Thread: Question for the smiths

I was thinking again about another rifle today and the pros and cons of a custom build. One of the appealing aspects of a custom build is the knowledge that the headspace and throat etc can be set to suit the projectile you would prefer to use. Each time I have looked at a new rifle I have ended up buying a factory one rather than building and I am thinking, what is involved in getting a factory rifle set up to suit a specified projectile/OAL? Thing of the likes of the tikka 7mm mags, how hard would it be for a smith to set one up so the 162gr amaxes could be in the lands at magazine length?
My current one shoots best with 120 thou Jump with 168gr bergers meaning they fit the mag easily but was toying with the idea of another....

Originally Posted by Tussock

Well, Im not a gunsmith, but I own a dremmel, so I feel Im qualified to comment.

Could you run the reamer in and seat the barrel back? Normally Looong throats in factory rifles.

I have a drill press here so I reckon we just need to hold the thing straight enough and we will be away
It seems it would be an easier solution than some of the other options Ive seen so was wondering if there was more to it that I hadnt thought of. I might go and have a chat with Robbie tomorrow

Whats the point doing same cal hori? when yours shoots with jump, you just want to touch an mag feed be only difference, with maybe a little less powder for same speed as you have now?

Wish my old man was still around, he was pretty sharp on the lathe (had some very nice gear too), made new hubs for brake conversions and stub ends etc for me when I was doing project cars,project rifles are the next prgogression lol, not saying i'm about to rush off and try to chamber my own but paying to get all of the work done just doesnt feel like a project if I havent had my hands involved in it somewhere

Originally Posted by tui_man2

Whats the point doing same cal hori? when yours shoots with jump, you just want to touch an mag feed be only difference, with maybe a little less powder for same speed as you have now?

Was an idea for a new rifle not any of my existing ones, i'm toying with the idea of something new and thought if I went with another factory one I would like to have mag fed vld type pills that could reach the lands, if it was a simple poke with a reamer and re-set of threads then it just seems logical to have done while getting muzzle threaded and bolt fluted

Originally Posted by horihunter

Was an idea for a new rifle not any of my existing ones, i'm toying with the idea of something new and thought if I went with another factory one I would like to have mag fed vld type pills that could reach the lands, if it was a simple poke with a reamer and re-set of threads then it just seems logical to have done while getting muzzle threaded and bolt fluted

Another rem mag by what you where saying at the top??

it would be the easy way to have it done all at once like you say tho

Originally Posted by tui_man2

Another rem mag by what you where saying at the top??

it would be the easy way to have it done all at once like you say tho

Sorry that was just meant as an example, I was at one point looking at 280 but with 7mm08 and 7mm mag there wasnt a need, think i might look into something with a 3 in it....

Horihunter, a Sako 85 in 7mm rem mag has an internal magazine length of 3.736 inches.

A common Sako 85 162 A-Max load over all length is 3.460 with a 2 thou jam into the rifling lands.

The Sako magazine easily fits just touch loads with the 162 A-Max, 168 berger, 180 berger and no doubt the new 195 when it eventually gets here.


The rem mag is a formidable machine.

6.5 saum - sounds good Tussock

"just" rereaming and setting the barely back involves nearly as much work as fitting a new barrel tho. and will cost around 120$
Will it be worth the hassle?.
Be better just to maintain as is and just custom throating the next, preferably 26 inch barrel?

What is it with you people that like half a mill missing. Its all about the seven dammit. Seven deadly sins, seven days a week, i mean really, the 6.5 wonders of the world? Na
6.5 will always be silver losing to the golden 7 by that small but significant margin every time.

Originally Posted by Tussock

Mr H Hunter, enough 7mm

You need a 6.5

I am slowly leaning towards an edge......

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Horihunter, a Sako 85 in 7mm rem mag has an internal magazine length of 3.736 inches.

A common Sako 85 162 A-Max load over all length is 3.460 with a 2 thou jam into the rifling lands.

The Sako magazine easily fits just touch loads with the 162 A-Max, 168 berger, 180 berger and no doubt the new 195 when it eventually gets here.


The rem mag is a formidable machine.

Thanks for that, very good to know, is yours completely standard? From memory you were getting very good accuracy from it - could replace my current rem mag with an 85 and then look at custom for an edge...

Its completely standard.

Shooting golf balls at 800yrds is a great way to "tune up" a rifle, and this one has hit plenty of them now. Although i'm happy to accept the hits could have been a series of flukes

When a rifle is extremely accurate a golf ball at 41-43mm (from memory), -is not too hard to hit.


Used one of my edges today, to shoot at golf ball sized rocks on a clay pan 1038yrds away, 7 degrees uphill shot angle, 27.55 InHG baro.

Initially ignoring the spin drift value, i fired to check it, then dialing in the .5 MOA i fired again. Dead rock. The 338 edge is a very usable LR bomber with the 300g OTM Gen 2 projectile.



Then i used my lightest 7mmsaum, 3000fps with the 140g Ballistic Tips/Accubond/TTSX/Partition. And thats with a 16 inch barrel.

Dialing the CDS on the light 7mm its great to achieve the same .2 moa accuracy it displays at 100yrds on targets out to 800yrds.









A new Hawkes Bay LR/bush hunter -young petree, is using a midland 270 and his accuracy with the 135smk is outstanding, he is becoming a very good shot, just missing a rock at 707yrds by 4 inches low.

At the end of the day if you have a very accurate rifle then LR shooting becomes fun, your projectile choice/velocity just needs to match the game you are harvesting with it.

It was a bad day to be a golf ball, or rock.