Sneak peak rifle build!

traks44 · 03-23-2006, 12:55 PM

well after months of planning and waiting I have finally recieved the barreled action for my new gun. Through much debate we decided to go with a Montana barreled action.
the barrel is a 30 inch #8 contour with a vias muzzle brake. chambered in .338 lapua. The scope is a Nightforce 12-42x56MM Nighforce BR. A Mcmillian stock is on the way and thats all I will say for now I threw the Bushmaster in there for size comparison(24inch barrel). My father is also building a custom 6.5x284 based on a blue printed remington 700 action which I will get pictures of when its finished. I know there is not a whole lot of interest on this web site but I thought some may be interested.

pythonwill · 03-23-2006, 01:04 PM

Very nice, that should get out therre a ways, which McMillan stock did you go with? I have been thinking about a A-5 for my 300RUM but funds wont permit it till later this summer.

skein · 03-23-2006, 01:08 PM

That's serious equipment! Good on ya. I just don't want to be standing beside you when you uncork that 338 with the muzzle brake. HoooooEeeeee! What style McMillan are you getting? I know McMillan mostly for their benchrest gear, but the 338 isn't exactly a Hunter-class cartridge. Are you talking extreme-range stuff?

Your dad's rifle also sounds like a sweet long-range setup. I think that the 6.5 is one of the most inherently accurate rounds out there, with good ballistics. Packed into a 284 case you've got enough powder to send it waaaaaay out there.

You guys are gonna have fun. I envy you. Keep us in the loop as you get 'em all put together.

Skein

traks44 · 03-23-2006, 01:16 PM

My stock is a mcmillian A-5 with a forest green, black and white marble finish with saddle style cheek piece.

my dads: remington 700 trued, 28 inch lija stainless barrel, Vias brake, holland laminated wood stock, jewell trigger, leupold 8.5-25x50MM.

Skein we plan on shooting out to nearly a mile, when all said and done and we get our load worked up. PLAN is the key word(lol)

Bait O' Eggs · 03-23-2006, 01:24 PM

Thats a lot of gun

I hope some day I can get me a long range gun to play with.

ehunter · 03-23-2006, 01:51 PM

Wow one mile what kind of a spotting scope do you have

traks, this question coming from a guy that has trouble out to 25 yards with his bow

traks44 · 03-23-2006, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Wow one mile what kind of a spotting scope do you have

traks, this question coming from a guy that has trouble out to 25 yards with his bow

a Leupold 12-40 spotter

The nightforce is 12-42 so it usually works better than the leupold, Of course when shooting this far there are only a couple shootable hours in the mornin without heat waves.

The nighforce is actually off of a 6mm/284 we built, but we opted for the 6.5 now because of the bigger bullets and higher B.Cs.

ehunter · 03-23-2006, 02:09 PM

Traks can you seriously see a bullet hole at a mile with that spotting scope

wow that sounds like fun....

What kind a trajatory do you have with that are you talking feet or inches...

traks44 · 03-23-2006, 02:21 PM

MOA-
100 yards = 1 inch group
200 yards = 2 inch group
500 yards = 5 inch group
800 yards = 8 inch group
you get the idea........

so...with the turrets on the scope you dial in the elevation in MOA in what you need to get to your target. Of course we have a chronograph and rangefinders to figure out the technical stuff. The nighforce has 1/8 MOA adjustments so 8 clicks is one inch at 100 yards, or 8 clicks is 10 inches at 1000 yards. I am fairly new to the extreme long range shooting so if any of this is incorrect feel free to point it out. Both of these guns will be equipped with 20 MOA bases also.

OH, we dont see bullet holes at a mile, but we will be able to see if a ballon popped or a rockchuck was hit.

baltz526 · 03-23-2006, 02:28 PM

my neck hurts and my ears are ringing just thinking about touching off that 338 lapua

Sled Dog · 03-23-2006, 03:01 PM

sounds like the ultimate open country elk gun. If you can see em you can hit em.

traks44 · 03-23-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

my neck hurts and my ears are ringing just thinking about touching off that 338 lapua

HAHA, you sounds like my father!

he says he is only gonna shoot it ounce, I think the percussion will be worse than the kick. We use an assortment of different rests including a lead sled so not only will the rifle weigh 19lbs, it will be braked and will also be in a lead slead.

oregonmuley · 03-23-2006, 03:44 PM

Traks,
Looks good so far - look forward to seeing the finished product.
Frank

traks44 · 03-23-2006, 04:02 PM

ok heres the stock although mine will be different colors,

http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillian/PDFs/detail_tactical_a-5specs.pdf

DRUNK COWBOY · 03-24-2006, 10:22 AM

I want to come shoot this when you get it done

I might be in the mood to build one myself

Rank Amateur · 03-24-2006, 10:33 AM

Now I know what happened to your knee!

Next it will be shoulder surgery!

Nice looking components.

Troutinator · 03-24-2006, 11:26 AM

link to stock is 404...

traks44 · 03-24-2006, 12:40 PM

sorry I cant get any of the stock links to work :depressed:

SetNet · 03-24-2006, 01:28 PM

I've looked at .338 Lapua's (Sako TRG42,Dakota Longbow and HS Precision HTR). With the cost of building your own rifle be less, even with premium parts?

p.s. That action + 30" looks awsome!!

SetNet

traks44 · 03-24-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

I've looked at .338 Lapua's (Sako TRG42,Dakota Longbow and HS Precision HTR). With the cost of building your own rifle be less, even with premium parts?

p.s. That action + 30" looks awsome!!

SetNet

I think the price would be probably pretty close either way. I just think being able to pick and choose your parts for exactly what you want is really nice. Its actually really addicting building your own rifle be, I think we may have another project in the works for next year. All I will say is that pushing a 300 gr SMK bullet at 3300 FPS would do a number on a rockchuck.

a quick ex. of PREMIUM parts:
Nesika Bay action - $1200
A-5 stock loaded - $650
32 inch Lija barrel - $500
Nightforce NXS 12-42 - $1250
vias brake - $175
.....well you get the idea kinda one of those deal of how much you wonna spend?

Snakebite · 03-24-2006, 03:18 PM

Reading all this makes me feel like I'm in the dark ages. What the heck is a .338 lapua? How does it compare to a .338 Winchester magnum? Hey, If I don't ask potentially stupid questions, I will remain stupid!

SLEDDER · 03-24-2006, 03:29 PM

The .338 LAP. was designed as a sniper round. I believe the Finns were the designers. It will do a mile, accurately, with practice. You need nerves of steel, or the shakes will probably get you.

Hunt'nFish · 03-24-2006, 03:36 PM

traks,
300gr @ 3300fps.....

I wanna shoot it too!
Looks like quite the weapon. How's the case capacity compare to the .338-378?
Does Nesika Bay offer more than one action? I thought they were all enclosed top bridges. Dakota Arms bought'em out right?
Very interested to see how the Lilja barrel does. Stickfish has my old Lilja 22BR and he's been having very good results with it....like one hole!

It outta thump'em good. I'd like to see an elk do a back flip JUST ONCE before I die!
Wish'n ya all the best,
Hunt'nFish

traks44 · 03-24-2006, 03:49 PM

The 300gr, at 3300fps gun is quite a ways off.....
I repeat this is not the Lapua

I hope to develop an accurate load at 3000 FPS with a 250 Gr. Lapua scenar or Sierra match for the one I am building now.

I have come to one conclusion while researching all this info. There are dozens or very good companies that make excellent gun components. I could name off 3-4 companies for each component that make an A-1 product. There are people however that will tell you differently. Anyone who trys to tell you mcmillian doesnt make a good stock, Lija barrels are poor quality, tracker wood stocks are crap, etc. these people are trying to sell you something different and I took my business elsewhere when gunsmiths or manufactuers started jumping on the backs of others.

just some advice for anyone looking to build one.

Edit: Nesika does offer a handful of different style actions!

Bait O' Eggs · 03-24-2006, 07:06 PM

You can shoot a mile, heres proof

LINK

Hunt'nFish · 03-24-2006, 08:31 PM

WOW, 1600meters .... now that's some shoot'n!
Hunt'nFish

skein · 03-25-2006, 05:49 AM

Whose trigger are you going to put in it? A Jewell has to up near the top of the list, and I think he makes one with a working safety that would probably be the ticket.

Also, who is going to put it together for you? Do you have a capable smith near you, or are you going to send it off?

I have a friend who has won a couple of 1000yd National matches, and he told me when everything else is set up and working, it's the concentricity of the bullet/case/chamber/barrel that gives that last little edge. Don't overlook that part of the equation.

Oh man, I'm just like everyone else. I want to come see it and watch it roar! (notice I said watch it roar, not make it roar.)

Skein

traks44 · 03-25-2006, 06:10 AM

I think I am gonna leave the trigger pull for now. I am not 100% sure what it is set at, buts its got a nice crisp feel and trigger control should be fairly easy on this gun. If and when I change the trigger it will be a jewell probably set at 4 oz or something. My fathers gun will have a jewell from the get go set at 2 oz.

Gunsmiths is probably the toughest decision we had to make. There are not alot of people who shoot 1000 yards and even fewer that shoot are gunsmiths. After talking with dozens of gusnmiths all over the US we decided that Larry Cribbs from La grande was one of the best. Not only does he shoot alot but he can build one heck of a rifle. We were a little hesitant to go with someone who doesnt shoot long range but he has built some incredibly accurate rifles. A quick google search will reveal some good information about Larry. We had lunch with Larry a few weeks ago and he is a positive stand-up guy who builds an accurate rifle. He is very VERY detail oriented and I will post up pics when the rifles ares done!

skein · 03-25-2006, 09:31 AM

Oh, no! Not Larry Cribbs from the Beaver Pond Gang! No!

Just kidding. He's really good at what he does, and I wouldn't hesitate to let him put a rifle together for me. He's a serious shooter and a heck of a rifle builder. And he's close! Great choice.

You sure know how to make a guy jealous though.... and now you've got me thinking about raiding the piggy bank. You're BAD.

Skein