lancetkenyon

I would not consider that a "little 5x5". Great bull. Enjoy the full freezer too. We leave in a week for my daughter's rifle bull hunt. I hope she kills one this big. Congratulations.

Congratulations on the successful hunt. Don't sweat the misses. ALL of us have had some of those. It is part of hunting. Way to keep at it, and good luck in your future hunts over the next 60 years.

Varget works amazing for my .223 pushing a 69 SMK at 3033fps. Shoots .202" groups at 100, 3" groups at 585, and hits steel in high winds at 848. Not bad for an AR. Everything else I have tried it in (.22-250, .250 Ackley), I have much better results with other powders. Namely H414. Better speed, better accuracy.

Here are the updated stats: The 6.5 does give up energy to the 7LRM. 7LRM running 180 Berger Hybrids at .674 G1 BC & 2950fps VS. 6.5-06AI running 140 Berger VLD @ .612 G1 BC & 3180fps VS. 26 Nosler running 160 Matrix VLD @ .685 G1 BC & 3100. @ muzzle: 26 Nosler: 0, 0, 3100fps, 3414ft/lbs 6.5-.06: 0, 0, 3180fps, 3143ft/lbs 7RLM: 0, 0, 2950fps, 3478ft/lbs @ 500: 26 Nosler: -31.0", -1.7mil, 2451fps, 2135ft/lbs 6.5-06: -30.20", -1.7mil, 2446fps, 1860ft/lbs 7LRM: -34.94", -1.9mil, 2311fps, 2136ft/lbs @ 1000: 26 Nosler: -208.3", -5.8mil, 1892fps, 1272ft/lbs 6.5-06: -208.2", -5.8mil, 1825fps, 1036ft/lbs 7LRM: -234.9", -6.5mil, 1763fps, 1243ft/lbs @ 1500: 26 Nosler: -635.3", -11.8mil, 1428fps, 724ft/lbs 6.5-06: -656.5", -12.2mil, 1331fps, 551ft/lbs 7LRM: -722", -13.4mil, 1324fps, 700ft/lbs @ 2000: 26 Nosler: -1497.6", -20.8mil, 1111fps, 438.7ft/lbs 6.5-06: -1603.7", -22.3mil, 1038fps, 335ft/lbs 7LRM: -1713.4", -23.8mil, 1053fps, 443ft/lbs

Phoenix Custom Rifles. It is the guy who will be building my next rifle for sure. Here is a price list for services. Call Keith and talk to him. http://www.phoenixcustomrifles.com/Prices_and_Services.php

Have you re-checked your base screws? Did you Loc-tite them?

Never knew him, but wish I would have. Sounds like one of the good guys.

What do you consider a "barrel swap"? Stock barrel for like stock barrel, same chambering, just spinning off old and spinning on new factory barrel? Stock for stock with checking headspace? Custom barrel installation with cutting new chamber? Timing new barrel? Trueing action?

A high quality set of rings, like TPS, Seekins, Badger, Spur, etc. will not need lapping. Others might. I have a set of Burris Xtreme that needed no lapping. Results may vary.

Did a good gunsmith install the muzzle brake? If it is even very slightly off, it could contact the bullet and throw shots everywhere. Make sure all action screws are tight to spec. (use torque wrench, don't just guess) Make sure all mounts and rings are tight to spec. Usually 30 INCH/lbs (not ft/lbs) for the base, and 15-20 inch/lbs for the rings. (use torque wrench, don't just guess) Try a different scope. Try scope on different rifle. Have smith who installed brake check barrel to receiver tolerances/tightness. Change ammo. Change bullet weight. Something is WAY off.

My family all met this past Saturday for our Thanksgiving get together. My 12 year old daughter and I will be out elk scouting on Turkey Day, and my wife works for Macy's, so she has to go in to work at 5:00PM Thursday as well.

Just my 12 year old daughter and I this year, since she has a 7W bull tag. Our Turkey Day will be spent scouting, squirrel hunting, maybe some varmint hunting, eating turkey sandwiches, relaxing some up in a friend's cabin.

I always had a different idea in my head of what a "slump buster" was. Congrats on the buck. I see some good eating in your near future.

For $100, don't expect much for quality. If you can go up about $60, look at the Vortex Diamondback 3-9x40. Not bad for under $200.

I bet you are correct. I am away from my computer for the day though. I will revisit this tomorrow. Thanks, my Strelok Pro seems to be off compared to Shooter, which I trust.

OK, for Stomp442: 7LRM running 180 Berger Hybrids at .674 G1 BC & 2950fps VS. 6.5-06AI running 140 Berger VLD @ .612 G1 BC & 3180fps. @ muzzle: 6.5-.06: 0, 0, 3180fps, 3143ft/lbs 7RLM: 0, 0, 2950fps, 3478ft/lbs @ 500: 6.5-06: -30.20", -1.7mil, 2446fps, 1860ft/lbs 7LRM: -34.94", -1.9mil, 2311fps, 2136ft/lbs @ 1000: 6.5-06: -208.2", -5.8mil, 1825fps, 1036ft/lbs 7LRM: -234.9", -6.5mil, 1763fps, 1243ft/lbs @ 1500: 6.5-06: -656.5", -12.2mil, 1331fps, 551ft/lbs 7LRM: -722", -13.4mil, 1324fps, 700ft/lbs @ 2000: 6.5-06: -1603.7", -22.3mil, 1038fps, 335ft/lbs 7LRM: -1713.4", -23.8mil, 1053fps, 443ft/lbs Stomp...thanks a LOT. I thought my next build was mostly all planned out. Now you go and throw a wrench into it with your 6.5-06AI....PM me the rifle and load details please. Thanks.

Just re-checked with a 150 yard zero and MOA, I came up with 9.49MOA @ 600 with the environmentals I quoted. Different temps, pressure, elevation, etc. could easily make .5MOA difference. That is only 3" @ 600 yards. Sounds like a great gun.

That is amazing!!! I wonder if they load them down at all? I would say if they are loaded like their own data shows, and getting that barrel life out of them, a 7LRM will be on my short list of next rifle cartridges.

@ 3100 fps @ muzzle: 0, 0, 3100fps, 3603ft/lbs @ 500 yards: -29.22", -1.6mil, 2580fps, 2485ft/lbs @ 1000: -188.9", -5.2mil, 2111fps, 1664ft/lbs @ 1500: -546.8", -10.1mil, 1697fps, 1075ft/lbs @ 2000: -1211.6", -16.8mil, 1352fps, 682ft/lbs And at 2950fps: (let me know how this compares to your true ballistics in the conditions I stated) @ muzzle: 0, 0, 2950fps, 3246ft/lbs @ 500: -32.84", -1.8mil, 2440fps, 2222ft/lbs @ 1000: -211.9", -5.9mil, 1986fps, 1472ft/lbs @ 1500: -615", -11.4mil, 1589fps, 943ft/lbs @ 2000: -1367.8", -19.0mil, 1270fps, 602ft/lbs

7LRM with a 180 Berger Hybrid @ 3000fps (all other environmental factors the same as above): @muzzle: 0, 0, 3000fps, 3375ft/lbs @ 500 yards: -31.4", -1.7mil, 2492fps, 2317ft/lbs @ 1000 yards: -203.0", -5.6mil, 2032fps, 1541ft/lbs @ 1500 yards: -588.6", -10.9mil, 1584fps, 990ft/lbs @ 2000 yards -1307.3", -18.2mil, 1299fps, 630ft/lbs

What velocity do you want it run at? It will take me all of 5 minutes to look it up. As for 7LRM velocities, I was going off Gunwerks loadings published data for reference. Loading the 160 Matrix below 3000 would extend barrel life too. Speed X bearing surface = throat wear, regardless of chambering. I would love to have one of each though!!! You never said the 7LRM would outrun the 26 Nosler, someone else claimed the 26 would match it in all but energy. With the 160 Matrix, it is almost identical. The 140gr. Berger VLD would be wicked fast, but drop off somewhere around 700-1000 I am betting. I did not run those numbers though.

I think the 26 Nosler shooting an annealed 160gr Matrix VLD with a G1 BC of .685 at about 3100fps. would be an amazing hunting rig. But still hard on barrels. Not too much harder than a 7LRM pushing 180 Berger VLDs with a G1 BC of .659 @ 3100fps. I see very little difference in these two loads performance wise, with a slight advantage in all categories to the 26 Nosler over the 7LRM when loaded to it's potential. Both would be amazing for LR hunting applications. Both would suck as an often shot LR target cartridge. You can't tell me a 7LRM, with a case capacity and velocity almost identical or even slightly above a 7STW would have a long barrel life. Not significantly longer than a 26 Nosler with the 160 Matrix. These are calculations using Strelok Pro, so they are close. You would have to shoot both and record data to get actual info. @ 1500 AMSL (29.52 pressure), 59°F, 50% humidity, with a 200 yard zero: Drop in inches, drop in mils, remaining velocity, remaining energy @ muzzle: 26 Nosler= 0, 0, 3100fps, 3603ft/lbs 7LRM= 0, 0, 3100fps, 3603ft/lbs @ 500 yards: 26 Nosler= -29.14", -1.6mil, 2588fps, 2499ft/lbs 7LRM= -29.53", -1.6mil, 2562fps, 2449ft/lbs @ 1000 yards: 26 Nosler= -187.9", -5.2mil, 2125fps, 1686ft/lbs 7LRM= -191.5", -5.3mil, 2085fps,1622ft/lbs @ 1500 yards: 26 Nosler= -542.1", -10.0mil, 1715fps, 1098ft/lbs 7LRM= -557.1", -10.3mil, 1665fps, 1035ft/lbs @ 2000 yards: 26 Nosler= -1196.7", -16.6mil, 1371fps, 702ft/lbs 7LRM= -1241.7", -17.2mil, 1321fps, 651ft/lbs

Rule #1. Be sure of your target and beyond.... Guess NY does not require hunter orange.

I would have to agree with Couesmagnet. Even DIYers spend thousands on a hunt. Sure, there is the rare occasion when a total noob gets a dream buck by being at the right place at the right time. But that is the rare exception to the norm. Even though it has been spread out over years to find areas that produce bucks, I have spent thousands on scouting and hunting trips. Add to that the cost of good equipment. I regularly carry around $7-10K in my pack every day in the field during hunting season. Even scouting, as it is ALWAYS coyote and lion season. I do not consider myself rich, however. I just save for a long time to upgrade my equipment. Out of town work affords me additional monies, which are saved. Christmas, I ask for cash. Birthdays are the same. Bonuses go into the fund too. It might take me a year or more to save for a piece of equipment. But nothing comes out of my normal paycheck if I can help it. Keeps my wife happy, which keeps me able to buy what I want, when I want it. It is easier now that one of my kids is grown and on her own.

That is your "one and only dream rifle"? Just asking, not knocking. Great gun for the price point. Kind of like saying you would take a 2003 V6 Mustang over a new Lamborghini Veneno Roadster. If you are going to dream...dream big! You can cut corners to save $$$ in the real world.