A few weeks ago I posted a question about rifle calibers “just want one rifle”, and part of the criteria was coyote hunting.
Since then I picked up a cheap R700 223 ADL that my girlfriend has claimed, so I’ll be building myself a 308, since saving pelts is no longer on the criteria list for my own build.
But here’s my problem.... My girlfriend is a wildlife biologist, and we spend a lot of time walking around in the mountains of Utah, Montana, Wyoming, etc, and my shit tends to get incredibly dirty after a while. This rifle is going to go with me on some international hunts (she guides in Tajikistan) and Im going to be away from where I can do maintenance for days to weeks at a time.
I’ve been looking at GAP rifles, but I keep reading reports of Defiance actions not doing well with dust and dirt. So I’ve been looking at models like their Rock, or even a modified M40 clone, built on a R700 action, since I can’t ever recall anyone saying that an M40 has locked up while in Iraq/Afghanistan (though I could be wrong). Side question on this: is the lugged scope base worth it, on a rifle that will 100% get dropped from time to time?
I know that people typically suggest a custom action vs a trued R700, but does that same advice hold true when it’s likely going to get trashed on a mountain from time to time? Not saying that I abuse equipment, but she and I tend to go to places where maintenance and cleaning isn’t a simple process for a short while.
Since then I picked up a cheap R700 223 ADL that my girlfriend has claimed, so I’ll be building myself a 308, since saving pelts is no longer on the criteria list for my own build.
But here’s my problem.... My girlfriend is a wildlife biologist, and we spend a lot of time walking around in the mountains of Utah, Montana, Wyoming, etc, and my shit tends to get incredibly dirty after a while. This rifle is going to go with me on some international hunts (she guides in Tajikistan) and Im going to be away from where I can do maintenance for days to weeks at a time.
I’ve been looking at GAP rifles, but I keep reading reports of Defiance actions not doing well with dust and dirt. So I’ve been looking at models like their Rock, or even a modified M40 clone, built on a R700 action, since I can’t ever recall anyone saying that an M40 has locked up while in Iraq/Afghanistan (though I could be wrong). Side question on this: is the lugged scope base worth it, on a rifle that will 100% get dropped from time to time?
I know that people typically suggest a custom action vs a trued R700, but does that same advice hold true when it’s likely going to get trashed on a mountain from time to time? Not saying that I abuse equipment, but she and I tend to go to places where maintenance and cleaning isn’t a simple process for a short while.