Custom build in the works :-)

[firstshot425]

Just dropped off all the pieces parts at Tumbleweeds Custom Rifles in Round Rock, TX. Rem 700 stainless action, 24" Stainless Bartlein #3 heavy sporter contour, Boyd’s brown laminated prairie hunter stock and a Kepplinger single set trigger. Having it bored to 7mm-08, glass bedded, free floated, and bolt head squared.

I've always wanted a custom but could never justify the cost.... so, I just decided to just NOT to justify the cost! .

I love 7mm-08, and this is primarily going to be a hunting rifle, but I do enjoy reloading and trying to shoot those little bug hole groups. Who knows, I might even get into some silhouette shooting. Gunsmith says it will take about 6 weeks to finish. I'll post some pics when it's done. I can't wait!!!

firstshot
(Make your firstshot count!)

 

[horsemen61]

congrats sounds nice can't wait for the pics

 

[hardluk1]

Sounds like nice custom hunter with a light weight barrel.. I am glad I did a custom hunter but I went with a #6 straight profile barrel..

 

[firstshot425]

hardluk1

Tell me a little about your custom hunter. Got pics? What brand barrel did you get? What all did you have done to the rifle? What kind of accuracy are you getting?

firstshot

 

[hardluk1]

Forgot to check back, Yea have a photo. Mine has a boyd's JR Classis stock , on a ruger first year SS 77mkII action with a 27" kreiger # 6 profile barrel and timney trigger set at 1 1/2lbs. Stock is bedded and blocked to the action . By-pod is only for photo. Rifle is good for.25moa or 1"moa with a recipe the builder gave me to try at 400 yards and 2" at 400 yards with some old hornady heavy mag 139gr sst . I bought 120rounds of it years ago in the same lot number just for clear cut deer hunting . Allmost out of it now but the new supermag looks to almost as good in it along with some Georgia Arms NBT 140gr loads .

The kicker is the scope was bought and put on when I first bought the rifle . Simmons atec 3.8-12, I could not afford a better scope and after if had it rebuilt some few years later I was out of money again. I did finally buy a burris black diamond 4-16 for it but it still sits on a shelf in the gun safe waiting for that old simmon to die. 20 years later its still a great scope.

 

[firstshot425]

hardluk1

Thats a good looking rifle. What kind of velocities are you getting out of that 27" barrel? I'm having mine cut to 24".

I've got a couple of Burris 3-9X40's but most of the time, I'm using a Simmons 6.5-20X50. It adds to the weight, but it sure can get you up close and personal .

By the way, what caliber is your rifle?

 

[hardluk1]

Oh man, another old simmons scope guy !! I did not know many of use were still holding out. I did buy a new simmons 4 or 5 years ago for a .22lr ,darn thing was junk out of the box. Took it back to the dealer and order a scope. Done with them now. My old simmons has japan on the underside of the scope and so does may old bushnell 2.5-10 that's on my 788 remmy. That ones from the mid 70's.

My rifle is 7mm rem mag.

The 139gr sst's is may deer bullet and chronies at 3308fps average and are close to 17 year old hornady heavy mags loads . yep , factory ammo. The handloads are not pushing any max, last time I cronied it and with a 160gr gameking at just over 3000fps .

It is nice to squesse out some extra velocity with the longer barrel when length is not an issue to a hunt.

The 7mm-08 your building I think your spot on about a shorter barrel and a 22" might be the most you need. What twist you going with . I picked a 1-9.5 twist for mine.

If you get a chance try some 120gr nosler ballistic tips. They are a heavier bullet design made to be pushed harder and hold up very well up to higher velocities and make for a heck of a deer bullet.

My only other rifle is a old mid '70's 788 remmy in 308 and 21" barrel used for thick woods and bottoms.

 

[firstshot425]

We mostly hunt from elevated blinds so I'm not worried about the 24" barrel from a length or weight perspective, and when I do go out stalking, the Boonie Packer Sling does it's job making for an easy cary. It's more important that the rifle balances well. If it doesn't, I'll just have 2" cut off and get it re-crowned.

My 7mm-08 Bartlein is a 1-9 twist. That will let me shoot bullets up to about 180 gr; however, for the most part I'll be shooting the 140's - 150's. My two favorite 7mm-08 bullets are the 140 Gr Sierra Pro Hunter and the 145 Gr Speer Hot Cor. I'm been getting 2,850 FPS with the 145 Speer’s in a 22” barrel and with the 24" barrel I'm thinking I might be in the 2,900 FBS range. Both shoot sub moa in my BAR and are deadly on our Texas deer and hogs.

I have always intended to give the 120 Ballistic Tips a try but just never got around to it. Heard a lot of good things about them. Of course, I'll be starting all over with the new rifle. So, I will start load development with those three bullets: 140 Pro Hunter, 145 Hot Cor, and 120 BT. Probably in that order. It’s been my experience that if you can’t get a Sierra to shoot you are probably going to have problems with everything else.

 

[hardluk1]

Your right about sierra bullets . They do print well in most any cartridge and rifle. I tried some speer hot core when they first came out and was not happy with them in both velocity or accuracy and never went back. If I ever get back out on an elk hunt again I have 1 box of barnes tsx bullets sitting in the ammo cabnet to load for that hunt but other wise I have been lucky with the sst bullets. Good luck with your new build.

 

[firstshot425]

Thanks hardluk1, I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.

Regards
firstshot

 

[firstshot425]

Ordered a new scope for the 7mm-08 build today. Got a Trijicon 3-9x40 w/ post & green triangle from DVOR. I got to shoot an AR with ACOG green triangle reticle last weekend and really liked it.

I think it's going to make a great 300 YD deer and hog scope.

Anyone have experience with the Trijicon Accupoints?

 

[firstshot425]

The Trijicon is going back. I bought it from OpticsPlanet through their affiliated company DVOR.

Bottom line... the scope package had been opened previously and upon inspection, I noticed that there was a black spot, maybe a bad fiber optic, on the very top tip of the illuminated triangle.

Kind of makes me think the scope was returned to OpticsPlanet and they resold it at a discount through their DVOR website.

I will not be doing business with OpticsPlanet or DVOR any more.

 

[hardluk1]

opticplanet and company's like Amazon are only as good as these other companies that sell thru there site. That's for sure.

Hope they do you right and do it quickly. Might try call'n trijicon directly as they may take care of the replacement if you wanted to stay with the same scope. I have swapped AR's with a guy that had a TR21 I think on his rifle. Post dot , 1-4 power? Worked well and he liked it and shot it well and had some run time on it . Guess that's all that matters.

Watched a video yesterday that compared a 1-4 trijicon to a aimpoint with 3x add on in a comparison. The trijicon faired slightly better .

Good luck.

 

[firstshot425]

I contacted DVOR this morning and explained the situation and they agreed to fully refund my purchase. I am pleased with the way thy handled it!

So... I'm now on a scope quest for my new build. I will start a "scope" thread to get everyones input.