Started first custom build...
#11
Thanks for the input guys!
#12
you won't regret it, a faster twist will not overstabilize bullets, even with the lightweights it will still shoot well, but the added spin makes a big difference in terminal performance
last month I found myself on the range with a guy shooting a 264 win mag, we were both shooting 140 bergers, I from the 6.5 Gibbs, him from the 264 winny, comparing notes we were shooting about the same MV, he was running a 9.5 twist in the winny, me an 8 in the Gibbs, at 800 yards his bullets were splashing on a 3/8's plate, mine were all but penetrating, my impacts looked like they were drilled.
RR
last month I found myself on the range with a guy shooting a 264 win mag, we were both shooting 140 bergers, I from the 6.5 Gibbs, him from the 264 winny, comparing notes we were shooting about the same MV, he was running a 9.5 twist in the winny, me an 8 in the Gibbs, at 800 yards his bullets were splashing on a 3/8's plate, mine were all but penetrating, my impacts looked like they were drilled.
RR
1: Lilja doesn't make a 1:9 in .25....
2: He provided me with test data showing me his 1:10 performs well with 115 and 120g bullets including Bergers.
3: He actually had the barrel in stock and was able to ship it immediately...my smith will have it by Thursday
4: The folks at Shilen said it would take 14-16 weeks to get a 1:9 (or even a 1:10 in stainless...if I wanted a Chrome Moly barrel I could have it today...no thanks!)...the folks at Pac-Nor didn't respond to my e-mail or phone message...
5: The Lilja was only $50 more than the Shilen and barely more than a Pac-Nor...and again...unlike the others, it was available to ship in less than 14 weeks!
I am guessin' I can't go wrong with a Lilja!
Last edited by emtrescue6; 05-28-2013 at 01:25 PM.
#13
Update...
Had to make a change on the stock after a really bad customer service experience with Richards Microfit's...kinda expected it based on reviews I had read but was hoping for the best. That being said I had a very good conversation with Jesse, the owner of Custom Rifler Stocks ... http://www.gunstockduplicating.com/duplication.html ... anyone else ever dealt with them?
Had to make a change on the stock after a really bad customer service experience with Richards Microfit's...kinda expected it based on reviews I had read but was hoping for the best. That being said I had a very good conversation with Jesse, the owner of Custom Rifler Stocks ... http://www.gunstockduplicating.com/duplication.html ... anyone else ever dealt with them?
#14
Call Jerry, he is a dealer for Shilen barrels. His prices are cheaper and he gets barrels faster than anybody else. I had my 6br in about 2weeks.
http://www.thebarrelman.com/
http://www.thebarrelman.com/
#15
Call Jerry, he is a dealer for Shilen barrels. His prices are cheaper and he gets barrels faster than anybody else. I had my 6br in about 2weeks.
http://www.thebarrelman.com/
http://www.thebarrelman.com/
#16
Finally, this project is finished and I took delivery from my smith over Thanksgiving ....here's the 411 on the finished product!
The gun was built by gunsmith Kevin Ridling in Salem and he did an awesome job.
The rifle is a 257 Roberts Ackley Improved built on an early 1970's Remington 700 BDL (left handed) long action that started life as a 270 Win. The sad thing is the donor rifle was in such beautiful condition when I found it, I almost didn't cut it up for the project!
Barrel is a Lilja #3 contour stainless steel barrel (bead blasted) 1:10 twist and cut to 24" (Made in Montana and Dan Lilja was very helpful, I highly recommend them!) http://www.riflebarrels.com/ fitted with a custom muzzle break by my gun smith.
Trigger is a Shilen and is has got to be the nicest trigger I've ever had hands down! http://www.shilen.com/ and set at a very crisp 2 pounds...breaks like glass!!!!
Stock is a AAA Fancy Walnut stock and was cut by Jesse at CRS Custom Rifle Stocks in Pennsylvania http://www.gunstockduplicating.com/ and he did an amazing job and the stock required very little fitting work post-delivery for the action. Richard Noble who works for Kevin did an awesome job finishing the stock with about a dozen coats of tongue oil (my favorite finish on walnut). Stock is glass and pillar beded and barrel is completely free floated.
Optics...currently it wears a 6-18x50AM Swift Premier (http://www.swift-sportoptics.com/) set in Warne steel rings and bases (made in Oregon!) http://warnescopemounts.com/...eventually the rifle will get a Nikon Monarch 3 4-16x50SF/NP...just gotta wait for a sale
The rifle shoots like a dream and I can't wait to put some bench time behind it! Test fire groups with 100g Nosler Ballistic Tips @100 with IMR4895 produced under 1/2 MOA!
The gun was built by gunsmith Kevin Ridling in Salem and he did an awesome job.
The rifle is a 257 Roberts Ackley Improved built on an early 1970's Remington 700 BDL (left handed) long action that started life as a 270 Win. The sad thing is the donor rifle was in such beautiful condition when I found it, I almost didn't cut it up for the project!
Barrel is a Lilja #3 contour stainless steel barrel (bead blasted) 1:10 twist and cut to 24" (Made in Montana and Dan Lilja was very helpful, I highly recommend them!) http://www.riflebarrels.com/ fitted with a custom muzzle break by my gun smith.
Trigger is a Shilen and is has got to be the nicest trigger I've ever had hands down! http://www.shilen.com/ and set at a very crisp 2 pounds...breaks like glass!!!!
Stock is a AAA Fancy Walnut stock and was cut by Jesse at CRS Custom Rifle Stocks in Pennsylvania http://www.gunstockduplicating.com/ and he did an amazing job and the stock required very little fitting work post-delivery for the action. Richard Noble who works for Kevin did an awesome job finishing the stock with about a dozen coats of tongue oil (my favorite finish on walnut). Stock is glass and pillar beded and barrel is completely free floated.
Optics...currently it wears a 6-18x50AM Swift Premier (http://www.swift-sportoptics.com/) set in Warne steel rings and bases (made in Oregon!) http://warnescopemounts.com/...eventually the rifle will get a Nikon Monarch 3 4-16x50SF/NP...just gotta wait for a sale
The rifle shoots like a dream and I can't wait to put some bench time behind it! Test fire groups with 100g Nosler Ballistic Tips @100 with IMR4895 produced under 1/2 MOA!
#18
I built my .257 AI 30+ years ago. I bought a Mark X barreled action in .25-06 and had a smith cut and re-chamber it to .257 AI. I then put into Fajen walnut that I finished and checkered. It's been one of my favorite rifles.
About 4 years ago, I bought a .300 Weatherby Vanguard and I re-stocked in AA Fancy Feather Crotch Claro Walnut from Richards. The first stock that they sent me looked several grades below the AA Fancy ones pictured in their advertisements.
I sent that one back and the second one that they sent me was more of what I wanted.
I pillar and glass bedded the action, glassed the barrel channel, floated the barrel, installed a mechanical recoil reducer in the stock, fitted a Limbsaver pad, and checkered the stock with my favorite multi-panel pattern. I think I put around 100 hours into that project.
Good luck with your project.
About 4 years ago, I bought a .300 Weatherby Vanguard and I re-stocked in AA Fancy Feather Crotch Claro Walnut from Richards. The first stock that they sent me looked several grades below the AA Fancy ones pictured in their advertisements.
I sent that one back and the second one that they sent me was more of what I wanted.
I pillar and glass bedded the action, glassed the barrel channel, floated the barrel, installed a mechanical recoil reducer in the stock, fitted a Limbsaver pad, and checkered the stock with my favorite multi-panel pattern. I think I put around 100 hours into that project.
Good luck with your project.