Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Thoughts on a GAP build...

I’ll hunt with it almost entirely from enclosed blinds, elevated tripods, and climbing stands

Not a fan of DBM, as they handle for [bleep] in the woods...

Look at the Templar VII....split picatinny, 20 moa(open top) machined in, no bolt on rail.

If you go Templar Hunter, it comes with 8X40.

Trigger Tech Diamond is the trigger I'd go with.

If your target weight is nine pounds all up, you may have to go lighter on the barrel contour.

I'd take any and all advice that scenarshooter has. I'll just add that I'd skip the PTG bottom metal. Too many reports of it not latching properly (although mine is fine so far).
You shouldn't have trouble shooting bug holes with any GAP chambering. Be sure to give us a report when you get it!

I don't see a problem with DBM. The dang thing will be slung on your shoulder, thru the 'woods' on your strenuous journey to those blinds, stands and tripods. And if your going to take a shot, it will be in both hands, neither of which is close to that pesky, '[bleep]', hangie-down mag. So where is the 'handling' problem? And if it ain't gonna be slung, why bother with the expense of un-needed flushcups?

Sounds a lot like a GAP Nontypical with a shorter barrel and a Manners upgrade.

http://www.gaprecision.net/non-typical.html

He said 9lbs before optics. A factory LTR won't break that ceiling and it's a 20" fluted Rem Varm contour.

I really like the concept the OP outlines and see much merit in a mag-sporter+ .308win with a 21" tube. I once had a 700 with a #4 .223 barrel at 21" and it balanced well in a heavy factory laminate. The flutes and .30cal bore are going to take weight off, so this one would likely balance okay in a lightweight handle, maybe better in a standard-fill fiberglass stock. I'd imagine he's looking at something around a .700-.725" muzzle, plus or minus?

For bottom metal here is something new I just found on another website.......
https://forum.snipershide.com/threads/our-new-bdl-dbm-for-m700-sas.6941844/#post-7719868

I'd be interested in feedback on a rifle I'm having GA Precision put together. I've owned lots of rifles, but this will be my first foray into a custom build. It's driven by my inability to get exactly what I want over-the-counter...I'm sure some of you can relate. This will be a deer rifle first and foremost--primarily used in the mixed hardwood bottoms and open fields of south-central Georgia. I’ll hunt with it almost entirely from enclosed blinds, elevated tripods, and climbing stands, so short and compact with good balance is a must. I’ve learned the expensive way that unnecessary weight and poor handling are not the way I want to go, so I’m looking for that elusive compromise between good handling and stability. This rifle will never be carried a long distance, so heaver than sporter weight is fine. I want a rifle I can practice with out to 600, but my hunting shots will be limited to 300-400 yards. The rifle should be legitimately capabile of 0.5 MOA or better, as I'm a handloader, and I like cutting tiny clusters on paper when I'm not hunting. On the bench, I’ll generally shoot off an Atlas bipod because I find it more stable than a traditional front rest. Here's what I'm thinking:

- #4 or #3B Bartlein contour fluted (cuz I like it) that finishes at 20-21” with a recessed target crown.

- Barrel should be threaded so that I can add a Surefire muzzle brake (later, if I choose).

- Caliber is 308 Winchester. Why? Because I find it stupid easy to load for, and I'm heavily invested in that caliber. Barrel life is forever, downrange energy is good for hunting, and it does well in a short barrel. As for twist rate, either 1:10 or 1:11.25...I generally shoot 165-168s and long 175-178s (e.g. Game Changers, Accubond LR). I want to be able to shoot all the 175-178s up to 185 Juggernauts without worrying about stability under ANY conditions (keep in mind, 20-21" barrel and hot, humid, sea-level). I'm leaning toward 1:10, but tell me if I'm wrong.

- GAP Templar Hunter action (allows top-loading) and PTG Short Action Oberndorf or Badger M4 bottom metal. Not a fan of DBM, as they handle for [bleep] in the woods...

- Manners EH6 (carbon fiber) with a 1” Pachmeyer Decelerator pad. I could be talked into another stock (like the EH-2 or EH-4) if the EH-6 forearm can't accomodate a bipod rail. I think the EH-1 is too bulky for what I'm trying to do here.

- No mini-chassis for this stock...traditional pillars and bedding.

- Drilled and tapped 8x40 for a 20 MOA picatinny rail. Scope will likely be a VX-6HD 2-12x42, as I can get it very low, and I'm not sure you can get better optics for the weight. I like the NF 4-16x42 F1, but it's HEAVY, and I don't need it for this gun.

- Two sling studs up front to accomodate the picatinny rail, but likely flush cups elsewhere.

- PTG 700 Short Action Oberndorf style bottom metal.

- Probably a Timney Calvin Elite or Jewel trigger. Would love the bolt to lock when safety is engaged (if possible).

- If I could keep it close to (or under) 9 pounds before optics, I’d be a happy camper!

Balance, weight, and handling are "king," but tell me what I'm not thinking about! Honestly, the only other caliber I'd consider is 7mm-08, and I like the downrange energy of the .308 at the ranges I'll be shooting. I'm in a trophy club with strict rules/fines, so you really can't shoot 'em any further than you can field score them. Because of this, hunting shots beyond 300-400 just aren't in the cards for this gun. For mountain hunting, long range, and other specialty situations I have other rifles. I plan to go with GAP becuase of their reputation and because their customer service is top notch. I know there are other smiths out there that build excellent rifles, but I think I'm settled on GAP.

Thank you!

I'd be interested in feedback on a rifle I'm having GA Precision put together. I've owned lots of rifles, but this will be my first foray into a custom build. It's driven by my inability to get exactly what I want over-the-counter...I'm sure some of you can relate. This will be a deer rifle first and foremost--primarily used in the mixed hardwood bottoms and open fields of south-central Georgia. I’ll hunt with it almost entirely from enclosed blinds, elevated tripods, and climbing stands, so short and compact with good balance is a must. I’ve learned the expensive way that unnecessary weight and poor handling are not the way I want to go, so I’m looking for that elusive compromise between good handling and stability. This rifle will never be carried a long distance, so heaver than sporter weight is fine. I want a rifle I can practice with out to 600, but my hunting shots will be limited to 300-400 yards. The rifle should be legitimately capabile of 0.5 MOA or better, as I'm a handloader, and I like cutting tiny clusters on paper when I'm not hunting. On the bench, I’ll generally shoot off an Atlas bipod because I find it more stable than a traditional front rest. Here's what I'm thinking:

- #4 or #3B Bartlein contour fluted (cuz I like it) that finishes at 20-21” with a recessed target crown.

- Barrel should be threaded so that I can add a Surefire muzzle brake (later, if I choose).

- Caliber is 308 Winchester. Why? Because I find it stupid easy to load for, and I'm heavily invested in that caliber. Barrel life is forever, downrange energy is good for hunting, and it does well in a short barrel. As for twist rate, either 1:10 or 1:11.25...I generally shoot 165-168s and long 175-178s (e.g. Game Changers, Accubond LR). I want to be able to shoot all the 175-178s up to 185 Juggernauts without worrying about stability under ANY conditions (keep in mind, 20-21" barrel and hot, humid, sea-level). I'm leaning toward 1:10, but tell me if I'm wrong.

- GAP Templar Hunter action (allows top-loading) and PTG Short Action Oberndorf or Badger M4 bottom metal. Not a fan of DBM, as they handle for [bleep] in the woods...

- Manners EH6 (carbon fiber) with a 1” Pachmeyer Decelerator pad. I could be talked into another stock (like the EH-2 or EH-4) if the EH-6 forearm can't accomodate a bipod rail. I think the EH-1 is too bulky for what I'm trying to do here.

- No mini-chassis for this stock...traditional pillars and bedding.

- Drilled and tapped 8x40 for a 20 MOA picatinny rail. Scope will likely be a VX-6HD 2-12x42, as I can get it very low, and I'm not sure you can get better optics for the weight. I like the NF 4-16x42 F1, but it's HEAVY, and I don't need it for this gun.

- Two sling studs up front to accomodate the picatinny rail, but likely flush cups elsewhere.

- PTG 700 Short Action Oberndorf style bottom metal.

- Probably a Timney Calvin Elite or Jewel trigger. Would love the bolt to lock when safety is engaged (if possible).

- If I could keep it close to (or under) 9 pounds before optics, I’d be a happy camper!

Balance, weight, and handling are "king," but tell me what I'm not thinking about! Honestly, the only other caliber I'd consider is 7mm-08, and I like the downrange energy of the .308 at the ranges I'll be shooting. I'm in a trophy club with strict rules/fines, so you really can't shoot 'em any further than you can field score them. Because of this, hunting shots beyond 300-400 just aren't in the cards for this gun. For mountain hunting, long range, and other specialty situations I have other rifles. I plan to go with GAP becuase of their reputation and because their customer service is top notch. I know there are other smiths out there that build excellent rifles, but I think I'm settled on GAP.

Thank you!