Sawtooth Rifles: Build #17 - M40A1 Mod 7WSM - A long range hunter for a Marine with a M40A1 theme.

Sawtooth Rifles - Build #17: 7mm WSM long range hunter with a M40A1 theme for a Marine

A custom rifle based on the USMC M40A1 concept, but with a bit more potential for reaching out there and hitting something. This one will likely have a steady diet of 180 gr Berger's and some 162 gr A-maxes on the side.

Spec's:

Sawtooth Rifles #17 M40A1 Mod 7WSM
Action: Remington 700 SS SA, with our Stage 1 Blueprinting
Barrel Blank: Bartlein #13 (Rem Varm), Stainless, 5R rifling, 1:8.4" twist, finished at 27"
Chamber: 7mm Winchester Short Mag
Brake: Badger Ordnance Thruster Tactical Compensator
Stock: McMillan HTG in Forest Camo, Epoxy bedded with aluminum pillars.
Bottom Metal: Stocky's M5 Detachable Mag system
Trigger: Timney
Rings/Bases: Weaver 15 MOA rail and Nightforce lightweight rings, 30mm, lows.
Optic: TBD
Finish, Metal: Cerakote Color TBD

Obligatory pile of parts picture.

The work started on this one with a quick trip to the bandsaw, as we were excited to implement our new bolt mod. The threaded stems are made here and some bolt knobs will soon follow. This bolt knob fell off a Stiller that cam through the shop a while back and was just what #17 needed.

Threaded stem TIG welded onto the Remington bolt handle.

The welded on stem and bolt handle, after a bit of abrasive blending. The flats of the Remington handle are carried into the round stem with a smooth transition to the round knob.

Alternate view, and testing the fit in the McMillan HTG stock.

After getting the bolt handle mod perfected, it was time to finally start making some progress on this one. The receiver was blueprinted with our Stage 1 process along with a few of its siblings. There is about a 45 year spread of production in this photo, and even a couple 40X receivers. There is nice shiny steel inside them all still.

Remington receivers with our Stage 1 blueprinting. #17 is the stainless on 2nd from the right.

Close up of the internals after truing up the surfaces and threads on the CNC lathe.

Barrel time!

The chamber end of the barrel was aligned in the lathe.

Tenon geometry cut and chamber finished.

#17 is officially born, there is a go gauge hiding in there.

With the barrel fit to the receiver, we can finally mock this thing up and get an idea of the inletting that is going to be required. It is nice when the stock and barrel match already. The bottom end on this one needs some tuning though.

Close up.

Boring out the Badger Thruster brake for clearance with the 7mm projectiles.

Turning the OD of the brake to match the barrel.

Brake installed.

Recessed target crown and muzzle threads.

Barreled receiver prepped for bedding, with the pillars in place.

Stock prepped for bedding. Its under the blue tape...

A rifle builders most worrisome moment... 24 hours of wondering how it is going to turn out, and if it will even come back apart...

Not bad... perfect might be a better description.

The stock was origionally inletted for a BDL setup and our customer did most of the inletting for the detachable magazine. We had to move it forward slightly to line up with the top end, which left some gaps to fill along with getting a rock solid fit between the bottom and the pillars.