Build a rifle?

[LkWinnipesaukee]

Well, the rifle range at our club was (hopefully only) temporarily shut down because they build a golf course downrange... so the family isn't planning on buying any rifles until it is sorted out.

So I figured, why not pass the time by building a rifle instead of just buying a Remington 700 or a CZ 550?

Can anyone explain how this is done? I want something that I can shoot at the 100, 200, 300, 600, and maybe 1000 yard ranges up in NH with some accuracy.

Caliber: I was thinking .308 or .30-06. I can get the latter cheap from CMP for blasting, and it is still pretty accurate out to ~1k yards. Any other suggestions?

Action: Either the Rem 700, CZ 550, or a Winchester 70 actions seem to be the best ones, although I did shoot a scoped rifle with a Mauser action (in 25-06) of a guy I met at the range last week, and I have to say I really liked it. Need suggestions there.

Stock: No idea. I don't know if i want a black synthetic stock or a really nice-looking wooden one.

Barrel. No idea. All I know is it should be heavy.

Now, actually building the thing. Are there any books, online guides, etc. that show one how to build a bolt action rifle? I imagine some of the steps should be done by a gunsmith? Anyone have input in that regard?

My budget should be around $800 (not including glass).

Thanks for reading the long post (and, of course, your input )!!

 

[Smokey Joe]

$$$...

LkWinnepesaukee--(A favorite lake of my mother, BTW)--Methinks that you're going to run out of $$ before you run out of things to do, at $800 for a long-range rifle. A Rem 700 action will cost you--my guess is $2-3 hundred, but that's just a guess, and the Win 70's are now collectors' items. Next you'll need to have the action "blueprinted," as it's called--making sure the bolt lugs are both touching the camming surfaces, and that the bolt face is exactly square, and fixing any irregularities. Next the bbl: A good Krieger will run you about $600 all by itself, with chamber reaming, headspacing, crowning, cryo-treatment, and installation--more if you want it fluted. Krieger will blueprint yr action when they install the bbl, for more money of course. The stock trigger will have to go--a Timney will run you $80-90, and a Jard half again as much. You'll need a stock for the rifle--Boyd's does nice laminate ones for the 700 for about $80, and you glass bed, sand, and varnish the stock yourself.

Note: All of the above figures are ballpark only, except the Boyd's price--just happen to have a last years' Boyd's catalogue handy.

I've no idea how many of the necessary tools you may already have so I've ignored that area of cost.

You can call Krieger and they will be very helpful and informative, and quite up-front about their prices and what each service will get you. At least they have been with me in the past. For that matter, Boyd's has been the same. www.boydsgunstocks.com (605)996-5011.

Mind you, I'm not trying to discourage you, and my cost guess for the action may be off. It's a noble project you propose, and you can make yourself a truly unique, and nicely accurate, rifle. But long-range accuracy costs money, there are no 2 ways about it.

First thing you need to do is to read up on practices and procedures, call & talk to the makers, then plan carefully before you start buying stuff that ends up being not what you want.

Sez I: Go for it! And keep us posted please!

 

[Outlaws]

I don't think you are going to build much of a bolt action rifle for $800 that will shoot accurately at 1000 yards. Even if you do get all the parts for that price, you definitely won't be getting any gunsmithing work done without going way over budget.

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

Okay, let's forget the budget. I can work on it over time.

I guess the question is, in what order do I want to do all of this, and what tools will be required?

Thanks.

 

[ctrout]

You really need to look into the Savage Stevens 110 action. It will meet all of your needs and probably exceed all of your expectations. Go browse around on the forums at www.savageshooters.com. Lots of people there building custom rifles. The beauty of the Savage action is that no gunsmith is required. You can change barrels and set headspace and all with only simple hand tools. No lathes required.

 

[TimboKhan]

LK,

You know, you can call the Brownells people and they can tell you exactly what you will need, and will also help you pick out the tools and parts that best fit your budget. Obviously, they are making money off the sale, but Brownells has an absolutely sterling reputation when it comes to helping the customer. Heck, they will answer questions on stuff you didn't even buy from them! Just explain what you are doing, and they can give you a good idea of what you will need. Good Luck! I agree with the other guys that your going to be sinking some serious $$$ into this project, but I believe that the money will be worth the satisfaction and the fun of knowing you built your rifle on your own.

 

[rero360]

I second the idea of a savage action. As for barrels, I went with a Hart undersized HV on mine, its a #7 staight taper with a muzzle diameter of .9" and its 22 or 24 inches (over in iraq and only held the gun for about an hour while I was home) Hart blueprinted the action and smoothed up the raceways for me and installed the barrel for a cost of $689 including tax and shipping, give or take a buck or two.

 

[Brother in Arms]

I built a rifle in 2004 when I was at trade school.

here is a rough price list:

Montana Action (model 70 clone)
$500

Douglas barrel blank 28" No.4 contour barrel
$150

walnut Stock 90% inlet
$80

first I threadied the barrel blank, chambered the rifle in .308 the rifle and then crowned the barrel. Later I fitted the rifle to the wood stock an bedded it and finished it. I bead blasted all the metal parts and blued it. That all took several weeks to accomplish.


I am thinking about building another rifle one based on the M1917 Enfield or P14 Enfield as there is a decent amount of them around in "sporterized" condition and I really love the strength and quality of the action as well as the general accuracy of rifles......biggest problem is there barrels often require a massive barrel vice and wrench to remove as where are torqued on with a great amount of force. Also they have sqaure threads which are more difficult to cut (at least for me). I suppose though I could get a barrel with the threads already cut and used a hand reamer to fix the head space as long as it indexes correctly so the extractor fits in the groove.

There is alot to take into consideration but it not impossible and don't let anyone tell you can't make a rifle for $800 dollars that will shoot at 1000 yards, a good mil surp can shoot well at 1000 yards given good ammo and a competent shooter. Perhaps you could find a barreled action and restock and bed it and see how you like that.

Brother in Arms

 

[Essex County]

I tend to give pragmatic advice, I don't always follow it in my own life,though. Here goes....A Savage 10FP in .308 for about five bills and do stock and barrel upgrades as you go. I know what it's like to wait for a project gun to come to fruition. A savage wouldn't be tied up for a long time. Essex

 

[USSR]

Well, the rifle range at our club was (hopefully only) temporarily shut down because they build a golf course downrange... so the family isn't planning on buying any rifles until it is sorted out.

So I figured, why not pass the time by building a rifle instead of just buying a Remington 700 or a CZ 550?

Can anyone explain how this is done? I want something that I can shoot at the 100, 200, 300, 600, and maybe 1000 yard ranges up in NH with some accuracy.

Caliber: I was thinking .308 or .30-06. I can get the latter cheap from CMP for blasting, and it is still pretty accurate out to ~1k yards. Any other suggestions?

Action: Either the Rem 700, CZ 550, or a Winchester 70 actions seem to be the best ones, although I did shoot a scoped rifle with a Mauser action (in 25-06) of a guy I met at the range last week, and I have to say I really liked it. Need suggestions there.

Stock: No idea. I don't know if i want a black synthetic stock or a really nice-looking wooden one.

Barrel. No idea. All I know is it should be heavy.

Now, actually building the thing. Are there any books, online guides, etc. that show one how to build a bolt action rifle? I imagine some of the steps should be done by a gunsmith? Anyone have input in that regard?

My budget should be around $800 (not including glass).

Thanks for reading the long post (and, of course, your input )!!

Here's a .30-06 rifle built by Jack Krieger for 1,000 yard competition, but it's alot more than $800.

I agree with the others, if money is limited and you want to do alot of the work yourself, use a Savage action as your platform.

Don