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Big 7....My Way........ #11189411 05/16/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	So last year I had the hankering to put together another long range plicker of some sort, and really was planning on a 7mm of some flavor. But reality (money) set in, and I made the executive decision to stick with another 6.5-284, as I had 150 pieces of used brass, plus dies, bullets, powder, and the reamer. I ordered a new SPS 25-06 for the donor, tore it apart, found a Bartlein 3B 8" twist on line in stock, and sent it and the action off to get chambered and fitted. I picked up a McM Sporter on the fire, sent the bolt off for fluting and tig welding, and cobbled it all together when things came home. Managed to topped it off with an extra 5.5-22x50 NF in Seekins rings and 30 MOA bases. Got a decent load with 130 Berger VLD's at 3150, and ran them to 1200 or so multiple times. Also gave the 142 LRAB's a good test too. They shot good, but couldn't hang with the Berger load in the wind. I did break it in on a buck in Montana last year at 350. Hard quartering away, devastating....both lungs and the top of the heart.... But I still couldn't shake the 7 thought..... Ended up buying a S/S magnum bolt last year "just in case". I wanted something more than a 7 mag offered, but didn't want to go with any wildcat with their related expenses with dies and fireforming. I had read a 100 page thread on LRH about the 7x300WM that planted the seed. I knew TiminTn was a 7 freak, so I finally gave him a buzz. He had a minimum spec no turn 7x300WM reamer and a 7mm throater. Shazaam.... I found a 8.5" twist Krieger RV contour in stock, so ordered it and had it sent directly to Tim. Ordered up 500 Berger 180 Hybrids, and another 500 183 SMK's, a couple hundred Hornady 300 WM brass, A Wilson 300WM inline bullet seater, and 300WM Redding body die, and 7Mag neck die. I seated both bullets where I wanted them, and sent the to Tim for proper throating. 7Mag w/162 Amax vs the 7x300 w/183 SMK....

GB1

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11189463 05/16/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Next, I decided I didn't want the Sporter stock, as I didn't want to open it up for the new barrel, so I peddled it, and ordered a new Game Warden in Urban Spectre. For the imediate future, I had my eye on a McM Marksman stock, but it was ADL, inletted for a HV contour, and it was OD green....all wrong.....but I bought it anyway. Tim got the barrel done in short order, and right back to me. I got everything bolted up, but the weather turned to schitt, which gave me time to address the stock. Fired up the dremel, turning it into a BDL, and bedded the floorplate. Next up I taped up the barrel with several layers of tape to give it a good float, mixed up some epoxy and micro balloons, and bolted it together to set up. Then I ground out and prepped the action and stock, and bedded the action. [img]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh167/alfbucket/016_zpsfhirdbef.jpg[/img]

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11189910 05/16/16
Joined: Jul 2015 Posts: 1,187 Michigan M mibowhunter Campfire Regular
mibowhunter Campfire Regular M Joined: Jul 2015 Posts: 1,187 Michigan	Nice work. A big 7 has been heavy on my mind. TB, CWD and Covid-19 , free so far.....

Re: Big 7....My Way........ mibowhunter #11189967 05/16/16
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 35,900 B BobinNH Campfire 'Bwana
BobinNH Campfire 'Bwana B Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 35,900	That'll work. Old wildcat. Been around a long time. Friends built the 7x300 WM back in the 80's. Similar to the other 7mm's with about the same capacity. The 280 Remington is overbore. The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190105 05/16/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Next up.....address the green ugliness..... Rounded up the Rust-Oleum spray bombs, some deer browse, & proceeded with the snow camo motiff:

IC B2

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190252 05/16/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Finished product......

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190260 05/16/16
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10,653 Badger State roundoak Campfire Outfitter
roundoak Campfire Outfitter Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10,653 Badger State	Sweet, enjoyed the work up and look forward to the results on the range. You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190302 05/16/16
Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,103 Middle TN J jowens Campfire Regular
jowens Campfire Regular J Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,103 Middle TN	How's it shoot, Al? Nice looking rig

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190306 05/16/16
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,448 Stuck in Folsom Prison H haverluk Campfire Regular
haverluk Campfire Regular H Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,448 Stuck in Folsom Prison	Haven't handled the McM Marksman. How do you like it? I swallowed up the RV contour with ease. Looks like a very nice rig. Semper Fi

Re: Big 7....My Way........ roundoak #11190360 05/17/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Originally Posted by roundoak Sweet, enjoyed the work up and look forward to the results on the range. Thanks Wayne......range work is done, play time has commenced.....

IC B3

Re: Big 7....My Way........ jowens #11190361 05/17/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Originally Posted by jowens How's it shoot, Al? Nice looking rig Thanks Josh......damn good.....

Re: Big 7....My Way........ haverluk #11190372 05/17/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Originally Posted by haverluk Haven't handled the McM Marksman. How do you like it? The A-5's stole the forend off the Marksman, more rounded, and beefier (wider) through the butt. I tend to hold the guns in the mag area with the off hand, and the sharper corners of the A-5 aren't kind, especially with more recoil. I have several......

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190683 05/17/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Some bullets for comparison: 120 BT - 140 BT - 162 Amax - 168 Berger VLD - 180 Berger Hybrid - 183 Sierra Matchking

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190719 05/17/16
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,812 Montana 6 6MMWASP Campfire Tracker
6MMWASP Campfire Tracker 6 Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,812 Montana	Nice work aalf. Sharing pics with the new Game Warden on Thursday?

Re: Big 7....My Way........ 6MMWASP #11190756 05/17/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Originally Posted by 6MMWASP Nice work aalf. Sharing pics with the new Game Warden on Thursday? Thanks Mike. Might be like Santa.....naughty vs nice deal on pics......

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190788 05/17/16
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,477 Calgary, AB, Canada Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter
Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,477 Calgary, AB, Canada	Looks great! Here's another bullet pic to add: 195 Hybrid, 180 VLD, 162 AM Moly

Re: Big 7....My Way........ Jordan Smith #11190820 05/17/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Jordan, I had my finger poised on the buy button for the 195's, but chickened out. I felt it was going to be almost a wash in the performance comparing drop/drift with the Hybrids from a hunting standpoint, which I would most likely limit myself to under 1K in perfect conditions, and realistically under 750, depending. I was hoping for a good load for the two I bought, the 183's for LR play, and the Hybrids for hunting. My OAL w/ SMK's is a hair over mag length, which was planned as single shot anyway with where I wanted the throating, and the Hybrids shoot fine jumping while fitting the mag....win/win. The 713 BC for the Sierras is real.....

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190838 05/17/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	So the sole reason for this build was to have a LR toy to replace my 338/300 Ultra that I sold. I never cared for the A-5, it was a tad heavy at 15 1/2 pounds, and while fun to shoot, I didn't want to deal with the blast and concussion in lighting one off any more. I had taken it as far as 1925 yards in the past, and was hard to ignore the performance at distance. To me, it didn't make sense to unleash the beast unless you were going beyond 13-1400 yards or so. Plus I have other things more fun to shoot out to that distance w/o the "drama" and hassle setting up those targets, so down the road it went, and funded the new parts. Bat HR single shot action, 29" fluted Rock barrel, Hollands brake, McM A-5, Bat 40 MOA base, Seekins rings, 5.5-22x50 Nightforce. Berger or Sierra 300 grainers at 2820. So the goal was to equal the 338/300 Ultra's performance, which stayed supersonic beyond 2000 yards, keep the weight to around the 12 pound mark, skip the muzzle brake, and still be able to spot my own shots, while making it more portable. The last requirement was I had to stay within the confines of the feed rails, as this is still a switch barrel gun with the 6.5-284 barrel, and need it to reliably feed either cartridge. That ruled out the Ultra/Nosler sized cartridges.

Re: Big 7....My Way........ aalf #11190960 05/17/16
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,477 Calgary, AB, Canada Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter
Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,477 Calgary, AB, Canada	Originally Posted by aalf Jordan, I had my finger poised on the buy button for the 195's, but chickened out. I felt it was going to be almost a wash in the performance comparing drop/drift with the Hybrids from a hunting standpoint, which I would most likely limit myself to under 1K in perfect conditions, and realistically under 750, depending. I was hoping for a good load for the two I bought, the 183's for LR play, and the Hybrids for hunting. My OAL w/ SMK's is a hair over mag length, which was planned as single shot anyway with where I wanted the throating, and the Hybrids shoot fine jumping while fitting the mag....win/win. The 713 BC for the Sierras is real..... aalf, Sounds like a solid plan! Good to know on the MK's. The 0.755 G1 matches up nicely on the 195's also, out to 1420m at least, which is as far as I've shot them so far. I built a rifle around that bullet, so I'm running it well within mag length and kissing the lands, with the bottom of the bullet shank just below the neck/shoulder junction. That bullet certainly is an animal, and even makes the 162 look silly in the wind. You can definitely tell the difference between the two when they hit steel. When the 195 hits it sounds like somebody hit the plate with a sledge hammer.

Re: Big 7....My Way........ Jordan Smith #11192896 05/18/16
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis. aalf OP Campfire Ranger
OP aalf Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,123 S.W. Wis.	Originally Posted by Jordan Smith Sounds like a solid plan! Good to know on the MK's. The 0.755 G1 matches up nicely on the 195's also, out to 1420m at least, which is as far as I've shot them so far. I built a rifle around that bullet, so I'm running it well within mag length and kissing the lands, with the bottom of the bullet shank just below the neck/shoulder junction. That bullet certainly is an animal, and even makes the 162 look silly in the wind. You can definitely tell the difference between the two when they hit steel. When the 195 hits it sounds like somebody hit the plate with a sledge hammer. Jordan, I always start load work in the lands .020" or so. Both dummies were set up for that, with the bullet's pressure ring at the n/s junction too. The Bergers were about .020" under box length, the SMK's about .050" over. I've moved my seater out .010" at the 450 round count. Smart move on my part for not adding the third bullet to the mix for testing at this point. Have you tested jumping the 195's? I just ran another side by side ballistic comparison, the 183 .713 BC vs the 195 .755 BC, with a WAG velocity loss of the 195 at 125 fps. A virtual tie across the board at 2K, except the SMK's 3 MOA less drop. From a LR plinking standpoint, I think the SMK wins, edging the 195's in drop and cost. But from a hunting standpoint, my 180 Hybrids run about 2 MOA behind the SMKs, so the 195 wins there. However, I pointed my Hybrids, so the true figures are likely worse, as I don't want to shoot pointed bullets for hunting. I was about to replenish my Sierra stash, maybe I should re-think the 195's.

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