Nearly Perfect Safari Rifle Accuracy Presented by Larry Potterfield | MidwayUSA Gunsmithing

Published on October 21, 2013
Duration: 3:02

This guide details the advanced gunsmithing process for building a 'nearly perfect' safari rifle, as demonstrated by Larry Potterfield. It covers blueprinting a Remington 700 action, installing a Shilen barrel and trigger, custom stock work including glass bedding and pillar bedding, free-floating the barrel, and mounting a Leupold VX-7 optic. The process emphasizes precision and culminates in impressive accuracy testing with sub-0.75 inch groups at 200 yards for a .375 caliber rifle.

Quick Summary

Larry Potterfield demonstrates building a 'nearly perfect' safari rifle using advanced gunsmithing techniques. Key steps include blueprinting a Remington 700 action, installing a Shilen barrel and trigger, custom stock work with glass bedding, and free-floating the barrel. The result is a rifle capable of sub-0.75 inch groups at 200 yards with .375 caliber ammunition.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Quote
  2. 00:11Remington 700 Action Selection
  3. 00:23Action Blueprinting Process
  4. 00:32Shilen Barrel & Trigger Installation
  5. 01:01Custom Stock & Bedding
  6. 01:42Barrel Free-Floating & Stabilization
  7. 01:55Optics Mounting (Leupold VX-7)
  8. 02:19Range Testing & Accuracy Results

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key components for building a highly accurate safari rifle?

A highly accurate safari rifle typically starts with a quality action like the Remington 700, a precision barrel such as Shilen, an adjustable trigger, and a custom-fitted stock. Advanced techniques like action blueprinting and glass bedding are crucial for maximizing accuracy.

How is a rifle barrel free-floated, and why is it important?

A barrel is free-floated when it doesn't touch the rifle stock along its length. This is achieved during the stock bedding process. Free-floating prevents external pressure on the barrel from affecting its harmonics and point of impact, thus improving shot-to-shot consistency and accuracy.

What accuracy can be expected from a custom-built .375 caliber safari rifle?

As demonstrated, a meticulously built custom .375 caliber safari rifle can achieve impressive accuracy, with groups averaging under 0.75 inches at 200 yards. This level of precision is significantly better than typical factory offerings for this caliber.

What is action blueprinting in gunsmithing?

Action blueprinting is a gunsmithing process that ensures all critical surfaces of a rifle's action are perfectly square, parallel, and concentric. This meticulous truing of the action is fundamental for achieving the highest levels of rifle accuracy and reliability.

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