11 lb. 1000 yard gun,...need ideas please.

[bozo699]

Hey Fella's,
I need to build a 11 lb 1000 yard rifle for competition bench rest.
It can't weigh over 11 pounds with scope, I will be chambering it in 6brx or Dasher, what I need from you guy's is how to accomplish this. I need to know if just a Remington action would work and be competitive or if I need a custom and which one, what barrel contour, what stock, and what scope. I don't know if I should have put this thread elsewhere but I will appreciate any advice I can get. I am not new at building competitive 1000 yard bench rifles but a 11 lb one will be difficult but possible, where do I start? thanks for any help in advance.
Wayne.

 

[alf]

Wayne,

With a 11 pound limit, you need to look only as far a a close range Light Varmint PPC that has a 10 1/2 limit, for guidance. 8 more ounces for the barrel is about it for "options". Run a LV contour and flute the hell out of it to get to 26" or so. Maybe start with a Panda, they have to rank right up there for the lightest to build on. Or look around for a gun for sale with a 308 boltface, although it doesn't cost much to open a Panda up. About $75 I believe it cost me.

 

[bozo699]

Wayne,

With a 11 pound limit, you need to look only as far a a close range Light Varmint PPC that has a 10 1/2 limit, for guidance. 8 more ounces for the barrel is about it for "options". Run a LV contour and flute the hell out of it to get to 26" or so. Maybe start with a Panda, they have to rank right up there for the lightest to build on. Or look around for a gun for sale with a 308 boltface, although it doesn't cost much to open a Panda up. About $75 I believe it cost me.

Alf,
I have a SA 700 set up as a hunter BR chambered in 6xc the action has had everything you can do to a 700 except bush the firing pin, I thought about using it but I actually thought about a Panda as they must be about the lightest custom available, I hadn't thought about having the bolt face turned I didn't realize they didn't have a .473 bolt face, I know some guy's use a straight 36 weaver to save on weight I was hoping for a variable scope, like a 8-32 or a 12-42 NF, I guess I better concentraight on the barreled action for now. thanks for the advice Alf.
Wayne.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Panda's come with any bolt face you want.

I guess what he meant is that if you find one with a PPC bolt face buy it and open the bolt face up.

 

[357Mag]

Bozzo -
Howdy !

Go w/ a custom action. A Rem would require "trueing".

As for the barrel, you might consider making use of "fluting".
For a given barrel cal, length and weight...... a fluted barrel will be stiffer than an un-fluted one.

I don't think your stock would be/could be laminated, given your weight restrictions.

You'll wanna watch your scope base and rings' weight. You might save weight using an action that requires an add-on scope base(es), in lieu of an action of the integral scope base type.
Rings can be of the weight-saving " scalloped " style ( featuring some open areas all the way through the rings ).

A recoil pad would likewise be towards the minimal thickness/weight.

JMHO,
357Mag

 

[bozo699]

Erik,
I have reread Alfs post and I believe your right I miss-read it, I have seen PPC's with that action sell on here, I will keep my eyes pealed.

Kevin,
My Remington has been trued, bolt sleeved, Jewell trigger, but after running my 7500 Lawton rb/lf/re it would be hard to go back to a standard rb/re, so I think we can forget about the Remmy, I will go with a custom dual port or drop port, and the Aluminum Panda's sounds like the way to go, I have seen a few guy's shooting 11 pounder's with laminated stocks but they have had to shave quite a bit off them, I would like to use a Laminate stock if at all possible but I am not stuck on it, I have no idea while I am at one of the shoots this year I didn't ask exactly how to build a 11 lb rifle by one of the 4 or 5 fella's shooting them??
I hadn't thought about the base and rings, I will buy a aluminum base and maybe you or someone can chime in on the best way to go about scalloping the rings and which ones to buy to start with, thanks for all the help thus far.
Wayne.

 

[Varminterror]

Not to speak out of turn, and it's kinda against my better judgement since I'm such a fan of Laminate stocks as well, but I think with an 11lb limit, I'd rather sacrifice stock weight and dedicate more to the barrel and action. It seems to me that it's painting yourself into a corner, forcing you to use a lightweight scope, rings, bases, superlight action and barrel, all to trade for an extra pound of "good looking stock"?

 

[bozo699]

Varminterror,
Not at all out of turn, the thread say's need help and ideas and that is a very good thought, your stock is very important but so is barrel choice, I am not worried about the light action as Panda, if I go that route is top notch in the BR world but too light of barrel and I might be spraying bullets, your right I might want to concentrate more on the barrel and less on wood Maybe the best thing to do would be contact say Kelby's and ask for weight of actions and Krieger and ask weight of barrels, then it would be easier for stock and scope selections.
Wayne.

 

[357Mag]

Bozzo -

Howdy, again !

What I meant about scope rings being " sclloped" , is that many are made with relief cuts in them; to hold weight down.
Take a look @ Ken Farrell's scope ring offerings, and I'm sure all will become clear.
Ken makes a great tapered scope base... mine being aluminum. 2pc scope base set-up oughta be lighter than a single piece.

As regards rings...typically, 4 screw types ( esp " Tactical " ) are heavier than 2-screw rings [ the screws that secure one ring to the other ]

I forgot to mention scope weight....
A Leupold or Weaver outfitted with a Gene Davis Optical Booster, could give one plenty of magnification; and be a viable alternative to a heavier scope, such as a large Nightforce. Howver, not everybody can use/ is compatible with an Optical Booster. For some, they bring other side issues ( optical ).

I recommend you try to get/keep all the weight you can; in the barrel.

Best of luck in your endeavors !

Regards,
357Mag

 

[bozo699]

Kevin,
I knew what you meant by scalloped, however I have a gunsmith friend that has made his own light weight (scalloped ) rings and bases, I couldn't remember which guy it was but after a couple hours going through my cattle this morning it popped in my head who it was, there ultra light weight yet rigid aluminum machined out of a solid piece as a matter of a fact I own a set on the 6xc I referred to, that he built. He also makes them in S.S but I think the aluminum one he build on his home made Davidson base would be the ticket, I will check into a optical booster never have looked through one but have heard a lot about them, thanks again.
Wayne.

 

[MTlager]

wayne
my 11 lb gun only weighs 10.4 lbs with my wasatch action. using a kreiger rem varmit contour 26 inches long, leupold 36 br, lone wolf stock. could have used a heavier barrel like a light palma contour. wasatch action is really light so had room to spare.
happy building, Lonnie

 

[bozo699]

wayne
my 11 lb gun only weighs 10.4 lbs with my wasatch action. using a kreiger rem varmit contour 26 inches long, leupold 36 br, lone wolf stock. could have used a heavier barrel like a light palma contour. wasatch action is really light so had room to spare.
happy building, Lonnie

Fella's this guy can really shoot, its a real pleasure to watch him and his brother shoot and is one of the few that shoots a 11 pounder that I have had plenty of opportunity's to ask and haven't. Thanks a lot for chiming in Lonnie, can a person still find a wasatch action? although I have watched you shoot that gun at least a half a dozen times I can't remember if it's laminate or fiberglass ? I know JP 11 lber is Laminate and very unique, Capehearts is fiberglass, anyway I hope you chime back in as I plan on having a 11 pounder next season, there is no reason to drive that far and not compete in all events, thanks again for chiming in Lonnie and hope all is well with you.
Wayne.

 

[MTlager]

wayne, my stock is fiberglass molded whatever, but very light. don't know if you can buy a wasatch action anymore, but have seen some used ones , 6brs on this websight. i bought this gun with a 14t 6br barrel on it for gophers and switch barrel it to a 6 dasher for matches. find a used stolle for starters and build from there. forget about using a NF, way too heavy.
happy hunting, Lonnie

 

[bozo699]

Thanks Lonnie, I just missed by a few minutes today on here a stolle panda 6ppc switch barrel that weighed 10.6 with 36X scope, however he may have another one for sale and I may have a lead on another action, off topic just a little but how fast can you get your 10 shots off with your 11 lb rifle? I heard there was about 1500 acres burning up in your country somewhere, I hope you and all your equipment is out of harms way. I bought the stock that Kevin W won at the last shoot, it is for a bat action but I called Bill and I can exchange it for another stock, so there is my stock for this new build if I want.
Wayne.

 

[Steve Blair]

Wayne,

You might also take a look at Jerry Stiller's Cobra action. It is very similar to a Panda but is 1/2" shorter and very light. It is also available with the Drop Port feature. I have a 6BR 17 pound gun with a Viper SS Drop Port and cannot do justice describing how slick it is. No ejector on the bolt face and positive ejection, every time, with no more dented necks.

 

[bozo699]

Steve,
I have a Stiller Diamondback and have no complaints with it, my friends at the Deep Creek range in Missoula Mt. run Viper drop ports and love them, the problem is it takes forever and a day to get one. I will call them tomorrow and ask some questions about the cobra action, if I can get through, if you wait until about 1/2 past 8 forget it. Thanks Steve I appreciate it.
Wayne.