I have been shooting palma for a long time, and although I have a few farm rifles, I have always had my eye out for an accurate varmint gun. I got a .338 lapua a few years back and its shoots great, but its expensive to shoot, and not the most pleasant on the shoulder. I wanted a mag fed .308 that would deliver supreme accuracy.
In Australia a custom action is expensive, ususally well over $2000 for something reputable. Gunsmiths are hard to find, and usually have a 6 month waiting list. A custom rifle build is a pain in the ass. So, when I saw Ultimatum's U300 up for sale for a shade under $700 i had no choice but to try it out. I'd read that there was a heavy bolt lift, but had heard it was otherwise a good action. I'm guessing they shipped a bunch of them down here before production got changed to their new deadline action. The U300 arrived and I have to say it was very well made. I had dual ejectors on my bolt face which from what i hear means it was a late production model, and the bolt lift had been addressed. it also has the Savage barrel threads which is a bonus.
Not a few days later a perfect TSE fluted barrel in .30 cal came up for halfprice online and I took the plunge - originally purchased for a different project that the owner never went ahead with.
I had wanted a McMillan or a Manners stock, but lead times and getting the right stock can be tricky. A grayboe was a good alternative and I was ready to commit, when an Accuracy international stock came up, an unwanted prize, and I thought it would be a great combination. The stock arrived a few days later. I booked the gunsmith who had an opening in 3 weeks to chamber the barrel. I have a triggertech on the lapua and was happy with it so ordered another for this build
All of a sudden I had a custom rifle built and ready to fire only a month after I spontaneously bought the action. Seemed like everything fell into place for once. The stock took a bit of massaging to fit in. The trigger hanger on the U300 interferred a little, and the mag release needed a little removed for the mags to fit properly.
The only scope I had that wasn't mounted was a 4-12 Bushnell. A great scope but not particularly suited to tight groups. The picture is clear but the reticle is too thick to get a really good group. I'll address this problem in a few more paychecks time.
I ran the barrel in and started to lay down some groups at 100m with factory ammo. Printing some sub MOA groups easily, but not clovers.
I took it back to 300m and really started to be impressed. There was a 10-15 knott crosswind, which was steady and not gusting too much. What astonished me was that the group size didn't change a whole lot compared to 100. I think it was to do with my aiming mark and the scope dictating the group size, not the rifle. But I have to say, i definitely started to enjoy the rifle at 300. It was shooting well under .5MOA at 300 with factory loads.
All up an Accuracy international AT costs around $6500, I managed to have a similar rifle for less than half of that. I think I chose well
300m group
EDIT:
Hope the photos worked. seem to be troublesome
In Australia a custom action is expensive, ususally well over $2000 for something reputable. Gunsmiths are hard to find, and usually have a 6 month waiting list. A custom rifle build is a pain in the ass. So, when I saw Ultimatum's U300 up for sale for a shade under $700 i had no choice but to try it out. I'd read that there was a heavy bolt lift, but had heard it was otherwise a good action. I'm guessing they shipped a bunch of them down here before production got changed to their new deadline action. The U300 arrived and I have to say it was very well made. I had dual ejectors on my bolt face which from what i hear means it was a late production model, and the bolt lift had been addressed. it also has the Savage barrel threads which is a bonus.
Not a few days later a perfect TSE fluted barrel in .30 cal came up for halfprice online and I took the plunge - originally purchased for a different project that the owner never went ahead with.
I had wanted a McMillan or a Manners stock, but lead times and getting the right stock can be tricky. A grayboe was a good alternative and I was ready to commit, when an Accuracy international stock came up, an unwanted prize, and I thought it would be a great combination. The stock arrived a few days later. I booked the gunsmith who had an opening in 3 weeks to chamber the barrel. I have a triggertech on the lapua and was happy with it so ordered another for this build
All of a sudden I had a custom rifle built and ready to fire only a month after I spontaneously bought the action. Seemed like everything fell into place for once. The stock took a bit of massaging to fit in. The trigger hanger on the U300 interferred a little, and the mag release needed a little removed for the mags to fit properly.
The only scope I had that wasn't mounted was a 4-12 Bushnell. A great scope but not particularly suited to tight groups. The picture is clear but the reticle is too thick to get a really good group. I'll address this problem in a few more paychecks time.
I ran the barrel in and started to lay down some groups at 100m with factory ammo. Printing some sub MOA groups easily, but not clovers.
I took it back to 300m and really started to be impressed. There was a 10-15 knott crosswind, which was steady and not gusting too much. What astonished me was that the group size didn't change a whole lot compared to 100. I think it was to do with my aiming mark and the scope dictating the group size, not the rifle. But I have to say, i definitely started to enjoy the rifle at 300. It was shooting well under .5MOA at 300 with factory loads.
All up an Accuracy international AT costs around $6500, I managed to have a similar rifle for less than half of that. I think I chose well
300m group
EDIT:
Hope the photos worked. seem to be troublesome
.
