PJ said:
sf340driver,
I read an article over on snipershide about a rifle being built with a graphite a5 stock. i think the article said the stock came out at around 2 lbs.
With a 24" barrel. I'm thinking the setup i want should be able to be an all around shooter. A tactical,f-class, 1000 yard shooter. I don't think the article i read mentioned anything about fluting the barrel or any adjustments for the stock. But with a graphite stock, fluted barrel i should be able to add the adjustments without picking up too much weight.
My current rifle is a rem pss with mark4 m1 scope shoots ok but you know how people are. Always want bigger and or better. I've shot with a swat instructor a few times in classes and learned alot. We shot out to 1000 yards on steel targets.The instructor swears by robar rifles. I just don't have the money for one. So i'll piece a rem 700 together with what i want as i go. Maybe get a custom action then go from there. i'll see.
I think the article you are referring to is George's from GAP. He wrote on on an ultralight M40A3. He was trying to build it as light as possible and still be true to spec. He used a titanium receiver, alloy scope base and rings, a carbon fiber A-4 stock and a deep fluted barrel. I think it came in around 13-14lbs. Much lighter than the standard M40A3 which is over 18lbs.
My rifle is:
Surgeon Tactical Receiver -- www.surgeonrifles.com
22" Mike Rock barrel with the M24 taper -- no flutes
Light fill McMillan A-5 with adjustable LOP and thumbwheel adjust cheekrest
Badger DBM trigger guard with AICS mags
US Optics SN-3 in Badger rings
My rifle comes in around 14lbs. My previous point was that the "edge" style stocks are intended for guys who need the weight savings to stay under comp limits. Is the added expense worth it for half a pound? If yes then I say go for it, but this is the reason why I didn't.
When it comes to getting it built, check with a few smiths to see what their price and wait are. Terry has been running a long wait 2-4 months after he gets the parts, but he does do great work. GAP is pretty quick once you get all the parts in -- usually 2 weeks or less. There are others to check with too. The stock will take the longest so I would get it ordered right away. If you have a smith in mind, most of them get a discount on the stock from McMillan and will pass it along so make sure to ask. Most of the smiths will keep a number of barrels on hand and they won't put a bad one on. I have had Lilja, Kreiger, Mike Rock, and Schneider barrels and they have all shot well. As far as length goes, you don't gain much past 24" in a custom barrel in 308 so I would consider that the longest I would go -- I know palma barrels are longer, but that is for a different reason. In most custom barrels you can hit the high accuracy node in a 22" barrel without using hot loads. Just because you can go faster out of a longer barrel doesn't mean you really gain anything.
Good luck with the build,
Greg