This dang APS built XP-100 7mm/270WSM just wants to kill stuff. Everytime I take it too the strip cut it just begs to let loose a bullet! I was in my little hidey hole today...just like last week...not long before lunch, munchin' an apple, fire kickin' to keep me company (and the fact that it was 6* when I set up made greatly welcome) but this time I had a hunting buddy walking the other hillside looking for deer. He likes to push'em and I like to shoot so we work well together. I was content to make sure the fire stayed lit!

He just hit the upper end of the cut when he called and said he was coming back my direction...then he said "deer", hangs up and then I hear "boom....boom". Back on the phone and says he missed. While he was dogging around I watched about 15 different deer sneak all around him including a little buck that gave several shot opportunities around 430yds. I let him walk. Just as Rick called back to report the misses, a doe and the little buck coming running across the cut in my direction and into the creek bottom (only about 50yds wide). I turn the scope to 5X as the shots would likely be less than 150yds. A few seconds later he pops up on my side of the creek bank and presents a broadside 150yd shot. After a brief (and I mean BRIEF) look to make sure he met the "3pts per side rule" in my area of PA, I let the 162gr A-Max fly. That dumped him instantly. This was the closest deer I ever shot with this gun...the exit hole was a sweet 2" circle and had nearly half the right side lung hanging out!

Nice bodied deer, not much on antlers but he met the requirements and is now in the freezer...well...'cept for the big batch of jerky in the oven! So I'm all tagged out this year. Going to be dogging for Rick and Pap tomorrow and with Coyotes legal to shoot I'll still carry a RBH for company!

That deer will taste just as good under 200 as it does over 200.
Good shooting and enjoy the vension

Dan, nice shot! ....what kind of velocity are you getting with that 7 WSM? I would like to hear some specs on the XP.

WTG Dan. Remember what I always say, any Deer with a Handgun is a trophy. Even though he is not sportin huge head gear, I am betting he is going to be mighty tasty, and provide for several meals throughout the rest of the winter.

Larry

Way to go Dan!!

John

smoken.....the XP has about everything.

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
-Steel bedded.

I'm running the 162gr A-Max's at 2825fps with no pressure signs. I'm on the 4th loading o this brass and the pockets are still snug.

It's also not a true 7 WSM. 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.

great huntin dan. congrats. i drool over xp's like that. i can't afford one....boo hooo.

Way to go Dan. Nice shooting and I sure am glad you're smilin' in your pics now;)

Good going Dan. Sounds like ya'll have quite an effective driving system going on there.
You've been a lot of help to me with load suggestions, thanks.
Steve

excellent... way to go makes me happy to see it done that way... just got in from xmas shopping... but that means mother will sleep in in the am, and mebbe I'll have somethin to talk about tomorrow congrats dan, and i sure appreceiate the valuable advice from everybody that participates in the forum

Dan you are having WAY to much fun!!!!

Kyle...I just sucked it up and scrounged to build this gun. Bit the proverbial bullet once and now have a gun that can do about anything that I'll ever dream of doing with a LRSP.

steveus...we weren't actually driving. Rick went the opposite direction from what I expected and the deer were moving around about 1K yds from where he was. I'm not a fan of drives as I'm not one to shoot moving deer...just not my style. I prefer one shot, one kill! Where as Rick fired five rounds on two days of hunting and killed one deer...and it was even gut shot.

Tig...having too much fun? Yep...'bout as much as you can have with clothes on!! Hunted nine days to fill my tags...filled my three tags on three shots. Also shot that one for a friend that did not think I could make a 110yd shot with the .30 Herrett.

Congratulations and nice shooting!

Duane