Project rifle

[Mathewsz7]

I am looking at building a long range hunting rifle from a model 70 .308 built for cross course competition. It’s currently a very accurate rifle but also a very heavy rifle. My first question was what sort of price should I be looking at for turning down and fluting a barrel? The second is does anyone have any lightweight long range hunting rifle stock preferences? Preferably with an adjustable cheek piece?

 

[Fast14riot]

Personally, I would rather go with a 20 inch heavier profile barrel for that than a long pencil barrel.

 

[akajun]

You’d do better off and happier buying a new barrel contoured as you want and fluted and having it chambered that doing that to your current barrel.

 

[Riesel]

If'en it was me, I would leave that Model 70 alone and hit the pawn shops. Find me a short action 700 for 300.00 or less and start there. Remage barrel and plenty of good quality stocks to pick from. Add in a Timney trigger and some good quality glass and try it. Only thing I might do for starters is bed that action.

But hey, that's just me.

 

[Ggmac]

It would be better to purchase a new barrel . Removing your barrel , turning and fluting and reinstalling is not worth the $ unless you can do the work yourself . turning and fluting your barrel may not result in the current level of accuracy you presently have .
What are your anticipated ranges , your experience, and rests ? I would also change the cartridge to one of the 6mm- 6.5mm currently in use .

 

[Mathewsz7]

It would be better to purchase a new barrel . Removing your barrel , turning and fluting and reinstalling is not worth the $ unless you can do the work yourself . turning and fluting your barrel may not result in the current level of accuracy you presently have .
What are your anticipated ranges , your experience, and rests ? I would also change the cartridge to one of the 6mm- 6.5mm currently in use .

I am comfortable shooting out to 1000 yards with the gun the way it is. McMillan stock with a Kenyon trigger in it and aperture sights. Obviously I will probably never see that range while hunting but I’d like to be able to be accurate enough to hunt out to 800 yards or better should I ever be fortunate enough to go somewhere that would allow for shots like that.

 

[Mathewsz7]

If'en it was me, I would leave that Model 70 alone and hit the pawn shops. Find me a short action 700 for 300.00 or less and start there. Remage barrel and plenty of good quality stocks to pick from. Add in a Timney trigger and some good quality glass and try it. Only thing I might do for starters is bed that action.

But hey, that's just me.

I’m not a big Remington fan and I have a couple identical rifles sitting around so I’d really like to stick with the Winchester. What do you like better about the Timney compared to something like a jewel?

 

[Mathewsz7]

Personally, I would rather go with a 20 inch heavier profile barrel for that than a long pencil barrel.

I definitely don’t want a pencil barrel. It’s got a super heavy 20” or better match grade barrel on it right now. Just need to shave off a little weight to make it feasible to hike long distances.

 

[Ggmac]

I definitely don’t want a pencil barrel. It’s got a super heavy 20” or better match grade barrel on it right now. Just need to shave off a little weight to make it feasible to hike long distances.

Delete

 

[Mathewsz7]

Delete

Delete?

 

[Ggmac]

Delete?

Means , delete what I was going to post . Sorry , walking dogs at same time .

 

[Mathewsz7]

Means , delete what I was going to post . Sorry , walking dogs at same time .

No problem

 

[Ggmac]

Ok , your Kenyon triggers are the real deal , not copies . Each of Kenyon's triggers were made , by hand one at a time . The were one of the top 3 in the 60-70s .
Your going to need a longer tube to keep your projectile from going transonic at about 800 yds ( depending on altitude ) . You just can't push a 308 that fast and a 20" tube is hurting the down range velocity . going to a 24-26" will allow the velocity to satay above the speed of sound , the accuracy and skill are in your lap .
What barrel ( make ) is on it now and how many rounds have been thru it ?
What scope will you be using?

 

[Mathewsz7]

Ok , your Kenyon triggers are the real deal , not copies . Each of Kenyon's triggers were made , by hand one at a time . The were one of the top 3 in the 60-70s .
Your going to need a longer tube to keep your projectile from going transonic at about 800 yds ( depending on altitude ) . You just can't push a 308 that fast and a 20" tube is hurting the down range velocity . going to a 24-26" will allow the velocity to satay above the speed of sound , the accuracy and skill are in your lap .
What barrel ( make ) is on it now and how many rounds have been thru it ?
What scope will you be using?

I haven’t decided on a scope yet but I’m thinking about going with some sort of vortex. There have been quite a few rounds put down range through it but it still shoots super good groups. I’m not sure what blank my grandfather used on this particular gun but typically he used hart or Douglas and chambered them on a lathe I have by hand. The barrel more than likely is 24-26”. I can measure it sometime tomorrow but it’s not a short gun. Has a McMillan stock on it but I can’t remember which model. And yes the kenyons are real deal triggers. The only problem I have with them for hunting purposes is they are so light they about fire when you just think about it.

 

[tobnpr]

You're shooting 1000 yards, with a .308 and aperture sights? At what?

 

[Mathewsz7]

You're shooting 1000 yards, with a .308 and aperture sights? At what?

It’s been a long time since I’ve shot it but we were shooting at round black targets with 10” X rings.

 

[Riesel]

Hmmm

 

[Fast14riot]

Sounds like an old Palma gun. It will be worth more left alone. A $350 savage with a $300 prefit and a good scope will do you better. I really only care about the 2 first shots out of my hunting rifle on a cold bore. I must know where it's going to land and trust the follow up shot (hopefully not needed) will be right there too. 10 shot groups really dont matter to me. I've carried the same 15 rounds of hunting ammo for weeks and never fired a shot.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Not sure what you are hunting, but in most cases, a certain kill shot is usually within a 3 inch radius. To make that shot in open area with wind variation, hilly terrain and a host of other factors to be considered, while using a .308, is a spectacular accomplishment.

Shooting steel at that distance is easy, as you take a lot of practice shots to zero in. Even accomplished snipers won't put their money on a first shot kill at that distance.

 

[Mathewsz7]

Not sure what you are hunting, but in most cases, a certain kill shot is usually within a 3 inch radius. To make that shot in open area with wind variation, hilly terrain and a host of other factors to be considered, while using a .308, is a spectacular accomplishment.

Shooting steel at that distance is easy, as you take a lot of practice shots to zero in. Even accomplished snipers won't put their money on a first shot kill at that distance.

The vital area of a large game animal such as an elk can be upwards of 15” which is still well over 1 MOA at 1000 yards. I’m not saying that I will be taking a shot on an animal at that range because I don’t know that I will ever get the chance. However, long range hunting at distances out past 800 yards for large game such as elk and mule deer is not an uncommon practice. I would like to build this rifle to meet the challenge should the opportunity arise in the future.