So I'll submit this project for public opinion and feedback, it's a culmination of about ten years of reading, lessons from experience in the field, and many, many attempts at finding a firearm configuration best suited to hunting the Pacific Northwest, particularly the western foothills. From the low end of the power band, I've tried 6.5 Grendel and 6x45 out of an AR platform trying to keep weight down but decided they lacked the authority if i pursued elk. I've tried a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 trying to maximize anchoring potential but found there was just too much drop in the event a fleeting opportunity showed up at a 200yd clear cut.
After recently buying a Bergara B14 Ridge in 30-06 I decided I had a general purpose hunting rifle in a competent chambering for everything I can encounter in the state, and started mean mugging this Rem700 chambered in 350 Remington Magnum I had picked up at a pawn shop mostly as a curiosity.
Being a victim of borderline hyperfocused interest in the evolution of firearms brought me to Col. Jeff Coopers scout rifle concept, and the intent of a short, light, big game capable bolt action rifle seemed a great fit for this 350. I already planned on chopping the barrel back to 16.5", and originally planned on seating it in the original BDL walnut stock it came to me in. But through a few random conversations I wound up getting a Grayboe Neo chassis in a trade, and that elevated the project well beyond what I intended. I shake my head and laugh every time I look at this thing. Eventually I will probably get an LPVO to stretch this thing out, but as it sits with irons and a Holosun 403 mounted on the front weaver base I've got it squarely set up as a loud bow that isnt afraid of quartering shots. Two days ago I dropped the barreled action off at a local gunsmith to get the barrel work done and have the barrel and action cerakoted, so I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting to see how the timber cannon handles.
350 Remington Magnum as a cartridge has intrigued me since I first learned about it when I found the rifle in question. I can load it down to pistol velocities throwing 357 pistol bullets, and I've already seen the advantages of that over a 22 magnum on small game. Or I can load it up to 4000ftlbs in a full length barrel and hunt anything in the continental US. After years of friends telling me the holy grail of The One Rifle didn't exist I'm starting to think this thing might be it, provided shots are kept within 250yds. I can't wait to chrono the loads I'd previously worked up and see what energy potential I'm really working with in a short magnum build.
Feel free to provide feedback and criticisms. Thanks for reading this far.
After recently buying a Bergara B14 Ridge in 30-06 I decided I had a general purpose hunting rifle in a competent chambering for everything I can encounter in the state, and started mean mugging this Rem700 chambered in 350 Remington Magnum I had picked up at a pawn shop mostly as a curiosity.
Being a victim of borderline hyperfocused interest in the evolution of firearms brought me to Col. Jeff Coopers scout rifle concept, and the intent of a short, light, big game capable bolt action rifle seemed a great fit for this 350. I already planned on chopping the barrel back to 16.5", and originally planned on seating it in the original BDL walnut stock it came to me in. But through a few random conversations I wound up getting a Grayboe Neo chassis in a trade, and that elevated the project well beyond what I intended. I shake my head and laugh every time I look at this thing. Eventually I will probably get an LPVO to stretch this thing out, but as it sits with irons and a Holosun 403 mounted on the front weaver base I've got it squarely set up as a loud bow that isnt afraid of quartering shots. Two days ago I dropped the barreled action off at a local gunsmith to get the barrel work done and have the barrel and action cerakoted, so I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting to see how the timber cannon handles.
350 Remington Magnum as a cartridge has intrigued me since I first learned about it when I found the rifle in question. I can load it down to pistol velocities throwing 357 pistol bullets, and I've already seen the advantages of that over a 22 magnum on small game. Or I can load it up to 4000ftlbs in a full length barrel and hunt anything in the continental US. After years of friends telling me the holy grail of The One Rifle didn't exist I'm starting to think this thing might be it, provided shots are kept within 250yds. I can't wait to chrono the loads I'd previously worked up and see what energy potential I'm really working with in a short magnum build.
Feel free to provide feedback and criticisms. Thanks for reading this far.
