28 Nosler Lightweight Build

[Mdhmsmith]

Looking for some input. I'm building a lightweight 28 Nosler. I'm sick of carrying 13-15lb rifles in the mountains. It will also see its fair share of paper and steel. So far:

Bighorn/Zermatt Origin action w/mag bolt face - 2lb
26" Proof Carbon pre-fit with SAAMI chamber - 2lb 12 oz
Calvin Elite Trigger - 2.5oz
Savage barrel nut - 2.8oz (guess)
Manners EH1 ~ 26oz?
Seekins rings - 1.9oz
Vortex razor LHT 3-15x50 HSR5i - 1lb 3oz.
Atlas BT10 bipod - 11oz
Accurate Mag 5rd - 6oz
5 rounds - 6oz
Harvester 300 with cover - 13.5oz

Looking like about 10.3 lbs all up.

I have a few questions for those in the know:

1. Do the Origin LA action rails accommodate a 28Nosler/RUM case without opening up?

2. I want to shoot the 195 EOL but don't want .310 of freebore. I'm thinking about throating with a ptg unithroat reamer for the 175gr eldx to be .020 off the lands at 3.680 col. I can always take away metal but I can’t put it back... I plan on shooting the 195 EOL but maybe want to hedge my bet in case it doesn't shoot or I'm not happy with it. I don't think I'd be giving up too much that way as far as mag length goes but don't have the .310 freebore that would probably not let me shoot the 175/180 bullets. Any holes in this plan? The barrel just arrived. Looks like the approximate freebore is .223 right now.

 

[Mdhmsmith]

It's a beaut, Clark.

 

[std7mag]

My Atlas knockoff i know weighs way more than 11oz.!
And i have no clue as to what a Harvester 300 with cover is.

Sweet looking build, to be sure!
I'm not so upset over my 10lb 284 build now.
Whitworth Mark X commercial Mauser action.
B&C composite stock.
24" E.R. Shaw 1.5 contour barrel. 11° recessed crown.
EGW one piece 20 MOA base.
Vortex Viper rings.
Sightron SI Field Target 4-12X40 MOA reticle.

But then i compare it to my Forbes 24B in 280 Rem.
Rifle with scope weighs just under 7lbs.

 

[warrbuk]

I just had a 28N completed by Mike Bryant. Defiance ANTI, 26' Proof Sendero, Barbour Creek Artimis in edge by McMillan, Hawkins BDL bottom metal, Trigger Tech Special, MBM Ti Beast 5 port brake. Rifle only is 6 pounds 15.5 ounces per Mike. Talley Ringmounts and a Nightforce NXS for now. but will swap that scope out for something lighter

 

[284winner]

Looking for some input. I'm building a lightweight 28 Nosler. I'm sick of carrying 13-15lb rifles in the mountains. It will also see its fair share of paper and steel. So far:

Bighorn/Zermatt Origin action w/mag bolt face - 2lb
26" Proof Carbon pre-fit with SAAMI chamber - 2lb 12 oz
Calvin Elite Trigger - 2.5oz
Savage barrel nut - 2.8oz (guess)
Manners EH1 ~ 26oz?
Seekins rings - 1.9oz
Vortex razor LHT 3-15x50 HSR5i - 1lb 3oz.
Atlas BT10 bipod - 11oz
Accurate Mag 5rd - 6oz
5 rounds - 6oz
Harvester 300 with cover - 13.5oz

Looking like about 10.3 lbs all up.

I have a few questions for those in the know:

1. Do the Origin LA action rails accommodate a 28Nosler/RUM case without opening up?

2. I want to shoot the 195 EOL but don't want .310 of freebore. I'm thinking about throating with a ptg unithroat reamer for the 175gr eldx to be .020 off the lands at 3.680 col. I can always take away metal but I can’t put it back... I plan on shooting the 195 EOL but maybe want to hedge my bet in case it doesn't shoot or I'm not happy with it. I don't think I'd be giving up too much that way as far as mag length goes but don't have the .310 freebore that would probably not let me shoot the 175/180 bullets. Any holes in this plan? The barrel just arrived. Looks like the approximate freebore is .223 right now.

Let me say that if you throat that chamber for the 195s, you'll have no issues with accuracy from jumping the 175 eldx bullets the distance you'll jump. The Hornady love to jump and often times I jump them .150 with excellent accuracy. Typically .075-.100 jump is ideal but more does not hurt accuracy. Just my .02

 

[Mdhmsmith]

Let me say that if you throat that chamber for the 195s, you'll have no issues with accuracy from jumping the 175 eldx bullets the distance you'll jump. The Hornady love to jump and often times I jump them .150 with excellent accuracy. Typically .075-.100 jump is ideal but more does not hurt accuracy. Just my .02

I've found the same with the Hornady's. My best 143gr ELDX load jumps .052. I'm thinking about the Bergers in that 175 - 190gr range, too. I need to get a box of the 195's and compare CBTO and OAL measurements between them and the 175 ELDX. I don't think they will be miles apart but that extra 20gr has to be added length on the 195. My action and stock are probably 60 to 90 days out so I'll have plenty of time to noodle on it before I start cutting.

 

[Mdhmsmith]

I just had a 28N completed by Mike Bryant. Defiance ANTI, 26' Proof Sendero, Barbour Creek Artimis in edge by McMillan, Hawkins BDL bottom metal, Trigger Tech Special, MBM Ti Beast 5 port brake. Rifle only is 6 pounds 15.5 ounces per Mike. Talley Ringmounts and a Nightforce NXS for now. but will swap that scope out for something lighter

I think empty weight with just the scope will be right at 8 lbs on this one.

 

[warrbuk]

I have a 3.6-18 MK5 on order to try. I’m not to sure about the FFP.

 

[284winner]

I've found the same with the Hornady's. My best 143gr ELDX load jumps .052. I'm thinking about the Bergers in that 175 - 190gr range, too. I need to get a box of the 195's and compare CBTO and OAL measurements between them and the 175 ELDX. I don't think they will be miles apart but that extra 20gr has to be added length on the 195. My action and stock are probably 60 to 90 days out so I'll have plenty of time to noodle on it before I start cutting.

That 28 Noslers a beast with 195s. I think those are the powerhouse loads for the 28. The 175 eldx is no slouch either and probably more appropriate for smaller big game critters.

 

[kyreloader]

Looking for some input. I'm building a lightweight 28 Nosler. I'm sick of carrying 13-15lb rifles in the mountains. It will also see its fair share of paper and steel. So far:

Bighorn/Zermatt Origin action w/mag bolt face - 2lb
26" Proof Carbon pre-fit with SAAMI chamber - 2lb 12 oz
Calvin Elite Trigger - 2.5oz
Savage barrel nut - 2.8oz (guess)
Manners EH1 ~ 26oz?
Seekins rings - 1.9oz
Vortex razor LHT 3-15x50 HSR5i - 1lb 3oz.
Atlas BT10 bipod - 11oz
Accurate Mag 5rd - 6oz
5 rounds - 6oz
Harvester 300 with cover - 13.5oz

Looking like about 10.3 lbs all up.

I have a few questions for those in the know:

1. Do the Origin LA action rails accommodate a 28Nosler/RUM case without opening up?

2. I want to shoot the 195 EOL but don't want .310 of freebore. I'm thinking about throating with a ptg unithroat reamer for the 175gr eldx to be .020 off the lands at 3.680 col. I can always take away metal but I can’t put it back... I plan on shooting the 195 EOL but maybe want to hedge my bet in case it doesn't shoot or I'm not happy with it. I don't think I'd be giving up too much that way as far as mag length goes but don't have the .310 freebore that would probably not let me shoot the 175/180 bullets. Any holes in this plan? The barrel just arrived. Looks like the approximate freebore is .223 right now.

With my Hornady comparator, 175g ELD-X has base to ogive of 0.862” with base to tip of 1.572”. 195g EOL Berger has base to ogive of 0.865” with base to tip of 1.624”.

If no constrains of magazine length, I suspect a similar freebore for each bullet.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Man when i think of a light hunting rifle i think sporter style stocks, no picatinny rails, bdl or adl type magazines- you know 7lbs with carbon barrel- sheep style. 10lbs is varmint weight. Ag composites stocks for the carbon barrels and brown pounders or edge fill for the #2 or #3 barrels.

 

[Mdhmsmith]

With my Hornady comparator, 175g ELD-X has base to ogive of 0.862” with base to tip of 1.572”. 195g EOL Berger has base to ogive of 0.865” with base to tip of 1.624”.

If no constrains of magazine length, I suspect a similar freebore for each bullet.

View attachment 1213388

Thanks!!! That is great info and kind of what I suspected. Thanks for doing that.

 

[Mdhmsmith]

Man when i think of a light hunting rifle i think sporter style stocks, no picatinny rails, bdl or adl type magazines- you know 7lbs with carbon barrel- sheep style. 10lbs is varmint weight. Ag composites stocks for the carbon barrels and brown pounders or edge fill for the #2 or #3 barrels.

I agree. I might end up with BDL A5 bottom metal. I'm not exactly going for ultra-light. I think there might be a threshold for "too light" on a 28 Nosler. I had a hard time shooting to my expected level of accuracy with two different Christensen Ridgelines in 300WM. It liked to jump and torque off hard surfaces. This one is still around 8 lbs with basic rifle and scope. Here's one of the Ridgelines I put together and dialed for the hunter on a Brooks Range sheep hunt we did. It shot better with a heavy SHV than the lighter Razor LHT.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I agree. I might end up with BDL A5 bottom metal. I'm not exactly going for ultra-light. I think there might be a threshold for "too light" on a 28 Nosler. I had a hard time shooting to my expected level of accuracy with two different Christensen Ridgelines in 300WM. It liked to jump and torque off hard surfaces. This one is still around 8 lbs with basic rifle and scope.

I have a 6 and a 7lb 33 nosler. No issues but the 7 probably twists way worse

 

[Mdhmsmith]

View attachment 1212511
I have a 3.6-18 MK5 on order to try. I’m not to sure about the FFP.

That is a great looking rifle. That is more or less what I’m shooting for.

 

[Mdhmsmith]

It’s about to get real. My throat reamer from PTG arrived. I need to go get some 195gr EOL’s and some cutting oil. I’m going to take off .020 and just sneak up on it from there. Measure both bullets as I go.

 

[warrbuk]

My rifles throat is .110 longer than saami. Its set up for 195's to be just right. The 180 Bergers bearing surface would be 1/3 of the way up the neck. I plan on using the 195 Bergers and 177 Hammers.

 

[Mdhmsmith]

Throating the barrel went well. I went slow. Final results are a little different than I imagined due to the different ogive shape of the two bullets I was using. The lands for the 195 put me at 3.725" COL give or take a few thou due to bullet tip differences. That gives me .025 clearance in the mag at the lands. The 175 ELDX ended up at the lands at 3.590" COL give or take. The reamer was super sharp, of course, and cutting was easy. Can't wait to get the action.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

The throat on the last 28 Nosler I had moved .017" in the first 120 rounds. You want to consider this with the mag length. Throats move fast on these. Since your after light anyways, look at the Hawkins M5 BDL. Its a bdl floor plate that will fit your M5 inlet and let you run the CFE 9 box, assuming your action has the right cut. The 195 seemed to like to jump about .015" and you need a little room in a mag to keep it reliable.

 

[Mdhmsmith]

The throat on the last 28 Nosler I had moved .017" in the first 120 rounds. You want to consider this with the mag length. Throats move fast on these. Since your after light anyways, look at the Hawkins M5 BDL. Its a bdl floor plate that will fit your M5 inlet and let you run the CFE 9 box, assuming your action has the right cut. The 195 seemed to like to jump about .015" and you need a little room in a mag to keep it reliable.

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I will probably end up with a M5 BDL floorplate.