LH 300 WinMag options: Build or Buy

[philcox]

So, I have spent a couple years building up a couple rifles. Built then RH because I figured that I will be handing them down, and my son is RH. I shoot LH, so am THINKING about getting/building me a rifle. Here is my current "options" and why I am hesitating with each.

To start with I am just hesitating in general, since I have been shooting RH rifles all my life, and I have build 2 that are lights out. I ask myself "Do I really need a LH rifle?" I am still internally battling that decision, but this post is assuming I come up with "Yes! You can never have too many rifles"

General "wants" and "biases" starting out:

• 300WM because I already have all the handloading material I will need, and since I have been actively looking for primers for over 6 months, and they essentially seem to have become extinct, I went with 300WM
• 300WM because it is a tried and true cartridge that I can literally use for any game in NA
• I want to hand load to get max performance out of a load. I am in Cali, so need to load dev for non-lead projectiles
• I have legal access to a suppressor outside of CA, so will run it suppressed in those hunts
• I'd like gun that can reach out to 900y and that is sub-moa
• I backpack hunt, so want it reasonably light
• I want it to be LH
• My current 300WM meets all of that, but is RH

With that, here are my current thoughts/options:

Option	Rough Cost	Pro	Con
Build a semi-custom: Tikka action, Mesa Altitude Stock, CarbonSix 1:8 22" barrel, Ross Muzzle Break	$2700	I have built one. It shoots .5 moa. it weighs 8.5# scoped and recoils like my 6.5CM. I get the 22" barrel that I can run suppressed, and I get the 1:8 twist rate for the longer projectiles	The COAL is limited to ~3.37 with OEM Mag & BM. I have to have all of this stuff built and assembled
Same Tikka, but with RedSnake BM and AICS Mag	$3000	More COAL ability to 3.50	Still limited to 3.50, and my Hammer Hunter was 3.570. Same "build" issues
Christensen Arms Mesa FFT, replace stock with MPA Altitude or another	$2550	Sub-MOA guarantee. No build needed, just a stock swap. 5.5# stock. COAL of ~3.70	1:10 twist means I can't use some of the newer projectiles. Not a CF barrel.
APR Altitude 300 Win Mag: Defiance anTi, Proof barrel 1:9, AG Composite Adjustable Hunter, 7lb 6oz. Trigger Tech Trigger (1-3#)	$4000	1:9, 7lb 6oz. It is available. COAL 3.85. It's built.	$$$ compared to others. I also no nothing about the company and their guns, but the components are top notch. 24" barrel is longer than I want.

I'd be real curious as to a few thoughts on if for handload and hunting performance is the COAL or the Twist Rate more important?

Any thoughts on those (are others similar), is appreciated. The $4k is about the top (actually slightly above) of what I am willing to spend.

 

[gerry35]

I'm surprised no one answered this, I'm just seeing this now. I'm a lefty too, take a look at the new Weatherby Apex, It comes in a left hand version including the 300 Win Mag. If I had more coin one of those in 338 RPM would be already ordered. The 6 lug guns are 6.5 lbs and the 9 lug 300 Win Mag is listed at 7.5 lbs with a #3 contour barrel the same as the Accumark.

Just another option for you and it sounds like those Wyoming Weatherby's are fantastic rifles.

 

[philcox]

I'm surprised no one answered this, I'm just seeing this now. I'm a lefty too, take a look at the new Weatherby Apex, It comes in a left hand version including the 300 Win Mag. If I had more coin one of those in 338 RPM would be already ordered. The 6 lug guns are 6.5 lbs and the 9 lug 300 Win Mag is listed at 7.5 lbs with a #3 contour barrel the same as the Accumark.

Just another option for you and it sounds like those Wyoming Weatherby's are fantastic rifles.

Good idea, but … 1:10 and long barrel (I want to run suppresses when out of CA) are show stoppers for me.

Appreciate the suggestion though.

Phil