1000m Long Range Target Bolt Action Rifle from Scratch

[smith629]

I'm looking to get into long range steel plinking and will be starting from scratch, having no inventory of old bolt actions to start from (I do have a high power vortex scope on order so my optics are covered). I've been researching a ton of different cartridges and I'd like to go with the 7mm rem due to the excellent ballistic coefficients of bullets like the Hornady 162g amax. I also like how it doesn't have too much recoil. I will be hand loading ammo for this rifle.

I'm totally new to precision bolt actions and it seems a bit overwhelming. I'd really like to skip the whole fiddling process of buying a remington 700 and tearing it apart and replacing everything bit by bit while selling all the old stuff. I also don't want to play around with glass bedding and all that. Instead, I'd like to go a minimal-mod route and get a rifle with good accuracy out of the box, maybe replacing just the stock. That said, my budget won't permit 5k for a new a Surgeon rifle right off the shelf. Plus a lot of the nice rifles I see like say the HD precision are 5k+ and chambered only in the popular .308/338 rounds, and they market their rifles more towards duty rifles vs. purely target shooting.

Here are my requirements:
-Heavy barrel that is threaded so I can add a muzzle brake
-Quality stock like a mcmillan or so
-Ability to use a picitanny mount so I don't have to buy a new scope mount
-Crisp/clean target trigger, or ability to drop in a better later (I am a trigger snob).

What would you recommend for a $1500-2500 budget?

[StraightShooter]

For that budget and for the caliber you want to shoot you are going to have to buy either an action or donor rifle and build it up. I don't see any way around that. I don't know of any companies that sell a 7mm rem in factory configuration set up properly for long range shooting. If I were you, I would keep an eye out on the for sale section on Snipers Hide and try to pick up a used rifle. You will save a ton of money and time. You will have to probably be flexible on caliber though. For long range, there are a lot of calipers that perform well. In 7mm the 7SAUM is probably your best bet. There's the .243, .260 and 6.5's that are also excellent.

[CrippledPidgeon]

You know you can buy Surgeon short actions starting at $1200, and start putting together the pieces from there. There are other manufacturers out there, but since you mentioned Surgeon up front, I figured I'd might as well let you know.

[Grnjeep1]

Probably a Remington 5R. About $1200. Comes with a decent stock, and a heavy barrel but they only come in .223/.308/300 Winmag. 300 Winmag will definitely get you to a 1000, but not for the recoil sensitive, at least without a brake.

[Jeepway]

Have you ever shot a 7MM Rem Mag?

[Switchbarrel]

I've been researching a ton of different cartridges and I'd like to go with the 7mm rem due to the excellent ballistic coefficients of bullets like the Hornady 162g amax. I also like how it doesn't have too much recoil. I will be hand loading ammo for this rifle.

Here are my requirements:
-Heavy barrel that is threaded so I can add a muzzle brake
-Quality stock like a mcmillan or so
-Ability to use a picitanny mount so I don't have to buy a new scope mount
-Crisp/clean target trigger, or ability to drop in a better later (I am a trigger snob).

What would you recommend for a $1500-2500 budget?

1) I would add the .284, .284 improved and 7 RSAUM to your list of researched calibers. They still shoot your 7mm bullet but, do it more efficiently (saves you money on powder and shoulder pain). They are all very accurate for what you want to do.

2) If Remington still makes the Sendaro, that might be your only option for your list of requirements. That being said, I bought a Savage action from Jim Briggs at Northland Shooters' Supply, sent it to Kevin Rayhill at Stockade Gunstocks and for ~$1100 more, received a complete heavy barreled 6BR in return. This included a Sharp Shooter's trigger, Benchmark barrel, Long Range BR stock (bedded). Only work on my part was ordering everything and shipping the action off. In your case, add about $200 (depending on the brake you choose) for the muzzle threading and brake.

This was pre-Savage Target action days and pre-threaded barrels weren't as abundant. Today, I would use both.


Here's a couple groups from a .284 Shehane-

100 yards doing some load testing with muzzle brake on (below left) and off - upper left (some sighters off to the right side w/different charges).



600 yds. Measured @ 3.839" for 10 shots. Not my best, not my worst...


-Rick

[RobG]

You are unlikely to find a target/heavy barrel version in 7 RM. While the big 7 is splendid at long range, it isn't necessary for banging steel and punching paper. Powder burnt is more than needed and barrel life is short. I rechambered my 7 when the barrel went south to .284 Win. It does all I need only with less powder, less recoil, and longer barrel life. The straight 280 or 280 AI are also great ones to consider.

Just today I was talking to a gent shooting a factory heavy barrelled Savage in 6.5 Creedmore. Great gun, great cartridge, and awesome Hornady match ammo available. It will do all you need without needing any tweaks. Another option to consider.

[smith629]

Sorry guys in my original post I meant to say 7mm-08. I don't want the heavy recoil of the magnum.

The .284 winchester looks attractive. Less recoil and longer barrel life seems like a win-win. Especially with 180g VLDs. I will start scanning the remington catalog for actions in .284.

Is this article accurate on 7mm loads? Check about half way down on "Comparative Ballistics". It shows the .284 with the 180g Berger significantly outperforming the 168g Berger 7mm-08 at 1000 yards.

[ar15barrels]

Where are you located?
A custom rifle in 7-08 could be built from scratch with really nice parts for right around $2500.
$900 defiance action
$325 Bartlein barrel
$700 Manners stock
$150 Ptg bottom metal
$125 timney trigger
$300 gunsmithing

[SuperX]

RWSnyder built my rifle.. will build you a trued Rem action w/ Krieger or Brux barrel in your choice of chambering, threaded barrel, tuned trigger for $1400

-threaded muzzle with thread protector
-20 moa base with four 8-40 screws
-.250 thick pinned recoil lug
-Tuned remington trigger
-cerakoted finish

+- other misc details of your choice. Add your stock, done!

http://www.rwsgunsmithing.com/catalog/base-custom-rifle/

[smith629]

I'm in Orange County. I like option of the gunsmith route. How long does it normally take to have a rifle smithed for you? Are we talking a month or a year?

After thinking about it I may opt for a higher quality action like a surgeon for $400 more since it will up the resale value, then maybe skimp on my trigger and forgo the muzzle brake until I can afford it later. I've also been finding that a lot of the money that go into these precision rifles are the chassis. Why the strike 30 chassis is $2500 on its own...

[SuperX]

He is in Iowa, not sure how long these days.. Dependant on his current backlog. Mine is a 7/08 so I am a fan of the 7mm's . If you go short action have him mill the ramp so you can use the alpha type II 10 rnd mags for a 2.985 Oal.

[ar15barrels]

I'm in Orange County. I like option of the gunsmith route. How long does it normally take to have a rifle smithed for you? Are we talking a month or a year?

If you gather up all the parts yourself, I can chamber the barrel and assemble the gun for you in an afternoon.
I don't do full bedding or paint work, but I have guys in Southern California that I can refer you to for those if you need them.
It's completely possible to build a rifle with bedding and paint in a couple weeks with me and my sources.
Most famous gunsmiths have a 6 month to 2 year lead time.

[smith629]

If you gather up all the parts yourself, I can chamber the barrel and assemble the gun for you in an afternoon.
I don't do full bedding or paint work, but I have guys in Southern California that I can refer you to for those if you need them.
It's completely possible to build a rifle with bedding and paint in a couple weeks with me and my sources.
Most famous gunsmiths have a 6 month to 2 year lead time.

Thanks for the offer but I am pretty confident I would order half the wrong parts. I don't even know where to get a surgeon action (their website says they are unavailable).

[ar15barrels]

Thanks for the offer but I am pretty confident I would order half the wrong parts. I don't even know where to get a surgeon action (their website says they are unavailable).

I can help you with specifying the parts.
I have an ffl in riverside that gets us surgeon receivers.