Custom Corner
Little Crow Gunworks
column By: Stan Trzoniec | November, 19
Realizing that, for the most part, the long-range rifles built today are not really practical hunting rifles, he designed the gun shown on these pages. He calls it a “concept rifle,” with the idea that it would be at home in a deer blind or on the African veldt for plains game.
With that in mind, the first thing was to use a Stiller Predator long action complete with a Picatinny rail. To that he added a 25-inch Krieger stainless No. 5 contour barrel with a 1:8 twist. For a cartridge, Dale felt the .280 Ackley Improved would be the best bet, all wrapped up in a stock that would max out around 9 pounds with a scope and mounts.
To gain the most in accuracy, he installed a premium Timney Calvin Elite trigger adjusted to 1.5 pounds of pull. For appearance and durability, the barreled action was finished in a Sniper Grey CERAKOTE.
For the stock, he picked the McMillan Game Scout in a speckletone finish with the action pillar bedded. The stock was also equipped with a one-inch Decelerator pad set to a 13.5-inch length of pull. The Pacific Tool and Gauge bottom metal is aluminum with an Oberndorf latch. For optics, a Vortex Razor HD scope was mounted in PMR rings.
For more information on Dale Hegstrom’s gunsmithing services, visit littlecrowgunworks.com.