Thinking of saying bye bye to this one.

T

taylorce1

New member
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It has been a great ride only about 150 rounds down the tube but I think it's time to let this one go. I learned a lot with this rifle but it's just heavier than I like and I'd love to build another in a 9lbs or less not a 12lb. I will be going back to a fast twist barrel as a .243 with anything slower than an 8 twist will be boring.

Just trying to decide if I'll tear down the erector set and rebuild of just let the whole rifle go. Right now I'm leaning towards a M700 action Manners EH1 stock, maybe the McMillan Gamescout. I'll use a #3 contour to shave weight vs. the varmint barrel and go 24" instead of 26".

Build was:

Stevens 200 action
Stockade recoil lug and tactical bolt handle
McGowen 1:7 twist 26" Varmint contour
EGW 20 MOA base
Sharp Shooter Supply Competition Trigger
HS Precision M24 stock
Savage DBM bottom metal and trigger guard.

Sorry Hooligan1, I'm keeping the Vortex if I sell or part out the rifle.

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This is probably my most accurate rifle ever.

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5 shot 300 yard group.

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You are going to sell the most accurate rifle you've ever owned? Prepare for regret! Maybe not this year, maybe not even next year, but at some point you'll regret it:D
 
Stocks are cheap. You can get the weight down easily enough I would think.
Still, if you need to clear that one to afford where you want to go, do it. I hope the results are the same. That's some fine shooting.
 
I have a very accurate but heavy Savage Predator in 223. I want a lighter run and gun predator package, probably on a Montana. I almost never sell any of my guns, I keep getting back-ups for my back-up. Set a higher price on it and if it sells you won't feel as bad. That's such a good shooter to let go. Think about it. I always regret when I sell a nice gun. I am still not over two Colts I sold years ago.
 
@taylorforce: You did a beautiful job on that rifle and the accuracy is amazing. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

I agree with Brian Pflueger. Don't sell it.
 
If it's really really cheap, then you should sell it - to me.

Have you considered getting a CF-wrapped bbl for your next one (or buying the bbl of your choice, and having someone like Proof Research turn down & wrap it)? That would go nicely with your lighter stock.
 
If it's really really cheap, then you should sell it - to me.
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Send me $1200 and an FFL and I'll ship it with a little over 1200 107-115 grain bullets for you to feed it. Once you load them up of course. I have a little over $1300 in the build without the bullets or optics.

I should have said the least finicky of all my rifles. As it'll shoot just about any bullet well without much load development, rather than most accurate I've ever owned. The thing is I'm really not attached to this rifle as nice as it shoots. I learned a lot about building this rifle since I did most of it myself. Learned new processes reloading for long range accuracy and changed up some of my techniques at the bench that has led to better accuracy in my other rifles. I learned as well that I hate heavy and unwieldy rifles, it just isn't a pleasure to use.

My main goal was to put together a LR rifle that held MOA or better as long as I did my part. I succeeded in my endeavor and once I get the wind dialed in I have no problem banging a 12"X12" steel plate out to 600 yards. 1K gets a little more tricky on such a small plate, as the wind is a lot harder for me to get a consistent read on, I could move to a bigger steel target but where is the fun in that? ;)

I think I can get close to the same consistency as I have now with a lighter rifle that I'd enjoy using much more. I might even take it hunting for pronghorn and white tail deer, that's something I won't do right now.
 
I understand. Right now I am battling selling my Remington 700 Ls 221 fireball. It is as good a rifle as I own and hasn't been shot more than 60 times total but I have an itch for a pistol and selling it might be the only way to scratch that itch. Sad part is I know if I sell it I will regret it from the word go.
 
Sorry hooligan1, Im keeping the Vortex if I sell or part out this rifle.

Well thanks for letting me know, I could make payments.:o

Man that dude really shoots well, and if it aint eatin no oats put it back in the cabinet man.
I read this thread last night while visiting my friend, and I couldnt reply. Now that I slept on it, I believe that group that you shot at 300yds is only a pipedream for my huning rifles.
I wish I could find a longer distance range than the public 100 yarder we have here, because practice at long range is paramount to produce groups like that.
As far as the Stevens Taylorforce Tackdriver goes, hang on for a few months and we'll come up with a deal unless your hurting for cash.
 
I also think you are going to regret it. You might consider restocking and cutting 2 inches off the barrel. That would shave some weight. If I wasn't building my own, I'd pay 1200 for it.
As mentiond, I'm building a Stephens action to 260 Rem and will be using a stainless recoil lug and blued action and barrel. I was really wondering what that was going to look like! Looks like I've got nothing to worry about :) I have the green b&c medalist though.
 
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I might even take it hunting for pronghorn and white tail deer, that's something I won't do right now.
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I understand where you are coming from on this, but I too think it is a mistake to sell off this rifle. Maybe some other one, this is just toooooooo good a shooter. You will regret it. The weight is one of the things that makes it so great for that type of shooting.

If you want something lighter for hunting then get something lighter, but PLEASE keep this one.

A good off the shelf 243 for hunting is this Savage in 243:



But for just tracking in dirt and kicking up mud, get one of these.




Good luck and shoot straight.
Jim
 
I've made up my mind, something is going to happen to the rifle. Got an email out to McGowen to see if they'll turn the contour down on this barrel to a #3 or #4. If they do that for less than $100 I'll keep the barrel if not I'll sell off the parts and rebuild on the action.

I'll have the action squared, lugs lapped, upgrade the firing pin spring and probably flute the bolt. Probably cerakote the barreled action in flat dark earth or similar. However, I think I'll order up a stock and when it shows up, I'll get busy on the rest since it'll take the longest to get.
 
The guys on this thread are right man. Keep the rifle. You got a heck of a shooter their and all you will do with your next rifle is try to get it to shoot how this one already does. If you sell it, you'll regret it. I'd almost regret it for you.
 
taylorce1, interesting... I just may do that, unless you've changed your mind by the time I round up the $$ - certainly that's a good deal.

To tweak Col. Cooper a smidge: Only accurate rifles are interesting, and only *very* accurate rifles are *very* interesting.
 
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Go for it.
If you don't shoot matches and have a score book to measure progress, there isn't much you can do with an accurate rifle except ditch it and start over.
There was a guy here like that; he never kept a rifle after he concluded that he had it adjusted and loaded to shoot its best.
 
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