Hoss50

Vanguard are shooters typically. Nice rifle in a great do all caliber. Someone needs this for a deer or elk hunt.

Not yet. I am going to finish load development and then borrow a chrono to see where the load ends up.

They finally called with the negative results for my COVID test yesterday afternoon so I decided to run to the range today. I had guessed at starting load data for the 131gr Blackjack with H1000 based on some Nosler data for 120gr bullets and my old load for the 115gr Berger. I guess I should have started lower. I started at 66gr and by the time I was at 70gr I was over pressure. The best group of the day though was 69gr and I would say that I am ok with these results. I believe the barrel still needs a little break in but once is seemed to get a little dirty it shot better. The barrel cooler really seemed to help the barrel cool down between strings with the heat today.

Blackjack delivered bullets in record time. I think I ordered on Friday or Saturday and I think they showed up on Monday. Anyway, i loaded some rest rounds with H1000. The closest I can get them to the lands is .02 with the bullet seated as far out as I dare. I also ordered a barrel cooler to help combat the 1000* heat here. Now I gotta get my stupid covid test back so I can go to the range.

Officially skunked... No elk, no deer, no turkey. I really thought I would get at least turkey.

I love my Traeger 22. You can get pretty good deals at the traveling roadshow at Costco on them. I got mine at Home Depot on sale at Xmas time 1.5yrs ago. It has been AWESOME. We use it ALOT. I hear good things about Green Mountain too.

Fast twist 270 WSM, 264 WIN MAG, 7 Rem Mag, 6.5 PRC, 6.5 RPM. 156gr 6.5 bullets would be cool to shoot. The problem with the big boomers is barrel life if you like to shoot it. I shot out my 257 weatherby, and rebuilt it as a 257 weatherby again with the idea of shooting the 131gr Blackjack bullets. I dont expect great barrel life, but this time I had the rifle built with a barrel nut type barrel so I can switch barrels fairly easily when I shoot this one out.

Yep, and I avoid it just like I do Old Mexico.

New Mexico...

Someone must have gotten the Rona. North valley sportsmans warehouse or Randall's. Call them.

United nations ammo and Randall's both had a bunch of it a week or two ago, and I think sportsmans did you too. 10mm has been easier to find then most ammo over the last few months for me. To bad I dont own a 10mm yet...

So far I am skunked. No deer tag, and no turkey tag.

Yep. Eric and his crew @AxisWorks LLC They do great work. They just finished the rebuild of my Weatherby Vanguard.

Hunt that deer hunt with every day you can. Whatever you have left use in the elk hunt. If you dont have any days left just hunt the elk on Saturday and Sunday. Scout that deer hunt, especially with all that has burned. It will be an interesting hunt up there.

Who does it? I just started as part of a way to try and get into shape.

Axisworks has done 3 muzzle brakes for me with great results.

Hobart, Miller, Lincoln. Get good tools the first time. A 140ish amp 115v model will do alot of things in the hands of a decent welder. My personal favorites are Miller. Hobart is owned by Miller so it is like entry level Miller. Fluxcore will do alot of welding without the need for a gas bottle, and the dragging around of a gas bottle. It isn't as clean of a weld because of the spatter, but can be more versatile of a wire. Most wires that require gas are not as forgiving when your materials are not perfectly clean.

Today was a chicken pot pie my wife made finished in the Traeger. It was fantastic.

I snuck out to the range this afternoon for a couple hours today with it to get some of the barrel break in done. I eye bore sighted it, and had a rough preliminary zero in 3 rounds. I only shot about 20rds total. I am going to try and get out this week during a morning to get out during cooler weather to get some more rounds shot. I had some 115gr Bergers and 100gr TTSX left loaded from my previous barrel so I shot those existing loads to start. I was typically shooting 2-3 rounds and I would run a patch and let it cool. It was showing signs of good accuracy but it wasn't 1 hole type stuff yet. The couple groups i tracked were after a patch. The first round would be in one spot, and then round 2 & 3 would usually be a little ways away but would stack on each other pretty tight. It was 106*f so I wasn't shooting more than 2-3 rounds without letting it sit and cool for awhile. The thing doesn't hardly kick with that 3 port brake on it. It wasn't a bruiser before, but it is super tame now. Blackjacks 131grs are on order and should arrive this week. I am going to try some Hammer 121gr too.

Nobody is really taking the mask mandate seriously it seems. My jiu jitsu gym is across the street from the Glendale Police headquarters. 8 out of ever 10 people walking down the street didn't have a mask on today while I was down there.

The rifle ended up at 9lb 13oz as pictured minus the bipod. It has a good balance though so it should carry well, and be able to reach out and touch something when needed.

Today was the day Axisworks called and said it was time!!! Huge thank you to the team at Axisworks. Eric is a great dude and has a great team. I dropped in this afternoon and picked up the new and improved 257 Weatherby Mag. Time to dust off the reloading bench and start pumping out some ammo to do load development with.

Is the action and bore decent beside the missing parts? I can sometimes get to Mesa during the work week. What's your schedule?

Where are you at, I will take it if you are not in BFE and the action and bite are half decent.