After tackiling the delivery driver as he exited his truck...I hastly whacked open the packaging to reveal my new baby!! I think she will be named......"Little Monster".

The skinny on Little Monster is not so skinny...it has had:
-action completely accurized (threads recut, action squared, bolt squared, etc, etc.)
-Sako extractor
-Holland Comp recoil lug machined to fit the XP-100
-17" Lilja barrel
-Chambered in 7mm/270 WSM (Norma brass)
-Defensive Edge Muzzle Brake
-Matte finish on barrel and brake
-HS Stock
-and Glass bedded.

All the work was completed by Kirby Allen of Allen Precision Shooting in Fort Shaw, MT.



I had range loads ready and the car packed, so after assembling the base/rings and scope (Burris 3-12x32 BP of coourse!)I headed to the range. Barrel break in for the Lilja was a snap! It honestly took about five rounds (cleaning after each) before I was getting NO copper using Sweets. The first three shot fired while doing break-in was with 168gr SMK's and H4831SC (59gr). The velocity was only 2575fps but I loaded light for break-in. The three shot group was a scant .169" CTC. Needless to say I was thrilled!!



The rest of the groups were not that tight but under .5" was the norm and I have not even done load work yet!! The groups are fine...I'll just be trying for much more velocity.

Recoil...you may be wondering what something like this feels like going off in your hand. Well...I can seriously compare it to a T/C Contender chambered in 6T/CU. Muzzle rise and felt recoil in the hand in about the same. You may think..."yeah but that muzzle brake must be wicked loud". Yes...but not nearly as bad as my Holland's on other guns and the DE brake works MUCH better.

For now that is the story. I'll be hitting the range every day this week to get a load ready for its first field test on Sunday and Monday.

That is VEEERRRRYYYY nice! The finish and stock go great together. I'm jealous now. I guess I will have to save a few more dollars and give Kirby a ring. I'm still undecided on the caliber. So many good ones but I want longrange knockdown and accuracy. Maybe something in 6.5 or even .30 cal. I have two actions I can choose from for my project.
I bet you are pumped for next weekend!!!
When you get a chance could you post a photo of the cartridge up against maybe a standard round of some sort.
I LIKE IT. Good luck on load development. Keep us informed as if that will not happen. HAH

Mike

looks good!! what is the dia. of the brass your using?. is it the same as the rifle about 9/16". i'm not familiar with the examples you gave and am courious about the kick!


john

.545 or .535--Which one is it Dan?

Beautiful rig.
You may not want to shoot some of your others for awhile--Enjoy!

Great looking rig Dan. Let's shoot it !!! Rupe

NICE!!! looks like it will be an excellent shooter. Crazy question? why go with the 7mm/270WSM instead of a 7mmWSM, because of using norma brass? just thought I would ask. Is the brake removable? again nice new toy , enjoy
nmhunter

nm,
I think the main reason is Kirby already had a good reamer in that designation.

OOOO-WEEEEEEE!!!! NICE!!!! SWEET!!

John...the casehead measures .535". I included a pic of the 7mm-270WSM w/ a 162gr A-Max sitting between a 6T/CU (.223 necked to 6mm) on the left and a 7mm-08 on the right.



nmhunter...why the goofy chambering? Norma makes .270WSM brass and the reamer we used was cut for the .270WSM Norma brass necked to 7mm to make use of the excellent brass and better selection of 7mm bullets. The shoulder location difference between the 7mmWSM and .270WSM is only .035" in favor of the 7mm in the factory form. I could have paid for a new reamer exactly for a 7mm WSM and necked .270 brass up then blown the shoulder out but that would use a lot of components (rathher inexpensive in the scope of the project) and barrel life (rather expensive!) for virtually no gain in performance.

More range info...Had the XP out again this evening with heavier doses of H4831SC and 162gr A-Max's. Got the velocity up to 2825fps comfortably at 63gr. With 64gr I had one shot go 2844 (bolt lift was getting heavy) and two went into the 2850's (bolt lift was again heavy but there was also an ejector mark on each case). So this was my stopping point.

I loaded a batch when I got home at 63.5gr and will reshoot tomorrow. Groups were in the .5MOA range at 100yds with each load tested this evening. Tomorrow, after a three shot'er at 100yds I'll start stretching it out to get some preliminary drop figures. Friday will be the first good LR test (at least to 500-600yds anyhow). I have 25 milk jugs waiting to get relieved of there water retaining ability.

Nice setup Dan-- very impressive piece there.

very nice gun there. should be a fun player.

Beautiful gun Dan.
Should be a great elk, caribou, sheep, goat, antelope & muley whacker.

i'll give ya $300 and a 4x tasco for it just kiddin.....nice rig, dan!!

Real nice looking couch Dan, Oh and that gun rig is sweet also.