We took our first African Safari last August and my rifle performed absolutely fantastic. I harvested 5 animals in 5 days with 5 shots. I thought I would share what it took to get that kind for performance.
Seven years ago, I decided I wanted a hunting rifle that was a tack driver. I found a Remington 700 RMEF commemorative Bolt Action Rifle chambered in the 300 Remington Ultra Magnum cartridge. I selected a Bullet that would handle any animal I wanted to harvest (Barnes TTSX 180 grain). I attempted to build a custom load that would shoot accurately in the rifle on two separate occasions. I was only marginally successful and was not satisfied. I decided to go to the next level. I researched and found the best rifle barrel builder I could find. Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels (Riflebarrels.com) builds barrels for USMC Snipers and 1,000 Yard Match Shooters that are stress relieved. I called the Lilja company and somehow got connected with Dan Lilja. Lilja makes a variety of calibers, contours, features, etc. I had no clue. I told Dan what I wanted to build and how long I wanted it. He told me what I needed. I placed the order. A 26-inch Stainless Steel, Fluted, Tapered Contour Barrel. I ordered a Jewell Trigger that was also used in competition and was a recommended replacement for the stock Remington Trigger that everyone was having problems with. I had it set to one pound. I contracted my local gunsmith, Euless Guns and Ammo, to assemble/complete to rifle. They cut the chamber, mounted the barrel, blue printed the action, added a muzzle break, added a detachable magazine, and then fiber-glassed it back into the stock. Using Hodgdon Retumbo smokeless powder, I attempted the process of building a custom load that would shoot accurately in the rifle again. I found that the rifle shot well with a lot of the loads I tried. So, I settled on a charge weight of 92.60 grains. It drives the Barnes 180 grain TTSX bullet at an average of 3,165 feet per second. This produced shot groups of less than .75 inches at 100 yards. Then in preparation for the safari I practiced once a week for the last two months and it paid off in spades.
Seven years ago, I decided I wanted a hunting rifle that was a tack driver. I found a Remington 700 RMEF commemorative Bolt Action Rifle chambered in the 300 Remington Ultra Magnum cartridge. I selected a Bullet that would handle any animal I wanted to harvest (Barnes TTSX 180 grain). I attempted to build a custom load that would shoot accurately in the rifle on two separate occasions. I was only marginally successful and was not satisfied. I decided to go to the next level. I researched and found the best rifle barrel builder I could find. Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels (Riflebarrels.com) builds barrels for USMC Snipers and 1,000 Yard Match Shooters that are stress relieved. I called the Lilja company and somehow got connected with Dan Lilja. Lilja makes a variety of calibers, contours, features, etc. I had no clue. I told Dan what I wanted to build and how long I wanted it. He told me what I needed. I placed the order. A 26-inch Stainless Steel, Fluted, Tapered Contour Barrel. I ordered a Jewell Trigger that was also used in competition and was a recommended replacement for the stock Remington Trigger that everyone was having problems with. I had it set to one pound. I contracted my local gunsmith, Euless Guns and Ammo, to assemble/complete to rifle. They cut the chamber, mounted the barrel, blue printed the action, added a muzzle break, added a detachable magazine, and then fiber-glassed it back into the stock. Using Hodgdon Retumbo smokeless powder, I attempted the process of building a custom load that would shoot accurately in the rifle again. I found that the rifle shot well with a lot of the loads I tried. So, I settled on a charge weight of 92.60 grains. It drives the Barnes 180 grain TTSX bullet at an average of 3,165 feet per second. This produced shot groups of less than .75 inches at 100 yards. Then in preparation for the safari I practiced once a week for the last two months and it paid off in spades.
