Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Need some feedback - 7-08 build

Found a decent deal at Cabelas and had too many points burning a hole in my pocket so a blued 700 ADL followed me home in .308 Win.

Considering a lightweight all around build on it and I'm in no hurry as I'm quite happy with my current battery. Here's my current thought:

700 ADL
7mm - 08 Rem
21" Douglas featherweight barrel (no experience with them)
Rem 7 pattern McM stock in EDGE fill
Fixed 6x scope (likely Leupold 6x42)
All black finish - perhaps Cerakote

Thoughts on that barrel profile and stock combo specifically?
Guesses on total weight with that setup?

Rifle would be an all purpose rig from whitetail (primarily what I get to hunt) to the occasional pronghorn or elk.

I'd go Dougy #2, cut to 21" in a Hunter Edge, Talley and a 6x36 Leo with dotz or M1.

Dober

Definitely Hunter's Edge...

I'd skip the M7 stock and go straight to the Compact Hunter's Edge or whatever the [bleep] it's called.

Can't like the M7 stock.

I'd have no problem with the FWT contour but would likely go my .6 at the muzzle route with a Remington taper. A sporter turned down, kinda betwixt the sporter and MR contour.

Sounds like the consensus is that the compact pattern ethos trump the M7. I run two other compacts in EDGE now (Winchesters) so I know I like that stock. If I go a bit larger contour I'd likely stay with Pac-Nor as I've had good luck with other barrels from them.

Love to be just under or around 7 lbs with sling and ready to rock. Is this a reasonable target with these components?

Stanimal,
I bought a very similar rifle from you a couple/few years ago, a 7-08 rebarrelled with a stainless remmy take off in a youth stock...well I took that bbl'd action out and layed her in an adl Mickey Classic std fill, and slapped a Luppy fixed 4x in top...weighed in at just around 8.75 lbs IIRC...so your figures should be very close to your projection...fwiw.

You've had some great advice. Personally I would go with a Rock, Brux, Bartlein or Lilja #2. I've had Pac-Nors and they shoot great but their contours are too thick just ahead of the shank IME. This means taking out more material in the forearm for a small contour and unnecessary ounces.

I built a 7-08 on a 2.5 Lilja (far right - brown Edge), its a nice slim contour perfectly suited for the Compact Edge. With the DD mounts it goes 6lbs, 15oz. I just bought a new FXII 6x36 and Tally extra low alloys, which should bring it down to about 6lbs 10oz:


Might add the far left is my 350RM, its on a #2 PacNor (measures .640" MD at 21.5"). Look how heavy Pac-Nor's #2 is compared to the Lilja. The middle rifle is a factory tube (mtn contour) on my Rem Ti (it now wears a #3 Rock since this pic was taken).

MtnHtr

Mtnhuntr, I got dibs on that 7!

Mark - why the 6x36 as the scope selection? Weight difference from the 6x42?

8.75 lbs <--Is that a mistake?

A Kimber Montana 308 with a 2.5-8 Conquest weighs 6#, 4oz

A Kimber Montana 7mm WSM with a 3-9 Conquest weighs 7#, 4oz

A M70 Featherweight 308 with a 4X Zeiss weighs 8#, 1oz

And they have safe triggers, control round feed with safe three position safeties and none of those brazed on bolt lug sections or brazed on bolt handles.

LOL...yes, certainly a mistake...LMAO!

I beleive it weighed at 7.85 lbs, just under 8lbs all up & belly full

I did not build for a lightweight, my brother is recoil sensitive...

Not if you use their FWT contour.. It's virtually identical to the factory contour.. All you need for a 7-08.. I've got two Pac-Nor FWTs in right now that'll drop right into the factory stock inlet.. And besides, it's all in how the barrel's ordered in the first place.. No biggie...

Redneck,

The exception would be Pac-Nor's fwt contour as you pointed out. But for my tastes, its too thin (and light) and I should have pointed that out. I prefer a contour that finishes around .590" to .630" MD for a 7mm. The #2s by the makers I listed will balance better and in most cases shoot alot better and hold steadier than those pencil neck tubes.

MtnHtr

Yes and no.. I agree for the most part, but in this particular case he's specifying a 7-08; one of the mildest, most pleasant-shooting 7mms there is, and most are going to be in 20-22" barrels - stiff enough then....

Now, if you're talking about the 7mm mags - then yes, you need a bit more barrel to be consistent..

For me, the 36 looks slimmer and trimmer and does all I need it to. A while back Brad and I did a side by side with it and the 42 and could see no diff so we've gone 36.

But, either one will rock just fine.

Dober

Lilja # 2 , in an edge or Bansner or G1 titanium, Jewell trigger, tubbs firing pin kit , trigger guard , have Karle mill the bolt,cerecoat , Talley LW and a 36 mm objective and 120 or 140 tsx's done.