A Couple of Wildcats
 

Picked up my second Wildcat Composites stock today (top). Very pleased with the result!
The brown stock holds a BAT action with barrels chambered to 6 Dasher, 6.5 X 47L, and 308 Win. Given the weight of the BAT action, I wanted the rifle to come in just a tickle over 7lbs (which it did).
The black stock, built last fall, sports a Stiller action with barrels chambered to 6 Dasher, 30 BR, and 6.5 X47L. If I recall correctly, it came in at 6lbs/5oz?
For the curious, it takes about 20 minutes to change out barrels.
I have not shot the ‘47 in the brown stock but it was quite capable of 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups in a heavier stock.
I just zeroed the black stocked Stiller and the results of the single 5 shot group look pretty promising ... will need to see how repeatable the sub-1/2MOA really is.

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A bit better look at the brown stock.

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Very nice. Did you do the painting and finishing yourself?

I had Wildcat do the works ....pillar/epoxy bedding / sling studs / recoil pad ...paint.
I did the barrel(s) in the summer with Endura paint (two part epoxy I think).

What was the cost of the stock finished be wildcats?

Depends on what you want done, and what you want to do yourself ....check their website for costs and give Stuart a call.

Screwed the ‘47 barrel on tight last night. Guessed that 41 gr of H4350 would push a (not tried before) 135gr Ber Classic Hunter with some authority ... and off to the Range to get on paper, zero, and shoot a group. As expected, stock is very stable and performs decent in bags. Even with that totally unexplained flier, a dime covers the first group:)

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Beauty guns, James!

Very nice guns. The 6.5X47 is a favorite of mine; got two of them.

Yes Beeman, Hornady could have spared the world from the relelentlss arguments of the 6.5 Creedmoor converts if they had just adopted the ‘47:)

Very nice ,:sign0068:

Endura is the way to go. I have finished a couple stocks in with that product.

Pretty sure that Wildcat used Endura on the stock. I have used it for several barrels as well.

I have one of Stewart's stocks, still deciding what rifle I want to attach it to, most likely it will end up on my Remmy 308.

Var-Tac,,, they come in short action, I got the lug area filled in incase I throw a long action onto it. 2.1 or 2.2 lbs

Stew was great to deal with.

That seems pretty heavy, I think both my stocks were under 25 oz.

What contour barrels are you using on the Brown stocked rifle? Wanting to do a switch barrel hunting rifle to finish similar to yours. I am having a hard time justifying proof barrels to make my weight.

On the brown rig, I gave Stuart a #5 Kreiger (0.7 MD) and asked for minimal free float so I can run that barrel (a 308). I am switching out #2, #3, #5 contour barrels. IIRC a 23”, chambered, #2 weighs about 3lbs.
I chose Wildcats standard weight stock ... could have shaved of a few oz’s by going with the lighter weight model...but with the heavy BAT...I did not have the platform for lightweight.
What action are you using? I have a BAT repeater in the brown stock (and the BAT is pretty heavy compared with most sporter style actions).

Do you mind me asking what endura is? Is it like a finish to protect the barrel from corrosion?

Endura is an “epoxy” paint. It can be mixed and sprayed, or they will make up a rattle can. Once activated, it is useable for about 24 hrs. It cures very hard and I suspect is impervious to almost everything. I use it for barrels. They will custom mix a rattle can for about $35.00. I think the shelf life is about a year, but once you activate it in the rattle can, you have about 24 hrs before it turns solid. If you had them ready, one can would probably do a dozen barrels.
Barrel prep is pretty easy (degrease with soap and water, rough up with sand paper).

Awesome rifles 260! They look great and shoot better.
Thanks for sharing. As always, I really enjoy your posts as I learn a lot and get ideas on how to improve my equipment and my shooting. Much appreciated.

260 I am planning on a Bighorn TL3, Manners EH1. If I can make weight of close to 7 lbs bare gun I would go Bartlein 3B. If not then I got to go Proof barrel. I like running muzzle brakes and unfortunately the larger the brake the more efficient so not less then .700 at muzzle. Won't be doing anything if my 280AI cooper and a 7mm Dakota don't sell.

Beeman...sounds like a well thought out build. I would check with Chow Brothers Precision regarding the lead time for a 3B Bartlein (I think they are the CDN importers?).

I’ll do that. Thanks for the tip. Didn’t know they dealt in Bartlein barrels.

Yes, I think they are the CDN importer/rep. They typically deal only with heavy barrel themselves and refer folks to Hirsch Precision if they don’t have what you want in stock. The reason I suggested you check is based on my experience a couple of years ago ... after waiting a year for a Bartlein 2B I ordered through Hirsch (excellent to deal with), Peter suggested cancelling because he was not having any luck getting delivery info from Bartlein. I have no idea if the Bartlein “backlog” is still an issue. In the end, I just picked up an instock Kreiger from Hirsch. I have used a couple of Bartlein barrels and would not be able to tell any difference in performance between them and the 25 or so Kreigers in my inventory.

Yes, the one that Stewart made for me is a tad heavier then the standard units.

The filled in lug area for the long actions adds weigth, Stewart does the fill-in solid from the short action lug area forward to where the new cut in area will be.

He molded the barrel channel deep and wide for a heavy barrel,,, plan is still in the works.

Land cannon away. LOL

Very nice