Picher said:
My question for all re-chamberings is: Is the increased performance really worth affecting the resale value of the rifle and extra case prep necessary to shoot the standard brass in it?
Second Question: Am I trying to get too much out of that rifle when I could just sell it and buy another rifle with a different standard chambering to accomplish the same thing?
Third Question: Will a larger case capacity, will the rifle have less flexibility to shoot moderate velocity loads for target shooting or medium game.
Good questions.
Resale value and case prep
I've never done anything firearm related with resale value in mind. I'm far more interested in the pleasure or satisfaction that a firearm brings over any potential resale value. I find the idea of resizing brass to a cool form factor appealing.
Alternative rifles
You simply can't buy the rifles I'm intending to build, even as 7mm-08 Rem. The stocks aren't available (100% CF shell), the barrel would be a special order, and you'd need to buy a donor rifle for the action. That said, if I were looking to buy a 7mm-08 Rem I'd just order a Tikka T3x or similar. Supposedly the 7mm-08 AI offers .280 Rem performance in a short action. Inside typical hunting distances, will these rifles do anything that many of my others won't do? Probably not, but that's ok with me.
Case capacity
I don't have any interest or need for moderate velocity loads. These would be hunting rifles for deer and elk shooting Barnes 139gr or 145gr LRX bullets, hence the 1:8 twist.
My original question was if the AI is worth it over the Rem. I have zero cost into the barrels, stocks or triggers and employee pricing on the two donor actions. I have 7mm-08 Rem competition dies from Redding, lots of really nice brass, bullets, powder, and primers. The only cost I'm looking at is the cost of a finish reamer and GO/NO GO gauges which isn't much at all. If I want to get the barrels engraved and bead blasted to look somewhat factory that would cost less than $100. I think there's someone out there that appreciates a custom rifle with a high cool factor, and if not, "one is none, two is one".
Yep, the feedback here along with my desire to see success with a 7mm projectile has me convinced that this is where I'm heading. I've only ever owned one 7mm-08 Rem, a Savage Weather Warrior, and it was a total disaster. I've shot a bunch of .280 AI Kimbers which make for excellent deer/elk mountain rifles. Maybe I'm looking for redemption and a .284 that actually works.