Rifle Build Question

[FLHunter87]

I am possibly looking into a new rifle and really want a custom/ semi custom one. I really don’t want to drop 8k on a rifle. That’s the range I have seen several makes that do custom. Also I already know factory guns can shoot as good as I have a browning X Bolt Pro that is great. I think a range would be 3-4k range. So I have been looking around here and there and came across barreled actions by several companies. Would getting a barreled action, stock, trigger, magazine, and putting together possible? I feel like getting a stock and putting on the barreled action would basically be the same as swapping out stocks? Or am I missing something and would still need a gunsmith to put together?

I’m looking at a 6.5 PRC with a 26” barrel ideally but would do 24” as that’s what I already have on my X Bolt Pro. Barrel can be steel, don’t care if carbon fiber though.Looking at the MDT HNT Chassis or the MDT Carbon Stock. Alterra makes a pretty cool stock that looks like a McMillan Game Warden but is also collapsing. But not sure if that’s available alone. Anyway just seeing if this idea is what I think or is it more than what I think.

 

[Harvey_NW]

The possibilities are endless, but if you're wanting to do a budget minded semi-custom build it's hard to beat starting with a Tikka at $650 for a fully functional 24" 6.5 PRC. Have a gunsmith touch the chamber up with the AW2 reamer (or buy the Cortina sizing die) to avoid clickers, and buy whatever else you want to upgrade.

 

[rootacres]

You have some options. Many of our first customs are slightly budget oriented. A couple things to note.

Bighorn Origin actions ($1,000) their bolt heads can be swapped out on the fly with no tools. So if you want to run a switch barrel eventually you can have 1 action, 2 bolt heads and 2 barrels. I did this for a little while. Worked great.

Preferred barrel blanks, I may get torched on this but I just slapped one on my NRL rig. This PB shoots better than my last barrel (that was a big name brand).

Stocks/chassis/triggers/muzzle devices, watch the classifieds. You can scoop up good stuff for good discounts.

You could get a badass setup for $3k-$4k if you play your cards right. The riflescope game has gotten much better at that low-mid tier price point.

 

[Kooziehiker]

Have you looked at Weatherby, Seekins, Fierce just to name a few to start. Some semi custom options in the 3K range for sure. Probably others. Tikka great option - again upgrade whatever you might light. Might want to consider a used stock gun for the action - Tikka, Rem700, and have a new barrel, bolt (if needed) add your preferred stock - again, could be under 3K - or the sky is the limit.

Good luck hope it works out well.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

there's an old rule around somewhere that you're better off ahead if what you're after is available from the market go that route, if not then you build, I've done both before I learned that rule, now I start there, never seemed satisfied with customs, spent more one em generally, and resale sucks...I've had a lot of fun regardless so factor that in

 

[Judd]

Stinky is right...if you can find a used custom that is like you want...buy it. You are going to at minimum lose any gunsmith fees.

I biased as I build on the side and prefer a fitted barrel versus a prefit. Do prefits work? Yes, they do. Going that route you can put together your entire rifle. To me the main benefits of a custom is you can get exactly what you want while stacking the accuracy odds heavily in your favor.

To specifically answer your questions: "Would getting a barreled action, stock, trigger, magazine, and putting together possible?" Yes, you could. Where you could run into issues is do you want to bed the stock, will you have feeding issues and do you know how to address those? I can tell you magazine setups can eliminate a lot of the feeding issues. "I feel like getting a stock and putting on the barreled action would basically be the same as swapping out stocks? Or am I missing something and would still need a gunsmith to put together?" I talked about bedding and feeding issues, those are two things a gunsmith could do for you...but you could also do yourself. A good gunsmith will know how to eliminate stress in the bedding and measure for stress in the bedding.

The MDT stocks you mention are great and have a bedding block in them...I tell folks to shoot them and if they shoot up to your expectations, don't bed them. They are one of the premier chassis/stock makers for a reason.

Good luck.