Cell4soul

I agree with the accuracy of the factory Savage rifles. My Model 10 Predator in 6.5 CM shoots under 1/4 MOA.

I have the same exact rifle. It shoots lights out. Sub 1/4" MOA with hand loads. Mine is wearing a VX6 3-18x44 with fire dot reticle. I really like the scope.

Here is the only picture I have of it:

I can't even hear it inside the cab. I bought mine with a flap located where my rear sliding window is on my truck so I can access the bed through the rear window of the truck. I also got both the mesh and regular rear window. The quality is far better than I expected. If the OP or anyone else is interested in checking it out, I'd be happy to show it.

I have a 2017 Tacoma. I went with a Softopper so that I still have easy access to use the full bed, if needed I just fold it down. Stays dry in there. Stuff in the back isn't as protected from theft as a hard shell, but if someone wants to steal your stuff, they are gonna steal your stuff. I never thought I'd like the Softopper, but now that I have it, I am glad I went with it.

I have a Garmin Oregon and use it with the On X maps. It is an absolute must in areas that are spreckled with public/private. I hunt antelope in Wyoming every year and I would have to pass up on A LOT of game without the On X maps.

I bit the bullet on a Kifaru this year. Hopefully I'll get it out soon. Really nice pack, hand made in the USA.

Either black or midnight bronze looks good too. Sounds like you are having a really nice rifle built. Do you plan on shooting the 195 Berger's?

Plenty of 7 SAUM brass available from Norma and the cartridge has very similar ballistics with less powder. 7 Sherman Short Mag would be another option assuming you are willing to fire form SAUM brass.Is the saum a good candidate for a long action like the wsm is?I would think so, but better question for a gunsmith or someone that has built one. I can say this, with my 7 mm SAUM, I am extremely limited to my seating depth options if I want to chase the lands. The long heavy high BC Bullets usually like to be seated closer to the lands. I was able to get some of these to group about an inch when I loaded to magazine length. I ended up loading bullets with a tangent ogive that are less sensitive to seating depth and had several different bullets group about 1/4". I had to give up BC to shoot these bullets. If I had a long action, I would be able to seat the long heavy bullets where I wanted them. In the end, I am still really happy with the results. The 145 LRX's are grouping well under an inch and I am right about 3200 FPS.

Plenty of 7 SAUM brass available from Norma and the cartridge has very similar ballistics with less powder. 7 Sherman Short Mag would be another option assuming you are willing to fire form SAUM brass.

I just got mine in the mail today.

I am sure there is no shortage of guys on this forum that will be more than happy to come out there with a caller and fill the coyotes' brains with #4 buckshot. It would be a heck of a lot more fun than trapping anyways.

The two major factors for me to move here from California was the cost of living and the liberal CA politics. It seems with time, this state too may end up leaning left due to all the transplants.....I hope this never happens, but time will tell. I have put myself on a 3 year plan to move to Wyoming, which is one state that will remain on the right.......that, and hunting tags are plentiful and inexpensive for residents.

Those are some of the areas I plan to shave some more weight, but I am going to wait until after hunting season.....it is shooting good and I don't want to mess with it.

I figured I would put the chronograph on my 6.5 Creedmoor because I haven't shot it since last hunting season. 6.5 Creedmoor was the same muzzle velocity as last year, right at 2765 FPS. My groups from last year haven't changed either. The 200 yard 3 shot group was about 1/4", so well under 1/4 MOA. Not bad for a factory Savage.

I chronographed the load with the 145 LRX this morning. The load is running 3199 FPS. This should be a hammer on game. I shot a 3 shot group at 200 yards to see if accuracy was maintained from my 100 yard group previously posted. The group at 200 went barely under 1", so the rifle is at 1/2 MOA to 200 yards. I think I could shoot a better group if I was running a scope with more than 12x magnification.

Midway has these on sale brand new for as low as $899 without the fire dot reticle: https://www.midwayusa.com/s?promotionid=1115472&cm_mmc=pe_weekly-_-hotbuy-_-leupold_vx6-_-20170725

Are you full length sizing or just bumping the shoulders?

Pretty nice annealing set up they make. That may be in my future.

I ordered a Magnetospeed V3. It should be here Thursday. I plan on loading up some rounds to get my muzzle velocity this weekend and shoot some groups at 200 and 300 yards. Hopefully the 145 LRX will hold consistent at longer distances. I really want to see how this bullet performs on game.

You are going to like your barrel. After this season, I plan to lighten up my rifle a little more by swapping out the bottom metal to aluminum and doing some work on the bolt. I am not gonna mess with it until after hunting season.

Pulled the trigger on the Hilleberg Soulo.

I looked through the Leupold VX5 HD with fire dot reticle on Saturday. The elevation turret was solid and did 2 full rotations with a very nice zero stop. Scope was $999, so it is right in your price range. That, and I think it weighs in right at 20oz. I think it would be hard to beat that for the money.

I have a few loads to choose from. I think I am gonna work with the Barnes 145 LRX. This is a hunting rifle and I have heard nothing but good things about Barnes Bullets performance on game. They hold 98% weight retention and no chance of lead fragments in my meat. My load work up with the Barnes is a hot round, but no signs of over-pressure. I am guessing they are running at 3150 fps, but I will get a chronograph on them soon. Here are my groups with various bullets:

Did some research. Fond this outfitter. Seems like decent price. In Big Bend, TX. http://www.huntaoudad.com/our-hunts/#ram1