.308 Build?

[jr600yd]

Go for it! You'll be smiling a lot!

 

[savageshooter86]

For a new shooter I suggest the Hornady 178 HPBT. It shoots almost the same as Berger 185, you can load them the same (at least in my rifle, same Varget load and .015 off of the lands) and they cost 20¢ less per shot. Until you are shooting Expert there is no reason to drop the extra $$ on the Berger

This is the bullet I am working with. So far it shows real good promise. Very close to the load mentioned earlier I am 44.2 @ roughly 2.930" OAL which is about 0.005 off lands.

 

[XTR]

XTR - Nice rifle...is that an A5 stock? What does she weight now? Why Change the stock?

It weighs right at 17 lbs with the 12-42NXS Sinclair pod, badger steel rings and base.

I'm going to a single shot action and the A5 is a nice stock, hell it's a great stock, but it's not ideal for F class, the butt hook in particular limits how you can set up on the bag. I'm switching to a Precision Rifle and tool with a single feed Defiance action and a 33" barrel (Krieger or Rock Creek, which ever gets here first, I ordered one from each) That will eventually free up the McM stock for a different build. Maybe something tacticool.

 

[MNFinn]

For mid range f-T/R I'm planning on using 155 Berger VLD. Only been out to 300 with. Them so far, but results were promising. I use a savage with a 26' heavy sporter 1:11 by benchmark barrel

 

[6BRinNZ]

XTR - Nice rifle...is that an A5 stock? What does she weight now? Why Change the stock?

It weighs right at 17 lbs with the 12-42NXS Sinclair pod, badger steel rings and base.

I'm going to a single shot action and the A5 is a nice stock, hell it's a great stock, but it's not ideal for F class, the butt hook in particular limits how you can set up on the bag. I'm switching to a Precision Rifle and tool with a single feed Defiance action and a 33" barrel (Krieger or Rock Creek, which ever gets here first, I ordered one from each) That will eventually free up the McM stock for a different build. Maybe something tacticool.

Thanks heaps - the butt hook has been the bit that was concerning me for the very reason you state. I may still go down this track as I can at least get hold of the A5s without major hassles.

Do you have any numbers for the weight of the PT&R stock (I guess you will go with a lowboy)? Depending on the weight I may have to switch to a Panda F-class action instead of the Barnard I was planning on using.

 

[XTR]

I have a system with the butt hook that worked for me, but you have to set it up exactly right. I use an Edgewood bag, I put my finger across in front of the ears and slide the rifle up till it touches my finger, fire and repeat. It does make for consistent bag placement, but you cant move around if you find the pod in a dodgy spot. You have to move your whole mat, or the rear bag because there is only one place that the rifle will sit the right way on the bag.


Call and talk to Ray, he knows the formulas for pretty much anything you want to put in there. Getting an adjustable cheek and/or buttplate adds weight too. I'm pretty certain you can run a 30" heavy Palma with just about any action. I should be fine with my Defiance and a 33" barrel, but I don't know if I'll be able to put in an adjustable cheek and still make weight. I've had all the parts except the barrel since last winter. I thought I was going to get it built for this past season, but my reamer didn't come in till late, so I waited and figured why put a 30 on it if it will scale with a 33, so I ordered barrels in October, Krieger quoted me April, Rock Creek won't even guess. I may call Ray and see if he can get me a 34" Brux blank and go with that. Jim did win the National championship with a Brux this yr.

 

[6BRinNZ]

XTR - Thanks...

Good luck with next season and

Merry Christmas!

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Earlier this year, I had an F-TR rig built for me to my specifications, which were as follows:
Kelbly Panda F-class action with 20 MOA rib, right port, right bolt, microport, no ejector. The trigger is a Jewell benchrest with no safety and no bolt release. I used the Kelbly 30mm rings to mount a Nightforce NXS 12-42X56 w/ 1/8 MOA clicks. The barrel is a Krieger 32 inch med-heavy Palma contour in a 1:11 twist. For the stock, I selected the PR&T F-TR stock, with the adjustable buttplate and cheekpiece. For the bipod I selected the Sinclair 3gen with the elevation adjustment. The whole outfit comes in at 17.6 pounds on the club's scale.

The rig was finished just a few weeks before Raton and I barely had time to get a load developped and shoot one local match to confirm everything before driving to the Nationals. Lesson #1; I struggled because everything was brand new. The only thing that was not new was the rear bag. Not everything was as tight as it should have been and I had a technical disaster. But after I dealt with that, everything settled down. Lesson #2; always have a minimum of tools with you on the line, in this case it saved the rest of the day and week.

I am in absolute awe of the Precision Rifle and Tool stock. It is a joy to use after the initial "encounter" and I discovered that because of its flat bottom it rides the bag beautifully and I am able to keep the scope on target during recoil and follow through. When the atmosperic conditions are right, I can even see the bullet trace. Ray has a winner with that stock, highly recommended.

 

[XTR]

Lesson #2; always have a minimum of tools with you on the line, in this case it saved the rest of the day and week.

This ^^ At the State Championships this yr I was shooting a brand new to me 12-42NXS that I had mounted the day before and had nothing for a 1000 yard zero, the set screw on the elevation knob came loose in the first match. I was very happy with myself for having one stuck in the foam of the rifle case. ;D

 

[6BRinNZ]

Earlier this year, I had an F-TR rig built for me to my specifications, which were as follows:
Kelbly Panda F-class action with 20 MOA rib, right port, right bolt, microport, no ejector. The trigger is a Jewell benchrest with no safety and no bolt release. I used the Kelbly 30mm rings to mount a Nightforce NXS 12-42X56 w/ 1/8 MOA clicks. The barrel is a Krieger 32 inch med-heavy Palma contour in a 1:11 twist. For the stock, I selected the PR&T F-TR stock, with the adjustable buttplate and cheekpiece. For the bipod I selected the Sinclair 3gen with the elevation adjustment. The whole outfit comes in at 17.6 pounds on the club's scale.

The rig was finished just a few weeks before Raton and I barely had time to get a load developped and shoot one local match to confirm everything before driving to the Nationals. Lesson #1; I struggled because everything was brand new. The only thing that was not new was the rear bag. Not everything was as tight as it should have been and I had a technical disaster. But after I dealt with that, everything settled down. Lesson #2; always have a minimum of tools with you on the line, in this case it saved the rest of the day and week.

I am in absolute awe of the Precision Rifle and Tool stock. It is a joy to use after the initial "encounter" and I discovered that because of its flat bottom it rides the bag beautifully and I am able to keep the scope on target during recoil and follow through. When the atmosperic conditions are right, I can even see the bullet trace. Ray has a winner with that stock, highly recommended.

Great info - which of the two F-class actions did you choose...I'm not sure if the long action is more suitable?
I think I will go with the Kelbly trigger - simply because it is so much easier getting the parts exported when dealing with one place...outside of the stock Kelblys can almost do the whole thing for me. Kelblys have given me the information I need for them to export...fantastic service.
I have just been in contact with PT&R (Canon Bowman) and unfortunately they can't ship to NZ but have referred me to their Canadian dealer. Again great support when it is probably just a pain for them.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I went with the short action. Gotta run, pictures later.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

 

[savageshooter86]

very nice!!!

Have you shot it yet? How did it do

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

It does very well. I, on the other hand, have had some issues.

 

[savageshooter86]

sounds like me