Elk rifle build

[Worriedman]

Have a tag for Montana this late fall, Old Man Hunt mid November.  Outfitter asked what I shot, I replied 7mm Rm Mag.  He asked if I had something bigger, I replied no and why.  He said bears hear a shot at that time of year, they hear a dinner bell in its place.

I have built a .338-06 AI on Savage donor, 24" PacNor barrel:


Parent Round on left, fireformed on right:


50 rounds of fireforming, 200 gr. Speer, Reloader 15, taking no particular care for other than sighting in and getting fireformed cases:

[Smokin45]

That looks great. Should do the trick. I used a 338 mag when I hunted in Colorado. Good luck with your hunt.

[KahrMan]

Very nice.  

[Wingshooter]

 

Very nice. Too much going on this year, but I'll be doing a CO elk hunt Oct 2018. 

[Worriedman]

Brother and I are going together, him 67, me 63.  Figure if not now, when...

[Wingshooter]

That's awesome. I will go with my brother as well. 

[mikegideon]

That lead sled is the appropriate tool! You're probably not even bruised

[Worriedman]

6 hours ago, mikegideon said:

That lead sled is the appropriate tool! You're probably not even bruised

Was not, I have to work against developing a flinch.  I added a recoil reducer to the stock and filled it with spray foam (took the Tupperware sound out of it too), actually with the 200 gr.s running 2850 fps+/-, it was not too bad, (had to run a couple of rounds int he back yard as soon as I had the barrel on and headspaced, was surprised it did not rattle me worse than it did) 50 down range to fire form, I pulled the lead sled out.

35 Whelen brass necked down and neck turned to .0013", brass should last a long time in the AI version.  The 116 FCSS Weather Warrior comes with the Accutrigger and Accustock, I added a heavier/thicker recoil lug, wire EDM cut to fit the stock without weakening it.

I start load development this weekend with 185 gr Hornady GMX, if I can get them to shoot it should be the perfect blend of penetration and killing  power.

Edited August 18, 2017 by Worriedman

[sybo]

Best of luck and keep us posted!

[Worriedman]

Lots of snow, hard hunting but I decided to not come home skunked.  As the natives say "took a tasty cow"!

[Omega]

36 minutes ago, Worriedman said:

Lots of snow, hard hunting but I decided to not come home skunked.  As the natives say "took a tasty cow"!

Congrats! Try as I might I have never been able to tell the difference between a bull and a cow when it's on my plate.  She will make some tasty vittles for quite some time; what she weigh?

[Chucktshoes]

Nice!

[MacGyver]

Congrats!

[Worriedman]

3 hours ago, Omega said:

Congrats! Try as I might I have never been able to tell the difference between a bull and a cow when it's on my plate.  She will make some tasty vittles for quite some time; what she weigh?

No idea on weight on the hoof, we field dressed her, but she  made 394 pounds of processed meat!

 

Edited December 7, 2017 by Worriedman

[Omega]

1 hour ago, Worriedman said:

No idea on weight on the hoof, we field dressed her, but she  made 394 pounds of processed meat!

 

Nice.

[Wingshooter]

Awesome. Congrats!

[Worriedman]

The elk was gravy for a great trip.  Got to spend some real time with my brother, life had denied that in any quantity for the last 25 years, he a Dr. (Interventionist Radiologist), me in the Heavy Industrial Manufacturing construction business, both demand all of your time, fractured families and lost dreams are the result of such avocations.  He retired in September, I took the first vacation days not spent at the TN Legislature in 10 years (two full weeks).  We caught up, buried a couple of hatchets and had a genuine good time in each others presence.

Montana was gorgeous, I got to stand on Last Stand Hill and marvel at Custer's stupidity, saw a lot of country I had never seen except out of the window at 30K feet.  I wish we had done it 25 years ago, but at least we did it now!

[sybo]

Sounds like a WIN all around!!  Congratulations!!