Looking at building a custom long range hunting rifle and was looking for suggestions. I was thinking of a proof research barrel, bighorn action, bell and carlson stock, with a Swarovski z6 3.5-18x50. Any suggestions or thoughts?
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Rifle Scopes Long Range Hunting Rifle Build
- Thread starter 42Jack42
- Start date
All in I would like to keep the rifle under 8 lbs. As for the PRC family, as far as I have seen is that the 300 RUM is flatter shooting and maintains more energy then a 300 PRC. I want to stay with a 30 caliber and the RUM is a devastating round along with it's cousin the 300 Win. 300 Win ammo can be found in almost any ma and pa shop. Has anyone compared the new PRC and the Noslers?
Flatter shooting shouldn’t really be in the equation unless you are worried about point blank range. You can still adjust for drop. That brings me to my educated opinion of the swaro scope. I’ve seen them break in field conditions, specifically in the guts (erector). Nice scope, great glass, but I know when I pack hunt, I slip and slide up and down all sorts of nasty shit. Things happen. I would go with a mil spec nightforce or something known to be a little robust. It’s my opinion that field conditions require more attention to reliability.
Z6 only has 1 rev on the elevation. Like 11.5MOA if I remember correctly. Even with a .300RUM, that is going to limit your effective range to dial.
Better plan on a really good 5 port Ti brake. Because a sub-8lb .300RUM is going to kick like a mule. And since you are building a .300RUM, you will want to shoot a heavy to take advantage of the RUM, like a 215-230, that is going to get uncomfortable quick if you don't.
I would switch stocks from a B&C to a Manners EH1/EH2/EH3 if you want to realistically make sub-8lbs scoped. Stiffer, better ergonomics (to me), and lighter weight if you stick to pillar bedding and avoid a bedding block.
Better think about a Ti action if you want to keep it sub-8lbs scoped. That 6oz savings is a lot.
My "lightwight" is a .280AI. 8lbs 13oz. Jere are my build specs, so you can see I shaved everywhere I could and still came in at almost 9lbs.
R700LA
Fluted bolt
Ti firing pin and Wolfe Blitzschnell spring
Alloy bolt shroud
Carbon fiber bolt knob
26" 1:9" Proof Sendero Light w. 3 port brake
PT&G. 25" recoil lug
Manners EH1 w. Pillars only (bedded)
Rem factory alloy BDL bottom metal
Shilen match trigger
Seekins alloy 30mm medium high (.92") rings
March F 3-24×52
Flatline Ops level
Better plan on a really good 5 port Ti brake. Because a sub-8lb .300RUM is going to kick like a mule. And since you are building a .300RUM, you will want to shoot a heavy to take advantage of the RUM, like a 215-230, that is going to get uncomfortable quick if you don't.
I would switch stocks from a B&C to a Manners EH1/EH2/EH3 if you want to realistically make sub-8lbs scoped. Stiffer, better ergonomics (to me), and lighter weight if you stick to pillar bedding and avoid a bedding block.
Better think about a Ti action if you want to keep it sub-8lbs scoped. That 6oz savings is a lot.
My "lightwight" is a .280AI. 8lbs 13oz. Jere are my build specs, so you can see I shaved everywhere I could and still came in at almost 9lbs.
R700LA
Fluted bolt
Ti firing pin and Wolfe Blitzschnell spring
Alloy bolt shroud
Carbon fiber bolt knob
26" 1:9" Proof Sendero Light w. 3 port brake
PT&G. 25" recoil lug
Manners EH1 w. Pillars only (bedded)
Rem factory alloy BDL bottom metal
Shilen match trigger
Seekins alloy 30mm medium high (.92") rings
March F 3-24×52
Flatline Ops level
What's "long range" to you, and what kind of game?
I wouldn't choose that action and barrel and then dump it in a $200 stock. I'd get something like a McMillan with edge fill, or a Manners elite hunter. I also wouldn't choose that scope either, I'd pick something with better turrets and more suited for long range, but still somewhat light. Depending in the game I may be rethinking the 300RUM too.
I wouldn't choose that action and barrel and then dump it in a $200 stock. I'd get something like a McMillan with edge fill, or a Manners elite hunter. I also wouldn't choose that scope either, I'd pick something with better turrets and more suited for long range, but still somewhat light. Depending in the game I may be rethinking the 300RUM too.
Keep in mind, light rifles are more difficult to shoot accurately at range, even the lighter recoiling ones. Unless your fundamentals are perfect I'd try to save weight elsewhere and go with a 9-10lb rig. Just my thoughts, and they don't carry much weight
.270 with a Simmons 3x9.
Just kidding...
Depending on game, a 6.5 Creedmoor it’s plenty up to big mule dear. If you’re after Elk or moose, I would look at something bigger.
Just to keep in mind, a 6.5 Creedmoor can have more energy at 1000yds than a .357 mag at 5 yards.
Just kidding...
Depending on game, a 6.5 Creedmoor it’s plenty up to big mule dear. If you’re after Elk or moose, I would look at something bigger.
Just to keep in mind, a 6.5 Creedmoor can have more energy at 1000yds than a .357 mag at 5 yards.
What are you hunting?
I agree with everyones posts above. A 8lb 300 RUM is going to beat you like a red headed step child.
If you want a scope for longer ranges that is still lite, you could go with a
Nightforce NX8 2.5-20X50 at 28 oz or a Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44 at 26 oz.
I agree with everyones posts above. A 8lb 300 RUM is going to beat you like a red headed step child.
If you want a scope for longer ranges that is still lite, you could go with a
Nightforce NX8 2.5-20X50 at 28 oz or a Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44 at 26 oz.
I agree with this and would never count on a Swarovski scope for dialing, the turrets just don’t seem to be there and I’ve heard too many it “shat the bed” stories.
I primarily am targeting back country elk in Wyoming and Colorado, but am planning an Alaskan moose hunt shortly and want something new. I do really enjoy the Mark 5HD's and the CDS would make anything in reasonable range a cake walk. I have had the chance to shoot a Christensen Arms Summit TI .300 RUM that was right at 8lbs and the recoil was definitely manageable with the radial brake. However, I did not shoot or plan to shoot it without a brake.
An 8lbs 300RUM with no brake is going to be brutal. For that type of stuff and a light rifle I’d go for a 7mm rem mag. It’s a lot less brutal and with the right bullet will still get the job done. Barnes LRX’s are nice because they expand but still punch through.
I wouldn’t go trying to poke at a moose at 1000 yards or anything though. 600 and in and it would get the job done, that’s really the furthest that’s really ethical with good fundamentals anyway. Beyond that and wind becomes too much of a factor IMO.
We can assist you in finding the correct options for a complete build from the rifle to the scope and everything in between
Give us a call at 916-670-1103 x3 for Dan
Here's a build we did that's in the 8-9 pound range:
-XLR Element 3.0 Magnesium Chassis and Carbon Buttsock
-Lone Peak Fuzion Ti Action
-Proof Research 24" Carbon Finer Barrel in .284 (Additional 20" barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor)
-Rubicon Precision did the gunsmithing
-MBM Ti Muzzle Brake
-Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 Mil-C
Weight ~ 8lbs-9lbs depending on accessories and bipod
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I just built a pair of these and may I offer a few suggestions. I would chamber in 300WM with the Rhian Manthis reamer and shoot 215 Bergers. I am shooting a 215 Berger over 3100 FPS out of a 26” proof barrel using VV N570 powder and its a fantastic and accurate load. I went with a Manners EH1 carbon fiber stock, NF base and rings and NF ATACR scope. I used HS Precision DBM due to its ability to sit flush with the stock. This package weighs just over 10 lb and was even less when I had the Zeiss V6 scope on it originally. Honestly, it needed a slight bit more weight to be accurate. The other one I built almost exactly the same for my son except he wanted a T4 elite stock and went with a Razor Gen 2 scope. If you have any questions feel free to PM me, I would be more than happy to help. Go over to longrangehunting and read some of Broz’s posts abt the RHian Manthis reamer with the 215 Berger.
I did a similar concept without the titanium. Carbon 6 Tikka Pre-Fit in 280 AI. Tikka T3 action, need to order the McMillan Sako carbon stock this week. I ran numbers on the 168 and 175 Nosler Accubond LR and I will have 1500 ft lbs of energy at 750 yards, which should be plenty.
I agree on an 8 lb 300 RUM rifle being brutal! Mine will finish out around 9 lbs with scope, brake, rings, etc.
