Tell me about your new builds and toys this summer

Well, the downside of retiring is the piles (small piles) of cash I had when I was working are now saved for surviving. I'm wanting to build a super light .6.5 so bad but just cant justify $5,000 for another custom.

SO, besides Big Fitz hot azz new build and WarEagle's new Horizon.....What's everyone else up to? New builds? New rifles, optics, toys?????

Yes, this is another one of my boring posts but I need to live vicariously through you guys now...

Just waiting on my action but doing a lightweight 6.5 myself


6.5 Gap 4s
Borden Alpine Ti
Bartlein 2b
Manners eh3
Bix n Andy Tacsport trigger
Leopold Mark 6

exactly what I would build except in Creedmoor . whos doing it for you. how long did it take to gather all the FIRST CLASS components???

West Texas Ordnance will be doing the build. I had it all within a couple months but the action has been on order since Dec. Will be the first full run of titanium other than actions for testing

I can't find my NF 20MOA base to finish my .308. I have no idea where I put it. I may have to use the 0 MOA EGW base.

Buzz, go get yourself a Ruger American Compact in 7mm-08 (web doesn't show the Creedmoor), 6 lbs, and throw a scope on it. It even comes in Muddy Girl Camo!

P_102

My new build involves two new knees. Had one done April 21st, next one scheduled July 19th.

think I'll pass

My buddy has the same plan for August, did you think about doing them both at the same time?

Save some money by using a Tikka action.
I'm not retired but my wife is and she calls it living on a limited income.

My Creedmoor



And 3 ARs.

I kinda got dumb this year. I just recently finished a Panda Fclass RB/LP with no ejector in an older Kelbly Fclass stock with a Bix benchrest trigger. It's got a Brux 8.5 twist, Harrells radial brake finished at 30" in a 284 Winchester throated for 180 hybrids with a 317 neck. I've got about 200 rounds through her and she appears she is going to be a hammer, I'm impressed with it thus far. I got tired of getting best by the big guns when the wind got up...so I joined them.

The second one is still in flight. It's a Borden BR RB/LP/BE...always wanted a bottom eject and so I had to try this one. It has a Rock Creek .224 7.2 twist barrel for a 22 dasher throated for 90's. It's got a Bix under it too, but I ordered the new McMillan Kestros to sit in all in. I'm really looking forward to seeing if the 90's perform the way I expect them too. This has the opportunity to be a failed venture but if so I'll just put a 6mm barrel on it.

Then last week I found another Panda Fclass action at a decent price so it's in route...not sure what I'm going to do with it.

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6804863/New_"PBR"-_P#Post6804863

I put together a new Remington 700 build from various parts I had laying around. A good buddy of mine had his take off 308 Win, Bartlein match barrel from his competition rifle with about 500 rounds down it. He wanted to sell it and he made me a super deal I couldn't pass up ($100). It came already chambered in 308 Win, with Tubb brake installed, and ready to screw onto a Rem 700. So, I needed a Rem 700 action. I bought a cheap Rem 700 ADL (see pics below) for $360. I had my gunsmith take off the factory barrel on the new Rem 700 ADL, screw this 308 Win match barrel on it (confirm head space) and tune the trigger up. He also threaded the bolt and installed a larger bolt knob, from the many bolt knobs we pick up on the prize tables at shooting matches. I had my old Manners T4 stock from my Surgeon rifle with Badger bottom metal laying in the garage. The new Rem 700 action fit almost perfect in the bedded Manners. I have my Nightforce shop scope I use for customer rifles for load work up to put on it. I bought a Seekins 20 moa rail and installed the scope.

I took it out to the range on Friday shooting my standard 308 load, match ammo I loaded with some 168 BTHP Hornady bullets. After sighting in and walking it out to 800, I started shooting some smaller steel plates. I tagged the 1 moa plate at 600 yards (6" plate) 5 times in a row with it. If you don't count the cost of the parts I had laying around, this was the CHEAPEST rifle I have ever built. This will be my go-to 308 now. I'll call it the "PBR" for "parts build rifle", and with a hint of a beer innuendo!

I'll be working on getting my 11.3" Wilson 6.8 tuned up for deer season. Also have a 10.5" 7mm08 AR I need to get finished. And then there's the 16" 308 Rem 700 that needs an optic. Also thinking about restocking my creedmoor.

Well it technically isnt a summer build because I finished it in late April.

Started out with a Blackstone Arms 6.8 upper (ARP everything) and then put together a lower that fits my needs.


A modern sporting rifle for Texas game!

"Parts Bin Rifle" I've seen it, nice little rifle and it will shoot

I thought about it but decided against it. I'm a bit of a skeptic, so I wanted to see how it turned out before I committed to do the other one. Left knee is doing fantastic. Haven't used any walker, cane, or anything since 10 days after surgery. I expect the right one to react the same way.

Im currently overhauling my 300 RUM to shave off a few lbs to make life in the mountains a little easier and have the 22 nosler Im playing with this summer.

Alamo Precision 7-08

20" X-caliber sendero contour, threaded 5/8x24, spiral fluted
Trued Remington action, spiral fluted bolt, oversized spiral fluted bolt knob
APR long range carbon fiber stock
Timney trigger
PTG M5 bottom metal, 5 round Accurate mag w/o binder plate
Seekins 20 MOA base and 34mm low rings
Burris XTR II 3-15, mil/mil

Should be ready in the next month or two.

Well, my summer project is a bit different than the rest of you guys. More of a budget build to fit a specific niche I have been needing to fill. I needed a rifle to shoot coyotes with over dead cows and such at night without having to put a light on them. Our coyotes around here are pretty light shy and shag a$$ pronto when you put a light on them. Every winter I will have ranchers calling me and telling me where dead cows are that the coyotes are hitting. Trying to kill them at those spots with a light is really tough though. And if a rancher cares enough to call you and tell you where a setup like that is then he generally expects you to put some down.

I started with Dads old Encore. It had a heavy 260 barrel on it and I have shot it very little since he passed away 4 years ago. It already had a good trigger job in it using the Bellm springs, and also had the heavy lock pin springs and extra power hammer spring.

I ordered a factory sporter weight 223 barrel and sent it to Morgan Richey. I had him chop it to 18" and thread it 5/8x24. When it got back I cerakoted it Tactical Grey, put an ASR brake on it and mounted the Specwar 556K. Put about $325 into the barrel and threading. I found a used stock and forend set on The Campfire for $40 and got that. Broke out my air cure Cerakote and threw a quickie night camo job on them. That got the rifle part taken care of.

Next I got a great deal on a Sightmark Photon 6.5x50L, to my door for $605, new. I mounted it up with some SWFA 30mm rings I had laying around and a cut down EGW rail. It surprised me the way it shot with that NV scope on it. From reviews I read I had expected to be pushing the envelope at 200 yards. The first night I took it out though I was just flat smoking the 6" steel at 200, using nothing but the moon. Kind of like the first time you shoot 22 subs suppressed, you just sit there and giggle every time you pull the trigger. It was the same for me every time I whacked that steel in the dark.

Anyways, this summer project has a little less than 1K cash outlay in it, and has me into a totally different ball game than I have been in before. Once we get back from vacation I am going to be ready to give it a run on some fur.

Plus it was way cheaper and lots more fun that last summers project, which was $25K worth of shoulder surgery.

FullSizeR by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/156517515@N04/][/url], on Flickr

Lessee....being retired and fixed income put a damper on toys but.....

On AR platform:
Built a nice stainless 223 Wylde 1/8 tackdriver for my youngest Son's birthday present.
Built myself a 223 Wylde pistol with 7.5" barrel and reddot.
And my favorite, a 9mm 16" carbine that takes Glock mags - just put a new 3-9 BugBuster scope on it last week.

Non hunting late winter/early spring project:
Built my oldest son a 350 SBC motor for his SportMod dirt car.
It's working pretty well as he's 3rd in season points so far and with any luck should move into 2nd next weekend!!

Honey-do's:
Modified Wife's greenhouse and fenced her garden with 6' tall panels.
Freeking deer love her Jalapenos and Tomatoes - pass the salsa please....

30 Nosler
Tikka T3x action
26" proof barrel Sendero lite
Manners eh-1A
RedSnake Tactical nEXTgen DBM with Sako TRG magazine
Undecided on glass

About the only thing I have going is a scope replacement on my long range 308. Switching from a PST to a Nightforce. All I do is shoot targets with this gun, so I'm giving the NXS in 8-32x56 a try. Should be here early next week. I'll be recycling the PST onto a long range 22LR that's just now in the planning stage.

I guess I can call mine a summer build.... I commissioned Precision Firearms to build me a 6.5 Grendel early this summer. Probably won't be summer when I finally get my grubby meat hooks on it though.

Anywho.... complete rifle with PF forged receivers, 18" Criterion barrel, Seekins NOXS Rail, SLR adjustable gas block, Trigger Tech.

Ought to be a great range/hunting rifle suppressed. Low recoil, and CHEAP to shoot.

Stepped into the thermal game.

Pulsar Quantum XD38A thermal hand held.

Pulsar Apex XQ50 thermal scope.

Just got the news my Thunderbeast is shipping today. Original trust application date of 2-17-17.

Which thermal you like better

Not really a build but my newest toy I got this summer. Bought a CZ 527 in 221 fireball, had the barrel cut to 16" and put a TB CB brake to mount a TB Ultra 7. This is going to be my go to predator gun, especially for cats and fox when trying to save fur. Fun little set up.

The Apex, but it was $1200 more dollars in cost. It's just like the trail except no wifi or recording. I can add a external DVR if I want to record.

The hand held works well though. Just doesn't have the distance power of the Apex because of the smaller lense. But it will identify animals several hundred yards out.

$5300 all in for both units.

Trued Rem 700 LA
Timney trigger
Shilen 24" barrel- 35 Whelen
Factory Remington laminated stock(Grey/Pepper) glass bedded and Limbsaver recoil pad
Got a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 waiting on it and 4 boxes of ammo to burn!

Right decision, glad its healing up nice. Good luck with them.

Dang you guys never cease to amaze !!! GREAT stuff. Making me jealous

Then of course there's Judd

I'll think of something........."fixed income" YEP, that's me now !!!

I'm doing a trade today for a crossbow and a 50 cal muzzle loader, this will be my first year to hunt the bow and muzzle loader seasons. I built an ar 2 years ago, took it hunting once and quickly traded for a hunting rifle in 308 and a 9mm pistol. Today I'm trading my h&r pardner pump i don't use anymore and my benchmade knife that i really like but i can't hunt with it and i have a few cheaper knives to fall back on. Now I'll have all my hunting situations covered.

You are really going to like that setup. I have a CZ-527 in 223 my daughter shoots. Barrel is chopped to 18" and it runs that same little Specwar can that is on the Encore in my earlier picture. Very handy little rifle. Great shooter too.

Did both of mine Feb 1st. Wanted to be rehabbed in time for hunting season. After 3 months I was carrying bags of corn and protein up the ladder.

Heroine might be cheaper than my addictions

I just mentioned to my shooting buddy that I have to sell something after this next build is done.

I've had a spare Shilen select match 6.5 Creedmoor barrel setting around for a while,so I decided to build another. I had Morgan thread it a long time ago with some other barrels.
I picked up my scope yesterday,an IOR Valdada 4-28x50 Recon. This thing is a beast with it's 40mm main tube,and the best glass that I've ever looked thru. Hopefully,I'll be able to finish it in a couple month's,it's the most expensive rifle that I've ever built/owned.

Shilen LH DGR action with 20 moa rail
Shilen select match 26" varmint contour 1-8 twist 6.5 CM barrel
Northland trued barrel nut
KRG LH Whiskey 3 chassis
Bix'n Andy TacSport 2 stage trigger
American Rifle Co. M10 medium 40mm rings
IOR Valdada 4-28x50 Recon scope
Atlas bi-pod

What it looks like so far-

Alexander Arms 6.5 Grendel Upper with a 24" barrel
Generic no name lower I put together myself with a CMC trigger
Topped it off with a Leupold VXIII 8.5-25x

Didn't have time to work up a load before running up to Colorado a couple weeks ago,
So I killed a bunch of prairie dogs with some American Eagle 90 grain speer tnt pills.
Gonna load up some 95Vmax Hornady's for next year
and when i have time, i'll load up something for the 1000 yd range.

I don't have anything going as nice as you guys, but I'm getting a couple of barrels threaded for muzzle brakes.

One to modify a cheap Remington 300 Win Mag. I sanded and painted the factory molded plastic stock with black appliance epoxy paint, then I'm gonna put some camo tape on it and heat mold it on.
I also free floated the barrel and poured fiberglass resin in the pocket areas of the fore stock to add some weight and to be able to screw in sling and bipod eyelet screws.

The other barrel I'm getting threaded is a 26" Varmint profile stainless steel 5.56 caliber for long range shooting my AR-15. Then I can switch back to the 16" chrome-moly barrel for combat type shooting.

I bought a Kidd that I haven't scoped or shot

How's the recoil?

Judd does not count...he's weird

My Curtis has been built and going into bedding. Can't wait to give it a spin on JG's range.

Finally!!!!! That's awesome. Congrats bud!

Sorry Patrick but this is just funny

Big Fitz,Who did the laser engraving on your barrel? I have several that I need to have done,and that looks pretty good.

Curtis built it so I assume he did it or his smith did...not sure but it does look good.

picked up a SKB 1 of 200 built 20/28ga SXS Ducks unlimited in leather/canvas case, never shot, this ranks up in the top 10 of the nicest guns I have ever bought. also bought a Savage model 12 low profile varmit in 22-250 1-9 twist, Morgan doing a thread job on it.

Scope made it in on Friday. I mounted it and took it out for a test run on Saturday. Typical of Nightforce, it performed flawlessly. I may go with some taller rings, the Seekins low rings I have on the 308 leave absolutely no chance of using any type of scope cover on the objective side.