3 years ago as the family(now 3 of them) have got older and we are a bit more financial I decided I needed a hobby and would get back into shooting. Co incidentally my next door neighbour who had been a target and tin can plinker for years with a 22 had decided he was going to start hunting. So we are no longer neighbours but still friends. Since my clients are farmers and i have the land access, I hope he isnt just using me
The gun bug bit bad. I have my limit that can squeeze in the 5 gun safe (7) and have bought and sold a few on the way
I started handloading for the 243 which came first and then the 204 ruger came along and infected me with the accuracy bug. I decided that i wanted a rifle that would perform better than me( well most factory rifles can do that but I wanted to KNOW I had a rifle that was better than me)
Since most of my shooting is spotlighting and at the range I wanted a heavy accurate rifle. I want a better 204 but since the factory one worked so well I have no excuse to upgrade that. When i took the 243 out for roos a distant fox would always appear and my light tikka 243 hunter needed a better nut behind the butt to get those 200m foxes consistently. Of course the 204 would fix up those foxes but It was in the cab when we were culling roos (legally) So I decided I wanted a 6mm projectile but I didnt need as much powder as a 243 case. I wanted a heavy rifle with a thumbhole stock so less jump on longer shots. I read JB747 on the 6/250 and after my only shot with a borrowed 22/250 I took home a case, necked it up and seated a 70gn NBT. Yes It looks balanced. I want one. traded the 243 in on the scope for this rifle.
The only other person I had met who had a custom rifle (JB 747) told me his smith would not take on new clients. His smith had given Shane a big rap by saying his work was at least as good. I also later heard this from Ogre who knew the same smith. Here he was answering all my stupid questions on the net for free so the choice of the builder was easy!
Well you've seen the pictures. I took some more but today i find out photobucket is a banned site under our corporate internet policy. I will load them up tonight.
We have also had discussion on the stock. OK I will agree, the short fore end makes it less pretty than it might have been. It is however extremely comfortable and steady to grip. The bedding job is superb. Rock solid. Instructions were to tighten the action screws after 10 rounds. Checked after 10 20 and 40. No movement at all. Function wins over form and I actually like the look. If HS precision bring one out 2 inches longer I will change tho!
The stainless match barrel gets my standard treatment, patch out dry twice. Soak with solvent on a patch. let it sit 30 mins. 2 dry patches. 20 passes with a bronze brush soaked in solvent. Sit 30 mins. 2 dry patches. 20 passes with a nylon brush soaked in solvent. Another 15- 30 mins. 2 dry patches. A patch soaked in gun lube. Then dry patch till clean. 3 Patches is all is needed before its clean. Yes i have copper blue after the solvent. This is the first barrel I have follwed break in instructions for!
I have let 2 others fire it and the trigger is something else when you are used to factory sporters. It will probably take me some time to get it right but its very crisp and very light.
First range trip only got to break in the barrel.
I was on a farm Monday so set up the target and had 20 shots left. 2 of the barrel break in load. 3 loaded with 2206H and one with 2208. All behind the 65 VM.
You will see on the photos the firing platform was not benchrest standard! I couldnt get the butt snugged into my shoulder and keep the front on the stand. Anyway you will see one group that shows that this thing has potential. I will be trying lots of powder weights and the 70NBTs as well as the Vmaxes.
Shane cut the throat so the Vmax dummy round was just off the lands. I can take the NBT out a little but I have had a comparitor on order locally since end November. Gave up last week and ordered from Sinclair. I do not want to adjust the seating micrometer until the comparitor turns up.
By the way, the Nosler custom brass is supposed to be prepped. I cleaned the pockets on the fired cases with the Sinclair uniforming tool and it was taking out brass. I am keen to get to the range with once fired brass formed to the chamber that has been neck sized and had the pockets uniformed.
Was it worth it. well so far my ruger Vt in 204 and CZ 527 in 223 have produced smaller groups. But they have had lots of load development. There is definitely a "pride of ownership factor". Call me a wanker if you like but I am sure you all have a prize possession that just gives you pleasure in looking at it. this is doing it for me. So much so that i bought Ogre's 20 cal barrel and if no one buys my WSSM I have a trade in organised on an SPS to get an action to start a sporter weight 204. I still intend to build a target one in future also.
Hopefully i get to the range in a few weeks and I will post on the outcome. Fingers are crossed that I find the sweetspot load that time.
Hope I havent put you to sleep. Look out for pictures tonight.
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