I currently have an A-Bolt Stainless Stalker in 300WM, left hand. I originally picked it up for Moose, but my moose hunting interests have moved more towards the archery side, and I have a .270 that would make a fine moose rifle as well. I'm into the rifle, picked up second hand years ago, for $400 including the Vari-X III 2.5-8x36 mounted on it, on there's no emotional attachment to it.
I am, however, contemplating some brown bear hunting, both coastal browns and interior grizzly in Alaska. I want to get all my rifles set up for a silencer that's in jail, but I've heard the A-Bolt is hard to do barrel work on. If I stay with the A-Bolt, it will likely get cut back to 22" and threaded, but I don't expect I'll do much else. If I go with a new platform, I can also change cartridge if desired. 30-06, 7MM Rem Mag, and 7MM PRC all on the table, though the 300WM is already a great option.
Is it worth trying to go ahead and convert this into a suppressed rifle, or would I be better off with a different platform (likely would go Tikka for a semi-custom build, or Christensen for an out-of-the-box option). Anything I should know about with it as a base for this build?
I am, however, contemplating some brown bear hunting, both coastal browns and interior grizzly in Alaska. I want to get all my rifles set up for a silencer that's in jail, but I've heard the A-Bolt is hard to do barrel work on. If I stay with the A-Bolt, it will likely get cut back to 22" and threaded, but I don't expect I'll do much else. If I go with a new platform, I can also change cartridge if desired. 30-06, 7MM Rem Mag, and 7MM PRC all on the table, though the 300WM is already a great option.
Is it worth trying to go ahead and convert this into a suppressed rifle, or would I be better off with a different platform (likely would go Tikka for a semi-custom build, or Christensen for an out-of-the-box option). Anything I should know about with it as a base for this build?