The 300 Project

[Ryan Avery]

I have hunted the last couple years with a 15+ pound long-range rifle. While I have taken some animals at extremely long ranges, it's not practical for backpack hunting. I needed a rifle that is capable of shooting long, but not as heavy, so I could backpack in and hunt with it everyday, sitting or covering country . So, I decided to have Matt Whaley (Whaley Precision) build me a lightweight 300 Rum. The goal for this rifle is to be under 9 pounds total weight and shoot out to 1400 yards.

I get asked every week about lightweight long-range rifles, so I thought I would keep a running thread on the results. My family will be using this rifle for all of our hunts in 2016.

Here are the pieces:

Lone Peak Ti Action
Christensen Arms Carbon Barrel 28 inch 1/9 twist,
Christensen Arms bottom metal
Christensen Arms TI muzzle brake (slayer)
Precision Stock Works Edge fill stock
Trigger Tech
Lone Peak , One piece ring and base with level
Cerakote by Sowa Strong Industry

I am going to run two scopes:

Swarovski X5 3.5-18x50
Leupold VX 6 3-18x50

I'll post a video shortly on each piece, and why I chose them.

UPDATE
[video=youtube;aTfT0mBjs4U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTfT0mBjs4U&index=10&list=PLBsWeLkJhajONcr 4xJVZfIiX2L_EOQet9[/video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTfT0mBjs4U&index=10&list=PLBsWeLkJhajONcr4xJVZfIiX2L_EOQet9

 

[Tall timber]

Looks like a great project looking forward to seeing how it shoots

 

[huntingbigsky]

That looks sweet!

 

[elkguide]

Nice!

 

[Steve O]

Subscribing!

 

[Ryan Avery]

Scopes are always the toughest part for a lightweight build. You want to go as light as you can but still have confidence that it will dial. After using the X5 all last year I have total confidence that it will work. But at 7 oz lighter the VX-6 is appealing but I've had issues with them dialing correctly.

Swarovski X5 3.5-18x50

Leupold VX-6 3-18x50

 

[Steve O]

Ryan,

I notice you have spec'd a 28" barrel for the RUM. I was at a Cabelas today and they had 26" Ridgelines in both 300 WM and RUM for 2149; do you need more than 26" to optimize the RUM?

 

[Ryan Avery]

Ryan,

I notice you have spec'd a 28" barrel for the RUM. I was at a Cabelas today and they had 26" Ridgelines in both 300 WM and RUM for 2149; do you need more than 26" to optimize the RUM?

I think 26" are fine. This CA barrel is a gunsmith barrel that is meant to be cut down to 26". But Matt and I decided to leave it at 28" to push the 230 Bergers a little faster. I have another CA 300 rum that is 26". I will post the speed differences when I get this one up and running.

 

[Cahunter805]

Great build!! Factory freebore reamer or shortened freebore? Also any pics of the ring/bases? Those sound awesome!

 

[Ryan Avery]

No freebore. I will post some pictures of the base/rings soon

 

[Ryan Avery]

Had a few PMs on why a 300 RUM
I think it's underrated as a LR rifle. It had less recoil than a 338 and when paired with Berger 230, it cuts air like a 7 mag but hits with more authority.

 

[gphil]

What ballistic app is this ?

 

[Ryan Avery]

Bullet Flight

 

[todd kelly]

very cool

 

[mt100gr.]

Is that the 230 grain? At what velocity.?

 

[Ryan Avery]

Is that the 230 grain? At what velocity.?

Yes, 3050

 

[wind gypsy]

I'm liking the looks of that stock, never heard of em. Interested to see how recoil control works with that thing and a rum shooting heavies!

 

[bradb]

I think the stock is a Mcmillan made just for Precision stock works

 

[Ryan Avery]

Yeah the stock is built by McMillan to PSW spec.

 

[mtnwrunner]

So, does this mean I have to find a mule deer for that rifle???????????????

Randy