Special Varmint Rigg's Let's See EM! and Tell Us Why? Not Favorites, but SPECIAL!

[wildcatter]

Wildcatter -

Howdy !

I am facing challenges in posting pics, but will try to send some…

My Wichita WBR1375 action has been the core component for 3 different wildcat chamberings, that I used for both varmint / target work. Mine is s/n 15.

Pics show original 24” Hart SS 1-14 .224” chambered in my “.22-35 Remington” wildcat. My best friend Speedo helped me re-attach the barrel to my rifles current “ beam stock “, predatory to my performing pressure tests w/ 6.5 StaBal, 55SX bullets; and GM-215M primers. Other pic shows the barrel in original 1.375” straight bull, the after Sinclair re-profiled the barrel & had it vapor blasted. You might note some over lapping of impact markings, that Sinclair made when re-marking the chambering. .22-35 w/ 55SX seated shown on Lt.

I first shot the 24” 1-14 .22-35, then re-barreled w/ a 22” SS 1-16 .358” cal 5- groove made by Red Scherer back in 1977. I had it chambered in my “ .358 AutoMag
( .357AutoMag necked-up to full .358” rifle cal ). The gun was ok on groundhog out to 350+ yd ( farthest kill I made with it ), but it was not ideal for my needs.

I next re-barreled w/ a .224” cal SS 1-8 K & P chambered in my .22-35 wildcat again…for shooting 75 “ A”-MAX. That gave me a capability out to 1,000yd.

When I started having trouble seeing .224” cal bullet holes on paper @ 300yd…when using a 2X- boosted T-36, I re-barreled w/ a 29” SS 1-14 Broughton; chambered in my
“ DEEP 6 “ wildcat. Again, I had a rifle that gives me anti-groundhog capability for 1,000yd and beyond, although most commonly; shots are under 500yd. “ DEEP 6 “ shown on art, w/. 95 T-MK seated.

With that in-mind, I have decided to go back to the .22-35 again, but this time using a gain twist of something like 14.75 - 14.25; to allow putting 4,000fps on the 55SX.
Putting the original 1-14 barrel back on will allow pressure testing loads w/o having to run up round count on the new barrel. I’ll put the 6mm barrel back on the gun, in time to shoot this years “ Soybeanus Digestus “

With regards,
357Mag

Now thats a special wildcat we don't see, very Nice!

 

[wildcatter]

Custom
20-221AI kreiger #3 -1-11” x 22” finished
Stevens Accuracy chambered
Sauter ordered/ recommended the Valdada SFP Spyder scope
Cooper M21 action- FP ignition reworked
Jard trigger massaged
B&C stock- pillars installed, action fully bedded
Area 416 arca rail 4” for tripod use
Treaded 5/8”x24tpi for suppressors & a brake
I have the complete reamer set for making dies & barrel chambers
I also made a action wrench for it, & a bolt holding fixture
Slings 32gr pills @ 4012fps, longest kill so far-587yds- groundhog
-rang steel @ 800yds..impact !!View attachment 1625377View attachment 1625378View attachment 1625379View attachment 1625380View attachment 1625381
It’s not to look- it’s to use… every day if possible!!

Nice Gabe, that's reach'n out with the little 20 cal!

 

[wildcatter]

double post

 

[Fuj]

Pa. woodchuck reduction tool.......

 

[wildcatter]

Wildcatter -

Howdy !

I am facing challenges in posting pics, but will try to send some…

My Wichita WBR1375 action has been the core component for 3 different wildcat chamberings, that I used for both varmint / target work. Mine is s/n 15.

Pics show original 24” Hart SS 1-14 .224” chambered in my “.22-35 Remington” wildcat. My best friend Speedo helped me re-attach the barrel to my rifles current “ beam stock “, predatory to my performing pressure tests w/ 6.5 StaBal, 55SX bullets; and GM-215M primers. Other pic shows the barrel in original 1.375” straight bull, the after Sinclair re-profiled the barrel & had it vapor blasted. You might note some over lapping of impact markings, that Sinclair made when re-marking the chambering. .22-35 w/ 55SX seated shown on Lt.

I first shot the 24” 1-14 .22-35, then re-barreled w/ a 22” SS 1-16 .358” cal 5- groove made by Red Scherer back in 1977. I had it chambered in my “ .358 AutoMag
( .357AutoMag necked-up to full .358” rifle cal ). The gun was ok on groundhog out to 350+ yd ( farthest kill I made with it ), but it was not ideal for my needs.

I next re-barreled w/ a .224” cal SS 1-8 K & P chambered in my .22-35 wildcat again…for shooting 75 “ A”-MAX. That gave me a capability out to 1,000yd.

When I started having trouble seeing .224” cal bullet holes on paper @ 300yd…when using a 2X- boosted T-36, I re-barreled w/ a 29” SS 1-14 Broughton; chambered in my
“ DEEP 6 “ wildcat. Again, I had a rifle that gives me anti-groundhog capability for 1,000yd and beyond, although most commonly; shots are under 500yd. “ DEEP 6 “ shown on art, w/. 95 T-MK seated.

With that in-mind, I have decided to go back to the .22-35 again, but this time using a gain twist of something like 14.75 - 14.25; to allow putting 4,000fps on the 55SX.
Putting the original 1-14 barrel back on will allow pressure testing loads w/o having to run up round count on the new barrel. I’ll put the 6mm barrel back on the gun, in time to shoot this years “ Soybeanus Digestus “

With regards,
357Mag

I’m not sure what the qualifications are of being special but these are two of mine. Top is one of my Siwfts, a Jackson Game. Bottom is my 223AI varmint.
Both shoot fine for the job at hand.

View attachment 1625298View attachment 1625299

Well for sure their all special when they are yours! Nice rifles.

The most special thing to me about mine are, not just one, but 2 Pence barrels. I would buy nothing but if Ron still made them. But his barrel Table set's idle. The thing so special about Ron's barrels were they are not just cut rifled, they were cut by hand, after deep hole drilling on the same table, that he made, proprietary to his drill rods he made, with cutters proprietary to those rods that again he made.

There is one responding here that I'm pretty sure knows about these because they have a barrel chambered by the hall of famer that helped Ron build that table! Bob Sherer was a renowned barrel maker back in the hay days of Benchrest.

One thing about these barrels, is the love of the art of making them. Not for the money, as they are very time consuming, with not near the profit per barrel the machine made cut rifle barrels are, but then again, over 50 passes for each of the five groves, cranked by hand is more about the love of the art, than the profits of selling them.

Total control of every cut, with an art of feeling each inch as it is being cut, and knowing instantly when anything unwanted shows it by feeling it. With the ability to produce any twist with a change of gears, and no button pushing to sit back and watch it being done for you. machines don't warn you the cutter is getting dull. But feel does before its dull, before it can make imperfections. This was not only an art, but fascinating to watch.



The fhoto on the wall with all the targets is Red (Bob) Scherer, a true artist. It's frustrating knowing this table is just setting idle these day. But both the fine craftsman stepped away while they were still at the top of there game, never to tarnish the reputation they made.

I can build another Savage Axis, another 17 Mach IV, or 6BR, I can just never build another with a barrel this special,,,, I hope you hang on to your's 357mag, it is even more special.

 

[durand mortenson]

One of my Martini's in .20 rimmed vartarg. Super fun to shoot. Work the action with the right hand while loading with the left.
View attachment 1625216

Nice wood!

 

[357Mag]

I know there are some special varmint riggs and stories out there, where are they all at, I have another candidate being built right now, BUT, it will take some time to get a really special status. It's unique stock gives it some starting point. But it will need some history to become special.

I'm curious and anxious at the same time, let's here about them and of course, the eye candy is always welcomed by all!

Wildcatter -

Howdy !

Here’s a pic of the muzzle on my Red Scherer .358”calibre barrel.

My “ .358AutoMag “ wildcat case is shown with a Cutting Edge 150gr turned-brass
Extended Range “ Raptor “ bullet along side.

22” SS 5-groove 1-16


With regards,
357Mag

 

[urbanrifleman]

just nice to know what were lookin at??? I'm still puzzled??? I just guess something is special ??? I guess anything on a chassy for vermin is at least different,,,

My wife's first varmint rifles. I think they are pretty special. She certainly thought so...

 

[wildcatter]

Wildcatter -

Howdy !

Here’s a pic of the muzzle on my Red Scherer .358”calibre barrel.

My “ .358AutoMag “ wildcat case is shown with a Cutting Edge 150gr turned-brass
Extended Range “ Raptor “ bullet along side.

22” SS 5-groove 1-16


With regards,
357Mag

Thats cool the 5 groove must have been Bob's design and choice, that was what Ron used as well, and Bob is who guided Ron with his table.

 

[wildcatter]

My wife's first varmint rifles. I think they are pretty special. She certainly thought so...

Do have any Idea what caliber they were?

 

[357Mag]

I know there are some special varmint riggs and stories out there, where are they all at, I have another candidate being built right now, BUT, it will take some time to get a really special status. It's unique stock gives it some starting point. But it will need some history to become special.

I'm curious and anxious at the same time, let's here about them and of course, the eye candy is always welcomed by all!

Thats cool the 5 groove must have been Bob's design and choice, that was what Ron used as well, and Bob is who guided Ron with his table.

Wildcatter -

Howdy, again !

I remember rather distinctly….Red asked me whether I wanted to go w/ 5 grooves, or 6.
At the time, my previous customer barrel from Hart was a 5 groove…so I told Red to cut the .358” cal barrel for me as a 5 groove. I specified the same twist as my Marlin M-336C .35 Remington had, because at the time…I was thinking about chambering the barrel in
. 35 Remington; to shoot in some of the new Cast Bullet Association matches.

The barrel sat unused for 20yr, before I decided to chamber it in my .358AutoMag wildcat.

I have sometimes wondered how well a 6 groove might have shot ? Hmmm….


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Lopili]

This was built by a former member from here who also resided in Australia, I lucked into it a few years after his passing. He was a Tikka595 fanboi, so had one placed in a Slee (local stock maker) custom stock that was originally bright green, then painted black. I cant remember the barrel details, but think it was an ex-target barrel, which was then heavily fluted, a recessed crown put in that is almost 3/4" deep and chambered for a specific hunt. It was built so that a man heavy with illness could shoot large varmints like horses/donkey and camels from a vehicle with as little discomfort as possible. That goal was achieved. That is my recollection anyway. Chambering is thus 338Federal.

Had it out yesterday and it still groups well at 100yards ... but its now time to get a barrel better suited to hunting foxes under spotlight ... likely it will re-morph as a 22/250 with an MTU or straight profile barrel, and hopefully the original owner wont haunt me to say 'Man, you should have done a 6BR repater!'

 

[wildcatter]

Wildcatter -

Howdy, again !

I remember rather distinctly….Red asked me whether I wanted to go w/ 5 grooves, or 6.
At the time, my previous customer barrel from Hart was a 5 groove…so I told Red to cut the .358” cal barrel for me as a 5 groove. I specified the same twist as my Marlin M-336C .35 Remington had, because at the time…I was thinking about chambering the barrel in
. 35 Remington; to shoot in some of the new Cast Bullet Association matches.

The barrel sat unused for 20yr, before I decided to chamber it in my .358AutoMag wildcat.

I have sometimes wondered how well a 6 groove might have shot ? Hmmm….


With regards,
357Mag

I would go with the 5 today if I had my choice, 4 is popular in Benchrest, with a few 6 grooves, but mainly 4. For a varmint gun with medium weight per caliber bullets driven hard, I think the five would be more forgiving as far as stress on the bullets.

But Ron always had this theory about odd numbered grooves and stability, over even numbers? But today 4 or six seems to be the standard, I've always wanted to try a 3 groove Lilja, someday, time permitting?

 

[wildcatter]

This was built by a former member from here who also resided in Australia, I lucked into it a few years after his passing. He was a Tikka595 fanboi, so had one placed in a Slee (local stock maker) custom stock that was originally bright green, then painted black. I cant remember the barrel details, but think it was an ex-target barrel, which was then heavily fluted, a recessed crown put in that is almost 3/4" deep and chambered for a specific hunt. It was built so that a man heavy with illness could shoot large varmints like horses/donkey and camels from a vehicle with as little discomfort as possible. That goal was achieved. That is my recollection anyway. Chambering is thus 338Federal.

Had it out yesterday and it still groups well at 100yards ... but its now time to get a barrel better suited to hunting foxes under spotlight ... likely it will re-morph as a 22/250 with an MTU or straight profile barrel, and hopefully the original owner wont haunt me to say 'Man, you should have done a 6BR repater!'

View attachment 1625530

I'd say a 338 is definetly a special varmint rigs! Maybe not ideal for whistle pigs or prairie dogs, but for horse and donkey I could see the calling. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Preacher]

The only thing special about this ground hog rifle is it's the 1st one I built back in the early 70's..
700 action and trigger, Douglas 26" 9 twist, 24X Unertil, Peterson stock...
6mm AI shooting 85 grain Sierra HPBT's..
Was able to shoot 4-5 hundred chucks a year with it back then...

 

[urbanrifleman]

just nice to know what were lookin at??? I'm still puzzled??? I just guess something is special ??? I guess anything on a chassy for vermin is at least different,,,

Honestly, I used to shoot wood stocks. I shot them for 20 years. Then I started shooting chassis guns and the ergonomics the performance are so far superior I never went back. My wife's stock (which was shown in the "nothing special" pictures) is actually a benchrest stock that was rounded on the front to make it into a varmint stock. It's pretty much far superior to any varmint stock that I've shot.

As far as performance goes I think you'd be hard-pressed to beat the KAUGER VPR or CRS for shooting very small targets at far distances. But I wouldn't want to suppose that that would be interesting.

 

[jkohler]

JKohler, thats my kind of rifle. I really like my 6 BRAs . What bullet are you using and what stock is that ? TFS.
George

George thanks. I’m shooting Berger 80gr and Barts 80gr dominators. The stock is a McMillan game Stalker

 

[wildcatter]

Honestly, I used to shoot wood stocks. I shot them for 20 years. Then I started shooting chassis guns and the ergonomics the performance are so far superior I never went back. My wife's stock (which was shown in the "nothing special" pictures) is actually a benchrest stock that was rounded on the front to make it into a varmint stock. It's pretty much far superior to any varmint stock that I've shot.

As far as performance goes I think you'd be hard-pressed to beat the KAUGER VPR or CRS for shooting very small targets at far distances. But I wouldn't want to suppose that that would be interesting.

View attachment 1625606View attachment 1625607View attachment 1625608View attachment 1625609

That was like pulling my own teeth, thank you, the mystery is over! I could not tell what it was but a pink stock, and something in a chassy. I had one chassy, I'll never own another. But that is all personal preference. I have never seen one of those actions, but I only shoot short and long range Benchrest, no Fclass or PRC experience. There are a lot of good actions out there, but if it being used by the big boys in those sports, the wanna bees don't try anything new.

Be nice to know the caliber of both them rifles. I was not being rude, just to most they were just pictures of guns, and I don't think anyone had a clue of what other than rifles? But thanks for the info, it's starting to come together now. Nice rig, let us know the calibers and cartridges? Unless their Crudmores,,,

 

[NCVarhtr]

George thanks. I’m shooting Berger 80gr and Barts 80gr dominators. The stock is a McMillan game Stalker

They are two of my favorite bullets for varmints. I'm about out of the Dominators and I am desperately looking trying to find some...

 

[jkohler]

They are two of my favorite bullets for varmints. I'm about out of the Dominators and I am desperately looking trying to find some...

Is Bart not taking orders for them right now?