This gun was just about two years in the making. I've preferred to have one accurate rifle that will run the gambit on big game rather than having several rifles of different calibers. That has allowed me to sell and upgrade what I use over the years. I mulled over calibers for quite some time, reading thousands of opinions on which is the best. Ultimately I decided on a 7mm STW, which I figured had enough power for everything I wanted to do while also having manageable recoil in a somewhat lightweight rifle.
I ordered the parts myself and had a delay in the process with a re-order on McMillan stock after getting the first one in my hands and realizing it was to bulky and oriented more toward a tactical build. I went with McMillan Hunter stock in edge fill, a Stiller Predator action, a Timney trigger and a Bartlein #3 heavy sporter barrel. I chose to go with a blind magazine for rigidity in the stock and because I like the look.
I had a few builders in mind as I was going through the process. Ultimately I decided on Robert Gradous due to his reputation and after speaking with him. Even though I don't plan on it, with my tendancy to buy and sell things, I chose to go with someone whose work was in such demand that I wouldn't lose value based on my gunsmith choice.
It took a little over a year once the parts were in the gunsmith's hands, but I was more than happy with the final product. I had the barrel fluted and went with a flat dark earth cerakote color that ended up matching well to the olive with tan speckles stock color.
I haven't fully decided on a scope yet. For now it wears a Vortex that has performed well. I received the gun just before my Colorado deer hunt last October and took my buck with a single shot at 502 yards.
I ordered the parts myself and had a delay in the process with a re-order on McMillan stock after getting the first one in my hands and realizing it was to bulky and oriented more toward a tactical build. I went with McMillan Hunter stock in edge fill, a Stiller Predator action, a Timney trigger and a Bartlein #3 heavy sporter barrel. I chose to go with a blind magazine for rigidity in the stock and because I like the look.
I had a few builders in mind as I was going through the process. Ultimately I decided on Robert Gradous due to his reputation and after speaking with him. Even though I don't plan on it, with my tendancy to buy and sell things, I chose to go with someone whose work was in such demand that I wouldn't lose value based on my gunsmith choice.
It took a little over a year once the parts were in the gunsmith's hands, but I was more than happy with the final product. I had the barrel fluted and went with a flat dark earth cerakote color that ended up matching well to the olive with tan speckles stock color.
I haven't fully decided on a scope yet. For now it wears a Vortex that has performed well. I received the gun just before my Colorado deer hunt last October and took my buck with a single shot at 502 yards.
Might want to try to feed some STWs through that before you rebarrel. It's a bit more svelte of a cartridge, IIRC, than the RUM.
