Building a Custom Rifle

[SwiftShot]

I was thinking about building a custom rifle. I like that Ti X Long Action Magnum from Defiance. I was thinking that action, Carbon Six Barrel and putting it in a MDT Hunter 26 Stock. I was thinking of 300 PRC. Well then I went to the range and pulled out my Christensen Ridgeline in 300 RUM. I was there shooting something else but I decided to put a few down range with it. Well 3 rounds at 100 yards . I like the rifle just not in love with the stock. I cannot see spending 1800 on a MDT stock for it but hell it shoots money with most loads. That is 212 ELDX at 2900 FPS. Should I just leave well enough alone. If I built a custom I would be happy with groups like that.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Everyone needs another rifle.

 

[HandgunHTR]

^^^^ What he said. ^^^^

Of course there is also the fact that you could spend $1500 on a chassis for your current rifle and it would end up shooting worse. Or, you could spend $3500+ on a custom and it won't shoot nearly as good as your current rifle. Those are always the risks.

It really depends on what you are actually going for. And you have to be honest with yourself, which is the hardest thing to do. Do you just want the rifle because it will be something different? Are you expecting better performance? Have you always wanted a custom rifle so that you can say that you have one?

Last thing. If you are going to go full custom, then buy once, cry once. I would honestly not go with either the action or the barrel that you listed for a full custom. Defiance actions are very prone to binding. If you really have to go with CF barrel, then get a Bartlien rather than a Carbon Six. CS makes good barrels, don't get me wrong. Bartlien makes great barrels.

 

[SwiftShot]

^^^^ What he said. ^^^^

Of course there is also the fact that you could spend $1500 on a chassis for your current rifle and it would end up shooting worse. Or, you could spend $3500+ on a custom and it won't shoot nearly as good as your current rifle. Those are always the risks.

It really depends on what you are actually going for. And you have to be honest with yourself, which is the hardest thing to do. Do you just want the rifle because it will be something different? Are you expecting better performance? Have you always wanted a custom rifle so that you can say that you have one?

Last thing. If you are going to go full custom, then buy once, cry once. I would honestly not go with either the action or the barrel that you listed for a full custom. Defiance actions are very prone to binding. If you really have to go with CF barrel, then get a Bartlien rather than a Carbon Six. CS makes good barrels, don't get me wrong. Bartlien makes great barrels.

Who would recommend for a custom lightweight action.

 

[arrow179]

Who would recommend for a custom lightweight action.

What length action? If going 300PRC then has to be long action. If money is no concern then Bat Vampire or Kelbly Nanook would be my top 2 choices. FYI both of these now have a 75 degree bolt option vs standard 90.

 

[Fever Buck]

If you already have a good shooting 30 cal magnum, why not go with something like a 7PRC?

 

[khuber84]

Put the Ridgeline barreled action into a proper stock, with a clean good bedding job. The only reason I see to change things up is if you're wanting to run a shorter barrel/supressor, or change cartridges all together.

 

[SwiftShot]

^^^^ What he said. ^^^^

Of course there is also the fact that you could spend $1500 on a chassis for your current rifle and it would end up shooting worse. Or, you could spend $3500+ on a custom and it won't shoot nearly as good as your current rifle. Those are always the risks.

It really depends on what you are actually going for. And you have to be honest with yourself, which is the hardest thing to do. Do you just want the rifle because it will be something different? Are you expecting better performance? Have you always wanted a custom rifle so that you can say that you have one?

Last thing. If you are going to go full custom, then buy once, cry once. I would honestly not go with either the action or the barrel that you listed for a full custom. Defiance actions are very prone to binding. If you really have to go with CF barrel, then get a Bartlien rather than a Carbon Six. CS makes good barrels, don't get me wrong. Bartlien makes great barrels.

I am thinking of a lightweight mountain rifle in 300 PRC. That is what I was thinking about. I could just buy the MDT HNTR 26 stock and put it on this rifle. Try it out for a little while and if I dont like it put the old stock back on it and sell it. Then get the action and barrel

 

[JohnJohnson]

Who would recommend for a custom lightweight action.

What's lightweight mean? Lone Peak Fuzion with alpine cut would be a solid pick and seems like Altus has it in stock in long action with magnum bolt. I know titanium sounds cool but titanium actions tend to not feel as nice during bolt manipulation as steel actions do. If that matters to you.

Lone Peak Arms Fuzion Action (Alpine Port)

The Lone Peak Arms Fuzion Ti was built for those looking for an accurate and lightweight action that delivers a half pound weight reduction versus a similar...

www.altusshooting.com

 

[Flyjunky]

Why spend $4,000 on a new custom when you have a rifle, at least by the one group shown, that shoots as good as a custom would shoot (or better)?

Put your current setup in a new stock and it will most likely continue to shoot well. It’s kind of like the adage….don’t leave elk to go find elk.

 

[TaperPin]

I’m a huge fan of a second accurate rifle - if groups aren’t what should be, shooting the second rifle instantly shows if it’s you, swapping scope instantly shows if it’s that, and if it’s down to be worked on the other rifle is ready to go.

More = better.

 

[packgoatguy]

I was thinking about building a custom rifle. I like that Ti X Long Action Magnum from Defiance. I was thinking that action, Carbon Six Barrel and putting it in a MDT Hunter 26 Stock. I was thinking of 300 PRC. Well then I went to the range and pulled out my Christensen Ridgeline in 300 RUM. I was there shooting something else but I decided to put a few down range with it. Well 3 rounds at 100 yards . I like the rifle just not in love with the stock. I cannot see spending 1800 on a MDT stock for it but hell it shoots money with most loads. That is 212 ELDX at 2900 FPS. Should I just leave well enough alone. If I built a custom I would be happy with groups like that. View attachment 787066

I've been down this road a few times. Put together a couple 300wm and a 28nos in hnt26 chassis. They are just too much recoil for that system IMO. I was never as happy with the shootability or groups as I'd have liked. On the other hand, my custom and semi-custom 6mmCM and 6.5cm rifles with hnt26 stocks are tack drivers and have taken a variety of game animals including bear, deer, and elk. Including my 70 year old neighbor who just took his (probably last) 6point bull elk with one of my rifles at 455 yards (one shot) last week.

That being said... I like my MacBros action, and LRI does good work. (My 6mmCM only weighs just an ounce or two over 6.5lbs... including NXS scope, Ultra7 suppressor, folding stock, and mag... and it's a joy to carry and shoot)

If you need a 30 cal, a 300wsm might be a good option to consider...

When considering a lightweight mountain rifle... I like short barrels, short actions, folding stocks, compact suppressors, stainless steel and cerakote, bulletproof scopes (dialing), dope charts out to 600 yards... and tape over my muzzle.

As a side note, before spending a couple
grand on chassis and custom rifles... I'd suggest putting a few more rounds on paper before I made any decisions.

Here is a good process to help see the true capabilities of the rifle.

I'd shoot a group of 10 in one sitting to see what the spread looks like.

Then shoot 4 separate groups of 3 rounds at the same target from the same shooting position (mark each one between shoots) to see where the overall pattern is. (Let the barrel fully cool between each 3 round group)

Then do the same 4 separate groups of 3, but do it from a different shooting position each time (try one with your preferred hunting bipod prone, one off a backpack prone, one off of sticks sitting, one nestled between solid sand bags off the bench.

That would be a total of 34 rounds down range by that point. Overlay all three targets to see what the overall group looks like. See if you notice any patterns. Best if you can record velocity and temp data as you do all this.

 

[pacoalcracker]

With a rifle that shoots that good you don't need another rifle. Perhaps install their newer FFT stock on it and see if you like it better. Maybe try one of CA's other stock configurations you might like the feel of better.