Custom Rifle ideas

[Nature Boy]

With the start of a new year comes new ideas, and with some bonus money burning a hole in my pocket I've started contemplating a custom rifle.

So starting with a budget of ~$5k including optics.

Caliber: 308

Purpose: range toy, 100-500 yards. Maybe an F T/R competition in the future

I have an FN SPR in .308 that I've really enjoyed shooting and learning to reload with. It has 6k rounds down the pipe and will need a new barrel eventually. That action could be a donor for this project but I'm thinking about keeping it intact for now, with a future re-barrel to .260 rem

When looking at custom actions I really have no idea what separates one from the other. Most seemed to be based on a Remington 700 design. I have nothing against that, but I have developed an affinity for the Mauser/Winchester design. That said, my mind is open to ideas.

There's a good thread started on barrels and I've read up on some of the options.

As far as the builder, again, I don't have enough knowledge to make an educated decision. I'm looking for experience and feedback there too.

Bottom line: My goal is accuracy. The most I can get for my budget

Hopefully that's enough to start the discussion.

 

[Llama Bob]

Personally I would much rather have a rifle built on a trued M70 action than one built on a M700 or an aftermarket works-alike. I just can't see spending big money for a plunger eject micro-extractor action. If you don't want to use the SPR's action, I'd just get an inexpensive M70 in .308, sell everything but the action, and start there.

The big change I'd make from your SPR is to go with a 1:10 twist rate on the barrel. They really handicapped themselves in terms of ammo compatibility with the 1:12 twist.

Barrels, the good makers are all good. I happen to be partial to Rock Creek barrels but there's tons of options.

I'd put a lot of work into what stock or chassis you want. You just have to test them and see what fits.

 

[z7]

For a builder longriflesinc.com did mine. top notch service, from when I said "go" on my barreled action to I had it in hand it took 8 days, including shipping from South Dakota to Florida. check out their facebook page as well. he stocks K&P Barrels and puts them on most of his builds. they are cut rifling match grade barrels that he swears by.
for an action http://www.americanrifle.com/
it is an expensive hybrid custom action. savage threads, remington footprint, mauser extractor and control round feed. I really like mine

others have more experience then me, but from my understanding on actions it is a matter of what features do you want. most will not let you down.
http://www.scout.com/military/snipers-hide/forums/5514-bolt-action-rifles/13536474-the-mausingfield

read that long thread and if when you are finished you do not want the American Rifle Company action I will be surprised.

My build: the scope puts it out of your price range, the barreled action, chassis and bipod came in at $4000
ARC Mausingfield action
K&P stainless steel Rem Varmint Contour 24" barrel with an LRI seemless muzzle break
jewell trigger
Cerekote over action and barrel
Kenetic Research Group Xray Chassis
Vortex razor Gen II 3-18
harris bipod

45g of varget, 175 Sierra match king and winchester brass makes ragged holes in targets. I am working on my skills, but this rifle is incredibly accurate.

 

[MCMXI]

Honestly, if I had $5,000 to spend on a new "custom" rifle I'd buy an Accuracy International AT in .308 Win or similar for around $4,500 and put a $500 scope on it until I could afford a better model. I'd buy a good hunting rifle scope with the idea that I'd move it to a hunting rifle once a better option is possible. That way you wouldn't be wasting money.

http://www.milehighshooting.com/ai-at-308-rifle-system/

However, you're looking for custom rifle suggestions so if I were in your position I'd scrap the Winchester idea and go with a Mausingfield receiver, Krieger barrel and a good chassis or stock. The only things I don't like about the Mausingfield is the Remington style trigger safety and the inability to lock the bolt closed, but those features might not be an issue for you. Ted has issues with the Mauser/Winchester 3-position safety that captures the cocking piece/firing pin, but I made the point to him that hundreds of thousands of rifles with that safety have been built and function as designed. He's still not convinced though and he's a very bright individual.

http://www.americanrifle.com/

https://kriegerbarrels.com/

 

[MCMXI]

Kenetic Research Group Xray Chassis

Yep, that would be a good choice. I like their products and would certainly consider a chassis from them.

 

[stoky]

I think I'd just buy a Ruger Precision or Savage 10BA, maybe a Nightforce, and spend the rest on whisky and wimmen.

 

[z7]

. . .The only things I don't like about the Mausingfield is the Remington style trigger safety and the inability to lock the bolt closed, but those features might not be an issue for you. Ted has issues with the Mauser/Winchester 3-position safety that captures the cocking piece/firing pin, but I made the point to him that hundreds of thousands of rifles with that safety have been built and function as designed. He's still not convinced though and he's a very bright individual. . .

/

I just read a discussion on Snipers Hide a few weeks ago where Ted (CEO of American Rifle Company and creator of the Mausingfield) was discussing the safety design issues. I found it enlightening for sure. what it boiled down to for me is the importance of firearm safety #1. #2 when hunting, for example, consider not having a loaded chamber when moving/hiking etc. my Mausingfield is quiet enough i could single load a round with game nearby and it would not cause any noise issues. feeding from a AICS magazine makes a little noise though.

 

[Llama Bob]

for an action http://www.americanrifle.com/
it is an expensive hybrid custom action. savage threads, remington footprint, mauser extractor and control round feed. I really like mine

They're an intriguing option, but I wish they hadn't gone with the M700 style trigger & safety when a 3-position M70 safety would have been easily achievable.

 

[Llama Bob]

I just read a discussion on Snipers Hide a few weeks ago where Ted (CEO of American Rifle Company and creator of the Mausingfield) was discussing the safety design issues. I found it enlightening for sure. what it boiled down to for me is the importance of firearm safety #1. #2 when hunting, for example, consider not having a loaded chamber when moving/hiking etc. my Mausingfield is quiet enough i could single load a round with game nearby and it would not cause any noise issues. feeding from a AICS magazine makes a little noise though.

This is flat out an excuse. Plenty of people have very good reasons to carry a rifle with a round in the chamber, like for example they're in dangerous animal territory (which is a good part of the NA wilderness). Or you're using the rifle for a tactical application. Or you're in dense terrain where a snap-shot might be called for. For OP's "range toy" application, the M700 safety might be acceptable but that's far from the only thing rifles are used for.

ACS is just trying to cover for the weaknesses of their product.

 

[Nature Boy]

I think I'd just buy a Ruger Precision or Savage 10BA, maybe a Nightforce, and spend the rest on whisky and wimmen.

I'm a Woodford Reserve fan, but women have been off the menu for many years since I settled on one.

Rifles, well, you can never have too many of those

 

[MCMXI]

feeding from a AICS magazine makes a little noise though.

Ted's working on an improved magazine that will be a hybrid of the AICS and AW short action magazine and will hold 11 rounds if I remember correctly. He was showing me how he designed it at the SHOT show. He's definitely at the genius end of the scale.

 

[Nature Boy]

I'd buy an Accuracy International AT

I know you would, and have. I drool over the pictures you post of those sweet rigs. I'm not adverse to the idea of purchasing a package like an AI so I'm keeping that option open

 

[MCMXI]

ACS is just trying to cover for the weaknesses of their product.

Do you mean ARC? If so that's a very strong and misinformed statement. I have no affiliation with Ted or ARC but he doesn't try or need to cover anything, and certainly not your perceived "weakness" of his designs.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I think I'd just buy a Ruger Precision or Savage 10BA, maybe a Nightforce, and spend the rest on whisky and wimmen.

I agree and would get it in 6.5 Creedmoor instead of .308

 

[Nature Boy]

read that long thread and if when you are finished you do not want the American Rifle Company action I will be surprised.

I looked at the mausingfield action yesterday and will read that thread. $1,600 for just the action and bolt. Here's were my inexperience comes in. What are you getting that you wouldn't get with a donor M70 that's been trued?

(other than it's pretty.....which I do value.....but as I said above, accuracy is my bottom line goal)

 

[i loves my gun]

Do people still use the Panda actions from Kelby's?

 

[.308 Norma]

I like my Montana Rifle Company's rifle. Montana Rifle Company's rifle's actions are basically the same as M-70 CRF actions, only I think they're better - stronger and smoother. Mine is anyway, when I compare is side by side to my old .338 Win Mag, which is built around a pre-64 M-70 action.
If it works, the following link shows one of Montana Rifle Company's precision rifles.

http://www.montanarifleco.com/?page_id=191

 

[MCMXI]

I know you would, and have. I drool over the pictures you post of those sweet rigs. I'm not adverse to the idea of purchasing a package like an AI so I'm keeping that option open

I built three custom rifles using Remington actions, Krieger barrels and AICS stocks and they were fantastic shooters, but after all the money invested, they still weren't up to a factory AI rifle. I even got all the components together to build another using a Badger Ordnance M2008 action, Krieger barrel (.264 cal) and AICS folding stock but sold off all the parts before I built another rifle that was great but not perfect. Ultimately I said enough and bought three AIs without a single regret. I would do it again and again and again. MHSA is now offering plug and play Krieger barrels for the AT so you can buy one in .308 Win and one in 6.5 Creedmoor if you want.

 

[stoky]

A little over half the budget:

http://www.deltatactical.com.au/mausingfield-receiver---bolt-action-short-p433/

 

[z7]

This is flat out an excuse. Plenty of people have very good reasons to carry a rifle with a round in the chamber, like for example they're in dangerous animal territory (which is a good part of the NA wilderness). Or you're using the rifle for a tactical application. Or you're in dense terrain where a snap-shot might be called for. For OP's "range toy" application, the M700 safety might be acceptable but that's far from the only thing rifles are used for.

I do not disagree with you at all. I grew up with a M700 rifle hunting pigs in the Savannah River Swamps where snap shots were normal and never had a problem. we followed good firearm safety practices. now after I am edumacated a little bit I am not as warm and fuzzy with the safety design but I expect it to work. I have tried to make it fail, i.e. run the bolt hard, drop the rifle (minus optic) for a jolt etc and it seems to work with or without the safey engaged. even with a better safety design I might not hike with a loaded rifle. regardless of safety design, I would not cross a fence, climb a ladder stand, pull a rifle on a string into a stand, cross a creek, with a loaded rifle. it is how I was raised. I understand dangerous game, stalking/slip hunts etc.

my point was this: safety mechanisms are imperfect mechanical designs and we trade trigger function/feel for a margin of safety. there is nothing perfect. because of that, what really matters is perhaps not what the design is but instead how you use it. firearms safety rules and ask yourself "do i need a loaded rifle right now?" the answer may be yes. that is your decision. I often find I don't need a loaded rifle. know your gear and your purpose.

I have had one negligent discharge, from a deer stand, thanks to a bolt safety on a mauser style rifle and me being unfamiliar with the rifle. i held on a doe and squeezed the trigger so I could get the feel for it. (I was 13). I removed my finger from the trigger, let the safety off and BOOOM!. the firing pin was released because it was held by the safety after I pulled the trigger. that was my fault, but the design has that weakness as well.

 

[Llama Bob]

I looked at the mausingfield action yesterday and will read that thread. $1,600 for just the action and bolt. Here's were my inexperience comes in. What are you getting that you wouldn't get with a donor M70 that's been trued?

(other than it's pretty.....which I do value.....but as I said above, accuracy is my bottom line goal)

Upsides to the Mausingfield:
scope rail
Savage easy-swap barrels and changeable bolt face

Upsides to the M70:
better safety
cost
standard action

There's no reason to expect any accuracy difference.

 

[jmr40]

* I prefer the Winchester action and safety on a hunting rifle. They are a more rugged design that will continue to function after being abused and when filthy compared to the Remington style action. But on a dedicated target rifle the Remington action does have some merit.

* Either can be quite accurate, but you'll probably get more accuracy for less money on a Remington style action. It is easier to work on and there are more gunsmiths who know how to work on them along with more options for aftermarket parts.

* There is nothing wrong with a Remington safety. There have been issues over the years with factory Remington triggers. I prefer the safety lock down the bolt handle on a hunting rifle but on a range rifle or target rifle it is a non-issue. And Pre-1982 Remington actions did lock down the bolt handle. If building a custom there are millions of donor rifles made prior to 1982 that can be had at bargain prices.

* It is the custom in some places to hunt with a cold chamber. Many of those guys believe their way is the only right way, but the vast majority of hunters in this county hunt with a hot chamber. There is absolutely no data to back up the claim that a cold chamber is any safer. Virtually all unintentional discharges happen at a time when even the cold chamber guys would have chambered a round anyway. I'd argue that guys who "THINK" their chambers are cold are more inclined to bad gun handling than the guy who "KNOWS" his chamber is hot.

I've been a hunter safety instructor since 1986, the IHEA does not teach nor recommend hunting with a cold chamber. They do teach that the chamber should be unloaded if climbing into an elevated stand, getting into or out of a boat, climbing over a fence, ditch or other terrain where footing is questionable. I would agree that in many places the chamber should be cold, but not as a general rule.

 

[BrocLuno]

I'm a traditional kinda guy. My only custom rifle is a single shot 22-250 on a Mauser action. It's accurate as far as I wanna shoot it.

If I was to have another custom, I'd prolly look at a Browning X Bolt action. Short lift is a good thing. It'll get trued anyway, so MFG tolerances are not an issue. The donor could be a Weatherby also. I suspect starting with a used rifle that you could shoot some and make notes about would be a good thing

It's one thing to dream up a rifle. But it's something else to shoot one and then figure what it would take to make it better, or closer to perfect ...

 

[Nature Boy]

It's one thing to dream up a rifle. But it's something else to shoot one and then figure what it would take to make it better, or closer to perfect ...

There's truth in that, and my FN SPR fits that example. I have 6k rounds of experience with it any my only issue has been the ergonomics of the McMillan A4 stock. But as I said, that will likely be a future project

 

[MrBorland]

Ultimately I said enough and bought three AIs without a single regret.

This isn't a bad option, IMO.

Another would be the Sako TRG-22, recently introduced in 6.5 Creedmoor. Expect to pay $3k-ish for a custom target rifle, which is about what the Sako runs, but the Sako and AI would likely do far better on the resale market.

Your SPR would make a decent base for a custom rig (in particular a great hunting rifle) later on.