My first hunting trip to south Texas was an eye opener. The country is huge and hunting out of an elevated blind I could see 500 yards or better down the senderos (spanish for 'path').

When my hunt was over I called long time friend and custom rifle builder Randy Fite of Fite Custom Rifles. Randy has hunted south Texas and Mexico for years and formerly competed in bench rest competitions. This experience and expertise has equipped him to build the finest and most accurate hunting rifles for the serious hunter. Before the end of our conversation he knew exactly what I wanted and needed.

A short time later he invited me to his shop to pick up my new hunting rifle. I arrived early and Randy was still working up the proper load for the rifle. He asked if I'd like to help by fire forming the brass, which I did, but I left the accuracy shots up to him during the load workup process.

Because I want to be able to use this rifle throughout North America, as well as in Europe and Africa, we decided on a 27" Krieger barrel beautifully finished with one of Randy's slim line muzzle brakes and chambered in .300 Weatherby Improved 60 degrees. Built on a totally blueprinted Remington Model 700 BDL action with a Jewell Trigger, set on my request to a one pound pull, components are pillar bedded and floated into a Borden Rimrock composite stock. The stock has a well done subtle camouflage pattern made from a selected T-shirt cloth and covered with a clear coat of resin. Topped with a 4.5 x 14 Leupold scope the entire package weighs in at 8 pounds 12 ounces.

For the potential long shots on deer in south Texas Randy recommended a 125 grain ballistic tip bullet pushed by 84.5 grains of powder to 3,850 feet per second*. He included a highly accurate trajectory chart out to 500 yards taken from chronograph readings during our test firing and sight-in with this load.

The two three-shot groups on the targets to the left illustrate the superb accuracy level of the rifle and our choice of sight-in. Point of aim is the bottom left corner of the square with the bullets hitting 2.6 inches high. With this I'm able to hold on an animal the size of a deer all the way out to 500 yards.

On my first hunt with this rifle I dropped a 9-point whitetail in its tracks at 350 yards. One shot - one kill - the bullet striking the exact spot I was aiming at, no elevation compensation required. The bullet went through the shoulder and lungs without exiting the opposite side, expending all its 125 grain ballistic tip energy into the animal.

Later in the season on my second hunt with this rifle I again dropped a 9-point whitetail in its tracks, this time at 76 yards. The 125 grain ballistic tip bullet went through both lungs and exited the other side. But the results were identical, one shot - one kill with the deer dropping straight to the ground.

To say that I am pleased with my Fite Custom Rifle would be an understatement. I am thrilled. The rifle does precisely what I hoped it would, and the quality of workmanship and its performance exceeded my expectations. It handles, feels and operates like the finely crafted tool that it is.

Before I left his shop, understanding that having a superbly accurate rifle is not the total solution, Randy discussed with me as he does with all clients accuracy tips and techniques the shooter needs to ensure his or her skill level is as high as possible.

Now every time I put the rifle to my shoulder I am 100% confident that I know exactly where the bullet will impact when I take a shot, a feeling I've never had before. Any and all doubt in my performance or my rifles has been eliminated, which lets me concentrate on the fun at hand - the hunt itself.

If you love to hunt you owe it to yourself to talk with Randy Fite of Fite Custom Rifles.

Phil Whittemore - International Hunter & Angler
President, BlueWaterBigGame.com, LLC

Learn more about Fite Custom Rifles

Contact Fite Custom Rifles
+1 (936) 851-2613

*CAUTION: ALL LOAD DATA GIVEN IS INTENDED FOR THIS RIFLE ONLY.

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