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Posted By: SU35 EL Diablo - 09/18/10
Ever find a particular bullet and then decide to build a rifle around it?

Well, that's just what I did.

I was looking for a dedicated "Long Range Hunting Rifle" that would shoot
Berger 180 VLD's at 3,000 mv.

I wanted a rifle that weighed 11 lbs or less as well.

Cartridge: 7mm Rem Magnum

Rifle: Rem 700 SS

Barrel: Brux SS 27" #6 Bull Sporter, 1/8.6 twist, interrupted flutted,

Rifle barrel and action was coated with Gun-Kote
after Salt Bath Nitride treatment.

Stock: Mcmillan A3 65% Red 35% Black

Rifle weighs 10 lbs 8 oz scoped up with Leupold QR low rings and mounts.
Scope is a Leupold 6.5-20x 40 LR.

Using lows and the x40 scope makes for an ideal cheek-weld for me.

I looked hard for the kind of Smith I want to build this for me and after judging the field I came up with Travis at R Bros.

First and formost, Travis is a shooter. He shoots competition in tactical matches and he wins those matches. Travis is also a long range hunter, he knows just what it takes to build the kind of accurate rifle that shooters like myself are looking for.
I found that Travis is also a perfectionist. The rifle won't leave the shop till it shoots, at very least, to his standard of .5 at 100 yds. I think most of his rifles shoot less than that.

Travis has built many 7mm Rem Mags and his chamber reamer is set up for the 180 Berger, it also works for other bullet brands quite well.
I plan on trying out 168 Bergers, 162 Amax's and 160 AB's

Travis used a load of Retumbo to get 3,050 mv and
an initial .3 for this rifle. That's a pretty good start.

I'm not normally given to naming my rifles but I could not resist with this one.

El Diablo grin

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Posted By: Cinch Re: EL Diablo - 09/18/10
+1 for Travis! He sure builds some nice rifles and is one hell of a standup guy. Very nice, loooking forward to seeing some pictures in the field.
Posted By: ironeagle_84 Re: EL Diablo - 09/18/10
nice stick!
Posted By: Ringman Re: EL Diablo - 09/18/10
SU35,

Do we know each other? I think I need to shoot that rifle.
Posted By: ReaperCrew Re: EL Diablo - 09/18/10
The "interrupted flutes" look sweet
Posted By: Dakotakid Re: EL Diablo - 09/18/10
Are ya runnin Wincester primers with the Retumbo vs 215 M? Great looking rig.
Posted By: MontanaMarine Re: EL Diablo - 09/18/10
That's nice!
Posted By: EddyBo Re: EL Diablo - 09/19/10
Very nice. I love red and black mcSwirleys.
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 09/19/10
Had my first "accuracy" range session today with El Diablo, this was after a sight in yesterday.
I used 8 shots to get on target burning 68.0 grains of Retumbo sending a 180 Berger. (MV of 2,850)

All loads were win brass and win mag primers.

Today's results shooting 3 shot groups.

Group on the far right was my first "official" group.
Load was Ramshot Magnum 71.5 grains for an average of 3,000 mv. It's right on the red line and I may back off .5 grain.

2nd group in the middle were 168 Bergers and 70 grains of Retumbo. I pulled the 2nd shot for the top hole.

3rd group far left were 180 Bergers and 69.5 grains of Retumbo. ES was less than 15 fps at a bit over 3,000 mv.

Had a 10 to 15 mph crosswind I was shooting into.


[Linked Image]



Promising start and I'm glad I found another powder, RS Magnum, to complement Retumbo for both accuracy and speed.

Next up for tomorrow will be RL 25.
Posted By: rost495 Re: EL Diablo - 09/19/10
Get it wound up... then come to TX and whack an El Diablo with it at long range... blue bull/nilgai are fairly tough critters.
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 09/19/10
Quote
Get it wound up... then come to TX and whack an El Diablo with it at long range... blue bull/nilgai are fairly tough critters.


LOL...I would love that!

I've had plenty of Texans tell me that those Nilgai are tough critters. I believe them.
Posted By: rost495 Re: EL Diablo - 09/20/10
They made me cuss and drop the use of partitions....

Of course the right shot is dead...but we were asked to take some angular shots... at least it proved that what I thought was my elk load was NOT...

Look up Yturria Ranch.... I think they are a bit cheaper than the King... May be many other options too.. I"m looking hard into using the airboat on the flats... as they wander out onto public land at times... but you have to make sure you are not on King ranch land FOR sure...
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 09/20/10
Quote
They made me cuss and drop the use of partitions....


I don't doubt it. I know guys from Dallas that blast them with 338's and still cuss after they've filled them full of lead.
(which btw, I miss my twice a year business visits to Texas)

If I remember correctly, Nosler tested their then new Accubonds on them.

Indigenous or not, my guess is they are the toughest beast on 4 hooves in NA.
Posted By: rost495 Re: EL Diablo - 09/20/10
Funny part is I killed one with a 30-30 contender... 170 core lokts on a bet... a running cull bull.... first shot was ok... and then it took either 7 or 9 total shots till he fell over... my worst hit was far enough back to nip the liver... Many bullets made only one lung...

Dunno that I'd trust an accubond on these things...

the other laugh... a buddy lucked off and spined one with his 7 mag... and was out of shells... I killed it with a heart shot from my 357 python....

But yep, I'd think 338 would be an ideal round and I know of folks that bought big stuff for them... up to a 460....and that bunch takes along an old German hunter.... with a 308 and 180 corelokts... but he shoots them all in the head...
Posted By: aalf Re: EL Diablo - 09/20/10
Sweet stick.

Now pound the piss outta it and see how the melanite holds up. grin
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 09/20/10
Quote
Now pound the piss outta it and see how the melanite holds up. grin


And that's just what I'm going to do. grin

This rifle is really fun to shoot!

Interesting in talking to Travis, he hardly if ever cleans his rifles.
I think he said he has gone over 900 rounds and still going on one particular rifle. I'm going to try to see how far I can get before it falls off.

So far the melanite treatment has caused no accuracy concerns.
Maybe it'll give me another 1000 or 2000 down the tube. We shall see.

Posted By: rockchuck828 Re: EL Diablo - 09/21/10
Originally Posted by SU35
Ever find a particular bullet and then decide to build a rifle around it?

Travis has built many 7mm Rem Mags and his chamber reamer is set up for the 180 Berger, it also works for other bullet brands quite well.
I plan on trying out 168 Bergers, 162 Amax's and 160 AB's

Travis used a load of Retumbo to get 3,050 mv and
an initial .3 for this rifle. That's a pretty good start.



I have gone this route and a couple observations, First if the reamer is set-up for the 180gr Berger it is way less than ideal for the 168gr Berger (huge difference in bearing surface length) works great with the 160gr AB though.

Second, after trying several powder's Retumbo was one of the first OUT....good short range accuracy but H1000 and RL25 were superior for long range work.
RC828
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 09/21/10
Quote
I have gone this route and a couple observations, First if the reamer is set-up for the 180gr Berger it is way less than ideal for the 168gr Berger (huge difference in bearing surface length) works great with the 160gr AB though.


Excellent input, thanks.

Travis did mention that the reamer was good for the 160 AB's.

I've shot the 168's again tonight. Sub moa but just under at .8.

I established my 100 yard zero tonight and all loads and 3 different bullets hit pretty much poi.

RL25 does look good but so far RS Magnum has everything beat.

Also, the 162 Amax's did very well at 3,100 with Retumbo.

I'll be going to 300 yards tomorrow. We'll see what that tells.

Thanks again!
Posted By: JohnBurns Re: EL Diablo - 09/21/10
Nice

Hard to beat Retumbo for speed and temp stability.

Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 09/21/10
Quote
Hard to beat Retumbo for speed and temp stability.


I've heard a lot of people say that. smile

Seeing you tip that griz with a 7mm 180 helped push me over the edge on this project. smile


Posted By: GuyM Re: EL Diablo - 09/21/10
Congrats on the great rifle! R-Bros build a fine piece of gear... 7mm Rem mag has long been a favorite of mine. Used the 175 Nosler Partition to take a dandy bull elk about 10 years ago with the 7mm RM. Excellent open-country cartridge.

Congrats on El Diablo, and I hope to see a post here with a big ol' Cascade Mulie downed soon enough.

Guy
Posted By: Paul Walukewicz Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
Man that turned out nice! i can like it!

Did you supply the action/stock or did you just order what you wanted? I've a SA project that i'd like to get off the ground soon...
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
Thanks!

I bought the action from Travis and supplied the stock and barrel.

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Was out again this evening and popped off a few 168's down it.
If this chamber is only good for 180's and bad for 168's I'd like to see what a chamber set up for 168's would do. grin
[Linked Image]


After 60 rounds down the tube I decided to go ahead and clean it with Montana Xtreme 50, a copper killer.

.....I could get no sign of copper on a patch after letting it sit in the barrel. Usually, I get a blue streak, nada blue at all.
Cleaned it out, ran some Montana bore conditioner down it, went to the range and shot the above 100 yard group.
Really just experimenting with cold bore shots and how the rifle would react to cleaning. I get to know my rifles this way so no surprises before or during hunting season.

I was pleasantly surprised.
Posted By: Calvin Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
Nice. I bought that same Bipod this morning that you have in the pic and shot with it today. (first bipod I've owned) Damn I shot some crazy good groups with it today!
Posted By: Waders Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
Wow, that thing flat out shoots! Nice!
Posted By: Brett_Mc Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
That looks like a rifle that is going to have some history in a few years. I hope you get to enjoy it for a long time.

Brett (Mac)
Posted By: David_Walter Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
I love this idea. You build my dream rifle, do the loads, and I have Travis build me one once you've ironed out all the wrinkles.

Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
David, it was a coin toss between 264 Win and 7mm Rem. I could have been happy with either and had custom barrels for in both calibers.

One thing I forgot to mention was that I pulled the barreled action from the stock, put it back on, cleaned the barrel, and then pulled the scope, it has QR's, then shot it for the above 100 yd group. Really wanted to see how good Travis bedding job turned out. The QR's worked out well too. Everything returned to zero.

Posted By: TMR Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
Bob,
Looks like she is behaving for you. I'm taKing a little break this morning from elk hunting, thought I would catch up on the forum. Glad you are experimenting a little. Most guys stick with my standard load and never change.


David,
I think the bugs are pretty much worked out on the 7 mag. All the ones I have built shoot my standard load very well. The 264 took a little more for me to figure out, but they seem to be pretty consistent now.
Posted By: bigsqueeze Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
SU35.............With that rifle, you can go on the "Best of the West" TV show and feel right at home. With some practice, 700, 800, 900, 1000 yard elk hunting, won`t be a problem with that rig. Though on the hunts, carrying it where you need to go and depending on the terrain, may not always be a picnic.

A 7mm 180 gr Berger fired at 3000 fps MV, will retain more downrange velocity and energy at extended ranges than will a 180 gr Barnes TSX fired from a 30-378 with MVs of 3400-3500 fps.

That is an ideal and excellent long range rig you have there.
Posted By: Paul Walukewicz Re: EL Diablo - 09/22/10
i think that you've a good one there!!!

Looks like i'll be giving Rbros a call the first of the year.....
Posted By: Burleyboy Re: EL Diablo - 09/23/10
Nice rifle, I just relized I copied you sort of. I picked a bullet and built a rifle that would drive it 3000 on a brux interupted fluted barrel.

I'm getting ready to order another brux. I'm thinking a #5 interupted in a 10 twist 30 cal. I have a rem wsm short action and I'm thinking a 300 wsm with a wyatts box and running 208 Amaxs, 210 vlds, or 200g AB's.

Though a 7mm mag is tempting. I'm sure I have a Rem long action somewhere. Hmmm.........
Posted By: 30338 Re: EL Diablo - 09/29/10
That is a helluva cool looking and performing rig SU35. Really like it. The interrupted fluting is very nice.
Posted By: BobinNH Re: EL Diablo - 09/30/10
SU: Nice rifle!Is that the required twist for a 180 Berger?
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 09/30/10
Hi Bob,

A 1/9" will work just as well. I found this barrel ready to go and knew that twist would work for the bullet.
It also works great with 168's and 162's.

I also have a jewell trigger on order that I will be putting on.
Posted By: yukonal Re: EL Diablo - 10/01/10
You said you're going to try RL-25 next. And 160 Accubonds. Here is RL-25 with 160 Accubonds from a 7 Rem Mag...
[Linked Image]

Cool rifle, show us some longer range targets once you get it humming!
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 10/02/10
Thanks yukonal!
Posted By: Shag Re: EL Diablo - 10/02/10
You had it built for 180's why aren't you running them?? smile


Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 10/06/10
This is a HOT-HOT load.


I'll back off this one by at least a grain, to bad as accuracy is starting to come together.
ES is good.
I think the new Jewell trigger I put on yesterday really helped.
It's set at 1 lb.

Just under .8 for the 3 shots that are together.
This is what I want this rifle to do everyday.
We'll see about tomorrow... cool
[Linked Image]


Posted By: Dakotakid Re: EL Diablo - 10/06/10
Great shooting, and now I am gonna have to give the Winchester primers a go in my 7 mags and the 168VLD as I have only been using 215M's, That's a nice ES on that load, RL 25 gives me the most consistent spread with my 7 STW also,I also saw Ramshot Magnum did well in that rifle, another powder I havent tried in the 7 mag,been stuck on Retumbo and H100o to long Thanks for doing a lot of field testing, Good Luck hunting with El Diablo.
Posted By: jpb Re: EL Diablo - 10/06/10
First time I can recall seeing a rifle barrel with dimples...

but I kind of like it!

John
Posted By: GeorgiaBoy Re: EL Diablo - 10/11/10
SU35,

I like the stock. I especially like the solid bottom (no bag hook).

How would you describe the difference between the A2 and the A3? It seems to me, and from reading McMillans web-site, that the only difference in in the forearm.

Is that correct?

GB
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 10/11/10
GB, I'm really not a stock expert but I believe you're correct.
The A3 may be lighter as well. I chose the standard A3 for it's simplicity and not wanting a wide fore-end.

It has been a bit tricky for me to adjust to a the A3 style of vertical grip.
Too much pressure and the shot is off as I like to put a little more grip on a magnum chambered rifle.
It does come straight back though which helps.

Posted By: CGPAUL Re: EL Diablo - 10/11/10
SU35....if you have 7828, give it a try. It works great for me in the 7 Wby with the 160 ABs, 162 A-Max and 168 Bergers/JLKs.

I have not tried 180s yet.
Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 10/11/10
I sure do have it and those 162's Amaxs love it.
Posted By: bxroads Re: EL Diablo - 11/08/10
SU, does the barrel have a seating depth preference and is it consistent for the 168s and 180s?

Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 11/08/10
Quote
SU, does the barrel have a seating depth preference and is it consistent for the 168s and 180s?


It does, kissing the lands and is consistent for the 168's and 180's.

Posted By: Azshooter Re: EL Diablo - 11/09/10
SU35,

Great minds think similarly. I built a heavy 7 rem mag and used it exactly a year ago for coues wt. It also shot the 180 VLDs and very accurately. I chose RL-25 at the time.

The only mistake I made with mine was to get a 1 in 7 3 groove. It began to destroy the 180s at round count 225 or so. I switched to heavy 180 and it ate them at round count 300 or so. Had to go to accubonds or monos like the E-tip. It showed a distinct preference for the 140 accubond and it is a real hummer. Ragged holes with a bi-pod and read sandbag at 100 and is consistent out to the tested 500 M at our range. Vel is 3400 but I miss the wind drift capabilities of the 180 VLD. Next barrel will be a 1 in 8.5 or 9.

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Posted By: SU35 Re: EL Diablo - 11/09/10
Nice rifle AZshooter and great info from your experience.
Posted By: Azshooter Re: EL Diablo - 11/09/10
Thanks for the compliments SU 35.

Forgot to mention the rifle has a 30" barrel.

An interesting sidenote...the 1 in 7 twist really gets the bullets rotating.

Here are a few standard twist stats and then the faster twisted 7 rem mag.

300 RUM 1 in 10 200 gr accubond @ 3200 = 230,400 RPM
7 STW 1 in 9.25 168 Berger vld @ 3250 = 252,927 RPM
284 1 in 9.25 150 nosler bt @ 3100 = 241,297 RPM
7 RUM if it is 1 in 9 180 berger vld @ 3100 = 260,000 RPM


1 in 7 twist rem mag 180 vld @ 2950 = 303,328 RPM
1 in 7 twist rem mag 140 accubond @ 3410 = 350,742 RPM

No wonder it ate those cup and core bullets.

Posted By: bxroads Re: EL Diablo - 11/09/10
Originally Posted by SU35
Quote
SU, does the barrel have a seating depth preference and is it consistent for the 168s and 180s?


It does, kissing the lands and is consistent for the 168's and 180's.



Figured it, just my luck.
Posted By: TMR Re: EL Diablo - 11/09/10
bxroads,

I have built several 7WSM's and 7 Mags that shoot the 180's jumping .020-.050" really well. Its worth a try.
Posted By: bxroads Re: EL Diablo - 11/09/10
Travis, just left you a voice message. Give me a shout when you get a chance. I appreciate it.

Clint
Posted By: bxroads Re: EL Diablo - 11/09/10
Travis, thanks for the call. I appreciate it.

Posted By: Grand Re: EL Diablo - 11/16/10
SU35: IMpressive velocity with the 180/RL25 combo.

I'm running the 168g Berger with 64g RL19 at around 3000 fps 26" bbl.
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