Seventh Custom Rifle

January 2025



Happy with the 221 Fireball that I built in 24 I decided to build a heavy bench version for Prairie Dog hunting. I repurposed the stock from the 204 Ruger built in 2017 because that rifle doesn't go to the PD fields anymore. Sitting on top of the ladder rack 6 or 7 feet from my brother, the rifle is just too loud. Well that and it eats way more powder than required to kill a PD. And at today's powder prices that makes a difference.

Started with a fresh new barrel from Green Mountain
The following pictures kind of summarize the steps involved.






I did ream the chamber with the lathe off and simply turned the tap handle by hand. Long slow process but I got chatter right out of the gate so I took the safe route.





Since I did not epoxy bed the action for the 204 I thought I would do that now for the 221. Always a little scary but always works out fine. Would have liked a little more product under the barrel nut but just didn't pile it quite high enough to cause it to spread out as much as I wanted. Still should work just fine.


Test fired the rifle on 1/20/25 and all went as epected. The new Lapua case that I used to set head space appears to have been half a thousanth longer than the loaded round I fired but I'm fine with that. Nice tight chamber.

New Lapua case
New case

Fired case
Fired case

With any luck, the weather will warm up enough to go through the break in procedure later this week.
It was 10 degrees below zero this morning.

Warmed up outside and tried out some powder options.

The weather finally broke so I did some more testing on Febrary 22, 2025 with Reloader 7 and IMR 4198



Additional testing February 23, 2025 with Accurate 2200



And the next day after switching out the scope. Velocities on this load averaged 3222 FPS.



It was brought to my attention that Accurate 1680 would provide additional velocity to the tune 300 FPS. So naturally I had to try that as well. I had already tried 1680 but max loads I was finding were 18 grains. So when it was bumped up toward the max that had been brought to my attenion, the groups tightened up.



Created January 2025