Views on gap presion rifles the crusader??

[terryh]

I quite like baldie work if I'm honest he has a great following and is highly recommended! Wen I've made my mind up will be giving him a call. Thanks for the input guys... What do you all recommend for barrels/action?? Thinking sticking with 308 or mayb venture to 7mm mag or 300 Winmag! All in a mcmillan stock

 

EL,

 

Dave does make a nice rifle and have handled one of his actions (on a 308 build for a friend) the whole package was very respectable.

 

Border do/can make good barrels, personally I like the '5C/5R' type rifling, nothing scientific in this stance, just makes sense if you step back and think about it?

 

You say either 308 or 7mmMag/300WM, this would suggest you are reloading (especially the latter two choices). could I suggest that there might be better cartridges with the caveat 'what do you want from the rifle? if you are looking at the 308 arena then 6.5x47 would beat it hands down and fit into a short action, feed from magazines etc. If you are after a bit more 'oomph' in 7mm or 30 cal. then 7mmSAUM or 300 WSM would be a better choice and more common for longer range accuracy? Belted cartridges are not normally associated with accuracy build these days, not saying they cannot be accurate, I ran a 300WM in an AWM and it was very accurate, just required a bit more effort and specialised reloading tools.

 

Just suggestions or things to think about?

 

Brgds Terry

[John MH]

There will be la few custom built rifles available to see next weekend and you'll be able to see how they perform.

[Bushdog]

Exeter lad -I think you will be at the next RRC. If so, I'm planning to be there with my light (ish) .308 built by Baldie on one of his Valkyrie actions - you'd be welcome to have a butcher's (don't think the rules would let you have a shoot, but if you get down to Millpool at all, you'd be welcome).

[Exeter lad]

Terryh: good comment yea I am a reloader and I've heard all this about belted cartridges not being as accurate. I used to own a 300WM also was hard to shoot compared to my current 308.. 300 WSM also sounds appealing especially ballistically to 1000 + yard target. Just can't beat 308 it may not have the best ballistics but it certainly gets the job done! And it's easy to reload for last weekend shot a 0.175 inch group at 100 yards using 175 Bergers out my sako 85.. Couldn't do that with a magnum

[Exeter lad]

And yes il b up the RRC range day with my mate Carl (shooter79) should b a cracking day.. Got the 175 vld shooting well at moment.. Doing some range work on Saturday out to 800 yards gather dope ect so should b good to go for the day :-) would love to get be hind some of your custom rifles I'm sure my heart would b set on what I want after that weekend lol

[gbal]

Terryh: good comment yea I am a reloader and I've heard all this about belted cartridges not being as accurate. I used to own a 300WM also was hard to shoot compared to my current 308.. 300 WSM also sounds appealing especially ballistically to 1000 + yard target. Just can't beat 308 it may not have the best ballistics but it certainly gets the job done! And it's easy to reload for last weekend shot a 0.175 inch group at 100 yards using 175 Bergers out my sako 85.. Couldn't do that with a magnum

You are right to clearly separate ballistics from shootability. Ballistics are objective,and you can make a case for/against eg the 308(or any other cartridge). But shootability is more subjective,and varies a little between shooters.(as do interests,uses and all the rest-heck add in 'rests' too for the bipod brigade,and the bench rest concrete platformers!)

Tolerance of recoil/different acceptances of what accurate is/demands and restrictions of different competitions etc,on one sidewe can actually calculate what is needed for performanceequivalence-an the 308 eg needs heavy bullets(220) and 2650 fps with them,and something like 23lb weight to achieve equivalence.That is seldom attempted.

But it is a good general purpose cartridge,and a sound choice for anyone not aspiring to the very highest competitive level. But as suggested,the 6.5x47 and 260 rem will edge out the 308,though with a little more work/less choice etc etc-but enough.

Look at fclass etc competition results-even the very good shooters with WSM,SAum etc etc can drop points when the wind blows,and mere mortals will too! You can't buy skill-some will even go 6BR for pure accuracy/shootability and hope for low/no wind!

There is plenty choice and compromising-think what you want/need to get your kicks!

Gbal

[ChrisF]

The main reason , I see for using a US based gunsmith , is IF the build action or stock is not readily available in the UK or even something similar .

So if you wanted say a Rem700 clone action , BUt wanted to run AW mags , then no one in the UK does that at the moment , or IF say you want to run a Badger M2013 action , or a Manners folder etc , or a US barrel thats not brought into the UK .

 

Later Chris