Flatbush Harry
Member
Brownell's has new 700 actions on sale. SS magnum actions are available.
FH
FH
Cheapest way to get a Rem 700 BDL action?
- Thread starter X-JaVeN-X
- Start date
- Status
True, there are many good stock makers. If the others have what you want and like Manners, Brown Precision, MPI, High-Tech, and several others all offer quality stocks. The difference is that McMillan offers many, many more options. Paricularly if the OP decides to go ADL. While none of the high end makers are cheap, you won't beat McMillan on price for quality.
If you get lucky you can often find bargains in stock for immediate delivery from their specials page. There are several listed here ready for delivery that would work on the stainless 700 ADL in 7 mag he is considering. Even more choices if he chooses to go BDL and spend even more for bottom metal. If you custom order from any of them there is a 3-4 month wait on the stock. You can have one of these in a few days if it is in a color you can live with. If not, it isn't too hard to repaint in another color.
http://mcmfamily.com/mcmillan-specials-remington.php
If it were me, I'd buy the $450 ADL from Dicks, stick a $475 (shipped) McMillan on it and use it with the factory barrel. I'd spend the rest of my budget on good glass and having a gunsmith work over the action, replace the trigger, bed the stock, crown the barrel and any other tweaking it needed. You'll likely not improve much, if any with an aftermarket barrel and have enough money left to pay for a hunt with the new gun.
X-JaVeN-X
Member
lol...I'll have to start doing my dumpster diving rounds. So...if I find one in the dumpster, do I still have to carry it to my ffl to transfer it to me?
SlowFuse
Member
^ I believe that falls under the don't ask don't tell policy... 
redneck2
Member
I know it sometimes gets frustrating when other throw in their opinions if not asked for. Still, most of these guys have gone thru what you're looking at doing. Trying to keep you from making the same mistakes.
I looked at doing the the same thing. I already have an action that I wanted to barrel. I kept ending up at the same spot. The terms "budget build" and "custom" do not go in the same sentence. Even already having the action, it isn't worth putting on a barrel and custom trigger IMO.
Unless you have something very specific in mind (and it doesn't sound like you do), I'd go look at the classifieds in Benchrest Central or Centerfire Central. You can let the first owner take the financial beating and get what you want in your price range. They have 700 actions that have totally reworked on complete rifles that can be had for half price.
There's a guy on another forum that's got a custom 6.5x284 for sale. It's got all the goodies. Would probably push $3,500 to duplicate. He'd take $2,200. Shoots .3's IIRC.
As for cheap glass, it's like getting your sports car and putting K-Mart tires on it.
HTH
DM~
Member
Yup, some guys just HATE to hear the truth and get rude!
I've built MANY rifles on 700 actions, and Remington is already doing exactly what he wants to pay me or someone else to do, only at paying me or someone else to do it at a HUGE price increase!
Seems we all need to learn the hard way...
DM
I have to agree on the scope. I mean, you're looking at buildng a rifle. Once you get the rifle built, you're going to shoot it. If you shoot yours as much as I shoot mine, things are going to wear out and need to be replaced.
With a scope, if you get the right one, you'll have it practically forever. Figure out what you want to do with the rifle and get a good scope that will fit that purpose. Personally, I have two lines that I stick with. I like Nightforce NXS on rifles that see a lot of time in the field and will likely take some knocks. I like Vortex PSTs on rifles that won't get handled so roughly.
Much of what the guys here are saying is true. I really doesn't take a whole lot to find a rifle that will shoot MOA or better. The true advantages of getting a custom or semi custom rifle aren't in the department of accuracy, unless your intention is to shoot benchrest.
Getting a rifle built with a good barrel will have advantages such as a tighter chamber, being able to withstand longer strings of fire while maintaining accuracy, operate more smoothly and therefor faster, etc.; but you don't NEED a custom or semi custom rifle to get shooting.
If I was you (and this is what I did), get yourself a good scope and then pick your poison in a rifle. I'd go with either a Remington 700 or Savage 110. Either will make a good base from which to improve.
Once you start shooting it, and you get pretty good with it, you'll know what needs to be improved. I started with the trigger, then the stock, then the barrel. My first serious rig was a $600 SPS Tactical with an $1800 Nightforce.
The only thing I'll say about scopes is that glass quality is more important than magnification and a solid build out weighs bells and whistles every time.
With a scope, if you get the right one, you'll have it practically forever. Figure out what you want to do with the rifle and get a good scope that will fit that purpose. Personally, I have two lines that I stick with. I like Nightforce NXS on rifles that see a lot of time in the field and will likely take some knocks. I like Vortex PSTs on rifles that won't get handled so roughly.
Much of what the guys here are saying is true. I really doesn't take a whole lot to find a rifle that will shoot MOA or better. The true advantages of getting a custom or semi custom rifle aren't in the department of accuracy, unless your intention is to shoot benchrest.
Getting a rifle built with a good barrel will have advantages such as a tighter chamber, being able to withstand longer strings of fire while maintaining accuracy, operate more smoothly and therefor faster, etc.; but you don't NEED a custom or semi custom rifle to get shooting.
If I was you (and this is what I did), get yourself a good scope and then pick your poison in a rifle. I'd go with either a Remington 700 or Savage 110. Either will make a good base from which to improve.
Once you start shooting it, and you get pretty good with it, you'll know what needs to be improved. I started with the trigger, then the stock, then the barrel. My first serious rig was a $600 SPS Tactical with an $1800 Nightforce.
The only thing I'll say about scopes is that glass quality is more important than magnification and a solid build out weighs bells and whistles every time.
chaser_2332
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2009
- Messages
- 516
^This^ I'm a firm believer in buying the scope first. Too many people blow there load on a nice rifle and leave nothing for what matters
Kachok
Member
I would not give that piece of junk away because the rust was so deep I did not think it was safe to shoot, and yes I clean and oil my rifles regulary. Never touch those Remingtons with the flat black finnish, that rusts faster then cast iron, and there is no stopping it. Mabey if you live in west TX you could get decent service out of one but here on the gulf coast forget about it!
chaser_2332
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2009
- Messages
- 516
That coating was a way to cut cost and offer a budget rifle. Little bit of krylon and the problem will go away. It doesn't hurt the effectiveness of the action.
redneck2
Member
If you do want a very good scope at a very good price, that other forum also has two different guys selling 6x24 scopes. One is a 30mm Burris Black Diamond ($475) and another guy has a Bushnell Elite 4200 6x24x40 for $315 shipped.
lefteyedom
Member
It is your money spend it the way that makes you happiest.
There is a joy all its own when a parts bins rifle prints a three shot, one hole group.
I enjoy the collecting the part, trying to seeing value that other people missed.
That said, I am the president of the $100 saddle on a $5.00 mule.
The key to keeping a project affordable is time and an open mind. If you have the time to wait for a deal on a deal will happen. Are you willing to wait 6-9 months for a part?
The open mind part is also applied Knowledge. Can you see a beat up 300 win mag truck gun with a rusty barrel and cracked stock as your target rifle?
Search Armlist and gunbroker, pawnshop, tag or garage sales. Don't forget the online forms sell areas. If you know the lingo you would be surprised at the amount firearms and related stuff that shows up on Craigslist. Look to see and spread the word that you are looking stuff. AND ALWAYS HAVE $250 worth of cash to make a deal.
I have been a "GUN PICKER" almost as long as I have been a gun shooter.
Sarge
There is a joy all its own when a parts bins rifle prints a three shot, one hole group.
I enjoy the collecting the part, trying to seeing value that other people missed.
That said, I am the president of the $100 saddle on a $5.00 mule.
The key to keeping a project affordable is time and an open mind. If you have the time to wait for a deal on a deal will happen. Are you willing to wait 6-9 months for a part?
The open mind part is also applied Knowledge. Can you see a beat up 300 win mag truck gun with a rusty barrel and cracked stock as your target rifle?
Search Armlist and gunbroker, pawnshop, tag or garage sales. Don't forget the online forms sell areas. If you know the lingo you would be surprised at the amount firearms and related stuff that shows up on Craigslist. Look to see and spread the word that you are looking stuff. AND ALWAYS HAVE $250 worth of cash to make a deal.
I have been a "GUN PICKER" almost as long as I have been a gun shooter.
Sarge
- Status
