My everything rifle build, Tikka 375 ruger all weather

[someguy2800]

After sleeping on this and waking up with a clear head I’ve realized that going down to 338 defies the point that I set out to accomplish here of having a big game rifle that is legal for all game on the planet. The problem is I really really like this rifle! I love the way it shoots and this is by far my favorite scope I’ve ever had. I want to use it for more things where a less powerful cartridge would be more practical. I think what I really should do is build another one in 30-06 or 280ai with the same scope and rings and stock.

I have an older tikka T3 lite blue/synthetic that I never shoot anymore. I’ve basically been hanging onto it because it was my first centerfire rifle and I killed lots of stuff with it, but it’s just collecting dust. That would be a good base to build on, but I would really rather have another stainless T3x with the bigger ejection port. I’m gonna put that one on gun broker and if it sells I’ll use that money to pick up another T3x stainless.

 

[horsey300]

After sleeping on this and waking up with a clear head I’ve realized that going down to 338 defies the point that I set out to accomplish here of having a big game rifle that is legal for all game on the planet. The problem is I really really like this rifle! I love the way it shoots and this is by far my favorite scope I’ve ever had. I want to use it for more things where a less powerful cartridge would be more practical. I think what I really should do is build another one in 30-06 or 280ai with the same scope and rings.

I have an older tikka T3 lite blue/synthetic that I never shoot anymore. I’ve basically been hanging onto it because it was my first centerfire rifle and I killed lots of stuff with it, but it’s just collecting dust. That would be a good base to build on, but I would really rather have another stainless T3x with the bigger ejection port. I’m gonna put that one on gun broker and if it sells I’ll use that money to pick up another T3x stainless.

Sooooo I have not played with the .375 yet, but played a LOT with .338 and .300wm, and several other magnum class cartridges....this option may not be the most wallet friendly, but what I found was that the lighter bullets just go too fast up close, (which CAN be desirable), the accubonds and tsx help some with reducing destruction, but ultimately my easy button has been stepping up the weight and dropping the speed, so something along the lines of a 300 gr dgx or sgk, or partition/aframe, or tsx moving at 2300-2500ish fps might do the job betterer than what you experienced with the softer Speer bullet, and midway does have the barnes on sale (25%) right now fwiw.... just a thought... in your shoes, I'd keep the 270s for that one day out west hunt when you may wanna stretch a little more and grab some 300 gr tsx to start, then see how it works next season.
Eta, ran the numbers quick with the tsx at 2450, elev 4250, 30%humidity, and at 100 yds impact is 2200ish, 200 yds=2000ish.... makes sense to me, but either way, I'm still watching how this all plays out for you and applaud all your efforts thus far!

 

[LoonWulf]

Any experience with the 260 accubonds on game?

No not yet.
ill probably load some of those and the sierras today and see if they go the same place as the gmx and the speer. If they do ill probably give em a try next time im out.

 

[someguy2800]

Sooooo I have not played with the .375 yet, but played a LOT with .338 and .300wm, and several other magnum class cartridges....this option may not be the most wallet friendly, but what I found was that the lighter bullets just go too fast up close, (which CAN be desirable), the accubonds and tsx help some with reducing destruction, but ultimately my easy button has been stepping up the weight and dropping the speed, so something along the lines of a 300 gr dgx or sgk, or partition/aframe, or tsx moving at 2300-2500ish fps might do the job betterer than what you experienced with the softer Speer bullet, and midway does have the barnes on sale (25%) right now fwiw.... just a thought... in your shoes, I'd keep the 270s for that one day out west hunt when you may wanna stretch a little more and grab some 300 gr tsx to start, then see how it works next season.
Eta, ran the numbers quick with the tsx at 2450, elev 4250, 30%humidity, and at 100 yds impact is 2200ish, 200 yds=2000ish.... makes sense to me, but either way, I'm still watching how this all plays out for you and applaud all your efforts thus far!

If I take deer hunting out of the equation then things become a lot simpler. What I am really looking for is a long range load for larger thin skin game, and then a separate load for thick skinned or dangerous game. Ideally for the long range load I would want at least a .450 BC or better for shooting in the wind and need good expansion characteristics out to 500 yards. If they shoot well I think the 260 gr nosler accubond would be about ideal for that load. It would have been nice if the 270 speer would work well for that just because they are cheap and accurate, but I was always intending to try the 260 grain accubond, I just havn't gotten around to it. I will keep loading the 270 grain speer as practice/fun loads and just single load them.

For the heavy/dangerous game load I want to try the 300 DGX, 300 Partition, and the 270 and 300 swift A-Frame. I actually already have the 270 A frames. They all have the BC of gravel though.

I think if I want to make a reduced load for woods whitetail the 300 DGX, a solid copper, or any of the flat point 375 winchester bullets at around 2300 fps would do a good job, but I have other stuff better suited for that. Right now I want to trim myself down to 4 hunting rifles. My 444 and my theoretical 375 raptor SFAR would be ideal whitetail woods rifles. My 375 ruger has me well covered for larger game out to 500 yards with slippery bullet or thick skinned game in close with a tough bullet. Another rifle just like this one but in 280 or 30-06 would have me covered for elk/deer/antelope/black bear out to 500+ yards. With those 4 I would really be wanting for nothing. In truth a 30-06 would have me covered for all of north America, but variety is the spice of life and I like the way big bores perform.

 

[someguy2800]

Took the barrel back off today to do some more lathe work on it. My local FFL friend convinced me it’s about time I ordered a rifle capable suppressor and I decided I want to be able to put it on this rifle so I threaded the barrel. I’ve found it’s very easy to hit my velocity goals with this rifle, so while I was at it I decided to cut an inch off the barrel, so it is now at 20”

 

[someguy2800]

Since I had it apart I also filed the “357 ruger” miss mark and stamped it 375 ruger. Even though it’s under the stock it bothered me.

 

[BreechFace]

Good work on filing that flat and stamping it correctly. Looks real nice!

It would have bugged me as well.

 

[someguy2800]

Well guys I have been shooting this some more, and unfortunately the honeymoon with this rifle has now passed and I’ve decided I’m just not really into it. I don’t really like shooting it anymore and I have no particular excitement for it. I want to try something else so I’ve listed it for sale on gunbroker. I haven’t decided on what to do next but I’m thinking about rebarreling a winchester M70 to 338 WSM or maybe trying a 338 Weatherby RPM in a tikka or Lithgow action, or maybe just buying a complete weatherby in 338 RPM.

 

[BreechFace]

That's a bummer about not "making the connection" with your project. I have interest in a 375 Ruger eventually, nothing in the near future but there is interest here. Would probably just end up finding a deal on a Ruger Hawkeye African model.

I've never really had an interest in 338cal, probably the most interesting one to me is the 338 Federal. Given that I have 308Win, 280AI; maybe that's why I just think a jump to 375 would be a good step to take.

There are a lot of Elk, Brown Bear hunters that use 338 WSM; it's pretty popular for Alaska bears.

What's your Winchester M70 currently chambered in?

How about the 338 Norma Mag?

 

[someguy2800]

That's a bummer about not "making the connection" with your project. I have interest in a 375 Ruger eventually, nothing in the near future but there is interest here. Would probably just end up finding a deal on a Ruger Hawkeye African model.

I've never really had an interest in 338cal, probably the most interesting one to me is the 338 Federal. Given that I have 308Win, 280AI; maybe that's why I just think a jump to 375 would be a good step to take.

There are a lot of Elk, Brown Bear hunters that use 338 WSM; it's pretty popular for Alaska bears.

What's your Winchester M70 currently chambered in?

How about the 338 Norma Mag?

I would like to be somewhere between 338-06 and 338 win mag. I don’t have an M70 but considering picking up a CRF model in one of the WSM’s to convert. I have been thinking about build an AR10 in 338 wsm, but I would someday like to go on a moose hunt in Canada, and a semi auto would be a no go now that the commies are in charge up there. The 338 weatherby rpm really has my attention at the moment.