The Latest GRADOUS Kill Stick has ARRIVED!! 16.5" 6.5x47L

B

Bob L. Swagger

New member
I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Robert Gradous for building me such a fine rifle... AGAIN! I have been planning this build for quite some time now and it finally arrived, just in time for hunting season! I wanted a "light" weight hunting rifle that would be handy, fast pointing and semi-tactical, but I didn't want to get into the feather weight typical hunting rifle class. This rig fit the bill perfectly and will be used for deer, ground hogs, coyotes and yet I could still use it for bangin' steel from time to time. As with all of Roberts builds, this handy little rifle is a TACK DRIVER!! When the box arrived, I couldn't get over how light weight the rifle was, it felt almost like toy it was so light.. I guess this since I am accustomed to handling my heavy weight custom rifles. The bare rifle with an empty magazine weighs in at 7.0 lbs. As equipped in the photos, it weighs in at 9.8lbs with a loaded magazine and a second loaded magazine in the the stock pack!! I really look forward to the upcoming whitetail hunting season! Thank you again, Robert Gradous!


Stiller TAC30 action
Bartlein #3 4 groove 1:8 .264 (6.5mm) finished at 16.5" threaded 5/8x24"
Jewell Trigger
PTG bottom metal
OD Green McMillan A3 Sporter (EDGE - carbon fiber)
Nightforce 5.5-22x50 ZS HS MOAR w/ holland level
Nightforce UL low rings
Atlas Bi-pod
TAB Gear sling
Eagle Stock pack
All metal Cerekoted Flat Dark Earth


















Since I just received the rifle, I really haven't had the chance to do an appropriate load work up... This is what I got out if it so far with very little effort.



39.0gr RL-17 / 136 Scenars (.085")






(.166")

40.0gr H-4350 / 136 Scenars








39.0gr H-4350 / 136 Scenars (.167")




 
With my buds can:







I wasn't super impressed with the 130 Berger Hunting VLD's @ 100 yards that much.. I really had to try HARD to shoot a group..



The best I walked away with today was this (all testing done without the can):





....but they SHINED @ 687 yards!!






(looking back at the shooting position from behind the plate - F-350 off in the distance)


 
Velocity with the 130 Berger VLD hunting / 38.5gr Varget / CCI BR4 / New brass:




Velocity with the 136 Lapua Scenar / 40.0gr H-4350 / CCI BR4 / New brass:

(Accidentally reset to series one and deleted the info but luckily I wrote it down)

Min: 2491
Max: 2522
Avg: 2502
SD: 9
ES:31
 
Tinkered with 38.9gr of Varget and the 136 Scenars... Still moving 1831fps @ 600 yards with 1012 ft. lbs!










10 Shots with the magneto-speed attached...







 
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483 yards, 136 Scenar DRT! He was cruising at the edge of the far side of the field right near the thick hardwoods about 40 mins or after sun up. I placed the shot directly through his heart (was only about half a heart left, the rest was pudding), exit wound was roughly the size of a golf ball.


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Stock and metal finish make it something you can use w/o obsessing over the minor blemishes usage usually causes yet is handsome.

Great accuracy. Excellent photography as well. Don
 
Great build,nice shooting and nice deer!
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I'm glad to hear the Scenars worked well,have you taking other deer with them and if so were the results the same?
 
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