I've had the bug for a surgeon action build for quite some time. Sourced a used action a while back finally got around to gathering everything else up. I wanted a shorter barreled light/mid weight rifle to use as a medium range killing machine. I already have a couple of dedicated long range rifle. A 6.5-06 .280ai 7stw (three of them) and a couple of .300 win mags. I settled on 7-08 ackley imp for the caliber (I love .284" chamberings) Kenny Jarrett builds lots of rifles in this caliber and gets an honest 3050fps with a 140gn nosler out of a 20" barrel. I opted for a 1:9 twist benchmark barrel and had it cut to 21". The stock I ordered is a McMillan game scout in mcwoody pattern.
Here's a full parts breakdown.
Surgeon 591 action
Surgeon bottom metal
Ai mag (modified to work in bottom metal)
McMillan gamescout stock
Benchmark 1:9 twist #5 contour
Timney trigger adjusted to 1 3/4 lb pull
Night force 3.5-15x56 nxs scope with moar reticle mounted in ultralight low night force rings.
The bipod is a Caldwell I already had.
I plan to use barnes 140gn ttsx bullets
I bought 40 rounds of factory Winchester silver tip 140gn for break in purposes. I also have 50 pieces of Norma 7mm-08 I'll load to fire form later. I used a friend who shoots nbrsa and does his own gunsmithing to plumb it. There may be better smiths out there (George at gap the guys at surgeon john beanland Steve Baldwin among others) but Steve knew what I wanted in a finished rifle and being a benchrest shooter knows what makes guns shoot and was affordable and quick turn around time. I couldn't be happier with the end result. It balances great points like a bird gun and should be amazingly accurate. I hope to get 3100 fps plus. I've only fired five rounds thus far and cleaning after each shot and scrubbing all the copper out takes time (having a bore scope makes that part a *****). Haven't shot a group yet took three rounds to get it sighted in at 200 yds. Hopefully I'll get it broken in to shoot a few groups next Sunday. Here's some Picts.
View attachment 45942
View attachment 45944
Sent from NSA wire tapped device.
Here's a full parts breakdown.
Surgeon 591 action
Surgeon bottom metal
Ai mag (modified to work in bottom metal)
McMillan gamescout stock
Benchmark 1:9 twist #5 contour
Timney trigger adjusted to 1 3/4 lb pull
Night force 3.5-15x56 nxs scope with moar reticle mounted in ultralight low night force rings.
The bipod is a Caldwell I already had.
I plan to use barnes 140gn ttsx bullets
I bought 40 rounds of factory Winchester silver tip 140gn for break in purposes. I also have 50 pieces of Norma 7mm-08 I'll load to fire form later. I used a friend who shoots nbrsa and does his own gunsmithing to plumb it. There may be better smiths out there (George at gap the guys at surgeon john beanland Steve Baldwin among others) but Steve knew what I wanted in a finished rifle and being a benchrest shooter knows what makes guns shoot and was affordable and quick turn around time. I couldn't be happier with the end result. It balances great points like a bird gun and should be amazingly accurate. I hope to get 3100 fps plus. I've only fired five rounds thus far and cleaning after each shot and scrubbing all the copper out takes time (having a bore scope makes that part a *****). Haven't shot a group yet took three rounds to get it sighted in at 200 yds. Hopefully I'll get it broken in to shoot a few groups next Sunday. Here's some Picts.
View attachment 45942
View attachment 45944Sent from NSA wire tapped device.
