Author Topic: bear rifle complete (Read 2137 times)

Thebear_78 · « **on:** May 03, 2006, 05:37:23 PM »

My walk around bear/moose gun is finished. It started out as a winchester classic m70 stainless in 375 H&H. I wasn't big on the synthetic stock that came on it, too flimsy for me taste. I tried it out with a hogue overmolded stock and accuracy was great but with a 3-12 burris euro dimond it weighed right about 12.5lbs. very heavy for walking around all day with.

I decided to go light. as light as possible. I took it to Extreme rifle works in palmer after talking to him at a gun show. Our goal was for a total weight with scope of around 7lbs.

After taking all the weight off it he could and cutting it down to 20" it comes in rigth at 6lbs 4oz without the scope. The leupold 1.5-5x30 lighted in quick detach talley rings its right at 7lbs 4oz. I'll take it out tomorro and see how it shoots.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #1 on:** May 03, 2006, 08:46:30 PM »

Now that's just flat doggone purty!! :grin:

dukkillr · « **Reply #2 on:** May 04, 2006, 05:57:38 AM »

very cool, but what's the recoil like?

Dand · « **Reply #3 on:** May 04, 2006, 08:29:34 AM »

Bear, you have quite a collection! And this one looks like a great addition. I shot a friend's short barrelled Sako 375 on its factory synthetic stock and it was surprisingly comfortable. Hope this gun is as nice. What WILL be great is the ease of carry and that's probably more important for your use.

Let us know how it shoots.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2006, 08:53:27 AM »

Looks great. It should shoot fine as it probably has less felt recoil than a .338 would. In a tight situation you won't feel it anyways.

Make two and I will be glad to give one a test.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2006, 05:31:35 PM »

The more I looked at it the less I was liking the color of that stock so I refinished it in black. Good old spray on bedliner, works like a charm. It was just too pale and almost pink looking, but I guess anyone man enough to shoot that thing could get away with a pink stock :lol:

I took it out and shot it today. It actually shot pretty well. I shot a few loads over the chronograph and was pleasantly surprised to notice not much velosity loss. The 270gr federal classic was clocking out right at 2635fps and my reloads that I used to shoot out of it were running 2580 for the 260 accubond that used to go 2650, and right at 2500fps for the 300gr partition that used to go 2550fps before it was cut down. It didn't seem to like my reloads too much with groups around the 2-3" range but the federal 270gr classics shot really well. 1.25-1.5 inch groups were the norm. I only shot it 30 times today. Was getting pretty beat up towards the end there. Got the peep sight all zeroed for 25 yards and the scope set at 2" high at 100 yards.

The tritium front sight is fairly large so shooting at 100 yards was pretty hard with the peep. When shooting a standard black 10" target I was getting 3-5" groups with the peep. The german number 4 dot reticle is also fairly hard to aim precisely with the dot covering 1' at 100 yards.

Recoil was very severe as could be expected, shooting it from standing position wasn't too bad but off the bench it was brutal, thanks to the inventor of the lead sled I was able to zero it in really well without getting a concussion. Hunting I will never notice it but you won't find me shooting this puppy off the bench to often either.

Here is what she looks like with the new paint job and one of the better 100 yard targets.

Buckfever · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2006, 03:32:37 AM »

Like the looks with the black stock. I was pleasantly surprised by very little lost velocity with the 20" barrel. Maybe the bigger bores are able to get the job done better at 20." That fluting on the bolt is very cool!!! My son would say, " it is just sick." By the way that is very good!!!!!
Buckfever

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2006, 07:45:48 AM »

I don't know how big you are but my guess is that gun would kick my 5' 7" (185lb) frame pretty bad. Can you give us some more info about the recoil and how big you are?

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2006, 08:02:52 AM »

Recoil is pretty substantial. I'm 6'2" and weight in at just over 300lbs. I'm a pretty big guy, but I think that actually works against me when shooting heavy hitters off the bench. Where a gun would roll you back because your so light you don't absorb as much recoil as I do. With that said I shot it over 30 times the other day some on the bench some from offhand posititions and again was bruised up. It will move me back about probably 15" or so off the bench. Offhand shooting is pretty manageable though.

Moose-Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** May 24, 2006, 07:22:12 PM »

Quote from: Dusty Miller

I don't know how big you are but my guess is that gun would kick my 5' 7" (185lb) frame pretty bad. Can you give us some more info about the recoil and how big you are?

I like the name of your location. Is there a lot of mexicans around you? Where you at and what about the crime rate?

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2006, 09:14:31 PM »

Well, its off topic but since you asked the crime rate is fairly substantial and yes there a lot of Mexcano type folks hereabouts. As a matter of fact I work with WHOLE bunch of them and 99.99% of them are really nice to me. But then again, I make it a point to be nice to them.

S.B. · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2006, 08:42:19 AM »

Quote from: dukkillr

very cool, but what's the recoil like?

I'll bet he never feels it, if shooting at a bears chest at close range?

S.B. · « **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2006, 03:07:56 PM »

Hey Thebear_78, does this mean your lever gun will be for sale?

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 02, 2006, 10:27:59 PM »

Not planning on getting rid of it yet.....I'll let you know if I ever decide to!

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 02, 2006, 10:32:33 PM »

Not planning on selling it any time soon.....I'll let you if I do though!

hancock27 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2006, 10:56:57 AM »

Bear,
I am in contact with Extremem Rifle Works and mentioned that I heard about them from you. They are asking for your name or e-mail, just to keep up with loyal customers, so, if you would either contact them or contact me, Hancock27@aol.com,
Don't know what, if anything, is in it for you, other than a cup of coffee and a thank you?

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 29, 2006, 07:26:42 PM »

Feel free to let them know my name, Josh Sorensen, or email thebear_78@hotmail.com

I'm planning on getting my 300 winnie restocked by them in the near future. They do really good work.

Here is my three shot group I did to test zero at the range the other day. 100 yards at 5x with federal 270gr RN loads and my 375 H&H.

Moose-Hunter · « **Reply #17 on:** August 30, 2006, 09:07:41 PM »

I finally got my Winchester model 70 s/s 375 H&H. I'm taking mine to Extreme Gun Works in Palmer and plan on having the same thing done as you did, but I want a finished weight at about 7 lbs. minus the scope, plus I want my barrel chopped to 22" instead of 20".

S.B. · « **Reply #18 on:** September 07, 2006, 12:29:45 AM »

What brand is the base with the peep sight?

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 07, 2006, 05:59:45 PM »

Its a brockmans popup peep, its a very cool setup. I combine it with a tritium front bead for a really quick low light setup. Here are some more pictures of it.

Here is a picture from earlier today, did some moose/bear hunting up in the high ground, lots of berries but no bears

We did see 9 moose that were up so high one might think they were pretending to be sheep. You couldn't ask for a nicer day, started out a little chilly at 33degrees but got up to almost 60 by 2pm. Almost doesn't seem right to be working on your tan and glassing for game at the same time.