Im building a rifle on a 1903a3 action. I think the action its self is superior to the German Mausers (In my mind), and its unique so it wont just be another custom Mauser (not like thats a bad thing). A sporterized one can be had for cheap so it might be an option if you looked into it.
What is your Dream Custom Sport Rifle?
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Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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Caliber is a very personal choice, and is ultimately just whatever floats your boat - But since it's a big game hunter, some of my suggestions would include (preferences bolded):
.35 Whelen
.280 Remington
6.5x55 Swedish
6.5-284 Norma
.264 Win Mag
7x57 Mauser
.270 Winchester
.30-'06 Spgfld (doesn't hurt to have another)
7mm Rem Mag
7mm Dakota
7mm STW
7mm RUM
.300 Win Mag
.300 H&H Mag
.308 Norma Mag
8mm Mauser
.375 H&H Mag
.338-'06
.338 Win Mag
.45-70
.458 Win Mag
Wait; what's the bbl length going to be? Have you decided that yet, or is that contingent upon chambering? Which egg or chicken are you gonna decide FIRST?
This is a Mauser action? If so, no reason to put a short cartridge in a long action; in fact, that could be detrimental to feeding.
As for scope, what's the budget?
.35 Whelen
.280 Remington
6.5x55 Swedish
6.5-284 Norma
.264 Win Mag
7x57 Mauser
.270 Winchester
.30-'06 Spgfld (doesn't hurt to have another)
7mm Rem Mag
7mm Dakota
7mm STW
7mm RUM
.300 Win Mag
.300 H&H Mag
.308 Norma Mag
8mm Mauser
.375 H&H Mag
.338-'06
.338 Win Mag
.45-70
.458 Win Mag
Wait; what's the bbl length going to be? Have you decided that yet, or is that contingent upon chambering? Which egg or chicken are you gonna decide FIRST?
This is a Mauser action? If so, no reason to put a short cartridge in a long action; in fact, that could be detrimental to feeding.
As for scope, what's the budget?
Last edited:
W Turner
Member
I would go with a 6.5x55. A .300 win mag won't do anything a .30 06 can't. Other than cost a lot more in terms of ammo and recoil. If you need more power, go with a larger bullet.
W
W
mickeydim468
Member
It is a 26 inch blank that can be whatever length 26 inch and shorter. So I was going to pick chambered round first and then decide barrel length and rate of twist second.
Mikey!
i think you should have gone with his first suggestion of the .260 Rem. it is about the perfect cartridge for your area...unless you happen upon a big brownie wandering down the coast.
my personal pick would have been the 6.5x55mm. classic and accurate with limited recoil and gentle on barrels too. it's the cartridge that the .260 is reproducing in a shorter case
my personal pick would have been the 6.5x55mm. classic and accurate with limited recoil and gentle on barrels too. it's the cartridge that the .260 is reproducing in a shorter case
mickeydim468
Member
Well that was my thought too, but he didn't want to build on my 1917 Enfield either. It is a good action too! See some of my other posts for pics etc... I just got my glasses yesterday and I went out today and shot it with open sights (original peep sights) and I shot 3 out of 5 shots within 1" at 100yds and the 4th was about 2" and the 5th was about 3". Not a bad group for open sights, I think so anyway!
gga357
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To me there is nothing more classic than the 30-06.
jim in Anchorage
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30-06..180 nosler,57 gr 4350-life is good. The only complaint is I only own six.
mickeydim468
Member
Well, I think I am going to go with 30.06. Here is why. I already have one with a 20" bbl and it shoots nice for around here in the bushes and trees. The new bbl will be 26 1/4" and should be a hell of a lot more accurate for longer distance shooting for when I want to go to central or northern Oregon where longer shots are the norm.
The 30.06 ammo is about $15.00 per box right now and the .260 ammo is nearly double that or more. I am on a workin' mans budget so ammo cost is a big factor.
So, what do you guys think of that? Would this be a good decision?
Mikey!
The 30.06 ammo is about $15.00 per box right now and the .260 ammo is nearly double that or more. I am on a workin' mans budget so ammo cost is a big factor.
So, what do you guys think of that? Would this be a good decision?
Mikey!
mickeydim468
Member
Kepplinger, Timny, or other???
Which one should I put on? My pops wants me to get the Kepplinger, I know it's a good trigger, but is it worth the extra $100.00?
Mikey!
Which one should I put on? My pops wants me to get the Kepplinger, I know it's a good trigger, but is it worth the extra $100.00?
Mikey!
'06 is a good choice. Been around forever and will be around forever, ammo can be found in any shop, etc.
Since it is a custom job, I would have went with 6.5 Swede just to have something different than what you already own.
Either way I am sure you will be very pleased with it.
Since it is a custom job, I would have went with 6.5 Swede just to have something different than what you already own.
Either way I am sure you will be very pleased with it.
backwoodzboy
Member
I vote for a .308, good all round caliber for game, length of barrel life would be longer than some magnum calibers, and to me a good balance in power to weight that gives it a stable balistics platform. I also consider the mauser action a very strong platform to start with, the "nazis" fought against us, I think it would be a good thing to take a negative and turn it into a positive. just my thoughts, but most importantly, have fun with this, and make memories that will last with your friend.
usmc1371
Member
I have hunted elk in the coast range around nehalem a few times and all over eastern Oregon from the northeast corner to the southeast and have to say I love the 300wm. But I have also killed elk, deer, and bear all over the state with an 06. As you know elk on the coast are a fair bit bigger than elk east of the cascades and the shooting ranges tend to be closer unless you get a shot across a clear cut then you can reach out pretty far. The only place I see the 300wm having an advantage over the 30-06 is if you have to take a shot at over 400yds where the flatter trejectory and more energery is nice to have. I also think the 338 is an outstanding elk round any where in oregon but they seem to be the next step up in recoil compared to 300wm and quite a bit more than anything I have ever shot out of my o6. Between my little bro and I we have 5 bushnell 4200 scopes and I highely recomend them. I have the 4x16 on my 300wm and the 2.5x10 on my 30-06 and would recomend the latter. I have found that even 4x feels like to much in the timber in eastern oregon and it feels like way to much at the coast. And I have never seen the need to have more than 10x on a big game rifle in oregon. The bushnells don't fog up and even if they are soaked with rain you can still see through them and they won't break the bank.
mickeydim468
Member
Thanks USMC,
I will look into the Bushnell scope. I wish someone would post about my trigger question above. I am having second thoughts about getting the kepplinger due to the $100 difference. Do you guys think it would make that much difference in hunting?
Mikey!
I will look into the Bushnell scope. I wish someone would post about my trigger question above. I am having second thoughts about getting the kepplinger due to the $100 difference. Do you guys think it would make that much difference in hunting?
Mikey!
LeonCarr
Member
My dream rifle is a Remington 700 action, 26 inch varmint weight match grade stainless steel barrel, McMillan marksman style stock in woodland camo or green marble, chambered in .30-06. With the 26 inch barrel it will give .300 H&H Magnum ballistics with better accuracy and case life than the belted cases, and the weight will decrease recoil.
usmc1371
Member
Micky
The only rifle I own with a custom trigger is my AR varmint rifle with a jewell two stage trigger and I think it helps with accurate shooting. I wouldn't want one quite as light as mine on a big game rifle (1.5#) just because I get excited when I see elk but a good clean crisp 2.5 pound pull would be sweet. And when your fingers are freezing and numb its nice to feel the trigger atleast a little bit befor it breaks. Good luck.
The only rifle I own with a custom trigger is my AR varmint rifle with a jewell two stage trigger and I think it helps with accurate shooting. I wouldn't want one quite as light as mine on a big game rifle (1.5#) just because I get excited when I see elk but a good clean crisp 2.5 pound pull would be sweet. And when your fingers are freezing and numb its nice to feel the trigger atleast a little bit befor it breaks. Good luck.
mickeydim468
Member
Thanks USMC,
You know, I am getting the feeling my friend, all good intensions aside, may be building me too much of a rifle. One of his comments to my wife was, "I only want the best for Mike!" But I am not sure "the best" is what I need.
Can you guys, put together a package that would be based on the Mauser 98 action, that is more like a Weatherby or Remington 700, or Savage 110 or something so I can tell him what I am really looking for. He can still go hog wild on the stock, because that it what I am looking forward to the most, because he makes beautiful stocks. I can get the rest in just a good rifle to hunt with configuration, and go from there.
What do you guys think would fit that bill?
Thanks!
Mikey!
You know, I am getting the feeling my friend, all good intensions aside, may be building me too much of a rifle. One of his comments to my wife was, "I only want the best for Mike!" But I am not sure "the best" is what I need.
Can you guys, put together a package that would be based on the Mauser 98 action, that is more like a Weatherby or Remington 700, or Savage 110 or something so I can tell him what I am really looking for. He can still go hog wild on the stock, because that it what I am looking forward to the most, because he makes beautiful stocks. I can get the rest in just a good rifle to hunt with configuration, and go from there.
What do you guys think would fit that bill?
Thanks!
Mikey!
Clipper
Member
I like the .257 Roberts or 7X57 idea. In fact, I would have him stamp .275 Rigby on a 7X57 barrel, just because it would be unusual.
dirtyjim
Member
kepplingers are very nice & the have more of a classic german look than any of the other aftermarket triggers, but timney also makes a great trigger. if you want a singe set kepplinger is just about your only choice
with me it would depend a lot on the style the rifle is built in.
if its built with a longer swept back european style grip with a long lop i would go with the kepplinger, if its going to have a more traditional american style closed grip & shorter lop i would go with the timney to keep with the style of the rifle.
would you mind pm the name of the builder? if he is as good & as well known as you say he is i probably know who he is & have seen his work. once i know who he is i can make some better recomendations using his build style
Hostile Amish
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.375 Holland / .308
Eightball
Member
He suggested a particular odd-duck round; if he's doing everything else custom, he must have a good idea of the right cartridge for the intended application.
Me? I'd get it in a slightly more classic calibre than .300WM or the like; any of the bolded options of Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow would seem perfectly fine. The 7x57 Mauser and .35 Whelen appeal to me personally, but I don't have your selection of game near me.
Me? I'd get it in a slightly more classic calibre than .300WM or the like; any of the bolded options of Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow would seem perfectly fine. The 7x57 Mauser and .35 Whelen appeal to me personally, but I don't have your selection of game near me.
ACBMWM3
member
Already have it
Accuracy International AW .308
Accuracy International AW .308
litman252
Member
Well in some ways I've been lucky enough to have been down your road, except mine came already assembled. My Dad (who is still w/ us thank God) did not have a rifle for me to hunt with. Good friend knew this ahead of time and picked up a 25-06 built on a Mauser 98, he kept it but made hints it would be mine at some point. I ended up shooting my first deer w/ that rifle and about 14 years later he gave it to me. It has a nice fancy walnut stock, timney trigger, hart barrel, Burris sig. 2-7 glass.
When you hold a nice wood stock it just feels different, that is something you will love.
I'd go w/ the 25 all over again, great rifle to watch all 4 of those kids shoot while they are still younger. 30-06 downloaded would be fine as well. I'd at least go w/ a Nikon Prostaff, but prefer Burris or Leupold scopes on a custom.
I'm currently finishing a 6.5x55 on a '96 so I'd be temped to go that route as well but your past this point now anyway
Best of luck, enjoy living a dream.
Tony
When you hold a nice wood stock it just feels different, that is something you will love.
I'd go w/ the 25 all over again, great rifle to watch all 4 of those kids shoot while they are still younger. 30-06 downloaded would be fine as well. I'd at least go w/ a Nikon Prostaff, but prefer Burris or Leupold scopes on a custom.
I'm currently finishing a 6.5x55 on a '96 so I'd be temped to go that route as well but your past this point now anyway
Best of luck, enjoy living a dream.
Tony
Paladin_Hammer
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Dream Custom Sport Rifle?
An Air-Rifle that could shoot a .30 caliber pellet up to 2,300 fps at muzzle and punch nice 1 inch groups at 100 yards. Think about it, ammo would be low-cost, you'd never have to clean it, it could take deer, it could target shoot with the best of them!
But that's ten years and a lot of money off. Ever since they started building .22 caliber air-rifles that push 1,400-1,600 fps at muzzle, I'm guessing someday they'll figure it out.
An Air-Rifle that could shoot a .30 caliber pellet up to 2,300 fps at muzzle and punch nice 1 inch groups at 100 yards. Think about it, ammo would be low-cost, you'd never have to clean it, it could take deer, it could target shoot with the best of them!
But that's ten years and a lot of money off. Ever since they started building .22 caliber air-rifles that push 1,400-1,600 fps at muzzle, I'm guessing someday they'll figure it out.
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