Pauper's mountain gun.....

robtattoo

WKR
Joined
Mar 22, 2014
Messages
3,487
Location
Tullahoma, TN
The goal of the build was to stay under $500 & under 7lb.

Well, I got it half right.

I kept it a gnat's nut hair under five bills & an equal measure over 7 pounds.

It started out as a standard 30-06 Savage Axis including the budget scope that I scored for a total of $280.
I sold the scope for $50 & the stock for $60 bringing it to a total invested of $170

A friend of mine straight-fluted the bolt body. The stock is a heavily reduced Boyd's Classic (+$90 = $260) I hollowed out the butt & shortened, slimmed & lightened the front end, dropping it's total weight by 10oz. Just got it back today from having it dipped (badly :( ) in Kryptek Nomad camo. (+ $60 = $320)
I turned down & threaded the bolt handle to accept a carbon bolt knob (+ $30 = $350). Incidentally, I also had to relieve the top of the bolt handle to clear the ocular bell of the Vortex Crossfire scope. Something I didn't consider when I ordered the Talley low rings (word to the wise, is all ;) )
The barrel is (I believe) an E R Shaw blank, shortened, crowned & chambered by Jim Walters at Bison Gun Works. I had it chambered in 6.5x55 with a long throat to readily accept the long Nosler 140gn Accubonds. (+$180 = $530) I could've left is as the ought-six, but honestly, I'm just that big a fan. There are so many other calibers just as adequate for half the recoil & The ballistics of a .264 long-nosed bullet takes a lot of arguing against. I went with the Swede simply because factory ammo isn't uncommon (if needed), Lapua make good brass & I'm not expecting this to be a 'beyond 500yd rifle' so it's more than up to the job off killing anything I'll be hunting. I've got a .280 Ackley on the bench for elk....

The trigger is stock, but polished & shimmed, with an overtravel screw & lighter spring installed. I've set it up with almost zero travel, but a break-weight of 4lb. Safe, but simple.
The barrel & action I had cerakoted in Magpul FDE. I had to paint the scope.

Unfortunately the total loaded weight came in at 7lb 10½oz, but for my first ever attempt at a build, to say that I'm happy is a VAST understatement!
Just went out for a function test & shot 5 times with no mishaps & no lost fingers (ok, so I was nervous. First build...)
Oh, I sold the original barrel on eBay for $63 do the total cost finalized at $467!

 

Cross

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 5, 2013
Messages
105
Nicely done, bet it was a blast to build and have it all come together.
 
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robtattoo

robtattoo

WKR
Joined
Mar 22, 2014
Messages
3,487
Location
Tullahoma, TN
Hopefully, if the damn temperature drops out of the hundreds, I'll get to the range in the next few months.
Honestly, I'll be happy with 1½" at 100, but I've got one of Jim's barrels on my heavy F-class rig that commonly prints less than a ¼", so hope springs.....
 
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