statikpunk
FNG
Hey all, I wanted to share my latest project with you guys. I wanted to build my dream rifle, no corners cut , like most of my builds go. The best thing about this build is that anyone can do it, no gunsmithing experience needed. Just a reasonable knowledge of how guns work will get you by.
So the goal was to have a mountain rifle right around 5 pounds "all in" scope and everything but ammo, and less than 6 pounds with a suppressor (which I have yet to get). I did not meet my goal. Some of that was my choice and some of that was ot of my control.
lets start with the specs;
Action: Pierce engineering "featherweight"
Barrel: Carbon six 308 cut to 16 inches and threaded for a supressor (wanted a proof but they didnt offer the options I needed)
Trigger : Trigger tech
Stock : pendleton composite stock, made by oregon gunsmithing model "classic C" I think
Rings : Talleys
Scope: leupold ultralight 3-9 with cds dial
total weight 5 pounds 8 ounces
one reason I did not meet my weight goal was that I chose to go with more scope than I really needed, I could have gotten a leupold 2-7 without a cds dial and saved myself 2-3 ounces, but at the last minute I just decided I would rather have the 3-9 after all it's a nice gun. I might want to shoot some long range steel.
I also could have saved weight by going with a featherweight barrel, but considering I did not want to struggle to get groups out of this gun I went with the carbon fiber barrel, but a featherweight would have saved me a scant ounce or two.
the stock on the other hand came out heavier than I planned, I already had a stock by PCS in my inventory and it was 16 oz exactly, so I was planning on the new one coming in at that weight or less because it had more inletting. I was wrong it showed up at 20oz a quarter pound more than I expected. That was a little disapointing but still very happy with the rifle, and truly love the stock, it just feels good to me.
There are things i could do to take more weight of, I could start drilling holes in things like my magazine box, trigger guard, etc. I'm not going to though I'm plenty happy at 5.8 and with the supressor I am planning on getting it will be 6 poundes 2 ounces total. (slightly over my goal)
The best part is that anyone can build this gun. All parts were just ordered and put together. The main thing is that I used a Remage nut on the barrel. (If you dont know what that is, do yourself a favor and look it up) Even proof is getting into the barrel nut game now with their latest overly priced "switch" model. It makes installinga barrel or switching barrels relatively easy for anyone to do right in their home.
Questions:
how does it shoot? you may ask. I am a hand loader and have only had the gun back for a couple weekends now. so far I have gotten really consistant 1 moa groups with 150 grain triple shocks over 50 grains of CFE 223, BUT those loads are a little hot at 2809 fps out of my 16 inch barrel. right now Im only flattening the primers slightly, but it has also been like 20 degrees out when I was shooting, Im afraid that when the weather gets up to 90 in the summer those will be way too hot. so for this weekend I have loaded up a bunch at 49 grains. if they still shoot around an inch I'm going to call it good. I have a feeling if I really wanted to I could get some really amazing groups out of it, but A: I'm not that dedicated of a handloader, 1 inch is plenty good for all my hunting and long range target purposes. B : To be completely honest I'm not sure if I can shoot a 5 and a half pound gun any better than that. I think a better shooter could tighten up the groups I am currently getting. Its hard to get really stellar groups when you can see your heartbeat in the scope
Whats the damn thing cost? you might say. In short I'm not sure exatly, I have been buying parts over the course of 8-9 months and have kinda lost track but it should be right around $3,200 give or take a hundred without scope. That being said I spent hundreds to save ounces, if a guy didnt mind the gun being 6-10 ounces heavier they could save thousands. for instance the pierce action was 1800 bucks and weighed 16 ounces with recoil lug. pierce's regular steel action is 900 and weighs 24 ounces. so that alone is 900 bucks in saving for a scant half pound. 6 pounds all in would still be a really light rifle, probably better actually when it comes to shooting.
any other questions? just ask and thanks for letting me share my latest build. I knew you guys would appreciate it (most everyone else just thinks I'm crazy)