New 300WSM Custom!!

Ltsheets

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Well I first want to thank everyone who gave me inputs on which cartridge to choose on my 300WSM rebarrel. After a lot of thought, I decided to stick with the 300WSM over going with a 270WSM. I ended up taking my rifle to Long Range Innovations in Lubbock as they're only about 1.5hrs from where I live and had a very fast turn around. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet and hope the weather allows it this weekend but I'm not getting my hopes up. I hope to take it on my Barbary hunt the second week of Feb if I can shoot it before that.

Win M70 Stainless action
Shilen #4 contour stainless barrel
LRI Break
Timney trigger
B&C Alaskan stock pillar bedded
Meopta Meostar for now though I plan on pairing it with a lighter scope in the near future.

Can't wait to go shoot it!!

 
It's a guy that I was made aware of through a couple friends of mine I've known for a while. He's a previous navy guy with "connections" who started building guns when he retired. The name of his shop is Long Range Innovations located in N Lubbock off of University. He's built several rifles for Craig Boddington and if you google Craig Boddington custom rifle, you'll find an article he wrote about his first rifle made by Jim. His turn time is hard to beat if getting a stock or barrel isn't a problem. I got my rifle back in 3 weeks. PM me if you have any other questions.
 
Looks like a good solid build with some nice parts.
What bullet do you plan on starting with? Did you throat it for anything in particular?
 
Well I got it out to the range yesterday for some very quick load validation. I was hoping to find a quick load with 185 Bergers that worked for my Barbary hunt in just over a week. I quickly loaded up a few 3 shot groups to slowly check pressure while hoping to find a charge the gun liked. After 8 groups, I found 3 that grouped sub-MOA (this was last weekend). Yesterday I went back with 12 rds of the best group size to velocity load from last weekend. After a few foulers, the first group measured .72. I adjusted the scope for zero and shot another group... .29 MOA!! Made my last adjustments for zero and shot 6 to check the velocities and that's it for now. Needless to say I'm incredibly impressed with how this rifle is shooting Bergers so far considering they are supposedly notoriously picky about seating depth and that it normally takes a lot of trial and error to get a rifle to shoot them well. I'll post pics later.
 
I was able to take the rifle out yesterday and do one final check before the hunt to stretch out it's legs a bit. I shot a group at 100 to quickly check the zero. In 15-20 mph direct cross, that group measured .58 with the first 2 shots in the same hole! Now it was time to test it at further distances. We shot at 12x12 steel for the rest. 3 shots at the 200, holding for wind with the reticle verified my 200 zero. I think shot 3 at 300 off of sand bags and 2 more with just a bipod and no rear sand bags. Last I shot 2 at 385 once again with just the bipod as that's all I'll have on the hunt. Not a single miss and most were center of the steel. The group I shot at 300 was sub-MOA and the 2 shots at 385 were about 4 inches apart. Considering the wind was blowing enough to move my truck that that I was shooting from, I'm extremely happy with how this gun is performing, especially considering the lack of work put in developing this load.
 
Hell yeah I am. Hitting steel that far in that much wind was a huge confidence boost. I really like the 300wsm. The only bummer is getting brass. I just basically keep an eye out for good deals on brass and will slowly stock up on enough to keep me shooting for as long as I own the rifle. I wanted the rifle to be a little lighter for an all around backpacking gun but I think I'm going to buy an ultra light mtn rifle now for when weight is a premium and use this gun for everything else.

>Looks like you are having fun.
>
>What's your opinion of the WSM
>round
>in this rig ??
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-18-15 AT 11:14AM (MST)[p]63gr IMR 4350, 185 Berger VLD, Fed 215 Primers, Fed Brass...2800 fps average over 6 rds. I'd have to get a seating depth from home. Keep in mind this is a full grain above max book and it was from a 22 inch barrel so you might get more velocity out of a 24 inch barrel.

>Powder ??
 

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