TheCZKid
Silver $$ Contributor
I've got the bug to change my hunting rig from my old Remington 700 in 30-06, and go to a 7mm-08 instead. Looking at the ballistics, the 7mm-08 will do everything I want, with less recoil, and hopefully it will be more accurate too.
I've been toying with a few options. One would just be to get a new Ruger American Gen II and call it good. I'll likely hardly shoot any 7mm-08, except for hunting trips and load development, which is always fun too.
However, I'd like a better quality overall set-up, as my newest custom rifles with Shilen barrels have me spoiled now. They just shoot way better, clean easy, look great...! (Sako L46 in 222 and 20 Vartarg and a Savage in 20 Practical, nice guns).
So, I have two options for a donor guns I already own, either could convert into a 7mm-08.
One is a Howa 1500 in 22-250, which shoots okay, and the barrel rifling doesn't look great inside. It came in a Hogue over-molded stock. I already put into a Bell & Carlson stock, though the barrel is skinny compared to the large barrel channel in the B&C stock. I was thinking eventually I'd upgrade that barrel to a stainless varmint weight, in maybe a Shilen or Pac-Nor, etc, but have not done that yet.
Other donor gun is a Mauser 98, which was sporterized and made into a 22-250. Nice stock, but has full glass bedding down the barrel, old school style. The Mauser shoots pretty well as a 22-250, but not as good as the Howa, however with maybe free-floating the barrel, it might shoot better. It's got the old style safely, which is unusable with a scope, but it's a beautiful gun, for what it is. The bolt is kinda clunky and not smooth to run.
The third option would be buy a Howa 1500 barreled action in 7mm-08 from Brownells and put that in the Bell and Carlson stock, and just have the Howa stock barrel, hope it shoots well.
I like the idea of getting a nice custom barrel for this new rifle, so that's why I was thinking of using the Howa I own, have a gunsmith put on a nice barrel, and call it good. I don't need two 22-250 rifles, and have the 222, so that's my thoughts.
I assume the Howa 1500 I have will take the 7mm-08 barrel, as a 308 cartridge goes into the action and into the built-in magazine. And the bolt face is the same size too. Though I'm not a gunsmith, looks like it should work.
I've been toying with a few options. One would just be to get a new Ruger American Gen II and call it good. I'll likely hardly shoot any 7mm-08, except for hunting trips and load development, which is always fun too.
However, I'd like a better quality overall set-up, as my newest custom rifles with Shilen barrels have me spoiled now. They just shoot way better, clean easy, look great...! (Sako L46 in 222 and 20 Vartarg and a Savage in 20 Practical, nice guns).
So, I have two options for a donor guns I already own, either could convert into a 7mm-08.
One is a Howa 1500 in 22-250, which shoots okay, and the barrel rifling doesn't look great inside. It came in a Hogue over-molded stock. I already put into a Bell & Carlson stock, though the barrel is skinny compared to the large barrel channel in the B&C stock. I was thinking eventually I'd upgrade that barrel to a stainless varmint weight, in maybe a Shilen or Pac-Nor, etc, but have not done that yet.
Other donor gun is a Mauser 98, which was sporterized and made into a 22-250. Nice stock, but has full glass bedding down the barrel, old school style. The Mauser shoots pretty well as a 22-250, but not as good as the Howa, however with maybe free-floating the barrel, it might shoot better. It's got the old style safely, which is unusable with a scope, but it's a beautiful gun, for what it is. The bolt is kinda clunky and not smooth to run.
The third option would be buy a Howa 1500 barreled action in 7mm-08 from Brownells and put that in the Bell and Carlson stock, and just have the Howa stock barrel, hope it shoots well.
I like the idea of getting a nice custom barrel for this new rifle, so that's why I was thinking of using the Howa I own, have a gunsmith put on a nice barrel, and call it good. I don't need two 22-250 rifles, and have the 222, so that's my thoughts.
I assume the Howa 1500 I have will take the 7mm-08 barrel, as a 308 cartridge goes into the action and into the built-in magazine. And the bolt face is the same size too. Though I'm not a gunsmith, looks like it should work.
