$1200....buy or build?

[Nubster]

This is more out of curiosity/research right now as I have much much shooting to do with my current rifle before I really even think about a new setup.

Anyways, just wondering, $1200 budget, would it be better to buy a gun off the shelf like a nice Rem. 700 or Savage Model 12 variant or build a rifle around one of those actions? You'd be in for about the same money right? $400-500 for the action, $400 for a barrel, $200ish for a decent stock, $100-200 for a trigger. That's new stuff, not taking used guns/parts into consideration.

I was browsing the Savage Arms site and looking at the Model 12 rifles and the 12 Long Range Precision in particular, that's how I came up with that budget number. So I figure $1200-1500 for the Model 12 series rifles for off the shelf vs. building for the same amount. Optics not included.

 

[tiny68]

What do you want to do with it?

 

[Nubster]

Target up to 1000 yards. Probably some stationary predator/varmint hunting as well.

I mean I have a decent 300-500 yard rifle now, especially if I upgrade the scope and get ammo nailed down. I'm just kinda looking into a budget-ish idea for a future setup if I get more into this hobby and start wanting to really nail some long range targets and maybe even compete on small scale. Still lots and lots to learn...sometimes I do get a head of myself though...lol

And I guess I under estimated the barrel price. I was looking on the Krieger site and thought that they were only about $350...I didn't realize that was just for a rifled blank. Now I see it's another $290 to have it actually fitted to an action. But, that would still bring it within that $1500 budget range using a Savage or Remington action.

 

[Tim Singleton]

I did the Savage build route. It's taken me a while but I'm getting close to being out of all things Savage.

Look for a good used custom rifle have a new barrel fitted don't look back.

You want be to far over your budget and will be IMO better off by miles

 

[Nubster]

I did the Savage build route. It's taken me a while but I'm getting close to being out of all things Savage.

Look for a good used custom rifle have a new barrel fitted don't look back.

You want be to far over your budget and will be IMO better off by miles

Point taken. It'll all depend on where I'm at financially when/if the time comes that I want to move up to a nice rifle. I know that I can save but I'm not so good at that....lol...I'm more of a sell something old to buy sometime new kinda guy. But I may start putting away a few bucks here and there just to have, if nothing else, to pay for some nicer optics.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Another one to consider for an off the shelf 1K rifle would be the Remington 700 Sendero. within budget and VERY accurate. Plus tons of customizing options later on down the road. First of which should probably be a Jewell trigger IMO.

 

[CatShooter]

Definitely buy - new is OK, but used can be much better.

Building a rifle is like a government contract -- it never comes in for what the estimate was - so have deep pockets if you are going to build.

 

[savagedasher]

Hightrc has one listed here, price sound More then fair. Larry

 

[Steve3]

A new Remington 700 heavy barrel rifle. They sell them at Dick's, Cabela's, etc.. ADL Varmint - $449.00 I have seen two of them in 223 shoot lights out (hand loads). You can upgrade the stock if need be. I keep wanting one of these as well. A good place to start.

 

[hogpatrol]

This is more out of curiosity/research right now as I have much much shooting to do with my current rifle before I really even think about a new setup.

Anyways, just wondering, $1200 budget, would it be better to buy a gun off the shelf like a nice Rem. 700 or Savage Model 12 variant or build a rifle around one of those actions? You'd be in for about the same money right? $400-500 for the action, $400 for a barrel, $200ish for a decent stock, $100-200 for a trigger. That's new stuff, not taking used guns/parts into consideration.

I was browsing the Savage Arms site and looking at the Model 12 rifles and the 12 Long Range Precision in particular, that's how I came up with that budget number. So I figure $1200-1500 for the Model 12 series rifles for off the shelf vs. building for the same amount. Optics not included.

Are you doing your own machine work and assembly? Action truing, bedding, chambering, trigger work, etc. will take you beyond $1500.

 

[mshelton]

Used might be your best bet, if you can find something reasonable done by a known smith, you can always have it rebarrelled later if you don't find the exact caliber/chambering your looking at now.

 

[people]

Used is probably the best way to go. If you are not in a rush great deals come up from time to time.

 

[NickB1075]

If your considering $1500. I would really consider keeping an eye out in the used market. Possibly save some more change and get into a custom set up. You won't regret it. And resale will be better. Just my opinion.

Nick

 

[Quackhead69]

This is more out of curiosity/research right now as I have much much shooting to do with my current rifle before I really even think about a new setup.

Anyways, just wondering, $1200 budget, would it be better to buy a gun off the shelf like a nice Rem. 700 or Savage Model 12 variant or build a rifle around one of those actions? You'd be in for about the same money right? $400-500 for the action, $400 for a barrel, $200ish for a decent stock, $100-200 for a trigger. That's new stuff, not taking used guns/parts into consideration.

I was browsing the Savage Arms site and looking at the Model 12 rifles and the 12 Long Range Precision in particular, that's how I came up with that budget number. So I figure $1200-1500 for the Model 12 series rifles for off the shelf vs. building for the same amount. Optics not included.

Just my experience and observations. I do not know if it is a requirement or a fad, but I see many ppl buy a 700 with the intent to send it off right away for gunsmithing to make it perform. When I was shopping for a budget rifle last year, I was on the fence between the Rem. 700 SPS Tac AAC SD or the Howa 1500 Varmint. Both of these have the same 20" #6 profile 1:10 barrels and Hogue stock from the factory. I finally was able to do an in store comparison and after feeling the actions for smoothness and the triggers for feel, I happily chose the Howa. I realize I gave up many chassis options for the Howa vs. the 700, but all of the good stuff from manufacturers such as McMillan, Manners, B&C and Timney are available for them. I wanted the best out of the box performance for my $. Even after replacing the factory Hogue stock with a B&C Medalist and adding a Harris bi-pod, I still only have $900 in my rifle alone, as a matter of fact, I only have $1300 tied up in the Rifle, a cheap Vortex 6-24x50 scope, rings and a +20 base.



5 shot group at 100 meters using Federal GMM 168's:



5 shot groups at 100 meters using Winchester Match 168's:



Not perfect, by any means, but I feel there is perfomance left to be had with a little more experience and custom loads. This is the first bolt rifle I have owned and I only have about 250 rds down range with the rifle/scope combo.

 

[jdh47]

The Tikka can be considered as well. They shoot good out of the box and are smooth. The CTR comes in .308 or .260 and has a ten round magazine. There are stock options as well.

 

[ShootDots]

Here is my experience.. I shoot F-Open at 300, 600 and 1000 yards. When I first started, I shot a very accurate 6.5 x 47 Lapua. It was NOT a "Full Blown Custom F-Open" rifle. I soon saw the need for such a build. If you have 1200 bucks now, I would simply save up the money, even if it takes another year, to get what you NEED for what you are wanting it to accomplish.

I had a NICE set up, but it lacked enough of what was necessary to make it a "decent" 1000 yard competition rifle. I know you want it to double as a long range varmint hunting rifle. Consider this: you can take a really good long range varmint rifle and do "okay" (but not great) at long range competition. However, you can make an excellent long range competition rifle that doubles as an awesome long range varmint rifle>> just not the reverse!

So my vote is WAIT til you have the funds or you will spend the 1200 and then you will spend MORE money in short order... Do it RIGHT the first time>>>it actually IS cheaper in the long run!

 

[Nubster]

Are you doing your own machine work and assembly? Action truing, bedding, chambering, trigger work, etc. will take you beyond $1500.

Machine work, no. Assembly, as much as I'm able to do. Bedding, yeah, I could do that. Trigger work, possibly. And action truing...if I were to purchase a barrel from someplace like Krieger and sent my action into them for the barrel to be fitted, will that mean it's trued? I mean I figure if they have the action and are fitting the barrel to it, it probably won't get much better than that, right?

And everyone else, thanks a bunch. So many great posts and suggestions. Certainly gives a person many (too many) options on how to go with this. It's a bit overwhelming and I haven't even started thinking about calibers and scopes...lol

 

[dragman]

IMHO I think buy a used gun. plenty of them on line to chose from in the $1200-1500 range.

 

[Nubster]

IMHO I think buy a used gun. plenty of them on line to chose from in the $1200-1500 range.

When the time comes that very well may be the way I go. I'm certainly not opposed to buying used. Most of my hobbies are comprised of used stuff. Cameras and lenses are usually used, archery stuff, used, I figure if it's cared for it's the best bang for the buck most of the time.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

http://theshooterscorner.com/