Ok....so I finally bit the bullet and decided to have a custom rifle built. While in the deciding stages of who I wanted to build it (Hill Country Rifles got the nod BTW), I got invited to go with a buddy on an elk hunt in New Mexico.
For me, this elk hunt would probably be a once in a lifetime hunt, so I decided to have my rifle built in .300 Win. Mag. Finished rifle weight is going to be right at 7 3/4lbs. without scope.
Something that would be effective on a large bull elk, but wouldn't be completely obnoxious for deer/hog hunting (99% of what I do).
Well.............the elk hunt fell through....long story there.
Anyway, now I'm about 3 weeks away from my .300 Win. Mag. being finished, and it looks like there will only be deer/hogs to hunt in my future.
If I had built the rifle for deer/hogs, I probably would have went with a lightweight rifle in something like a .280. Something with an un-scoped weight of about 6 1/2lbs.

So......Do you guys think I should try to sell the .300 Win. Mag. when it gets finished and have Hill Country build me a lightweight .280 or just keep the .300 Win.?

Kinda' like the elk hunt being a "once in a lifetime" hunt, this custom rifle isn't something I can afford to have multiples of.....so it's going to be EITHER the .300 Win. OR the .280....not both.

I would love to hear your opinions....even if they do include calling me crazy......help a fella' out ya'll.

I'd keep the 300. You can always load it up and down for other uses (other than big animals) and the extra 1 3/4 lbs isn't all that much.

Don't get me wrong, I like light rifles, and think the world of the .280 ... but I guess I'd keep the thing a little while before I decided to off it right away.

But hey .. it's your money and rifle ... do what makes you happy.

The 300 WM is not all that heavy for deer and hogs with lighter loads. And who knows. That elk hunt may come back around and you will have the rifle already that you are used to. I'm sure you have other rifles around that will suffice if you want to hunt hogs and deer with something lighter.

Stay with the 300. Load heavier bullets and enjoy. Used one for over 20 years and it never let me down. Found that the lighter bullets would trash a deer, but the heavies performed flawlessly. Try the 130 grain Speer hollowpoints on yotes.

Schoolcraft,

I'm guessing you have other rifles that cover a range of calibers ?


That .300 WM will always be there when you "need" it (comforting).


Funny, I also have more money in two rifles that I use the least ?!?!


My thinking is; when I use "them" it's an important hunt !!!


Keep it.....................

KEEEEEP IT!!! You will lose money selling a custom rifle!!

+100. Keep it.

It is gonna' be a pretty sweet rig...

Left hand Stiller Predator action
25" Hart #4 contour barrel
McMillan Rem. Sporter stock in O.D. green w/black webbing
Swarovski Z3 3-10x42

3 Shots sub 1/2 MOA guaranteed w/factory ammo.

I guess you could make it shoot over 1/2" and ask for a refund

Um, the simple answer is to pick a lighter cartridge with the same bolt face and have HCR change the barrel. Or have an extra bolt built for your Predator (about another $200-250) and you can run whatever long action cartridge you want.

A new Hart with 700 threading will cost you, what, $400-450 these days? So what if you end up with the extra .300WM barrel layin around, at least it would be ready any time that Elk hunt DOES come back in the picture. Besides, a rebarrel job on a 700 is something you could do yourself, so have HCR install both, then get the proper headspace gauges and you could swap back and forth in a saturday afternoon. For about $700, you could have an extra barrel and bolt to do a quick change over, with minimal money "wasted".

I have a Savage Precision Action in a Shehane Laminate that I use for hunting P-dogs, coyotes, and antelope. I have a .223rem, .243WSSM, and 7mm WSM boltheads and barrels all for the same action and stock. About an hour and I can swap between barrels/cartridges, a few shots on the range to confirm the zero, and I'm back in business... The Predator (a 700 drop in) is a little more time consuming, but still a pretty simple swap.