Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats My Newest Custom 7MM-08

I finally got my new rifle from the "brown truck" late Friday eve. Another custom 708, this one put together by Robert Gradous. Robert is very particular about the way he builds rifles, and how they turn out. I'm happy with this one.

I quickly slapped together some barrel break-in loads yesterday evening, to kinda get a feel for the rifle, and see if I could see any preferences. 40, 40.5, 41, 41.5, and 42 grains of Varget, all seated .010" off the lands. Nosler 140 AccuBombs, as that is the bullet I intend to shoot the most in this rifle.

McMillan Sako Varmint
Tikka T-3 action
Broughten #3 at 22"
Custom Steel Lug tig welded to action
Custom Aluminum Bolt Shroud
Leupold 4.5-14X40 LR (30mm tube)
EGW Rail/Night Force Rings

Bedded and Assembled by Robert Gradous.
Rings lapped and optics installed by yours truly.




It seems to like 41.5 grains of Varget, but there is ALOT of loadwork and tweaking to do yet.

Great...!

nice.

Hard not to like that!

That is a GREAT looking rifle.

Post some more photos of the stock, some close up would be nice to see.

Is that color combination Black 50%, OD Green 50%?

50/50 OD/Black. I guess it makes a difference in the order of colors, when you order it. Go figure.




And the semi-beavertail forend...



The stock makes it look like a HEAVY rifle. Total weight is 8# right on the nuts. Balances right on the front action screw. This rifle came together just like I expected.

Dangit! Is it wrong to lust after another mans rifle!?

Thanks, it turned out looking great.

That is a beautiful rifle.


Try some the 120 NBT in it. They will perk really nice.

Looks like a keeper. Should make a good doe/ paper puncher

What twist?

9 twist.

Paper, doe, mule, elk, moose, grizzer, whatever. If it's brown, it's down. Just how I roll.

Sitting on the bench is 120 NBT's, 140 Game Kings, 140 VLD's, and 160 AccuBomb's (along with the 140 AB's). I'll kinda be busy this week, after work every night.

That one ought to work....what is the weight?

We ran the 140 NAB in daughters 700MR 7-08 over Big Game for this year's elk/deer and it proved to be the best load for accuracy to date.

Sounds like fun.

But I expect you will run into the problem of picking which one to shoot because I have a feeling that rifle will shoot everything very well.

Well, my Gritters custom 708 shoots the 120 NBT's wonderfully.

And I had Kiff build a reamer for this build, set up for 140 AB's, specifically. But I'm guessing it'll shoot Sierras and Bergers equally well. Maybe even better.

So I'll struggle with the 140's for awhile.

Very nice deer ventilation device, Al.

Cool! First custom I've ever seen built on a Tikka. Gradous was supposed to have my Defiance .243AI done a few weeks ago - looks like maybe he was screwing yours together instead

Very nice looking rifle - and lots of great bullets to try!

Nice.

i think there's gonna be some dead things in the future caused by that rifle !

very nice dude !

i like that color combo.

That should work just fine.

Nice looking rifle.