18” 7mm Tikka

[Tahoe1305]

Nice. I got a 20” on the way was hoping to be less than 38oz. Shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Replied to your post on SH. Looking forward to your velocity.

 

[TxLite]

Replied to your post on SH. Looking forward to your velocity.

Hoping to shoot this weekend. I’ll post details on how it goes if I get around to it

 

[CHWine]

One of my reloading mentors suggested building a 7mag in nothing less than 22". With a case of that size it needs a longer barrel to get the powder burned and get max efficiency. I have a 26" Douglas barrel and at times its not fun in thick stuff, it really helps with velocity.

I really like the looks of your rifle.

 

[TxLite]

One of my reloading mentors suggested building a 7mag in nothing less than 22". With a case of that size it needs a longer barrel to get the powder burned and get max efficiency. I have a 26" Douglas barrel and at times its not fun in thick stuff, it really helps with velocity.

I really like the looks of your rifle.

No doubt will be giving up a chunk of velocity with the 18”. The main focus for this rifle was overall length/portability with the suppressor while maintaining velocity/energy for deer sized game out to 700 yards.

 

[Tahoe1305]

No doubt will be giving up a chunk of velocity with the 18”. The main focus for this rifle was overall length/portability with the suppressor while maintaining velocity/energy for deer sized game out to 700 yards.View attachment 504077

I can’t tell exactly what can that is but appears to be an omega(although seems a tad long for omega). Just fyi if you use a DT adapter and shed the muzzle brake you lose nearly 1.5”. I don’t feel it does much to sound or recoil.

Also the make Ti DT adapters and end caps that all in cost maybe $150 and shes a few oz over what comes with omega.

 

[TxLite]

I can’t tell exactly what can that is but appears to be an omega(although seems a tad long for omega).

Pretty close. Hybrid 46. I considered running it as direct thread but I move it around between rifles a lot and ultimately decided to keep the QD. I am considering dumping the anchor brake for the flat cap though to shave a little extra weight and length.

Still trying to talk myself into a nomad ti. This hybrid is like 23oz.

 

[TxLite]

Made it to the range today. 50 degrees out, 10mph wind. Magnetospeed was having issues but managed to record 13 shots. Average velocity with the 18” barrel was 2748 with factory 175 ELDX Precision Hunter. which is about where I expected to be. I did notice stiff bolt lift on some of the shots. Groups were great and I suspect with some handloads this rifle will be a great shooter. Recoil wasn’t bad either. Overall very happy with the rifle.



Shots 1,2,3 out of the barrel.


Some additional groups from the day.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Yeah I might do 16.5" and 18"

 

[TxLite]

Yeah I might do 16.5" and 18"

16” would be cool but my suppressor isn’t rated for under 18” on magnums. I think 18” is about perfect for what I was looking to achieve.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

16” would be cool but my suppressor isn’t rated for under 18” on magnums. I think 18” is about perfect for what I was looking to achieve.

My can is a KGM Technologies R338 and it is rated as follows per the founder Kyle Grob.
R338:
-300 PRC= 16”
-.300 NM= 20”
-.338 NM= 20”

For reference their R30 model is rated as follows.
R30:
-6.5 PRC= 14”
-.300 PRC= 16”
-.300 NM= 22”

 

[TxLite]

Follow up post. ADG brass, H1000, Berger 180 hybrid.

Overall accuracy was good. Penny for reference in the picture. Due to grass height, I had to shoot from the truck bed. Had some issues getting steady with the wind pushing the truck a little bit, so I moved to the ground and coincidentally shot the worst group of the day (66.5). Moved back to the bed of the truck and shot 67.

Need to keep moving up in powder charge and see where pressure/velocity end up. Primers looked good and nothing stood out as being a pressure issue. Disappointed with my magneto speed, the last several trips it’s been giving me fits so I’m not sure what my plan is there yet.

Round count is 94

 

[TxLite]

After looking back at my testing from the 175 elite hunters, it looks like I gained 40-100fps at similar charge weights with the ADG brass and the 180’s. Looking forward to seeing where these end up.

 

[TxLite]

Following up on this build as it’s been a while.

Rifle is still shooting great and has taken several animals this year from 220 yards to 400 yards.

It’s ridden in the bed of the truck roughly 4,000 miles (mixture of highway and rough dirt roads in a case), been carried for several few miles by hand and on a pack, and dialed quite a bit while hunting and target shooting.

Did a zero check this weekend and it hasn’t budged since I zeroed in July. The Tenmile and Sportsmatch have been working great. Overall really happy with the way this system has been working.

 

[HNTR918]

I have a 19'' 280ai that shoots 168 LRX loaded by UM at 2930 fps.

 

[TxLite]

I have a 19'' 280ai that shoots 168 LRX loaded by UM at 2930 fps.

That’s pretty quick. And no signs of excessive pressure?

I haven’t had a ton of time to get in the weeds with this one. Basically just got a stable and accurate load and ran with it

 

[HNTR918]

That’s pretty quick. And no signs of excessive pressure?

I haven’t had a ton of time to get in the weeds with this one. Basically just got a stable and accurate load and ran with it

None at all!
The UM ammo is shooting 290 fps faster than factory 168 gr loads.
I'm so impressed, I've put off my 7 PRC build.

 

[TxLite]

None at all!
The UM ammo is shooting 290 fps faster than factory 168 gr loads.
I'm so impressed, I've put off my 7 PRC build.

Yeah with results like that I’d just keep shooting it too

 

[OutdoorAg]

@TxLite Thanks for keeping up with this thread.

If you had to do it all again...would you ride with the 180s or drop to a lower weight bullet to gain a little more velocity?

 

[TxLite]

@TxLite Thanks for keeping up with this thread.

If you had to do it all again...would you ride with the 180s or drop to a lower weight bullet to gain a little more velocity?

Initially I was worried about the low velocity with the 180’s, but terminal performance has been perfect with them out to 400 so far. I’ll be sticking with the 180’s for the foreseeable future.