Custom Rifle

[CarolinaCrazy]

I am getting ready to have a custom rifle built for myself and need some help on choosing a caliber. The action will be a Remington 700 5R, and is a short action so I will be restricted on the caliber. My gunsmith informed me that his most popular rifles are chambered in 243AI and 308 winchester. He also told me that if I wanted a magnum that I would have to stick with the short magnums. My problem with Short Magnums is will they hang out much longer, and will ammo be avaiable in the distant future. My reason for doubt is that Winchester came out with the 300 WSM, 7mm WSM, 270 WSM, and 325 WSM. They all seem to fade in popularity except for the 300 WSM.

I need help in choosing a caliber, remember I am limited because it is a short action, but I need it for a all around hunting rifle (Whitetail, Elk, Moose, Black Bear)

Thanks,

 

[mnrivrat]

Hands down .308 Win. would be my choice given what you plan on using it for.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

7mm-08, maybe 7mm WSM or .270 WSM.

 

[ArmedBear]

Why would you choose a Remington short action for a moose rifle?

Why a custom rifle for "do it all" use?

I'm not really "getting" the whys and wherefores here.

 

[Uncle Mike]

All around. 300WSM

 

[Robert]

I agree with ArmedBear. Why a short action? Just curious.
Given the choices above I'd go with the 300WSM

 

[CarolinaCrazy]

My gunsmith already has Remington 700 short actions in stock and if he uses that it will cost me a little over $2000.00, if he has to make me a Remington 700 clone that is long action or order me one from a custom builder the rifle will cost me $3500.00.

knowing this, would you stay with the short action or opt for the long action and if so what caliber would you chamber it in, 270, 280, 7mm mag, 30-06, 300 win mag.

 

[federalfarmer]

.308 is the easy choice for limitless availability of ammo and great reload data from others. Plus that round is an all day shooter not a big thumper.

However I have been reading alot about the .325 WSM and I can't let go of this one! Light and heavy bullits for different ranges and game.

What other rifle caliber choices would you have? or is this TOG? (the one gun)

Picture update when done please!

 

[ArmedBear]

I don't think I'd opt for a Remington action in a high-end hunting rifle, at all. I certainly wouldn't be in a hurry to do it.

There are fine rifles available for $2000. Or $1000. Now, Winchester makes some truly fine rifles for $700.

Is there something in particular that you want, that you can't find in a regular rifle, given that you have a budget of $2000+?

 

[P.B.Walsh]

What's wrong with a Rem. 700 action for a high-end hunting rifle??

 

[hardluk1]

Carolinacrazy If you live in the wesatern half of the state call and talk to Herbs Gun Shop . He is off hi-81 between erwin and jonesboro tenn. and a master with rifles. Also has several actions on hand from different makers all the time. It might be worth while to get with him. he does build huntig rifles as well as 1000yd customs. I know that his egg match 308's will shoot will under 11/2" at 300 yards and still be a real hunting rifle. But like has been said ,you can today buy several factory rifles from 450 up that can shoot under 1" guaranties. For a hunting rifle that could be 4" at 400 yards and beyound that it's hard to deside if what is out there is worth shooting,even with great optics. And shot a 30-06, 7rem mag or 300 win mag. ammo is everwhere and they do the job at real distance's. Last they will still be around in 25 years. If holding shots to 300 yards add the 308,7-08.

 

[CarolinaCrazy]

I have been saving my extra money for some time now and would like to have a custom rifle. He has two actions in stock the Remington 700, and FNH pre-64 model 70, but both are short actions. I had been told that Remington m700 actions is the most popular with custom builders. I had also thought about going with a K98 Mauser and just have a barrel put on it and a new stock. The fact that these rifles are getting 1/4 MOA at 200 yds does not hurt.

 

[browningguy]

Carolina, nothing wrong with a short action custom rifle, and nothing wrong with using a 700 action in it. I've seen plenty of both in the field. Personally from what you have said about the game you'll hunt I would probably go with the .308. I use one and with good 150-165 gr. bullets (Barnes TSX/Nosler Partition/Etc.) would not hesitate to use it on anything except the biggest bears. I really like the .30 caliber in an all around gun, even though most of my hunting is with a custom 7x57 on a Mauser action, I have .30's ranging from a .300 Sherwood rook rifle to a .300 Win mag. A .260 Remington or 7mm-08 would also work for just about everything on your list and I would be comfortable with using any of them.

Both of these were built in the last 5 years for under $1k excluding optics, if I was spending over $1500-1800 today I would be expecting some nice wood on the stock.

My .300 Winnie on an FN action, 24" Dumoulin barrel and B&C stock:


A .275 Rigby (7x57) on a VZ24 Mauser action with 24" Douglas XX barrel and B&C stock.

 

[ArmedBear]

Remington m700 actions is the most popular with custom builders.

That's likely because it's been readily available and it can be used to build accurate rifles. The pre-64 action hasn't been easy to come by for a long time, until recently.

If I went to a 'smith and he had the FN Model 70 CRF action and the Remington action, and I wanted a HUNTING rifle, it wouldn't even be a choice for me. Model 70 all the way.

1/4 MOA is neat-o, but not a priority for your purpose. 1/2 MOA with the right loads is easy to get nowadays, from a custom rifle, and that's 2" at 400 yards. Unless you're shooting in completely still air from a machine rest, you will never be able to use even 1/2 MOA to its potential.

I'd go for the field functionality of the CRF action, myself.

But I'd also want a standard length action, not a short one, if I really wanted to use the gun for moose.

I've seen plenty of both in the field.

We're not talking about something that will put lead downrange. We're talking about something that will have $2000+ thrown at it. Might as well go for "ideal" instead of "it'll work okay." At least that's my opinion, when spending larger amounts of cash.

 

[rem2429]

.338 Federal for all around and a short action but they have ammo availability issues. A .308 is hard to beat in general. Reaming out the bolt face for a WSM isn't my favorite idea on a 700.
Have you considered a .260 or 6.5 lapua? That would be my choice for a custom deer rifle and it would work on elk and smaller bears. Great cartridges and perfect candidates for a short action model 700.

 

[ArmedBear]

.260 Remington in a custom Model 70 would be something I'd sure like to get.

I wouldn't call that a moose gun, though.

Moose on the list kinda makes it harder.

Otherwise, custom Model 70 in .260 -- there's a great short-action rifle that doesn't have a production analogue.

 

[CarolinaCrazy]

So, The FNH Pre64 Model 70 in .260 Remington. How long should the barrel be 26", or 28"? and stock wise some nice wood, or Mcmillian, HS-Precision?

 

[DRYHUMOR]

CarolinaCrazy, you seem to be in the "tire kicking" stage. You might want to research a bit more what options you really would like to have.

With factory rifles pushing $1000, it's within your budget to do a little work to one and make it "semi custom". Have the action trued and drop it in a good Mcm or HS stock.

The rifles I've been most happy with through the years were factory rifles with just a bit of tweaking.

Something to think about.

However.

If I were to build a custom rifle, it would be on a Sako TRG-S action in 6.5X55

 

[ArmedBear]

26" or 28"?

Again, I'd go with "neither."

It's a hunting rifle. Longer than 22" makes little sense to me with a short action. If I wanted ideal ballistics, I'd get a long action anyway. The whole point, to me, is a rifle that is comfortably carried.

But I'm not you.

Maybe you want a 28" short-action hunting rifle for some reason.

I agree with DRYHUMOR.

 

[lipadj46]

$2500 can get you a pretty sweet factory built "custom" with all the bells and whistles. I'm not sure who your builder is but I would shop around think of exactly what you want. $2500 is a lot of money to be limited to a short action receiver because that is what the guy has for "cheap".

 

[jacob.elliott]

get a sako, sauer or a kimber or something for that much money

 

[ArmedBear]

Or get a new Model 70 or a T/C Icon, and spend some money on glass.

For hunting big game, glass is the luxury that you're notice and really appreciate. A 1/4 MOA rifle is of no extra value that you will notice, compared to one that will shoot, say, 3/4 MOA.

 

[Wastemore]

I actually just built two semi-custom rifles and was in the same boat you are. I went with a Remington 700, HS stock and a Lilja barrel in a .260. Good grief, that is an amazing cartridge.. Runs circles around the .308 and a pussycat to shoot. Reasonably light powder charge, you have quite a few selections of brass if you'd like to form your own. Up from a .243.. down from a .308, 7mm-08 or you can just buy .260 brass. The .260 is inherently accurate with its pencil like projectile and high BC and there's a pretty wide selection of bullets avail.

You won't be sorry if you decide to go with a .260.

 

[ArmedBear]

The only downside to the .260 is that you pretty much HAVE to get a custom rifle to shoot it.

 

[SaxonPig]

I'll assume that you have your reasons for choosing the action you have and simply answer your original question by saying the .308 Winchester would be the best caliber choice in my opinion. The .243 is way too light for the animals you list and the magnums are an unjustified extra cost.