Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Any ideas on building a beanfield rifle?

Sakoluvr,

If this "look" trips your trigger, I'll pass along the specs.

Alan



I shot this just a few weeks ago.

GSSP
Very nice


dave

I'd add that regardless of weight, length, or chambering, I would consider balance to be a critical factor in any build. If I am putting a heavy barrel on a rifle, I am also going with a heavy stock for near-neutral balance. No more muzzle-heavy pigs for me, even if it is a "sitting" rifle. You might need to take an off-hand shot at some point and balance/handling can matter. One of my best-feeling rifles is a 12lb 243win, as it balances between the lug and the front screw. That McMillan stock weighs nearly 4lbs.

What's your longest expected shot, and can you regularly practice at least that far?

I would love to stretch a 500 yard shot. Yes, we have a place at the farm where we can target shoot at that range at beyond. We have some fields where you can see well beyond 600-700 yards from tower stands. Beans, cotton and corn mostly. Corn gets cut early for the most part, like right before dove season.

GSSP, that group sure trips my trigger. Looking for a long range killing machine, not artwork.

I'd like to have some place like that handy.



Plumb up a 9" twist 25-06. Plenty of pop, and all kinds of no mystery components and dies come right off the shelf.

There's my version of a bean field rifle.

Remington 700 action
Pac-Nor #3 contour 24 inches
McMillan Rem Hunter stock
Leupold 6.5 X 20
7mm Rem Mag

I was going to do it in 257 Weatherby Mag but I already had a good 25-06 Sendero.

This rifle balances on the front action screw. It shoots as comfortably off-hand as it does from sand bags. The Sendero can't compare.

BTW- with your 30-06 action I would consider cambering it in 25-06 AI or 280 AI. if you handload.

Mine are typically more svelte than that.

'Tis a common misconception by those that don't shoot much,that extry weight,adds extry potential.

Though in fairness,I don't have a rifle over 20lbs..............

Yes, I know heavy don't mean better and lighter can shoot bug holes too.

Heavy isn't a handicap from a stationary blind and balance is more critical than over-all weight for shooting without a rest.

Besides, my days of climbing mountains are over and I don't enjoy shooting fly-weight rifles anymore. As you often say; YMMV

Light done right,really don't care about it's surrounding,nor the pending pursuits...as all will be handled capably in stride.

Your above rifle is light,compared to the stuff that the guys that really do nothing at all tout..................

Stick, what is your opinion on the NULA? My initial post indicates where/how the rifle will be used. Yes, I will be sitting on my ass.

Welcome back. It is good to see you here.

Mel does light,as right as it gets...if you've a need to go that far.

Your '06 wearing a PN 1-9" 3-groover in 280/280AI,will keep you capably in the race,to the extent of your LRF's capabilities.

I'd not go more than 23",nor exceed the contour you are flying now. So configured,she'll see the most use,because it'll be fun/handy/portable and SINISTER.............

I have one center-fire rifle that kicks me harder than any of my 50 cal muzzle loaders or magnum shotguns. Care to guess which one of these is the Missouri mule? I don't think I could enjoy it any lighter than it is.

Uhhh, door #2? Details?

280 AI or 280 Remington.

Top to bottom;
25-06 Sendero
270 win
7 Rem Mag.

The 270 is a factory 22 inch barrel in a KS mountain rifle stock and it's the hardest kicking rifle I've ever shot. That includes some 300 Win Mags my friends have let me shoot.

My point being light weight combined with stock design can make even a mild cartridge rattle your teeth.

I don't argue the point that light rifles can be accurate and a joy to carry. Just trying to point out why some may not enjoy shooting them.

Keeping in mind that many would not consider my 270 as a "light" rifle. I can't imagine I'd enjoy it more by removing a couple of pounds.

Just a thought...but why don`t you leave it in the original chambering? Novel idea. The cartridge is plenty good out to 7-800 yrds. I`d push 165s to max. Change out the optics..maybe a glass with turrets, or mil dots, do an excellent piller/glass job on the stock, float the barrel. A very good LRF, you will be in a stationary position, so you can make a range card easy enough for any stand you choose. Dial in and shoot.

You would be in a league of your own too, nobody shoots an 06 anymore...cept maybe MM and JB.

Then you can tell us how great the 06 really is!

A 257 Weatherby with minimal freebore with a 26" tube will spit the 100g Pills at 3800 fps with groups in the .280-.375 range with R#22 and a fed 215 primer.

We used the Pac Nor three groove match stainless, fluted, about $500 including barrel and all machine work done by them. I actually sent them 3 dummy rounds and they matched the seating dept of those dummy rounds. Time took about two months.

Load development was about 20 rounds including sight in.

This barrel shot the 100g partitions at 3850 into groups that were from .450-.525.

A friend in Utah duplicated my rifle with the exception that he put a 30" tube on his. He is getting 4000 out of the 100's with smaller groups than mine, he went with a larger barrel contour.

Hope this helps

Sako, confused yet? LOL.

Just get your LRF, proper optics, and range time in, and enjoy!

Flip a coin how you want to skin the cat.

Anything flinging 100s on the low end (read 25 cal) and 140-162s on the high end (read 6.5-7mm - yes inc. 277) will do all you need, in that action. Everything else is subjective IMO.

That said, I would not flame you for building a 338/06 running 200 BTs/ABs at 2900+ w/4320......naw, too much gun...or is it? Seriously w/dope worked out I would not hesitate w/that 338, but a 25-7mm would be my cup of tea, less recoil, and clicks.

BTW, on that 257 W, local shooting his custom Sako the other day, had issues, seems many loads from 90-100s were 'sticking cases' or better put, heavy bolt lift, ...heavy.

IF doing a 257, the throating is likely key or loads tailored for THAT SPECIFIC rifle/chamber. Flat shooting indeed. Perhaps a custom w/shorter throat will not take 257W 'book loads' made for factory free-bore...just a word of caution if you go that route.