BUILDING A RIFLE FOR THE MAMMOTH SNIPER CHALLENGE

In previous articles in this series, I walked you through the build of a Ruger American fun gun in 300 BLK (as well as the trials and tribulations of being a Browns fan). Then, I followed that up with a precision 10/22 build (which is comically fun to shoot). However, I now want to move on to something serious, something designed for competition.

(Boring Series Introduction) In the Basement Builder series, I will literally build a gun in my basement (I will have you know I own the basement and do not live in the basement at my parents' house!). I will also spec out each build with links and discuss the necessary tools for each project. None of this requires mills or lathes, and you don't need a background in CAD. All of this can be done at home with common gunsmithing tools.

THE CONCEPT

The Mammoth Sniper Challenge is unique in the world of sniper matches. The physical grit required to complete it surpasses that of most others. It's a battle of wills, more than just a shooting competition. Part of this challenge includes rucking—35 miles of it. For those who shoot PRS or similar types of matches, a 25-pound rifle won't do. You need a system that is both lean and capable. A gun weighing under 12 pounds is nearly mandatory. I covered this in detail in a recent article.

The shootability and ease of carrying are primary factors to consider. This means your shooting fundamentals must be locked in. You can't free recoil a 12-pound .308 and expect to spot your misses. Everything must be carefully selected and tailored to the mission. And that's where the fun begins. Building a rifle, selecting the components, and assembling everything into my vision is euphoric for me. Let's begin the journey.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

Here is a list of everything I acquired for this rifle.

• MDT HNT26

• Bergara Premier Barreled Action

• TriggerTech R700 Special

• Vortex Viper HD 5-25x50

• Vortex Defender 2.5 MOA

• Warned 30mm MountainTech Rings (medium)

• MK Machine Throw Lever

• EGW red dot mount and adapter

• MDT CKYE-POD

• MDT Send-It Level (the newest generation)

• Warne Remington 700 SA, 20 MOA (With 8-40 screws)

• MDT 12-round .308 Magazine AICS

• MDT M-LOK Weights

• Area 419 Hellfire Muzzle Brake

THE FOUNDATION

The most crucial part of any rifle build is the stock. It's the thing that you interact with every time you pull the trigger (well, besides the trigger). A poor stock results in weak energy transfer and cannot adapt to your body. All of this leads to poor accuracy and compromised fundamentals. Finding a stock that fits you, features a linear recoil impulse, and maintains a high level of functionality is hard to find—well, at least it used to be. Thanks to the increasing popularity of precision rifle competitions and long-range shooting in general, shooters now have more options than ever when it comes to rifle stocks. Aluminum, micarta, and now magnesium are all popular materials used to create modern shooting platforms. One of the leaders in this category is Modular Driven Technologies (MDT).

MDT offers a vast selection of stocks and chassis to support modern shooters. They vary widely in price, from the affordable Field Stock to the premium ACC Elite. Additionally, they provide high-end options in the lightweight category, including the HNT26. As its name suggests, the HNT26 starts at 26 oz. for its base model—options for a folding stock and an integrated ARCA rail increase the weight to 31 oz. The chassis base is constructed from magnesium, a lightweight and durable material, while the forend and pistol grip are made from carbon fiber. The buttstock features a slightly different construction, utilizing foam-filled carbon fiber. When you combine all these elements, you obtain a highly capable chassis that is perfect for Mammoth.

BARRELED ACTION

I've long been a fan of Bergara. The Spanish barrel manufacturer has been a leader in OEM manufacturing for years, supplying barrels to many of the top names in the industry. When Bergara decided to enter the rifle business, they opted for a Remington 700 pattern action. It's the action that Remington should have built for years, with an updated side-bolt release, extractor, improved ejector, and toolless takedown.

Bergara later took a step forward with their Premier line. Built in their custom shop in Georgia, the Premier actions are constructed from 416 stainless steel and feature an enlarged bolt handle, a spiral-fluted body, dual ejectors, a sliding plate extractor, and an enlarged 8-40 screw pattern for Remington 700 mounts. From Georgia, Bergara offers complete rifles, actions, and barreledIt'sions. It's the latter that intrigues me most.

Bergara lists several barrel configurations in the barreled action lineup. These include #4, #5.5, and #7 counters—ideal for the competitive shooter or hunter—but I opted for the #6 Cure carbon-fiber barrel. Weighing 4.2 lbs., it was the perfect choice. As for the tech, Bergara describes its Cure barrels as such: "These barrels contain a center wrap carbon weave that is designed to align directionally true to the barrel's bore. Bergara's proprietary Cold Bore Technology™ (Patented) CURE Barrels weave continuous stainless-steel strands into the carbon fiber to conduct heat away from the chamber and down the barrel efficiently and consistently. This technology results in a reduction of overall barrel temperatures by an average of 5 degrees. The entire concept is to mitigate the impact of shot migration between the cold bore and subsequent shots as the barrel heats up. Consistency is what matters. After owning several Bergara rifles from both Spanish and Georgia facilities, I had complete confidence in their potential.

THE SUM OF PARTS

After the stock and barreled action, everything else follows. As for the trigger, I settled on a TriggerTech Special. This model is "the best "all-around" option for nearly every scenario. It's user-adjustable down to a pound and features a flat face (curved options are also available) trigger shoe. For this project, the trigger is set at 1 pound, 2 ounces. Even on competition guns, I rarely put the weight under a pound. Mostly, it comes down to user preference. Other items include a Warne Remington 700 SA scope base with 20 MOA of elevation incorporated. Be mindful of screw size: Bergara Premier, like many aftermarket Remington 700-pattern actions, uses larger 8-40 screws. A medium-height Warne MountainTech 30mm scope ring holds the optic in place. Additional MDT accessories include a 12-round .308 AICS magazine, Send-It level (Gen 1), M-LOK Weights, and CKYE-POD—all fantastic products designed for precision shooting in adverse conditions. When the pressure is on, and the stakes are raised, your gear needs to rise to the occasion. Affixed to the muzzle is an Area 419 muzzle brake to help alleviate recoil and muzzle rise.

OPTIC

Vortex offers a wide selection of optics, which is one aspect I respect about them—they are willing to create something for everyone. For Mammoth, weight is a serious consideration. This rifle will primarily be carried in a pack, so it needs to be manageable. (Remember, there are 35 miles of rucking!) I settled on the relatively new Viper HD 5.25x50. This optic weighs 25 oz. and features an illuminated reticle, a zero-stop with a locking elevation turret, and a capped windage turret. The reticle is in the first focal plane (meaning the reticle stays in scale with the magnification setting) and is in milliradians (MILs). The VMR-4 is a simplified Christmas tree reticle with .2 mill holdover points, 10 MILs of elevation, and 6 MILs of windage. The optic's weight, along with the crispness and repeatability of the turrets and the easy-to-use reticle, are what convinced me. Optical quality is important, but when it comes to precision shooting, other factors also need to be considered.

For optics accessories, I chose the MK Machine's 3D-printed throw lever, which provides ample purchase for use in challenging weather conditions. I also added a Vortex Defender-ST red dot at a roughly 45-degree offset from the main tube. To secure it, EGW offers a 30mm main tube mount and adapter plate. While not for shooting targets at close range, the red dot aids in scanning and searching for targets. Once a target is acquired, align the red dot with it and then look through the optic—the target should be close (this saves time from adjusting the magnification repeatedly to find a target).

ZOOMING OUT

After some bench time, the rifle is finished. It weighs 11.7 pounds, staying under my 12-pound goal. But what's next? Of course, the obligatory "hold-your-breath-on-the-first-shot-hoping-nothing-blows-up" maiden voyage, followed by sighting-in. That's when you begin to see if the package you built, with the carefully chosen parts, will do what it's supposed to do. Once the initial shot is fired, the parts and money you spent no longer matter. It's about the mission—the goal you set out to accomplish. Everything so far has been an idea; now, it has become real. I see this as the initial setup, not the finished product.

Mammoth is an undefeated Goliath, ready to snatch souls. Your gear and body must be prepared for the challenge—time to train.