cartridges filled with epoxy, or if they all stick with the same cartridge family perhaps I can just get away with my belted mag gauge set (set on the go gauge).
Optics
Would probably consist of a wide range variable, say my athlon 2-15x50 Midas or Ares.
Also a "standard" 3/4-10/12x40, and a LPV 1-4x20/24. Not sure on branding, tho probably vx3i (or something similar) for the standard, and LPV.
I could probably get away with JUST the 2-15x50, and reset zero, But I figured something lighter/lower power might be preferable.
The rail would probably be a full length warne, with QD maxima rings on the scopes (as these are the only qd rings ive played with, and they seem to return zero pretty well).
For a case Im not sure what I want to do, honestly I almost never use hard cases. I do have a big, BIG, case i could reinforce and re-purpose, but....its BIG.
Tools included would be a basic bit/driver set with a torque wrench (wheeler fat wrench maybe), and the barrel nut wrench, tho if using flat sided nuts i can just MAKE a wrench or use an open end.
Again, just one of those interesting thoughts that popped into my head. Assembling this would/could easily take a year or more.
MOST of it I would end up buying any way, its just putting it all together in a way to make it useful as a whole that Ive never done.
Whatcha all think?
and Ive probably missed something in the typing.....
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