Would like to build a custom rifle and I have a few questions??

[torrey.harris.5]

A little background
I have had Remington 700s and win 70 and some browning abolts, as of lately I have fell in love with the Winchester 70 extreme weather , I love the 3 position safety, I have a win 70 extreme weather in 300 win mag, 243 win , 7mm mag, and tc encore pro hunter in 7mag and 25/06 but I would really like to do an all around do everything custom rifle in the 2500 range. So for what I have given y’all so far what would be the
best action,
barrel and
stock
and caliber
for that custom rifle build I’m thinking about doing


Any and all suggestions and opinions welcomed!!!!

More info added below!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not nor do I want to start reloading.

I primarily hunt in the deep south Mississippi , Louisiana but Midwest also with occasionally shots at 400 plus but mainly 100- 250 as an average. I WOULD LIKE THIS RIFLE TO BE A DO ALL AND BE ABle TO TAKE IT OUT WEST WHICH I DO ABOUT EVERY other year.




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[tdhanses]

$2500 in parts or including labor, best find a good gunsmith let them know what you want to do and your budget. You can source your parts on your own usually but you’ll need to know what the labor charge will be and add that to your budget. You could easily spend $1000 for a chamber/barrel install, action truing, muzzle brake if wanted, cerakote, stock bedding etc etc., not leaving much for parts, now if you can do some of the work you can save there. A wildcat composite stock would be worth considering if you can finish a stock. No muzzle brake will save you a few hundred overall. Just so many ways to go with a build it’s hard to tell someone what direction to go.

My suggestion, talk to a gunsmith. Do you have a donor action? You could always buy a howa barreled action for around $500-$600 and put a barrel and good stock on it.

Start pricing out components and find what fits your budget with labor.

 

[30338]

You hunt in a treestand in brush, stalk the plains, stalk timberline, sit on a bait barrel? Probably would help determine what you want to do regarding custom. Assuming right handed? Ton of good factory options in righthand these days.

 

[Whisky]

IMO you can really only compromise in price when it comes to the stock and action (or doing some work yourself). Manners vs Bell and Carlson. Rem 700/Tikka donor vs Defiant, LPA, etc. Those two items are where you can turn a 2500 build into $4300. All other things are going to be close enough in price it don't matter much. I guess a carbon wrapped barrel vs steel is a decent difference too. So where can you compromise? What are your intentions

I have two builds off rem 700 actions and bartlein barrels that are excellent shooters. Both have Manners stocks, factory BDL metal, Jewell triggers. I think both rifles came in around the $3200 mark. So in order to get down to 2500 you need a cheaper trigger and stock.

 

[bozeman]

Kampfeld Customs- call Mr Carl and talk to him. I went this route 3 years ago and he was great to deal with. I ordered the components and had them sent to his shop.

McMillan Edge Stock
Rem 700 Action
Shilen Barrel from Bugholes
Bottom Metal
Timney trigger

He did a great job and it shoots lights out! Best of luck with the new addiction. Standard production rifles (tho many nice options available) just don’t cut it anymore.....

 

[handwerk]

I've put together 9 custom jobs on model 70 actions, mainly pre 64's.
In you shoes I'd a find a M70 classic action, put a good barrel on it (pac-nor, Lilja or Krieger) chambered to your liking, (for me the all a rounder was a 280 AI) add some nice BM and drop it in a mcm Edge stock that fits you and you'll be set.

 

[tdhanses]

I've put together 9 custom jobs on model 70 actions, mainly pre 64's.
In you shoes I'd a find a M70 classic action, put a good barrel on it (pac-nor, Lilja or Krieger) chambered to your liking, (for me the all a rounder was a 280 AI) add some nice BM and drop it in a mcm Edge stock that fits you and you'll be set.

I’d still bet your over $2500.

- - - Updated - - -

You could buy a Tikka and get in on the Hells Canyon armory rokslide deal, put a wildcat stock on it and I bet you’d come in under $2500.

- - - Updated - - -

***2018-2019 Hells Canyon Armory Group buy/build***

 

[handwerk]

I just bought a classic model 70 donor rifle for $425, so on average let's say:
$550 for action,
$89 for PT&G BM
$660 for mcm edge stock
$640 for barrel and chamber/fitting work.
_____
$1939

 

[tdhanses]

I just bought a classic model 70 donor rifle for $425, so on average let's say:
$550 for action,
$89 for PT&G BM
$660 for mcm edge stock
$640 for barrel and chamber/fitting work.
_____
$1939

No muzzle brake, trigger, or paint/cerakote. Also what barrel was chambered and bedded in a stock including the price of the barrel for $640? Most quality barrel blanks are $350 -$800 then a chamber/action fit is $300-$350 and inletting and bedding a stock is around $250, plus if your action needs blueprinted or trued add another $300, oh and $100-$150 to time and install muzzle brake.

What work did you do yourself?

 

[WRO]

No muzzle brake, trigger, or paint/cerakote. Also what barrel was chambered and bedded in a stock including the price of the barrel for $640? Most quality barrel blanks are $350 -$800 then a chamber/action fit is $300-$350 and inletting and bedding a stock is around $250.

What work did you do yourself?

He's about 1k short in his budget.

Dirty little secret is that it cost a few hundred to true an action making a donor pointless imho when you can buy a gunwerks for like 800.00

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[tdhanses]

He's about 1k short in his budget.

Dirty little secret is that it cost a few hundred to true an action making a donor pointless imho when you can buy a gunwerks for like 800.00

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Yeah that’s what I’m trying to point out indirectly, it all adds up quick. Can’t just barrel a factory action and expect it to equal a quality action, they need work so expect to pay $800+ for an action either way.

Ask any gunsmith and they’ll happily tell you this dirty secret.

 

[handwerk]

I just finished the above build for my daughter in a 6.5 creedmoor, I'd not have a rifle with a muzzle brake, the donor action was SS as was the barrel, PT@G BM was aluminum, the M70 action needed no truing work, I can adjust the trigger, I sent the action to Pac-nor where they did the barrel work ( I guess I forgot about shipping cost) the BA dropped in beautifully to the MCM stock, I bedded 2" in front of the recoil lug and floated the rest.
After dialing in the scope it's first group was 5/8" with my 127 LRX load.

 

[tdhanses]

I just finished the above build for my daughter in a 6.5 creedmoor, I'd not have a rifle with a muzzle brake, the donor action was SS as was the barrel, PT@G BM was aluminum, the M70 action needed no truing work, I can adjust the trigger, I sent the action to Pac-nor where they did the barrel work ( I guess I forgot about shipping cost) the BA dropped in beautifully to the MCM stock, I bedded 2" in front of the recoil lug and floated the rest.
After dialing in the scope it's first group was 5/8" with my 127 LRX load.
View attachment 83755View attachment 83756

See you did a lot of work that saves money but I’m wondering if the op can do the work or is looking for a fully outsourced build, this we don’t know.

 

[Cahunter805]

I’d take the EW 7mm rem Mag and have it rebarreled with a custom barrel, fluted if you like that look from the EW in 7mm rem Mag. If you like the EW stock you can reuse it if not sell it and put the cash towards a Mcmillan or manners. Replace the trigger and set it to your preferred poundage. Put all the extra cash into a quality scope and good mounts and go shoot more.

 

[johnsd16]

Use an action you have - free
Barrel $400-$800
Stock $400-$700
Labor $900-$1100

You still have to do mounts and optics though.

I used Kampfeld and was very happy. He is also only about 50 min from me. I overpaid for a donor because I thought I was going to use it as was for a year or two and my whole project was still right at $2,900. That was Douglas barrel, McMillan, donor rifle, labor, cerakote, and brake. In the future I would buy an action to save on the truing labor. My next one though is going to be on a short 700 action I already have and do a proof barrel and McMillan. It will be under $2,500 before optics and mounts.

 

[30338]

Looks like Handwerk pretty much nailed it. And agree with him on no brakes for my rifles.

 

[codym]

I will tell you if I had 2500 bucks sitting around for a rifle I would be all over a fierce carbon fury. Really like the action, carbon barrel and stock with a half moa guarantee is pretty sweet. I have a couple customs I’m gonna have built this year. Both off rem 700 actions, one in 260 AI with a hawkhill marksman barrel, trigger tech trigger and manners stock, then my sendero will be getting an action job and either a proof carbon or hells canyon carbon barrel in 300 win mag, Wyatt box, manners stock and a Timney Trigger. I have accumulated parts for these builds for several months, makes it hurt less when I run my card.

 

[30338]

Those Hawk Hills are nice barrels. Got a heavy 6.5x47 with one and it is quite accurate.

 

[CHAD PEZZLE]

Maybe look into some of the newer semi custom actions that use the savage prefit barrels. Lot's of quality actions hitting the market in the last year that use savage threads and a barrel nut that allows you use prefit barrels which saves a little money over full custom.

But if I was in your position and I really liked the rifle configurations of guns I already own, I'd use one of those actions as a donor. That will save you the most money.

You really need to lay out the specifics of what type of rifle you want, or what you'd expect it to do. Do you hunt a lot of brush or thick country where a shorter barrel would beneficial? Or more open country where longer shots and a longer barrel for more velocity is better? Do you want an ultralite for weight savings. What caliber do you want to shoot, what type of game do you usually hunt? Do you reload, or is off the shelf factory ammo more important?

Give some specifics on what you're after and the guys here could help narrow things down much easier.

 

[6mm Remington]

I've put together 9 custom jobs on model 70 actions, mainly pre 64's.
In you shoes I'd a find a M70 classic action, put a good barrel on it (pac-nor, Lilja or Krieger) chambered to your liking, (for me the all a rounder was a 280 AI) add some nice BM and drop it in a mcm Edge stock that fits you and you'll be set.

I did something very similar. I found a Model 70 Classic Sporter with a really nice walnut stock in 270 for a donor. I took it to my gunsmith and he did the following.

Trued up the action and bolt face.
Shilen match stainless barrel 24" long in 280 AI. Was going 280 Remington or the 280AI, and it won out!
Barrel and action coated in John Morrell Arms Moly Resin - finish matches very closely the Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40mm B&C reticle scope I put on it. Talley rings and bases.
Trigger adjusted to 2.5 pounds
Stock pillar and glass bedded.

Purchasing the donor rifle and all the work and the scope came to right at $2500.00 if I remember correctly. I love how it turned out and it shoots great.