...is almost done!
The rifle...Winchester (FN) model 70 Ultimate Shadow in 30-06 and a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 scope...that scope is no longer on it.
I have a McMillan stock ordered, its their "Winchester Supergrade" model, the color is marbled olive, black, medium tan (33%-33%-33%) molded in...it makes for a decent camo pattern I think...looks like a ghillie suit...the stock should arrive in October according to the nice lady at McMillan (Kay). I ordered it with machined in pillars, Limbsaver pad, and 13.5" length of pull.
It is now wearing a Vortex Viper HS 4-16x44 in TPS super low 30mm rings...I haven't shot with the new scope yet, its been too dang hot around here for shooting
When it all comes together...this is my idea of the perfect hunting rifle...I think.
I'm planning on treating myself to some hunting trips in the coming years and wanted a rifle that fit me, was reliable, durable, accurate...and good for a variety of game (elk and mule deer mostly)
It came out a bit heavier than I'd hoped...but still under 9 pounds (estimated at 8.75 lbs. loaded)
It is a decently accurate rifle as it is now...but that stock SUX, its not comfy to me at all.
I shot this group using shooting sticks, prone may or may not have made it a bit better...
My Winchester model 70 hunting rifle "project"...
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The McMillan should be here any day now...
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I can't wait to see it come together! Sounds like its going to look sweet and shoot even better.
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Great looking rifle, im hoping to add one to my collection soon.
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The rifle...Model 70 (FN made) 30-06 Ultimate Shadow...still wearing the factory stock for now...a genuine 600 yard rifle, skinny barrel and all.
168 grain Ballistic Tip, 58 grains H4350...chrono'd at 2,850 fps...I pulled one out a bit, but you get the idea...this group is .5 MOA, if I had not pulled that one out it would be just like always, which is .3 MOA...this load shoots great in 5 different rifles that I know of, but is not so great in a 22" barrel for some reason (I'm guessing harmonics) 175 grain Berger Hunting VLD, 58.5 grains of H4350...chrono'd at 2,775 fps...loaded to kiss the lands, appx. OAL is 3.36" in my rifle...they feed fine at that length...this group is .442" MOA. 165 grain Nosler Accubond, 58 grains H4350...appx. 2,900 fps, not chrono'd..I expected better from these bullets. 150 grain Hornady SST, 58.5 grains H4350...not chrono'd...just a few strays I had laying around, i don't use these bullets. |
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Great groupings but it seems like the Berger was its favorite to eat. Are you going to try any other loads?
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It actually likes the 168 grain Ballistic Tips just as good as the Bergers...in a solid rest (which I didn't have) it will put both into .3 MOA.
The 168 BT's are what I hunt with, they've never let me down...but yes, I'll be tinkering with other loads as I get time...I want to tweak the seating depth and see if I can improve the groups with the Accubonds and I'm gonna see what 125 grain Ballistic Tips do too. When I shot those groups...the rifle was sighted in for some factory loads I used last year (forget now which I used)...the Bergers just happened to shoot to the same POI as them, so did the Hornadys...both Nosler bullets printed a little lower and to the right of that. I adjusted the scope afterwards...it now shoots the Nosler 168 BT's 3" high at 100 yards (250 yard zero)...for a "point and shoot" range of about 325 yards on deer. |
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I got the call from McMillan yesterday...my new stock is on its way to my house!!!
I won't be back home until Nov. 15th though... |
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Looking forward to seeing the new stock on the rifle...
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My first bedding job...
The finished rifle... |
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My hunt this morning...
I got in the stand about an hour before daylight and sat there until about 0815 just watching the cows (baby calves are quite amusing) and squirrels...then I saw a deer coming out of the oaks about 450 yards away, put the scope on him and saw it was a spike and first decided to let him walk...but after watching him for about 15-20 minutes the desire to try out my rifle won me over By this time he was at 350 yards and would NOT turn broadside at all...so when he turned just a little I held the crosshairs appx. 6 inches over his shoulders and 4 inches into the wind (pretty stiff crosswind coming from about 1 o'clock) and let it rip...when i got the scope back where he should have been, he was nowhere to be seen...but he had been standing in sage grass thats about 3 feet tall. I marked the spot, climbed down, hopped on my trusty steed (Polaris 500) and rode over...there he laid. I made the shot using Primos shooting sticks placed on my knee (used as a monopod, the legs strapped together), if you've never tried that, I highly recommend it for distance shooting from a stand with no gun rest. The bullet...168 grain Ballistic Tip. I've been shooting these bullets for years from the 308 and I've NEVER seen one do what this one did...EVER. The bullet hit high the shoulder, right where I wanted it, but it only penetrated about 12"...I was not able to find the bullet, I traced down the wound channel plumb to the end but no bullet...it went through several inches of spine and appears to have came to rest shortly after that on the left side of the spine...I'm sure there was a bullet there, I just didn't find it or lost it during skinning...and that is the poorest penetration I've ever witnessed from a BT in over 20 years of shooting them...now don't take that wrong, I still say they are the best deer bullets out there...but I no longer think they're suitable for anything bigger than maybe a caribou. I know several inches of spine is hard on a bullet but that BT shed way too much weight too fast under those conditions. The 30-06 launches them 250 fps faster than the 308 did...and that surely did make the difference...again, I still love these bullets, but they don't hold together as good when you start them above 2,600 fps....the near side shoulder was literally mangled (inside), bone fragments all through the shoulder, lungs, and liver...front 1/3 of the backstraps were turned to mush...wasn't a good shot angle, but it was all he gave me to work with...I could have hit him lower, but was afraid I'd end up with spilled guts. The stand...thats my wife up there, took the pic yesterday afternoon. The view...from right under the stand, also taken yesterday. Entrance wound... And the end result... |
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Very nice Ridgerunner !!
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Changed scopes...sold the Vortex to a friend....put a Zeiss Conquest HD5 3-15x42mm with Z600 reticle on the 30-06.
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It's gonna look very slick with the new stock. I hop eit shoots as well or better.
“The Germans brought the best hunting rifle to the war. The Americans brought the best target rifle. The British brought the best battle rifle!”
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The "new" stock has been on it for about 2 years now...and yes, it shoots great.
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