Desert Forge Arms
Building Powerful Long-Range Accuracy
The goal: a powerful long-range precision rifle that didn’t break the bank. The solution:
Tom Owensby of Desert Forge Arms. The result: a stunningly accurate Remington 700 in .300 RUM.
There are few firearm platforms I’ve missed as a full-time writer. Those I have not owned, I have made a point to find and shoot, such as the 2-bore double rifle that developed horsepower instead of foot-pounds of muzzle energy. Currently, a Thompson/Center G-2 is central to my interest with .357 Maximum 180-gr. bullets at an average velocity of 2,050 fps — my new favorite deer/antelope partner. The G-2 also has an MGM .22 Long Rifle Match barrel for small game and one in .22 Hornet for varmints. But more on this affliction another time.
The Bell and Carlson stock is a classic but takes advantage of modern build technology.
The muzzle brake helped to tame the recoil of the .300 RUM.
The .30-30 Kid Changes Horses
Tom Ownsby, of Desert Forge in Benson, Arizona, recently said, “You want what? The Thirty-thirty Kid is looking for a precision long-range rifle?”
My challenge to Tom was putting bullets spot-on at long ranges. For the first time I wanted a rifle built around a bullet — Hornady’s .30-caliber 225-gr. ELD Match. To encourage velocity, we chose the .300 RUM (Remington Ultra Magnum). I also asked for a muzzle brake and Tom’s in-buttstock recoil reducers — two please. I gave Tom his choice of action and telescopic rifle sight. I also wanted to see “how much rifle” could be built without breaking the bank. Tom said he could do it and I said, “Go for it.” It’s always good to let the expert pick the parts they know best.
As I watched him work, I quickly learned I knew no more about preparing a rifle for long-range shooting than building a rocket to Pluto. “Stop,” I said one day as I visited the work in progress. I was paraphrasing his steps, but knew I was missing much. Tom’s an intelligent, literate person so I said, “You write it down, because I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Tom included two of his patented Desert Forge Recoil Energy Mitigators into the buttstock.
Sam says the recoil is similar to a .308!
Tom Says …
“I like the Remington 700 action to build my long-range rifles for big game hunting,” he said. “The 700 is a solid platform, reliable and durable. The cost is reasonable for an entry level precision rifle because of 700 action availability, plus it offers many customizing and aftermarket enhancements. It’s the Chevy and Ford of the automotive industry, where custom parts abound.
“Specifically, the M40 version is a first step to a fine rifle. It comes with a heavy barrel and workable Bell & Carlson stock, two prime ingredients for the kind of rifle I want for my customers. Added to this, I do know specific points — both obvious as well as relatively hidden — for my machine work.”
Sam’s new rifle held half-minute accuracy with a 225-gr. Hornady ELD Match bullet at
2,878 fps and has more energy at 600 yards than his favorite .30-30 does at the muzzle!
Secrets Revealed
Tom patiently explained some of his secrets to me. When beginning a precision long-range rifle retaining its factory caliber, he changes the stock 3/16″ recoil lug to a 3/8″ thick heavy duty one, surface-ground flat and parallel. The action is “blueprinted,” meaning the working parts, receiver and bolt are brought parallel and square to the bolt raceway.
The receiver is bored to 0.705″ and the bolt sleeve to 0.703″ to remove play. Any play causes the bolt to fail in locking up to the receiver, pitching the locking lug forward to lose full contact with its mating surface. The chamber is also headspaced to minimum SAAMI-spec clearance to minimize case stretching.
The bolt lugs are machined square and are of the same dimension, with the bolt face squared to the centerline. The receiver threads are recut square and parallel to the receiver centerline. It’s like “blueprinting” a stock engine in a hot-rod. You make sure everything is running straight and true.
The Remington X-Mark trigger is more than acceptable in a hunting rifle, even one of precision long-range character. Adjustment is made to a very crisp 2.5-lb. release with no creep or backlash. Any experienced shooter will manage this trigger well.
Power with surgical precision — With several recoil-taming features, Sam is able to
shoot his new rifle comfortably while still enjoying 1/2-MOA accuracy!
Scoping It Out
On this rifle, I used an SWFA SS 3X-15X FFP rifle scope with an MOA reticule. Tom considers this scope a super value for under $700 and I agree completely. It pays to listen to those who know! The low-end magnification gives the shooter a clean opportunity for a closer shot, while higher numbers promise long-range bullet placement. The glass is very clean with an etched reticle and it’s also a first focal plane scope. Rings are SWFA 6-screw medium height with an EGW Picatinny scope base — a very solid setup.
Tom replaced the stock Remington 700 3/16" recoil lug with a 3/8" thick heavy-duty one,
surface-ground flat and parallel.
RUM Punch
The rifle in .300 RUM was right for long-range high-energy delivery. The RUM will send a heavy, controlled-expansion big-game type bullet to 600-yards with greater punch than my .30-30 has at the muzzle. This is the kind of Moxy you need for really big game, like moose.
Even in this purposely heavy rifle, this kind of generated energy comes at the expense of recoil. The goal is to reduce its effect as much as possible for best shooting. Tom began with a Precision Armament M4-72 .308/7.62 muzzle brake for this rifle. The reverse venting, triple baffled design with upward biased venting reduced muzzle lift for greater recoil management. It worked great.
Tom told me he’s seen RUM recoil described as “hellacious” at 32 foot-pounds. Call it about double .30-06 recoil. While weight plus muzzle brake tames the RUM considerably, Tom also included two of his patented Desert Forge Recoil Energy Mitigators into the buttstock. As a demonstration of these recoil-reducers, in Tom’s hands, felt recoil with a 225-gr. Hornady ELD Match with 87 grains of Retumbo chronographing at 2,878 fps compared to the kick of a .308 — very moderate! After 40 rounds, he said he could still shoot the rifle comfortably — and he hates recoil!
Notes, notes and more notes! Tom used his phone’s camera to keep notes
and document his build, keeping things well organized.
Range Proof
The rifle performed for me later as intended, with half-minute accuracy and without brain-scrambling, spine-twisting recoil.
Sometimes, it pays to simply sell off what you don’t use any longer and invest in one quality tool. My rifle cost about $2,500 including the new rifle, scope, parts and labor. Prices can vary due to individual options you may choose, but it’s still an amazing deal. To say I’m happy I did this is to sorely understate the situation!
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