First upgrade in 35 yrs

[TBark]

Was always comfortable with my 1981 Rem 700 BDL 7mm RM LH and Leopold VX1 3-9 x 40, but the wife finally convinced me to upgrade one more (and last) time.

So yesterday I took the plunge, here’s my new rig.

Christensen Ridgeline FFT 7mm RM LH carbon 22”.
Vortex Viper HD 3-15 x 44 SPF Dead Hold BDC MOA.

The shop mounted it up, bore sighted it and my first shot (only, time constraint) at 150 yds was bang on Left Right, and 1.5” low.

Can’t wait to get back to the cabin and sight it in further.
Recommend barrel break-in looks to be excessive, but will follow the recommendations.

TBark

[brewster29]

Sweet. Like you, I have had great service from my three old lefty BDL’s but they aren’t getting out of the safe much anymore. I also recently bought a lefty Ridgeline FFT (6.5 PRC) and quite like it. I’m sure you noticed the 2-3 lb weight difference over the 700.
Mine has 100 ish rounds through it and has sped up about 90 fps from new. My only gripes are the heavy bolt cocking lift and the fact the safety doesn’t lock the bolt. Love the Triggertech trigger, light weight and compact dimensions.

[Cottus]

Man that sounds sweet. Same, but different, and upgraded. Nothing wrong with keeping the mature, older rifle on backup reserve status.

[rafternk]

Wow it's either the left handers or the BDL virus that has hit. I too have made an upgrade from my 1980s Remington LH BDL 30-06 to a new Sako LH Hunter 85 in 270 with a Leupold VX6. The BDL was accurate but the Sako truely is a tack driver. Call it enjoying the fruits of my labour or maybe just plain getting old and realizing I only have so much time left.

[Alberta Bigbore]

Congrats on the new rig! Sounds like its a beaut!

[Fowl91]

Beauty!

I picked my Ridgeline FFT .280AI up last year from Corlanes.
Upgraded from a Rem 700 BDL in .280 Rem

Like Brewster said, it's a nice weight savings and has a heavier than expected bolt lift. Also I found the bolt rough at first, but it quickly broke in and now cycles like butter.

I have 80 rounds through mine now, and I am enjoying it more and more

[waldedw]

Originally Posted by TBark

Was always comfortable with my 1981 Rem 700 BDL 7mm RM LH and Leopold VX1 3-9 x 40, but the wife finally convinced me to upgrade one more (and last) time.

So yesterday I took the plunge, here’s my new rig.

Christensen Ridgeline FFT 7mm RM LH carbon 22”.
Vortex Viper HD 3-15 x 44 SPF Dead Hold BDC MOA.

The shop mounted it up, bore sighted it and my first shot (only, time constraint) at 150 yds was bang on Left Right, and 1.5” low.

Can’t wait to get back to the cabin and sight it in further.
Recommend barrel break-in looks to be excessive, but will follow the recommendations.

TBark

Congrats it should be a great rifle enjoy the heck out of it and whatever you do don't get rid of your wife, she's a keeper

[Dick284]

New is always nice.

Good luck

[TBark]

Thanks for the replies folks.

One question on the loads that I have previously in stock from my Rem 700 BDL.

The seating for these loads for the Rem is a moderate 0.022 off the lands.
My new Christensen is approximately 0.020 longer Tight to the lands.

Meaning using these same loads for the new rifle, I’ll be nearly 0.045 off on the lands with the new rifle.

Just looking for opinions if 0.045 a little bit too much of a distance tight to the lands to start finding happy spot for the new rifle?

If the new rifle was tighter. I would just press maybe one box of previous loads a bit deeper to start at approximately the same jump as a Remington, approximately 0.025.

TBark

[waldedw]

Originally Posted by TBark

Thanks for the replies folks.

One question on the loads that I have previously in stock from my Rem 700 BDL.

The seating for these loads for the Rem is a moderate 0.022 off the lands.
My new Christensen is approximately 0.020 longer Tight to the lands.

Meaning using these same loads for the new rifle, I’ll be nearly 0.045 off on the lands with the new rifle.

Just looking for opinions if 0.045 a little bit too much of a distance tight to the lands to start finding happy spot for the new rifle?

If the new rifle was tighter. I would just press maybe one box of previous loads a bit deeper to start at approximately the same jump as a Remington, approximately 0.025.

TBark

It's hard to say the only way to really find out is to shoot them and go from there, some rifles are fussy and some are not when it comes to seating depth, if nothing else use them for your barrel break in and scope sight in that should pretty much tell you the story.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by TBark

Thanks for the replies folks.

One question on the loads that I have previously in stock from my Rem 700 BDL.

The seating for these loads for the Rem is a moderate 0.022 off the lands.
My new Christensen is approximately 0.020 longer Tight to the lands.

Meaning using these same loads for the new rifle, I’ll be nearly 0.045 off on the lands with the new rifle.

Just looking for opinions if 0.045 a little bit too much of a distance tight to the lands to start finding happy spot for the new rifle?

If the new rifle was tighter. I would just press maybe one box of previous loads a bit deeper to start at approximately the same jump as a Remington, approximately 0.025.

TBark

Some rifles shoot very well with a larger jump to the lands, I have one that has a jump of .085" jump, and shoots under 1/2moa. The only way to know, is to try.

[Pathfinder76]

This load is over a tenth of an inch off the lands.

[TBark]

Good info,

https://youtu.be/wjnmQ0axYN8

And another.

https://youtu.be/iKvY9FwVdSU


TBark

[Pathfinder76]

That is the beauty of barrel break in. You can do it just about any way you want and there is an article or video that will back you up.

[Homesteader]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

That is the beauty of barrel break in. You can do it just about any way you want and there is an article or video that will back you up.

Do you have a preferred method. I quit barrel break in several years ago. I still clean more often when new, and leave ‘em fouled for hunting unless they get wet or contaminated. They alll out shoot me

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Homesteader

Do you have a preferred method. I quit barrel break in several years ago. I still clean more often when new, and leave ‘em fouled for hunting unless they get wet or contaminated. They alll out shoot me

My preferred method is to not do it. Same as you.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

My preferred method is to not do it. Same as you.

Same here.
Cat

[Rhino81]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

My preferred method is to not do it. Same as you.

Same here

[JBE]

I believe they say to use a copper solvent for cleaning