Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Critique my next build

The 7mm PRC definitely has me intrigued.

My current thought is this:

Winchester stainless 6 digit action currently chambered in 300win mag

PT&G aluminum bottom metal

Banser “Miller” stock

Brux fluted #3 barrel at 23-24in. Not married to builder or contour and not planning to shoot suppressed.

Rings and base ???

Scope ???

For those of you who have built something similar how close to 8.5lbs can I be to include scope and mounting system?

I know the Winchester action is heavier than others but I am sentimental towards them and am building this as a do all for Colorado and North Dakota where I primarily hunt.

Thanks
Derek

Throw a Tasco on that bad boy!

I like the Sako hunter stock. They may call it Winchester hunter now? I can’t keep up. I have the same gun in a McMillan Sako hunter. I shoot mine suppressed but other than that plan to rebarrel to a 7 at some point. I will do he same thing you have in mind other than a shorter barrel.

If long bullets are in your plans, be sure to investigate mag length constraints.

I have a 280AI on M70 Classic Stainless with 24” Lilja #3. Stock is an edge fill McMillan Hunter. OEM bottom metal. Scope is a Tract Toric 3-15x42.

I am guessing the bare rifle will be around 6 1/2- 7 lbs depending on how heavy that barrel is. If you go with Talley LWTS and a reasonable scope you should hit your target.

Drano 25, thanks for the pic of your rifle with weight.

7lbs bare would be light enough for me with this rifle build.

You should be close to your 7 pound "bare" weight, with that build. Just about perfect for a magnum cartridge.

You'll be close, maybe a bit over 8.5lb with the Brux No. 3 contour barrel and Bansners Miller designed stock. It's hard to do better that Leupold dual dovetail mounts and rings for a M70 which are about 5oz with 30mm medium rings. I have a .300 PRC on a G series classic M70 in progress using a Brux No. 2 @ 26" though with a different stock and components that I'm calculating will be around 8.75lb with a NF 2.5-10x32 (19 oz).

I like it! Just be sure to keep the barrel shank reasonably short, no more than an 1”

Good observation on the cylinder/shank length. I used 3/4" on my Rock No. 2 6.5-06 barrel and it worked out well.

Thanks for the note on the shank length, I may have overlooked that.

“For those of you who have built something similar how close to 8.5lbs can I be to include scope and mounting system?”

All just math. As others have said it depends on barrel contour, shank, bm, mounting system, and scope.

Your stock and action are known; miller will weigh 25/26 oz with pad; your action upper 36 ish before bm, box, screws, follower and spring.

I have you at just under 4 1/2 (without the barrel) with that list of components.

That is good advice, just add in barrel weight + scope weight and then calculate. 8 pounds "all up", is easy enough, if you are smart about it..

That is very nice drano!

I built something similar a few years ago, caliber 9.3x62
M70 S/S action with factory BM
Benchmark #3 contour barrel, fluted
McM Hunter Edge stock
Cross slot bases
Leopold Back Country rings
Leupold 6x scope
Weighs 7lbs 15oz

Should be pretty close, I'm right at 8.5lbs all up with my .338-06 build. SS M70 Classic, factory BM, 24" #3 Shilen contour, Talleys, and VX3 2.5-8X36.

I think BSA is spot on. I think your stock will save ~2 oz compared to mine, and the PTG bottom metal will knock off a couple more ounces. If you flute as you indicate, I’d guess that’s 3 more ounces.

Those changes should get you under 8.5 lbs, and that’s assuming you went with same weight scope and mounts. I have Burris XTR Signature 2 pc bases and Warne Mountain tech rings. Talley LW’s would get you another 1.5 - 2 oz. A short shank as mentioned will help too, just not sure how much relative to the weight of my rifle.

Pick your optic and mounts, get weights for them, then you can figure how how many of the above levers you need/want to pull to hit your goal.

My $0.02….I’d consider a muzzle brake (loudener as stick calls them, LOL) in 7 PRC in this weight if you intend to have extended shooting sessions with it. I’ve considered it on 280AI. Full strength loads with 160+ grain bullets add up eventually. Not bad for 3 or 4 three shot groups.

On a M70, Fwt contour could be a consideration.

Wayne York will make a 20oz stock (with bedding) which would lighten things a few more ounces than the Banser. My custom Pre 64 M70 with a 22" FWT profile barrel weighs 7lb 9oz and it's chambered in 30-06. Scope is Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x40 and TLWs attach it to the rifle.

I'm considering the same, I have a Win 70 that I may use or I will go with another Tenacity. Either action, the barrel will be a Proof carbon in 7mm PRC at 24" threaded 5/8x24 for a brake of suppressor. Stock will be a McMillan Game Hunter, was for bottom metal, I'm lately liking Hawking DBM in either a flush Hunter or standard, have both, both have their pros/cons.