First Custom Bolt Gun

[AMP!]

Now I see what all the fuss is about...
After around 5 years of dabbling back and forth with different rifles, I finally decided I needed a custom bolt gun. The factory Savages and Rem 700s just weren't doing it for me anymore.
Picked up this SAC 308 in a trade. Using the one piece mount I had for pics. Currently waiting on scope rings before I can see just how much this rifle outshoots my abilities.

I've had McMillan stocks and various others, but this is the first Manners stock as well. I still think they're crazy expensive, but I have a new favorite stock for sure.
Now I just need to save up for that Atlas Bipod. Or at least a real Harris.

So far just tinkering around with it, I am extremely pleased and honestly don't think I could be happier with the rifle. I will zero it hopefully this weekend, if this rain ever lets up, and report back. Just wanted to say I understand now why some people pay so much to build these. This rifle isn't a cut above the rest I've owned, it's in a new league.

 

[Brazo]

Looks great!

Would you mind giving the full specs especially stock model?

Thanks and good shooting.

 

[AMP!]

Took 5 shots to zero, and my first 5 shot group at 100 with factory Federal 175s. I’m pretty happy with that. Especially since I haven’t even shot 100 rounds over the past year! Been crazy busy, but there’s hope on the horizon.

 

[jakelly]

I personally wouldn’t have made that tree give up it’s life just to zero my rifle.

 

[beaverpelt]

I personally wouldn’t have made that tree give up it’s life just to zero my rifle.

I think he cut the tree down just have something to set the rifle on to take pics

 

[TheGerman]

I think he cut the tree down just have something to set the rifle on to take pics

And then he put a fence up!

 

[Fig]

I've cut down a whole forest to get a good zero.

 

[AMP!]

Looks great!

Would you mind giving the full specs especially stock model?

Thanks and good shooting.

It’s a SAC build on a Rem 700, 18” 1/10 barrel and the stock is a Manners TF1A.

 

[AMP!]

Is it typical for a Burris XTR II to be pegged to the top to zero at 100 on a 20 MOA rail? Technically it’s still high, but close.

And I cut that tree down with a 16” bar echo. Terrifying and so satisfying at the same time since it’s maybe 15-20 yards from my house! Measured the height and angle and it fell textbook style.

 

[AMP!]

I made a short review on the rifle for fun. If anyone is interested. Still absolutely love it. And the shooting is towards the end.

 

[sanpedroranch]

Nice rig and congrats on the new build. Once you build one it becomes a sickness

 

[AMP!]

That’s what I hear but my next one will have to wait until I commission and start getting that O1E pay. Hah. Until then I’m pretty broke now.

 

[rlbreakfield]

Awesome rig!! Good luck and congrats!

 

[sandwarrior]

Nice first (added: custom) rig. When you start getting that O1E pay, you'll probably want to swap the barrel out for something in 6.5? Until then shoot that .308 barrel until it melts.

As for the tree, a lot can go wrong when dumping 'em. Then there's that relief and satisfaction they went the right way

 

[AMP!]

My first purchase will probably be a new car for the wife then an optic for me! Hah. And thanks guys.

As for 6.5, I really like the .308 for the versatility of a shorter barrel when it comes to attaching a suppressor. Another 4-6” to get good velocities in a 6.5 makes one long rifle. Maybe if I can get behind one I’ll change my mind.

I really want to meet up with some people this summer and stretch her out to 1000 yards. So anyone in central MO, let me know! I’m around Ft. Leonard Wood.

 

[sandwarrior]

My first purchase will probably be a new car for the wife then an optic for me! Hah. And thanks guys.

As for 6.5, I really like the .308 for the versatility of a shorter barrel when it comes to attaching a suppressor. Another 4-6” to get good velocities in a 6.5 makes one long rifle. Maybe if I can get behind one I’ll change my mind.

I really want to meet up with some people this summer and stretch her out to 1000 yards. So anyone in central MO, let me know! I’m around Ft. Leonard Wood.

I understand people's liking for the .308. For many years though, we have not had the bullets in .30 cal that we have in 7mm and 6.5mm Recoil is mostly the difference between the two. Anyhow, along comes Flatline and Pure Precision (out of N. Idaho) making exteme high BC .30 cal bullets that work with standard 10-10" twists, and you have a competitor.

The barrel shortness is a matter of how handy you want the rifle vs. how much velocity you are willing to give up. Not so much a caliber choice. Any cartridge can be put in a shorter barreled rifle and work. I shot a .243 for a number of years with an 18" barrel. And it was plenty accurate. All you're really giving up is velocity. A short barreled rifle will lose some velocity, but NO rifle needs to lose accuracy with a shorter barrel. That is a matter of quality of parts and of assembly, not barrel length.

Added: I kind of joke about what I spend on shooting, and it made me think of the one for you, one for me thing. "Diamond ring for you...Schmidt & Bender for me. Car for you....whole new custom rifle for me..."

 

[AMP!]

The barrel shortness is a matter of how handy you want the rifle vs. how much velocity you are willing to give up. Not so much a caliber choice. Any cartridge can be put in a shorter barreled rifle and work. I shot a .243 for a number of years with an 18" barrel. And it was plenty accurate. All you're really giving up is velocity. A short barreled rifle will lose some velocity, but NO rifle needs to lose accuracy with a shorter barrel. That is a matter of quality of parts and of assembly, not barrel length.

Added: I kind of joke about what I spend on shooting, and it made me think of the one for you, one for me thing. "Diamond ring for you...Schmidt & Bender for me. Car for you....whole new custom rifle for me..."

I agree 100%. I had a 20” barrel .243 that shot ragged holes. I did mean more of the velocity so I can reach out there to 1000 yards easier. I’ve never shot a PRS match, but certainly want to!

For those who have a, if anyone, 18-20” barrel 6.5s, how do they fair out to 1000 with the velocity loss?

 

[JeffLebowski]

I personally wouldn’t have made that tree give up it’s life just to zero my rifle.

Hippy.

 

[fdkay]

Is it typical for a Burris XTR II to be pegged to the top to zero at 100 on a 20 MOA rail? Technically it’s still high, but close.

And I cut that tree down with a 16” bar echo. Terrifying and so satisfying at the same time since it’s maybe 15-20 yards from my house! Measured the height and angle and it fell textbook style.

You have the twenty in the rail, and the height of the mount is also going to figure in.
Are you certain the mount doesn't have cant built in as well?
Also, you may just be running up against the zero stop. If you haven't already, loosen the set screws on the caps, pull up slightly and tighten. See if you can get more "down" from there. XTR's are good scopes with lots of travel.

 

[JeffLebowski]

I've cut down a whole forest to get a good zero.

If you like chainsaws and guns, we should hang out

 

[AMP!]

You have the twenty in the rail, and the height of the mount is also going to figure in.
Are you certain the mount doesn't have cant built in as well?
Also, you may just be running up against the zero stop. If you haven't already, loosen the set screws on the caps, pull up slightly and tighten. See if you can get more "down" from there. XTR's are good scopes with lots of travel.

The mount was just for picks while I waited for the ARC rings. It’s in the rings now. But I haven’t checked the zero stop. I’m stuck at Whiteman but I’ll check that Monday night.