Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats New guy, ordering a NULA.

Hi guys, I'm a long time lurker, and I finally decided to join because I'm about to order a NULA and I've done just about all my research on NULAs here. My plan is to become a one-rifle man (except .22's!) for the foreseeable future, hence my willingness to spend for a custom. Anyway, can anyone give me any advice for when I go to order my rifle? I'll be driving through WV soon and I figured I would detour to Granville to place my order in person.

My specs:
Model 24
.280 Rem
24" #2 contour Douglas CM barrel
1 in 9" twist
Matte finish everything
Stock paint - I might go with the stripes, but CL is in the running.
Scope - No idea. I should have time to figure this out. Any thoughts on a FFP hunting scope?

Going to work up a 160ish grain load for deer and elk.

CM sucks ass for barrel material.

6x42.

Is CM that much worse then stainless? None of my rifles have ever had a stainless barrel. I maintain them and they've not rusted. To be fair, I've never hunted Africa or Alaska, so take that for whatever it's worth.

Quite frankly, if stainless is that much better, that's what I'll get. The only thing initially stopping me from stainless is that I hate the look of a CM action with a stainless barrel. I guess I could send it out for Cerakote...

Does Melvin do Cerakoting? Checked the website and didn't see anything.

call Melvin and get his input and recommendations. Your Money your rifle, smart man!

your specs look fine to me
if you take care of your rifle and do not live where it is a problem go with the cm barrel if that is what you want
3.5-10x40 leupold would be hard to beat on that set up
cl camo is my favorite color

I'd go stainless on the barrel. I have one with a stainless barrel that Mr. Forbes either cerakoted or sent out for cerakote. Aside from the stainless barrel I'd consider the .280AI, but not a biggie either way on that one.

Although 3/4 of my NULA's have CM tubes, if I ordered or re-barreled I'd go SS for sure.

What is the CL camo again?

http://www.gunsamerica.com/903683544/New_Ultralight_Arms_Model_24_280_Rem_NIB.htm

here you go boys

I would also consider the 280 Ackley and SS barrel ...

A Douglas SS air gauge barrel is an excellent barrel.
Less maintenance than CM.
FFP scopes work well if you set them up with a hold over reticle and are much quicker than clicking and dicking.
Placing your order in person will make sure it fits you.
Sounds like a plan.
A good one.

dave

Mel installed a SS barrel on my '06 Nula, Yes, he cerakotes and the 3.5x10 CDS Leupy recommended above balances very well on the platform.
Nice build, looking forward to seeing pics when you get it.

I'd go 22" 284Win.

I thought about a 284Win on my last build but considering the price of dies and the availibility off brass I went 280 AI ..I think your on the right track with a 280 rem..

284Win brass abounds and is superlative and I rather enjoy the notion of a "whopping" $2.31 in die "expense",being a "factor".

284Win $32.78
280Rem $30.47

This schit is always [bleep] hilarious!

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I think I will go 24" SS with a flat black Cerakote of the action and barrel. Can't hurt to have a more robust rifle. I do plan on talking this all out with Mr. Forbes and getting his input before filling out the order form and signing the check.

Sure wish that right hand .280 was still for sale, gene270. There's a lefty .280 on Gunbroker right now for a decent price, but I'm a righty, so that's a no go.

Dave7mm, that's what I'm looking to do, FFP scope with a holdover reticle so clicking is less of an issue. It's really hard to find an FFP scope that isn't "tactical" or doesn't weigh ~1.5 lbs though. Can't see sitting a 24 oz scope on a 5 1/4 lb rifle.

Boxer, I just prefer long actions, grew up on a .30/06. So, I'll stick with .280 over .284 though I've been kicking the AI chamber back and forth.

Any thoughts on the Leupy VX-3 2.5-8x36?

The 280 is a very nice cartridge and that's a given. For me,if I'm gonna spend jingle to go light,then I'm gonna go light. I'd have zero interest in opting a L/A,to simply dupe S/A performance,especially given the COAL latitude inherent the S/A.

Forced to suffer a L/A...it'd be nothing but a 280AI.

If you think FFP is "neat",simply go 6x42. I've zero 2.5-8X,because they are farrrrrr more fickle than a 3.5-10x 40mm.

I'd want a 22" S/S 284Win,throated for 162's,wearing a 6x42 with M1 ele.

If it was mine, I'd go:

Stainless Barrel
#2 and 23"
280 Ackley
Stripes

I cannot see buying a chromemoly barrel on purpose.

It seems the consensus is for stainless. Stainless it is.

Boxer, we'll have to agree to disagree on the L/A vs. S/A. Like I said, 280AI hasn't been ruled out. I think I'd suffer along just fine with a L/A NULA. Really like the idea of the 6x42 Leupold. The Steiner Predator 2.5-10x42 has caught my eye too, but I've also looked at the Zeiss Conquests. I'm going to try and get hands-on with some before I choose.