How short? 308 Shorty Build Kick-Off

Though I typically feature more modern cartridges in my rifle builds like the 7mm PRC, I’ve recently developed an affinity for the 308, partly due to testing the Bergara B-14² Crest. I’ll be basing my next rifle build (a 308 shorty) around the Foundation Dominion stock and BAT Igniter action, but need some help deciding on the other parameters. 

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About the Foundation Dominion

The Foundation Dominion hunting stock is a new offering.

Here are some stories related to the Foundation Genesis 2 that you’ll want to check out:

As you can see, we are BIG fans of Foundation stocks!

About Dominion

Foundation Stocks are made of micarta, a unique material that both deadens recoil and provides a distinctive recoil signature. 

From Foundation Stocks:

The Foundation Dominion – Dominate Your Hunt

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” – Genesis 1:26

Carry over the advantages found in the Foundation competition stocks to the field! The Dominion was designed with close attention being paid to the balance and drive-ability of the stock. The comb angle was designed to aid in linear tracking of the rifle during recoil, assisting the shooter in seeing the impact. Feel less, see more with Foundation.

Standard Features:

    • Precision Machined Stock
    • Drop In Design – Specific to action and bottom metal
    • Stock ships with a 1″ Pachmayr recoil pad creating a 13.5” LOP.
    • 1 Sling Stud Installed Below Buttstock / Slide in sling stud installed in rail.
    • 11.25” Anschutz Rail Installed
    • Hand sanded and worked finish
    • Standard weight is 3lbs 4oz with .5″ recoil pad, 3lbs 6oz with 1″ recoil pad.

Current lead time is 10-12 weeks. Give us a call for the most accurate lead time!

Details: 

Action Inlet: RimX, Surgeon 591, Templar V2, Bighorn Origin, Bighorn TL3, Curtis Axiom, Curtis Vector, Defiance Deviant, Defiance Deviant Elite, Impact 737R, Lone Peak Fuzion, Mausingfield, Remington 700, Terminus Apollo, Terminus Zeus, Vudoo V-22

Detachable Bottom Metal Inlets: Hawkins M5

Finish: Natural (+$0.00), Dark (+$75.00), Coyote (+75.00) (Formerly Distressed), Dark Distressed (+75.00)

Weight: Standard, Heavy

Action Configuration: Right Handed, Left Handed

About the BAT Igniter Action

BAT actions are a common theme in my rifle builds, but for this 308, I’m working with the BAT Igniter, an action I haven’t worked with before. 

From BAT Machine:

We are excited to offer a lower cost repeater action that is built to the exacting BAT quality all our actions are made to.

So you wonder how can we reduce the cost and not the quality… the same way Henry Ford did, “you can get it in any color you want as long as it is black” following this thought process we will not be offering any variations on this action in finish type, options or materials used.

The Igniter is designed around the 700 Short Action foot print.

Features include:

Action body is made using hardened 4140 Chromoly Steel and blued.

Includes integral recoil lug.

The action top is drilled for 8-40 screws and has .125 pin hole to prevent rail movement.

Having scope mount holes also allows for the use of our direct mount rings. https://www.batmachine.com/product/scope-ring-direct-mount/

Modular bolt for lower cost bolt face changes.

Bolt face choices are .385 (223) .480 (308) and .55 (magnum)

Has our proven .070 firing pin diameter for maximum accuracy and reliable ignition.

Comes with a medium size aluminum knob. The handle has a 5/16-24 thread.

Salt bath Nitride firing pin, bolt and shroud for extremely smooth bolt movement and low maintenance.

Allows use of most Remington 700 SA components including the ability to run detach boxes without binder plates.

Right hand versions available now.

Barrel tenon is 1.062 x 18 tpi. Click here for print

Weight;  Bare action: 1 lb 14 oz – Pic rail 2 oz – 30mm low rings 3.4oz

Bare action $1044.75

Action package 1:  Includes installed 20 MOA pic rail $1133.75

Action package 2:  Includes package 1 plus 30 or 34mm Picatinny rings $1248.75

I’ve previously worked with the BAT TR tactical action.

In comparison, the BAT Igniter has many of the same features, but at a lower cost with the same benchrest precision BAT machine is known for.

The biggest difference is that the Igniter has a traditional Remington 700 style trigger hanger and a non-integral rail. It has a modular bolt, allowing you to swap it out for different rifle configurations. 

Other Components 

This rifle will feature the Hawkins Precision Hunter DBM bottom metal and corresponding magazine. 

From Hawkins Precision

The Hunter Detachable Box Magazine (DBM) bottom metal is designed for shooters that are looking for a flush mounted bottom metal that will accept flush magazines. The DBM is machined from a single piece of billet 6061 and features a patented cantilever spring release that will not open under heavy recoil. The magazine release is also adjustable, sleek and all but impossible to actuate accidentally.

The Hunter DBM is made to fit into an M5 inlet. Will not fit a Remington BDL inlet.

It is available for Remington 700 actions, and all Remington 700 clones. Comes with pillars and action screws.

Short Action Weight: 2.8 oz

Medium Length Action Weight 3.0 oz (Lone Peak, Zermatt, Stiller & Defiance XM+ actions)

Long Action Weight: 3.4 oz

Long Action Hunter DBMs require gunsmithing in factory length factory Remington 700 actions

Zermatt Origin Long actions after serial number 05000 will accommodate the Hunter DBM

Zermatt Origin Short actions after serial number 05350 will accommodate the Hunter DBM

All Zermatt medium actions will accommodate the Hunter DBM

Magazine Compatibility:

    • Short Actions: Hawkins Flush Hunter Magazines / AICS 5 and 10 round 308 (3901 – 5 Round / 3902 – 10 Round)
    • Medium Actions: Hawkins Flush Magazines / MDT XM Length 10 Round Magazines (Lone Peak, Stiller, Zermatt)
    • Long Actions: Hawkins Flush Hunter Magazines (will not work with 5 round CIP length AICS, MDT, or Accurate magazines)

This bottom metal gives me the option of using a Hunter or AICS magazine.

I’ve previously used Hawkins Precision Hunter DBM bottom metal and the hunter mag before with the XLR Element chassis and full custom Bergara 7mm PRC build featuring a Boyds stock. 

We also have a set of BAT precision rings for the scope.

From BAT Machine

Our  Picatinny scope rings made from 7075-T6 aluminum. The rings have side clamp plates to allow quick scope removal and installation.

We offer them in silver polished or Anodized matte black.

Height and Weight per set:

30mm Short =.27″ tall & weighs 3.4 oz

30mm Tall = .53″ tall & weighs 4.2 oz

34mm Short = .35″ tall & weighs 3.8 oz

34mm Tall = .53″ tall & weighs 4.4 oz

The measurement of our rings are from the TOP of the Picatinny rail to the BOTTOM of your scope tube.

The .30 caliber barrel blank is a sporter profile from Benchmark.

I’d like to make it shorter, but I am torn between 16”, 18” and 20” finished lengths. I’ll add ⅝ x 24 threading and a suppressor like the BANISH 30.

I’m also considering one of my special sporter threading jobs with a taper nut. 

To chamber the barrel I have a JGS SAAMI spec .308 piloted reamer with bushings. The bushings are in increments of two ten thousandths of an inch. 

Your Input Needed!

Barrel Length: What barrel length would you like to see? 16, 18, or 20 inches? Drop a comment and let us know.

Color: Also, if I Cerakote the barreled action and possibly the bottom metal and magazine, what color would you like to see? The micarta will stay just the way it is. I haven’t fully committed to full Cerakote and am also considering just Cerakoting the barrel graphite black to match the action. What do you think?

Get the Gear

Foundation Dominion Short Action Stock

Hawkins Precision Hunter DBM Bottom Metal

BAT Machine Igniter Action

BAT Scope Rings

JGS Precision Reamer

Benchmark Barrel Blank

BANISH 30

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Thanks,
Gavin Gear

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