• Win an RIX Storm S3 Thermal Imaging Scope!

    To enter, all you need to do is add an image of yourself at the range below! Subscribers get more entries, check out the plans below for a better chance of winning!

    Join the contest Subscribe

Gradous .260 Rem

boudin

boudin

Full Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 2, 2009
348
2
42
Augusta, GA
#1
This thread has been a lonnnnnng time coming. Ever since the first time I set foot in Mr. Gradous' shop, I knew I had to have a rifle built by him. I began accumulating parts over a year ago with the intentions having Robert put this together as a present to myself for finishing grad school. Finally, the wait is over and to say I'm excited/pleased/thrilled is an extreme understatement.

Specs:
.260 Rem
Surgeon RSR action
24" Rock barrel, Rem Varmint contour, 8 twist
Manners T5 stock in OD
APA bottom metal
Timney 510 trigger
Surgeon 20 MOA rail
Seekins low rings
5-20x SS

IMG_6220.jpg


IMG_6350.jpg


IMG_6355.jpg


IMG_6349.jpg


IMG_6352.jpg


IMG_6345.jpg


The barrel was bead blasted, receiver/bolt/bottom metal were left with factory finish, and the recoil lug/cocking piece/bolt release/action screws were Cerakoted in Sniper Grey.

Robert was kind enough to let me watch over his shoulder for nearly every aspect of this build while explaining what he was doing, why he did it that way, and the pros/cons of each method. After 3 shots to zero the rifle, Robert put the next three shots of some of his "fouler" loads into a just over a 1/4" hole. Then I got on the rifle and put the next 3 into just under 1/2". Maybe the barrel was fouling... maybe it was just how excited I was... We cleaned the tube and did a little tinkering on a 140 gr A-max load. Almost everything we tried was between 1/4 - 1/2". Even the least promising loads were just over 3/4" which was crazy to me. It looks like 42.5 gr H4350 in Lapua brass with CCI 200 primers is gonna be the ticket. I've still got a little tweaking to do with seating depth, but I'm pretty certain I'll be able to nestle that 1/4" flier into the same hole as the other two.

Like I said, words can't express how happy I am with this rifle. Every time I went to Robert's shop and watched another step of the process unfold, I couldn't believe it was MY gun that I was looking at. This is without a doubt the most well crafted, nicest thing I own. To anyone considering a build with Mr. Gradous... stop considering and start doing.
 
#7
Re: Gradous .260 Rem

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: captain zeke</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cant wait to shoot this bad ass rifle ! ... </div></div>

And shoot it will. I picked up the rifle Robert built for me a few weeks ago. I have my load figured out and was experimenting with which primers gave better groups, CCI Benchrest, 210 Federal or CCI small rifle 450 magnum (using Lapua Palma brass) all at 200 yards.

At 200 yards the CCI small rifle 450 magnum primers produced best results and Federal 210 second best. They were only 3 shot groups with the CCI @ 3/4" and the Federal at 1" shooting off a bipod and a rear squezze bag.


I only had three rounds left and they were loaded using Federal primers. I figured I'd go ahead and shoot them at 600 yards. Result were .988".

 
#14
Re: Gradous .260 Rem

Won't be long Zeke. Pops and I may try to head up to Chief's next weekend. You gonna be around?

Beretta, we've never put a target up out there cause the house is about 150 yards up the hill. We do a good bit of shooting from the hay loft of a barn out there though.
 
#15
Re: Gradous .260 Rem

I've been doing a good bit of load testing over the last few weeks with the 140 gr Amax and the 130 and 140 gr Berger hunting VLDs. The Bergers have been extremely cooperative with both the 130s and 140s shooting .25" or less with very little work-up. The day I was trying out the 140 gr VLDs, Robert told me to just load 'em to 2.830 OAL with 42.2 gr H4350 and "run with it". Sure enough, they shot lights out and the testing stopped right there. The Amaxes have been a little bit more finiky to get nailed down, but I’ve finally settled in on a load that typically shoots in the .25 - .3" range. However, the 130 VLDs look to be the ticket and I'm antsy to stretch 'em out a bit and see how they do. All loads were with Lapua brass and CCI 200 primers and shot at 100 yds.

IMG_6380.jpg


IMG_6382.jpg


IMG_6364.jpg


IMG_6361.jpg


IMG_6363.jpg
 
#16
Re: Gradous .260 Rem

Congratulations! That is a clean, all business rifle that obviously shoots the lights out. I plan to move to the Augusta area in a few years. It will be great being just up the road from Mr Gradous.

You are -still- missing the center dot in most cases. Send it down to me and I will work up a load for it.
 
#19
Re: Gradous .260 Rem

Very nice rifle and good shooting.

Is that contour the same dimensions as the factory varmint/sendaro profile? I know it's name is "remington varmint" despite that i'm curious.
 
#24
Re: Gradous .260 Rem

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tigerfan9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are you jumping those bergers? What length is your freebore? </div></div>
I'm jumping the 130's 0.01" and the 140's 0.06". I can't remember what the FB is.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blackops_2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is that contour the same dimensions as the factory varmint/sendaro profile?</div></div>
Judging from the fact that the Rem Varmint contour dimensions are slightly different between Krieger and Rock Creek, for instance, I don't think it's the exact same profile as what comes on a factory rifle.
 
#25
Re: Gradous .260 Rem

Finally got to stretch the .260 out at Fort Gordon's Range 14 today. The range was closing early for a turkey shoot this afternoon so I only got to shoot for about an hour and a half, but that was enough time to set up some steel and get a few rounds off. Here's the results of the 5 130 gr Berger HVLDs I shot at 960 yards. There was a 5-10 mph wind predominantly quartering from around 4:30, so I dialed up 7 mils elevation and left the windage at 0 to see what was happening down range. Sent the first round and saw a dirt splash that read to be about a half mil left of the target... elevation looked good. I don't usually dial windage at Ft. Gordon since it's some of the most variable wind I've ever shot in, but for once the breeze felt pretty steady out there so I put .5 mil R wind in and sent the second round. Impact was on steel and looked to be .1 mil low and .2 L (Between the two smaller splash marks that were already on the steel). Put another .1 in on the elevation and decided to leave the windage alone as I felt like the shot broke during a gust. Third shot hit the bull so I rolled two more off pretty quickly while the wind was steady. Shots 3,4, and 5 printed just over an inch. I shot some 140 gr Amaxes to 960 too but got in a hurry putting the steel up and forgot to take a picture. They shot really well though... about .3-.4 MOA not including one I either pulled or broke during a gust. Moral of the story is... Gradous builds one HELL of a rifle! If you had to sell a car, kidney, or first-born child to get one, it'd be worth it. And to think I almost cleaned it this morning for fear of it's accuracy being hampered by the 150 rounds worth of residue in the barrel...

IMG_0508.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Rem.243
Accessories Clean out Sale
Replies
3
Views
752
Rem.243
Rem.243
S
Accessories Gradous 260 barrel
Replies
3
Views
420
Steven Lunsford
S
AZIROC
Savage 7mm rem mag to 7mm prc, what's needed?
Replies
2
Views
344
AZIROC
AZIROC
C
Barrel life 6.5 CM vs 308 Win
Replies
42
Views
4K
45-90
4
S
.338 random questions
Replies
21
Views
1K
BAMAboy18
BAMAboy18
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts