Precision 7mm-08

[Poke]

Looking to build a precision 7mm-08. Something I can target shoot to 500 easy enough and try for 700-1000 for fun a few times. REM 700 action.

The catch is, I want to use it as a bear/elk/pronghorn gun if I head out west to hunt. So not a bench gun. It’s light for bear and elk over 400 yards, I understand that.

I can shoot my lever action stock BLR to 500 on steel and do that once a year, it’s fun but as you expect, not meant for long range or precision. I can do that because I know the trigger, feel the springs and crunch so I know when it’s about to fire.

I’m looking for recommendations on the chassis, action, barrel length, trigger, all of it. I will need a removable bi-pod. Lighter chassis. 4 or 5 to xxxx scope.

$2500 budget

 

[Weasel]

I'd say you're plenty adequate for elk or bear. You put the round where you want it and that caliber will be just fine.

I like the looks of the Magpul furniture and seems to be affordable.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

I don’t know much about custom builds, but a 7mm-08 should be a solid choice for that with something like an Accubond or Berger bullet, depending on your mentality.

As far as the best combination of a longer distance hunting scope (zero retention, tracking, glass clarity, light transmission, weight), the Zeiss V4 is considered near the top by many. I just mounted one on my “western” rifle but haven’t shot it much yet.

 

[Will12785]

Honestly I would buy a tikka. The action and barrel are excellent for a not custom build. You can upgrade the trigger easily, put a nice stock on it and whatever glass you fancy. Youll be hitting 500 yards easy and 700-1000 without much issue. Plus spending 1k on a gun leaves you 1500 for glass.

I have shot my tikka .260 1000 yards on many occasion.

 

[Chevy_man]

I'm a big fan of build it yourself. Get the barrel with remage (extra long Remington 700) action threads. Grab a head-space gauge, an action wrench, and a barrel nut wrench. You can now change barrels in your garage in 15 minutes.

If you start with a 700 it needs to have factory threads. You'll also need the recoil lug jig and a lug itself. Brownells/Midway have them.

Easy button.
Defiance machine: Tenacity - Defiance Machine | Custom Bolt Rifle Actions


KRG bravo chassis:Remington 700 Chassis Bravo | Kinetic Research Group

Lightest chassis on the market. Plastic cladding keeps from freezing your hands in the cold, but aluminum backbone is solid with a full upgrade path to add anything you need. I add an ARCA rail and spigot to run it on a tripod or bipod with an rrs head.

McGowan barrel if steel: https://mcgowenbarrel.com/shop/full-custom-barrel/
Carbon six for carbon: CarbonSix Barrel

Bix&Andy trigger: TacSport Remington 700 Replacement Trigger - Single Stage

I'm not a trigger tech fan. They work great in an action that's been timed, but without sear adjustment you can't get them to work great with factory Remington tolerance.

Carbon six uses McGowan blanks. Proof used to use them, and the smiths having problems with proof was when they started using their own. Proof got their stuff sorted out, but they're about the same price for a blank that carbon six charges for a finished pre-fit.

Glass and scope is up to you. I like the vx-5 3-15 htmr for hunting, but for Target I keep buying more Mark 5, 5-25 in pr2 Mill.


Tikas are nice rifles but limited aftermarket. It's been getting better, but they're still 20 years behind on choices.

 

[Roc Doc]

Tikka T3X Super Varmint. Has adjustable LOP, adjustable comb, threaded barrel and pic rail installed. Under 8lbs for the 20" barrel and right at 9lbs for the 24" version. Like Chevy said, Leupold MK5 HD in 5-25 is a really nice scope that is lighter than most, pic your reticle, some good rings and go. Choose your own Tikka rifle from a variety of innovative models

 

[Roc Doc]

 

[VG SERE]

I'm dumb enough to have tried this twice, once in .260 Rem and once in 7mm-08. If you're a lefty, I'll make you a sweet deal on either or both, with full comp die sets and some reloading components.

7mm-08 and 162's sounded like a great idea. All around LR/ hunting rig, practice with what you run, LR big game killer...

I ended up with a rig that's too heavy and unwieldy for hunting and still at a big disadvantage in precision shooting. It sits in the safe and will probably stay there until I rebarrel it or sell it.

Recoil management is way tougher on a 7mm-08, especially in a rifle you plan on carrying. Not saying it has a excessive recoil. I'm saying I can easily spot my own rounds with a lighter weight rifle in 6mm or .224. Huge advantage!

I ended up doing a cheap Ruger American/ Vortex Diamonback 6.5 creed as my all around hunter and it's perfect. Plenty of legs and glass for any hunting shot I'm willing to take. Nothing fidgity or complicated, KISS hunting rig. Quality ammo everywhere. For a range toy, I ended up building a .224 Valk bolt gun due to ammo availability. I may rebarrel to a .22 GT or 6GT if reloading components start filling shelves again.

 

[Poke]

I'm dumb enough to have tried this twice, once in .260 Rem and once in 7mm-08. If you're a lefty, I'll make you a sweet deal on either or both, with full comp die sets and some reloading components.

7mm-08 and 162's sounded like a great idea. All around LR/ hunting rig, practice with what you run, LR big game killer...

I ended up with a rig that's too heavy and unwieldy for hunting and still at a big disadvantage in precision shooting. It sits in the safe and will probably stay there until I rebarrel it or sell it.

Recoil management is way tougher on a 7mm-08, especially in a rifle you plan on carrying. Not saying it has a excessive recoil. I'm saying I can easily spot my own rounds with a lighter weight rifle in 6mm or .224. Huge advantage!

I ended up doing a cheap Ruger American/ Vortex Diamonback 6.5 creed as my all around hunter and it's perfect. Plenty of legs and glass for any hunting shot I'm willing to take. Nothing fidgity or complicated, KISS hunting rig. Quality ammo everywhere. For a range toy, I ended up building a .224 Valk bolt gun due to ammo availability. I may rebarrel to a .22 GT or 6GT if reloading components start filling shelves again.

Thank you. I would rarely if ever hunt with it. This is a … if I ever pay for a guided hunt where long range is expected. Very long Shots here are 120yards, normal it’s hand gun range shots, and I just pull the 10mm and leave the rifle sitting. I have my main hunting gun, I can’t snap shoot it well because lever gun trigger. But I did heart shot a deer at 300 with it last year, so it works fine.

This is mainly because a close friends loves long range and I want to have something to shoot with him. 7mm-08 is because I have 2 so boxes on my shelf are always welcome. I’m also justifying 7mm-08 because it carries enough energy for and elk at 400.

I dunno though, you got me thinking…. Does two things but neither well

 

[Weasel]

you can sell ammo pretty easily. Wouldn't build a gun cause for that reason if it's not going to work.

I run a 243 and it works for what I need it to do. I'd take it elk hunting no question but that's a different discussion. I've sorta eye balled the 280 Rem but haven't really settled on anything longer range. I would avoid anything with significant recoil. A couple buddies went for 300 mag and something else around 7mm and would never shoot them more then a few times as the recoil was uncomfortable.

 

[Chevy_man]

you can sell ammo pretty easily. Wouldn't build a gun cause for that reason if it's not going to work.

I run a 243 and it works for what I need it to do. I'd take it elk hunting no question but that's a different discussion. I've sorta eye balled the 280 Rem but haven't really settled on anything longer range. I would avoid anything with significant recoil. A couple buddies went for 300 mag and something else around 7mm and would never shoot them more then a few times as the recoil was uncomfortable.

If you do a 280, go to the AI. With nosler pushing it out as a SAAMI cartridge there's no reason to stick to the old 280. You can get close to 7mm rem mag with less powder.

Stock design is key. A well fitting stock with a good recoil pad makes a difference between 2 shots and 20.

 

[VG SERE]

I'm a big fan of build it yourself. Get the barrel with remage (extra long Remington 700) action threads. Grab a head-space gauge, an action wrench, and a barrel nut wrench. You can now change barrels in your garage in 15 minutes.

If you start with a 700 it needs to have factory threads. You'll also need the recoil lug jig and a lug itself. Brownells/Midway have them.

Easy button.
Defiance machine: Tenacity - Defiance Machine | Custom Bolt Rifle Actions


KRG bravo chassis:Remington 700 Chassis Bravo | Kinetic Research Group

Lightest chassis on the market. Plastic cladding keeps from freezing your hands in the cold, but aluminum backbone is solid with a full upgrade path to add anything you need. I add an ARCA rail and spigot to run it on a tripod or bipod with an rrs head.

McGowan barrel if steel: https://mcgowenbarrel.com/shop/full-custom-barrel/
Carbon six for carbon: CarbonSix Barrel

Bix&Andy trigger: TacSport Remington 700 Replacement Trigger - Single Stage

I'm not a trigger tech fan. They work great in an action that's been timed, but without sear adjustment you can't get them to work great with factory Remington tolerance.

Carbon six uses McGowan blanks. Proof used to use them, and the smiths having problems with proof was when they started using their own. Proof got their stuff sorted out, but they're about the same price for a blank that carbon six charges for a finished pre-fit.

Glass and scope is up to you. I like the vx-5 3-15 htmr for hunting, but for Target I keep buying more Mark 5, 5-25 in pr2 Mill.


Tikas are nice rifles but limited aftermarket. It's been getting better, but they're still 20 years behind on choices.

Agree with all this ^.

If you're going 700 clone, skip the barrel nut and go pre-fits. I've done both. Pre-fit is easier, less complicated.

Barrels - There are several top tier barrel makers. I buy from 2-3 different makers depending on what I can find in stock. Can be tricky finding the contour, twist rate and caliber you want sometimes, so a little flexibility is helpful.

Love KRG have a Bravo and a Whiskey 3, both are great.

If your getting a 700 clone the Triggertech Diamond is pretty damn amazing. Bix and Andy are right there as well. I'd happily pick whichever is in stock. Neither are ever going to be the limiting factor in my accuracy.

 

[300sniper]

I know a guy….but you’d need to be a bit flexible on your budget…

 

[Chevy_man]

I know a guy….but you’d need to be a bit flexible on your budget…

When are you going to move your operation to a free state? Get that budget down!


Do you offer pre-fits for any actions?

 

[300sniper]

When are you going to move your operation to a free state? Get that budget down!


Do you offer pre-fits for any actions?

I don’t stock them, but can do prefits for Impacts, Lone Peak Fuzions, Bighorn TL3s, Origins, Defiance Ruckus, and maybe a few others.

 

[Poke]

I know a guy….but you’d need to be a bit flexible on your budget…

You plan on educating me or have an opinion?

As of last night I was thinking Tikka varmint in a bravo then add a carbon barrel in the future

 

[Chevy_man]

You plan on educating me or have an opinion?

As of last night I was thinking Tikka varmint in a bravo then add a carbon barrel in the future

https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Gun-Store/Rubicon-Precision-Inc-772791756090183/

 

[Roc Doc]

You plan on educating me or have an opinion?

As of last night I was thinking Tikka varmint in a bravo then add a carbon barrel in the future

 

[78bronco460]

I really like 7-08. I traded my R700 off long ago and wish I hadn't. I replaced it with an Axis and it's okay for hunting but not the walnut and goodness.

 

[Will12785]

you can sell ammo pretty easily. Wouldn't build a gun cause for that reason if it's not going to work.

I run a 243 and it works for what I need it to do. I'd take it elk hunting no question but that's a different discussion. I've sorta eye balled the 280 Rem but haven't really settled on anything longer range. I would avoid anything with significant recoil. A couple buddies went for 300 mag and something else around 7mm and would never shoot them more then a few times as the recoil was uncomfortable.

Sorry for the derail but I have to disagree. A 6mm bullet is too small for an elk.

Will it kill an elk? You bet ya. But even with everything going perfectly an elk will stand around for quite a while with a .243 in its heart. Elk are damn tough and while the .243 will do the trick you'll get a faster kill if you step up the bullet size.

 

[Poke]

Sorry for the derail but I have to disagree. A 6mm bullet is too small for an elk.

Will it kill an elk? You bet ya. But even with everything going perfectly an elk will stand around for quite a while with a .243 in its heart. Elk are damn tough and while the .243 will do the trick you'll get a faster kill if you step up the bullet size.

He doesn’t care and your point won’t resonate. I stop arguing with the ultra light round on game guys long ago. Waste of time.

.243 is a ladies and elderly round just enough for whitetail, nothing more.

 

[Poke]

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

you can sell ammo pretty easily. Wouldn't build a gun cause for that reason if it's not going to work.

I run a 243 and it works for what I need it to do. I'd take it elk hunting no question but that's a different discussion. I've sorta eye balled the 280 Rem but haven't really settled on anything longer range. I would avoid anything with significant recoil. A couple buddies went for 300 mag and something else around 7mm and would never shoot them more then a few times as the recoil was uncomfortable.

Sorry for the derail but I have to disagree. A 6mm bullet is too small for an elk.

Will it kill an elk? You bet ya. But even with everything going perfectly an elk will stand around for quite a while with a .243 in its heart. Elk are damn tough and while the .243 will do the trick you'll get a faster kill if you step up the bullet size.

He doesn’t care and your point won’t resonate. I stop arguing with the ultra light round on game guys long ago. Waste of time.

.243 is a ladies and elderly round just enough for whitetail, nothing more.

Once again, as always, the answer is a .30-06, or alternatively a .270/.280. But nooooooo, everybody wants to go on and on with their magnums, Uber short mags, PRC, Creedmoor this and that, brodozer rounds on both the heavy and light sides.

A .30-06 with a 180 Partition is bad medicine for anything that walks, and while it isn’t “fun” out of a lightweight mountain rifle, it doesn’t beat the ever living hell out of you.

 

[Weasel]

Sorry for the derail but I have to disagree. A 6mm bullet is too small for an elk.

Will it kill an elk? You bet ya. But even with everything going perfectly an elk will stand around for quite a while with a .243 in its heart. Elk are damn tough and while the .243 will do the trick you'll get a faster kill if you step up the bullet size.

Well der. in the case you should definitely go with a 50 BMG. My grandfather took man elk with it and 5 moose. Dad's taken several elk as well. I'm not in elk country much anymore.

He doesn’t care and your point won’t resonate. I stop arguing with the ultra light round on game guys long ago. Waste of time.

.243 is a ladies and elderly round just enough for whitetail, nothing more.

Says the guy that's never hunted in the west? Okay dokie. Notice I never recommended that you get a 243. Hell I even mentioned a 280 rem, but go ahead and pick out the pieces you want to.

 

[Weasel]

A .30-06 with a 180 Partition is bad medicine for anything that walks, and while it isn’t “fun” out of a lightweight mountain rifle, it doesn’t beat the ever living hell out of you.

no one wants that old outdated crap.

 

[Poke]

Well der. in the case you should definitely go with a 50 BMG. My grandfather took man elk with it and 5 moose. Dad's taken several elk as well. I'm not in elk country much anymore.



Says the guy that's never hunted in the west? Okay dokie. Notice I never recommended that you get a 243. Hell I even mentioned a 280 rem, but go ahead and pick out the pieces you want to.

Hey look! He took the obvious bait!

 

[Will12785]

Once again, as always, the answer is a .30-06, or alternatively a .270/.280. But nooooooo, everybody wants to go on and on with their magnums, Uber short mags, PRC, Creedmoor this and that, brodozer rounds on both the heavy and light sides.

A .30-06 with a 180 Partition is bad medicine for anything that walks, and while it isn’t “fun” out of a lightweight mountain rifle, it doesn’t beat the ever living hell out of you.

30-06 is my go to for anything bigger than a deer.

Well der. in the case you should definitely go with a 50 BMG. My grandfather took man elk with it and 5 moose. Dad's taken several elk as well. I'm not in elk country much anymore.

I'm not overly familiar with the .280 and it may do the job. Im not trying to be sarcastic either. I just think that an elk deserves a little better than such a small round.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

30-06 is my go to for anything bigger than a deer.

I'm not overly familiar with the .280 and it may do the job. Im not trying to be sarcastic either. I just think that an elk deserves a little better than such a small round.

A .280 splits the difference between a .270 and a .30-06, it’s the same case. It also splits the difference between a 7mm-08 and a 7mm Rem Mag. Heavy, high BC bullets with enough case capacity to push them while still being very efficient.

Biggest downside is the lack of factory rifles and ammo options.

 

[Weasel]

Hey look! He took the obvious bait!

glad your amused I guess?

30-06 is my go to for anything bigger than a deer.

I'm not overly familiar with the .280 and it may do the job. Im not trying to be sarcastic either. I just think that an elk deserves a little better than such a small round.

A .280 splits the difference between a .270 and a .30-06, it’s the same case. It also splits the difference between a 7mm-08 and a 7mm Rem Mag. Heavy, high BC bullets with enough case capacity to push them while still being very efficient.

Biggest downside is the lack of factory rifles and ammo options.

Yeah I didn't know much about it either and stumbled across a few articles about it and liked what I read. Did some more research and kept finding pretty good info, but the short comings are not from the performance but support.

 

[Poke]

Thanks. I rarely drop bait.

I decided to go dedicated long rang. Grabbed a ‘starter’ gun this morning. REM 700 magpul enhanced in creedmoor.