American made "semi custom" bolt guns?

[trbon8r]

I've been interested in buying what I guess you would call a "semi-custom" bolt action, in 30-06 or .308. Of course I've heard of Dakota Arms, but they are way out of my price range at around 5 grand. In the $2000 range there is the Cooper, which looks nice. http://www.cooperfirearms.com The thing I don't like though is that for some strange reason all their centerfire guns are single shot.

Are there any other makers that are worth looking at? Basically I want something that is a notch above most of the offerings from the major gunmakers, something with high polish blue, hand cut checkering, etc. Essentially something that in a sense duplicates the fit, finish, and feel of a pre-64 Model 70. I want something American made if possible.

 

[kennyboy]

Try baer rifles. They are not single shot and are suppossed to be extremely accurate and in the $2000 price range I think.

 

[Picher]

Closest thing may be a Kimber.

Picher

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, the new American Rifleman compares the Kimber bolt action to the defunct Model 70.

 

[manitou210]

nice gun

If you contact these people he can do what you want, but get one of his premium stainless barrels, on a New rem 700 action,he will blue it for you or get it done I had one blued he made up for me, and there barrels are great I have seen none better, some as good. James is his name go to
www.hartbarrels.com and you will be well pleased with there work. and maybe think about a wsm cartridge the 7mmwsm I got from Hart is absolutle amazing.
Good Luck

 

[GreyMauser]

I agree the Kimber 8400 Super America is a good candidate. They discount to between $1700 and 1800. In that grade they have a great, deep blue that would pass for a full custom. Same three way swing safety as the Winchester 70, and the action otherwise comparable to a late model commercial Mauser, including Oberndorf bottom metal.

Still on the 8400 SA, my stock is high grade Claro. The checkering was good but would have been better on a Cooper, I'm told. There was no bead on the cheek piece. Those two things have been fixed, but it took the cost over 2k.

BTW, I'm told Cooper centerfires are single shot because that produces a stronger and therefore more accurate action.

You might be able to put a Montana 1999/Sarengeti barreled action into some kind of semi finished wood for the same price, but checkering and polishing/blueing would take time and probably take you well over $2000.

 

[ArmedBear]

The market is flooded with excellent Mausers right now. You can get a $100 gun with a good action that needs blueing and drilling for a scope. Sell the barrel and stock if they're not beat, and the action will be even cheaper.

For the prices you're talking about, you could probably have an actual custom, built on a surplus Mauser action. My Mauser was $100 and feels at LEAST as good as a pre-64 Winchester.

Maybe I'm way off, but $2000 ought to give you enough for a Mauser, a drop-in Timney trigger, a new American-made barrel and a nice American-made stock of your choice, and the blueing and gunsmithing required.

The only thing un-American would be the action.

Again, maybe I'm wrong.