First Rifle Build

[diver160651]

First Rifle Build

I appreciate everyone's opinion. I was hoping to get some advice on components, so thank you to those with suggestions.

To those who commented on ethics, I've been hunting all my life, and consider myself to be a very ethical hunter. I did say I wanted a rifle that would be "efficient" out to 500-600 yds. I have never shot at an animal outside of 300 yards in my life. But if an animal of a lifetime appears across a ravine, or I just can't get closer without spooking it, I want a rifle/round that I can be can be confident won't just injure an animal assuming I do my part.

Again, I appreciate everyone's input. Maybe I'll just get myself a new barrel for Tikka T3 Lite 7mmRM and call it a day.

[theduracellbigd]

Range and ethics thread hijack haha. But seriously I have already had discussions online with Diver and Lynn and we have slightly differing views which is OK. But in hunting game you can go full caveman and use a spear, or be full tech shooting a .50 caliber using a weighted tripod with wind instrumentation and ranging tech. Somewhere in that spectrum you need to maintain fair chase and humane kills. But also somewhere in the spectrum is the skill needed. From physical, mental and challenging athletic endeavors on one end of the spectrum, to more money , transporting and using tools on the other. I feel that as long as I physically can, I enjoy the hunt more being reliant upon my physical components (long stalks, steady hand good shooting, etc) , it is more difficult and thus more rewarding. Having a bunch of stuff(all the tools for purposeful long range hunting) to tote and tinker with is also a distraction for my purpose to hunt in nature, I would rather relax my mind , feel and hear the wind , smell the land, hear the game and get as close to it's level than be preoccupied by all the gadgets.

[LEO Outfitters]

Next question is recommendations for a good gunsmith in Norther CA. I'm in the SF East Bay (Livermore). I'd be to travel a couple hours to use a reputable smith.

[LynnJr]

Range and ethics thread hijack haha. But seriously I have already had discussions online with Diver and Lynn and we have slightly differing views which is OK. But in hunting game you can go full caveman and use a spear, or be full tech shooting a .50 caliber using a weighted tripod with wind instrumentation and ranging tech. Somewhere in that spectrum you need to maintain fair chase and humane kills. But also somewhere in the spectrum is the skill needed. From physical, mental and challenging athletic endeavors on one end of the spectrum, to more money , transporting and using tools on the other. I feel that as long as I physically can, I enjoy the hunt more being reliant upon my physical components (long stalks, steady hand good shooting, etc) , it is more difficult and thus more rewarding. Having a bunch of stuff(all the tools for purposeful long range hunting) to tote and tinker with is also a distraction for my purpose to hunt in nature, I would rather relax my mind , feel and hear the wind , smell the land, hear the game and get as close to it's level than be preoccupied by all the gadgets.

Here is a picture of my newest toy and yes I will bring it hunting. The bare action weighs 16 pounds but the gun will never be more than 50 yards from the truck.
The other action is a 338 Lapua for comparison.

[MongooseV8]

Tikka T3 in 7mm Mag using Barnes TTSX
/thread

[diver160651]

First Rifle Build

Next question is recommendations for a good gunsmith in Norther CA. I'm in the SF East Bay (Livermore). I'd be to travel a couple hours to use a reputable smith.

I would call Marc at Spartan in San Jose. He does a ton of builds from PRS to the dedicated mountain guns

He could help you with all your questions


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[deckhandmike]

Tikka T3 in 7mm Mag using Barnes TTSX
/thread

[diver160651]

https://www.facebook.com/100041080276481/posts/294832415229432/?extid=0

Whatever the details~ kinda crazy
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[fish45]

If you’re looking for a ship in the Bay Area I’d say head to spartan precision in San Jose. They have reasonable lead times and do quality work.

As for rifles specifically you’re talking about 2 different guns. A good elk gun and deer gun are different, at least at the ranges you want to shoot. At 500 yards the only (practical) cartridge capable of ethically taking elk is 30-06. 6.5 and 308 will be just fine at 500 for deer and boar, but not elk. 308 will be good for elk out to 400, and 6.5 out to 300. This is based entirely on ft lb energy and what’s considered ethical. The bare minimum of ethical, not what’s optimal.

As for the build itself I’d get a 700 action, have it trued with a lightweight barrel and bed it in a lightweight grayboe stock. A good hunting rifle is going to be leightweight regardless of what others tell you. Getting a quality trigger is important, but target rifle pull weight and hunting rifle pull weight are entirely different things. Putting a trigger weight less than 3 pounds on a hunting rifle is just stupid.

[diver160651]

First Rifle Build

Grayboes are cheap; but be carful, a few models are tanks. The one I was given without the adjustable comb was just a hair under 4lbs, although I did see one before bedding just over 2lbs.

My Carbon Elite Manners came in at 27oz., McMillan has similar. These light guys still maintain their stiffness. Most guys hunting ELk will carry their gun at some point if not on every hunt.


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[sigstroker]

Tikka build using a pre-fit that looks like most people could do in their garage (assuming they got the original barrel off):

[fish45]

Grayboes are cheap; but be carful, a few models are tanks. The one I was given without the adjustable comb was just a hair under 4lbs, although I did see one before bedding just over 2lbs.

My Carbon Elite Manners came in at 27oz., McMillan has similar. These light guys still maintain their stiffness. Most guys hunting ELk will carry their gun at some point if not on every hunt.


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The outlander weighs 26 ounces.

[LynnJr]

They list the Outlander at 2.2 pounds or 34 ounces and as Diver pointed out if you add anything like a cheek riser it adds to the weight. They make a 27 ounce model if you don't weigh the hardware.There are lighter options.
2.2 pounds for a stock
2.8 pounds for a barrel
2.5 pounds for the complete action recoil lug guard screws and blind magazine plus trigger puts you at 7.5 pounds.
And yes plenty of deer are shot each year with triggers set under 3 pounds despite the silly noise you read here.
The green rifle weighs just over 14 pounds with a very heavy Nightforce scope and the 6mm-06 in the Boyd's laminated stock weighs exactly 8 pounds as pictured. Both rifles use the same action and Jewell HVR triggers set at 12 ounces the main difference is barrel countout scope and stock.
Another option on gunsmiths would be BillyGoat Machine who posts here. He was trained by Marc at Spartan and his turnaround time is pretty good.