lancetkenyon

First rifle is a Sako A7 in 7RM with Nightforce ATACR 5-25×56 F1 MOAR Load will be 168 Berger HVLD over H1000, Nosler brass, CCI250 We went out a couple weeks ago to shoot this brand new rifle, and HNTNGUY had some factory boxes of ammo. Hornady Precision Hunter w. 162 ELD-X which shot about 3 @ 1.2". Nosler Trophy Grade w. 160 NAB which shot about 3 @ 1.3". HSM w. 168 HVLD that shot about 3 @ 4.5". I had some of my handloads that are tailored for MY rifle along to see. 180 Hybrid, and they shot a 6 shot group at about .75". 4 were touching, the other 2 were about 1/2" low but touching each other. Not bad for a new factory rifle. The second rifle is a brand new Remington R700 Sendero SFII in .264WM with Nightforce ATACR 5-25×56 F1 MOAR. Two loads. First is 130 Berger HVLD over RL23, Nosler brass, CCI250 Second is for the Bab/strip hunts. 127 Barnes 127 LRX over RL23, Nosler brass, CCI250.

You happen to know Dave B. from AZ Deer Association?

I plan on running these as hot as accuracy will allow out of my 6.5 SS that AxisWorks is reworking for me... I will be ordering these in the near future. So I will post up when that time comes. I have a few takers on the offer, and space is very limited, but I might just have to order more. No sweat.

Working with a lot of Federal and State governmental agencies, I just got an email at work from USFS that reports the lifting of fire restrictions for the following National Forests: Prescott, Kaibab, and Coconino. Just thought I would pass it along to the hunting community.

Any hunt can be drawn with 1 BP if you get the luck of the draw. And yet, some go 18-25 years to get in a bonus pass situation before they draw (my luck). You just never know. I have talked to quite a few people in the field that drew a 12A tag, antelope, good unit elk tags, December Coues, all with 1 BP. I have a buddy who drew 12AW late this year with 7BPs. I thought for sure it would have been the 12AW late tag that was his second choice. Taylor drew 12AE late hunt last year with 1 BP. And 12AE early the year before with 3 BPs.

There are a few 6.5 short action cartridges that rival, and even surpass, the venerable .264WM. Some, but not all, benefit from a Wyatt's extended box increasing magazine length by about .100" though. 6.5 GAP 4S (SAUM) 6.5 SS Lazzeroni 6.71 Phantom 6.5 WSM 6.5 Leopard 6.5x.284 (actually does better in a long action though) Shorter throw bolt, lighter actions, more efficient case design. You won't necessarily save any powder usage though, as a lot are based off much larger diameter cases. WSM, SAUM, etc. If you build, or have a factory rifle re-chambered, there are a bunch of possibilities. Factory chambering in a short action that compete with the .264WM are few, however. Also, a lot of the factory chamberings do not have the twist rate required to stabilize the longer, heavier bullets than really shine in a big case round. Most .264WM chambered factory rifles will come with a 1:9" twist. Great for 130gr and down bullets, but a 140+ really should use a 1:8", even at higher velocities. Not saying a 140 WON'T shoot well in a 1:9" twist, just stability might be marginal. A lot of the newer rifles in 6.5CM, .260Rem, etc. are accounting for the heavier bullet craze, and are coming with a 1:8" twist. That being said, it mostly depends on what you plan to do with it. Shooting a lot of rounds a year at steel and paper, and game? Go with a .260Rem, 6.5 CM, 6.5x55, etc. Doing the same with a custom chamber? Add 6.5x47L, 6.5 SLR, .260AI, etc. to the considerations. Hunting ONLY, maybe 20-100 rounds a year? 26 Nosler, .264WM, 6.5x.284 Win (or Norma) in a factory rifle. 6.5 GAP, 6.5 SS, etc. in a custom chamber. Go for speed, BC, KE downrange, heavier bullets, etc. I have two 6.5s. A 14+# 6.5 SLR (similar to a .260 Rem & .260 AI) that I shoot a LOT, that pushes a 140 HVLD @ 2850 for my target load, and 2940 for my hunting load. I am also re-chambering and lightening an 11.5# .260Rem into a 10.5# 6.5 SS. Still debating on what bullet to shoot. Either a 140 VLD @ 3150-3200+, a 147 ELD-M or 150 Matrix VLD @ 3100, or a 160 Matrix VLD @ 3000-3050+.

But heavy bullets means longer bearing surface, which means increased friction and barrel wear.....

Just like Nosler has Norma produce their brass with a Nosler headstamp, I am sure Sig is doing the same. But at half the price of Nosler, I am suspect to the quality. I tried Starline that a guy gave me. It ended up being used for varmint loads only, that I didn't even bother to reuse after it was shot. It went in the trash. I guess it would have been OK for plinking or varmint rounds, but I have enough other quality brass that I don't need the headache of separating after sizing and cleaning.

Depends on your needs....and wants. Some factory rifles are fully capable of shooting .5MOA. But they are honestly a fairly rare occurrence in the hands of the average shooter. Quality control of high end stuff helps bring these groups in the hands of the same capable shooter to .3-.4". Cartridge choices known for inherent accuracy are not normally found in the production rifle world. Like 6.5x47L, 6XC, 6 PPC, 6.5 SLR, 6mm Dasher, etc. Same goes for a lot of the hot rod hunting rounds like 6.5 GAP, 6.5 SS, 6.5-06AI, .25-06AI, 7LRM, 7-300WM, etc. Quality handloads further increase the accuracy potential when produced by experienced hand loaders. All that being said, an experienced handloader and great shooter can do things with a factory rifle that a lousy shooter with a $12k rifle, $5k scope, and perfect handloads cannot. I have seen plenty of both in my time.

Great price. Those things are awesome.

Brownells doesn't carry Matrix. Thanks for the heads up on free shipping though.

Sold

No KDSS. Discount Tire for wheels/tires.

I can attest to the clarity of the Swarovski X5, Z5, Z6. I have a couple in my safe right now, and have shot behind probably 8-9 of them. Hands down clearer than a Zeiss.

.025" on each side of the barrel channel is about the thickness of 2 playing cards. Not too big of a free floated barrel channel. The full length aluminum bedding block is beneficial to stiffening up the stock in the grip and forend area, but the added 4 oz wiuld be up to you. You can lose 4 oz elsewhere if you really want to. On the other hand, ounces=pounds, and pounds=pain. You can easy open up the PSS090 barrel channel to fit a slightly heavier contour.

Pretty easy to slightly open up the barrel channel to fit an aftermarket barrel. With that being said, the more recent B&C I have seen in the last 2 years or so, the QC has really started to slip. The HS is worth every penny extra you pay.

Love those long necks.

SPF

Happy birthday buddy!

Good news for the masses. Phoenix Custom Rifles called me this afternoon, and they are now accepting carbon fiber barrel work.

I have worked with a LOT of Nosler brass. Top notch stuff. Very uniform and consistent. Seem to last too.

I have seen it in person at the shop. The rifle is beautiful. And the cartridge is what I am building at the moment as well.

While I have never owned or shot a 7-08, my personal opinion is that case capacity does better with a lighter bullet, in the 130-150 range. On that note, the 6.5 will have better ballistics in that bullet weight range. You can load up to 160 grain bullets if you reload or know someone who does if you want to go heavier. But I would also look at .260 Rem or 6.5x55 along with the 6.5 CM. If you were going a LA, or slightly bigger case capacity, then I would lean towards a 7mm cartridge like .280 Rem, .284 Win, or similar. Heck, even a 7RM with a brake in a light rifle.

We have two 2015 Rangers for work, that we absolutely beat to heck. Both have around 2800-3200 miles in only 8 months. A 570 mid crew 4 seater and a 570 crew 6 seater. Carrying probably way more weight than we should, up and down mountain roads that require 4 low 1st gear in a pickup truck. They are not the fastest machines, but in the 42-46mph range on flat ground. The only thing we have done is maintenance, belts, and tires. We did have 1 bolt break for an A arm, but got it fixed easily with some all-thread and hardware that kept us going for another couple months until we could get it fixed with the correct bolt. They are brutes.

I figure the extra $25/box for the .280AI brass over the .280Rem brass pays for itself in the 100 rounds I would have to shoot just to fire form brass before I even start load development. Bullets, primers, powder, and most of all, my time. Sure, the cream of wheat method gets you close, but not as close as the Nosler .280AI brass does.