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Post by AxeHandle on Oct 23, 2015 20:21:28 GMT -5
FWIW we all know John Gallagher as a custom revolver guy. Truth be known his bread and butter is custom rifles....
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Post by wildwillalaska on Oct 27, 2015 1:36:18 GMT -5
I find great comfort in a stainless synthetic rifle. I know folks have hunted Alaska over the years quite effectively with wood and blued rifles, but on multiday hunts in poor weather, sure is nice not to have additional worry. Little tape on the muzzle and call it good till I get home--albeit I usually have a few extra pieces of electrical tape on my scope tube to seal her back up after it goes boom.
Snyd's posts on the Alaska outdoor forums started my dabblings into the 325 WSM. Planned to copy him to the T until I found a new HS Precision on a huge discount down south as the 325 WSM wasn't selling in whitetail country. Will say it's not the prettiest gun, but boy does it shoot.
You aren't going to go wrong with Cooper, Kimber, or Sako, have owned all of them and all shot and functioned well. The pre-64 Winchester will always remain my favorite factory rifle, but for stainless synthetic killing machine, you are pointed in the right direction. I would 2nd the thought of finding a nice used Dakota.
If you look for a full custom there are endless options. I have several GAP built guns including one hunting weight rifle and while none would be considered pretty, all function flawlessly and flat out shoot--same for American Precision Arms. I have a APA 338wm that Jared built me off a pre-64 Win action that is amazingly accurate, but again, not overly pretty as it's built to abuse.
So many great rifles and builder out there these days. I'd pick whichever one ends up convenient to you or tickles the fancy. If I were going to build another from the ground up, it was be by Robert Gradous--he builds precision one gun at a time and one rifle I wish I hadn't parts with.
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Post by 2 Dogs on Oct 27, 2015 5:15:08 GMT -5
So much to decide here. Still, it would help if you defined the "mission" of the rifle itself. For me, like you, I prefer synthethic stocks for a number of reasons. I have gone through any number of Manners and McMillan stocks as other customs made purely of carbon fiber. Of late, I have settled on the B&C A-3 as I find it tough enough for what I do, do not intend to run over it with my M-1 Abrams tank, and do not care to toss it out of a helicopter. For a lightweight rifle, I like the 21 ounce stock by High Tech specialties. My favorite base action is a blueprinted Remington 700, but the customs are all very nice, AND if I were to be dropped off somewhere in the wilderness for days at a time my action choice would most likely be a Winchester 70 that had the far simpler trigger system. After that, you have to decide barrel contour, bottom metal material, etc. But to answer your original question, all of the custom actions that I have personally seen have been really very nice and I would be happy with any of them. My last purpose built rifle: singleactions.proboards.com/thread/14279/small-significance
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Post by cddogfan1 on Oct 27, 2015 6:00:06 GMT -5
It is going to be a white tail gun with a hog thrown in every now and then . I hunt central Ga. Most shots are 200 yards or less. May hunt a clear cut or field that may stretch it to 400 yards.
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Post by 2 Dogs on Oct 27, 2015 6:40:41 GMT -5
Do you hunt from a stand or on foot??
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Post by cddogfan1 on Oct 27, 2015 7:02:51 GMT -5
80 percent stand. But I do usually walk in a pretty good ways. I also kind of still hunt my way out in the mornings typically.
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Post by 2 Dogs on Oct 27, 2015 8:02:20 GMT -5
The more you walk, the more weight is a concern....
I prefer a barrel about the contour of the Remington varmnint special myself, but I aint gotta climb no hills here in S. Texas...
The 7-08 is a spendid little caliber, one you should be able to get pin point accuracy out of given a quality barrel and bedding job. Take a look at Timney's Calvin Elite trigger. I much prefer that one to a Jewel, but I really cant say why.
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Post by cddogfan1 on Oct 27, 2015 9:26:04 GMT -5
I am trying to lighten things up a little. The rifle i carry now mostly has a #5 contour Hart barrel.
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Post by boxhead on Oct 28, 2015 19:05:12 GMT -5
A 270 Montana is hard to beat IME and for a lot less than your budget. Light (6# 1 oz empty), accurate (consistent sub-1"er) and deadly as of two weeks ago.
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Post by cddogfan1 on Oct 28, 2015 20:18:46 GMT -5
A 270 Montana is hard to beat IME and for a lot less than your budget. Light (6# 1 oz empty), accurate (consistent sub-1"er) and deadly as of two weeks ago. Box head is that a Montana rifle company 270? Or a kimber Montana. Was hoping to hear about the Montana rifle company stuff. Jim Carmichael likes there stuff.
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Post by boxhead on Oct 30, 2015 9:27:08 GMT -5
Kimber Montana.
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Post by zeus on Oct 30, 2015 22:29:38 GMT -5
ULA/NULA for a pure hunting rifle is my choice. They aren't "pretty" per SE but man do they feel good when you shoulder them. Weight is about perfect and shoot great. My M24 is about 6 lb 7 oz I think with a 3-10 Swaro. The M20 is probably 3/4 of a lb lighter scoped. It's around 6. If you've never shouldered one, you need to. My all time favorite 22LR is even a NULA. It's extremely accurate and caused me to spend way too much money over time on the others because I liked it so much. That and the fact that Mr Melvin is such a cool guy to work with. Very knowledgeable and just an all around nice guy. I have a feeling that my next lightweight NULA will be in the 375 H&H class of rifle. It will not be shot much but will be better than packing that big wooden beast that's in the safe around someday. Recently picked up a Kimber 84L. Nice rifle but overall feel, I'm not nearly as impressed. It's feel or pointability is not even close. May be prettier than a NULA, but it's not nearly as nice to shoulder. I haven't shot it but that my initial impression. Forbes rifles intrigued me but they have had really bad hit and miss reviews and customer service issues. Enough so that Mr. Melvin cut ties this year from what I understand. Another to consider is the Legendary arms rifles. They are the new breed of Bansners rifles. I've seen great reviews and the price is excellent. I'm thinking of ordering one just to try it to be honest. I've owned a few Coopers, they are good guns but not in same league to me as the Dakotas or NULAs. I love the Dakota rifles. They are exquisite and absolutely every one I've shot has been a tack driver. I'll echo Will and say that the GA Precision rifles I have are extraordinary shooters. You'd have I try them to understand honestly but the groups they shoot are ridiculous. If you want a small shop builder, Steve Roe "Apache Machine" builds as fine a rifle as you will ever find and his prices are great. He will be finishing a 375 SnipeTac for me in the Spring. I have a 6.5 Creedmoor he built currently and it's amazing. His attention to detail is incredible and makes an OCD lunatic like me extremely happy. His bedding work is a work of art! It's all about what you need it for and weight you want in the end. I have 6 lb rifles that are a joy to hold and carry and 18 lb rifles that may shoot tighter groups at 600 yards. BUT, they aren't for same purpose or style of hunting. LOTS of good choices out there, good luck with decision I'm not sure of your location but if anywhere near Kansas City, I'd be glad to let you handle these to get a feel of them. ETA, I see you're in GA. Well, if passing though KC, offer still stands
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Post by bushog on Oct 31, 2015 9:13:05 GMT -5
I forgot about the legendary arms guns. I've sold most of my custom rifles over the past few years but the few I do still have are ones that Bansner built. Last time I talked to Mark he was thrilled to get back in the shop at Legendary Arms and stop running a business. They're not custom, and they're sure not cheap but a Blaser R93 or an R8 are what I've moved to. You can get a 2nd hand barrel for $750-800 and have a another whole gun. It's a little more involved but not much. I can change from a .270 Win to a .300 Win in less than 5 minutes and have both shoot 1/2" groups at 100yds. I don't know why you'd ever need to change that fast but just illustrating the versatility. Look here: www.blaserbuds.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=6&sid=8be7c162409807346f1eb9586310916eFella just sold a .257 synthetic for $1700. That is way goood deal but just to show you...
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Post by bushog on Oct 31, 2015 9:22:57 GMT -5
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Post by zeus on Oct 31, 2015 10:12:41 GMT -5
So bushog, when is that Bansner 375 leaving the nest?
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