Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats New 7mm MSM

Well, I hunted for two years with my old rechambered M70 in the 7 MSM. Loved it enough I passed my old 70 along to my hunting partner and started figuring out what I wanted.

Here's my list

Echols Legend Edge
Bartlein 1B 1-8 twist finished at 25"
Pre64 magnum action
Blackburn bottom metal
Cerracote all the metal
Micro Slik for the moving parts

Nothing super special but I think it'll get used for a lot of hunting and it should finish around 6.75's and be right at 8 scoped depending on what I put on it for mounts and glass.

Covered. You're done

Scope and mounts?

That will be a very nice rifle. I used to own one that was virtually identical.

One piece of unsolicited advice, no way would I go with the Blackburn bottom metal. Been there and done that. It's very nice, but it adds a bunch of weight that you will soon dislike.

Mmmmm....good point

Blackburn retired a couple years ago and Swift Bullets acquired his company. They make an extensive inventory of bottom metal. I believe PT&G has aluminum bottom metal.

I see you are going with a 25" barrel, I guess that's the rifle looney thing to do

In all seriousness it sounds like a great build and the fast twist should be able to handle a lot of those long sleek bullets. The McMillan Edge stocks are really nice and are worth the money. Any idea when it will be up and going?

Scotty sounds great!

Have you looked at Sunny Hill bottom metal? It looks pretty good too, though pricey.

You might be closer to 7 lbs bare. My Rem 700 30-06 in the edge stock is 6.75 bare, and I think the Pre 64 is a bit heavier than the 700 action. I've never weighed a Pre-64 though. Either way it will be near perfection

Bottom metal on 70's is a bit tricky. To my knowledge PT&G only makes aluminum units for post 64's and nothing for Pre64s.

For what its worth... On two recent Pre64 builds of mine that were trying to loose some ounces, there seem to be three roads. 1) Go blind magazine, 2) Find some factory pre64 Featherweight bottom metal or 3) last time I spoke with Mr. Echols he was making a high quality (obviously) aluminum unit, but it cost a fair bit more that options 1 and 2.

Scotty,

You might consider having it nitrided over Cerakote. It's much more weather proof and you usually pick up some speed with a nitrided barrel. Because the surface finish is so hard it makes the action slick.

Great points fellas.

I'll ask the builder about Sunny Hill BM to keep it light.

I'll probably just roll with Warne or Leupold Weaver bases and PRW type rings. I'm not super picky on those pieces. It'll likely have another SS 6X or a Leupold 6x36.

IdahoCTD, I'll ask about nitride. It seems to be super tough

Gerry, yup, 25" to match my 338 and 300 P64's. Love those suckers.

Oh, and the smith is saying April. Who knows, as long as I have it for Wyoming.

Sounds like a great build. I'll be putting another one together within the next month or so. I'd be curious to know how many people now have Mashburns on the campfire

I bet there's more OFF the CF who have them....

There are a few of us now thanks to Bob and yourself Laker.

It's a tough cartridge to not like if you like easy speed and pretty easy accuracy.

Scotty,
The Blackburn unit is heavy. So is the steel by SH or Echols.
Get a PTG for the new receiver length and cut off the side rails and drill a hole for the middle screw. Good to go and light.
Or use original steel or alloy.

Oh yes. Your guy will need to shorten the plate from the rear.

Thanks for the advice Rick. I have some time to decide.

Is there any disadvantage to the PTG vs the others?

Any updates on this, wrt the new powders available ? RL26, 7977 etc.

338: Not from me......I Iocked into H1000 5 years ago after trying several powders.

I know other guys are using 7977, RL26,and some others but I have not kept track.

A 160 at 3200 is good enough for me.

Roger That !