Build On a Budget!

[Pistoljunky]

A few months ago I decided I was finaly going to build a long time dream of mine, a 6TCU bolt rifle. After doing much research and on what would be the easiest & most cost effective way for a average joe to build a custom rifle yourself without sacrificing quality, I decided to go with a savage action. I bought a basic Savage Edge in 223 at walmart for roughly $275 out the door, and decided to upgrade all the features. I started with a EGW picatinny scope base for $40. I then added a adjustable Rifle Basix Sav 1 trigger for $85. I ordered a savage action wrench for $30 and got the Go-NOGO gaues online for $60. I then gave a call to McGowen and ordered the barrel. I ordered it to the same dimensions as the factory 223 barrel that came off the gun originaly, so I knew the barrel would fit the stock perfect and be free floated. Out the door chambered in 6tcu and brushed stainless it came to $215 for the barrel. Only took 4 weeks from the time I ordered it. I can not speak higher of Dan & Jen at McGowen, as both were extremely helpfull. Dan also took plenty of time discussing the barrel with me as if I were the ONLY customer he had. I never felt rushed or hurried, was really a supreme pleasure dealing with both of them. I ordered the barrel in a 1:12 twist as I am primarly going to shoot 65-80gr bullets. Topped the gun off with a set of weaver quadloc rings and a pentax 4-12x40mm drop-comp gameseeker scope. The entire rig was built complete as you see for under $600. The Rifle Basix trigger is just fantastic. Its set a a crisp 1.2 lb pull. Goin to get some range time with her tomorrow hopefully. I think you would be hard pressed to try a build a true custom rifle for any cheaper without sacrificing quality. I decided to leave the factory stock as it fits me very well, and is very light weight. Im def going to build another one of these in the immediate future, I just have to decide on what wildcat the next one will be!.Cheers, BR

 

[7stubby]

Looks like a very fine rifle on a budget. Let us know how it shoots!!
Jake

 

[tiny68]

This is the first close I have seen that I noticed the Edge has no recoil lug. How does that work? Is the lug incorporated in the action? I would love to see a pic with the stock on. Sweet looking budget (or any kind) rifle.

Luck, Tim

 

[araz2114]

That is a sweet looking build. Please let us know how it shoots. Looks great.

Chris

 

[Kenny474]

The front of the action has a recess cut out at the bottom with a recoil lug that sits in the stock and fits in the recess between the action and barrel nut. Very simple set-up. I had considered using an Edge action and machining the face of the action flat and using a normal recoil lug. But I ended up with a Stevens which I like just as well.

Very nice rifle. I admire anyone who takes a Savage and makes it their own. I always try to support anyone who wants to try this, as it's much easier than many people think. So congrats on a job well done and a very nice rifle. I am glad you posted your story as well, hopefully more people will see how easy and affordable this is and do the same. It's just a great feeling to have a rifle you assembled yourself. Much more rewarding than just giving everything to a smith, and a lot cheaper as well. Not to mention you can build what you want, or maybe just a special caliber not offered, and end up with a lot more rifle for your money than if you paid a smith to rebarrel it for you.

Please update when you know how well it shoots. Have fun and enjoy the rifle!

Kenny

 

[Pistoljunky]

Thank you Kenny. The reason I decided to do this was because with the savage action the average person with modest gunsmithing skills can accomplish a build like this in no time flat, That combined with the fact that you can choose just about any wildcat chambering, and its no harder then a factory chambering. The aftermarket parts I put in are well worth the little amount they cost. If you had a gunsmith do a job like this for you im sure it would be double or more in cost. Anyone thinking they can't do a build by themselves should check out YouTube, as there are many videos online to help walk you through the entire build process, from removing the action, to headspacing, to bolt face part removal. For the price of what you would pay for a off the shelf factory rifle from remington or cz you can build yourself a true custom in the caliber you want with the features you want. I can't wait to start my next build. Like I say, the people over at McGowen are just the most stellar people you could ask for to deal with. Ohya this is a Krieger barrel by the way, I have heard good things about them, and just could not justify the cost diff for a shilen.. Cheers, BR.

 

[Kenny474]

Big Ryan, I am a bit confused. I thought you bought a McGowen barrel, but you have also stated it is a Krieger? ??? If you bought it from McGowen, than it should be a McGowen. I don't think they sell competitors barrels?

Can you clear this up for me please. Thanks, and again, nice rifle.

Kenny

 

[Pistoljunky]

Big Ryan, I am a bit confused. I thought you bought a McGowen barrel, but you have also stated it is a Krieger? ??? If you bought it from McGowen, than it should be a McGowen. I don't think they sell competitors barrels?

Can you clear this up for me please. Thanks, and again, nice rifle.

Kenny

When I talked with "Dan of McGowen Precision" on the phone he asked me if I wanted a Shilen or a Kreiger Blank, and then told me the price of each, so I chose to go with the Krieger. Then they did the chambering, matte SS finish, and the contour I wanted.

 

[tiny68]

Now I am confused. I have two McGowens pre-fit Savages..... that is McGowen barrels that where made by them (McGowen) and chamber in their shop. Never head of anyone getting McGowen to thread a competitors barrel. Tim

 

[Pistoljunky]

Now I am confused. I have two McGowens pre-fit Savages..... that is McGowen barrels that where made by them (McGowen) and chamber in their shop. Never head of anyone getting McGowen to thread a competitors barrel. Tim

LOL, sorry for the confusion. I even wrote it down when Dan and I had the conversation, and I scratched out the word shilen on my notes. Could I have been mistaken? Was my barrel maybe cheaper because it was not a "McGowen" Blank? When I called back and talked to Jen she told me the barrel was getting finished up and they were "etching it" Im assuming with the McGowen name as seen on my barrel. After we talked about the barrel type, contour, and such, we talked about what make and what kind of crown I wanted. Maybe I got confused during my talk with Dan and did'nt even know it. Maybe he thought I was going to supply my own barrel???? I dont think I could have been that confused and did'nt know I was lol.

 

[DCRYDER]

If I could get a SS Kreiger BLANK for $215 I would order all that the big brown truck could haul to me. That is a really good price for any custom barrel.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Ohya this is a Krieger barrel by the way, I have heard good things about them, and just could not justify the cost diff for a shilen.. Cheers, BR.

If anything you have a Shilen, not a Krieger. Krieger barrels are more expensive than Shilen barrels.

 

[rbertalotto]

Sign me up for 1000 Kreiger barrels at $215......Heck, you don't even need to thread or chamber them! .... ;D

I'd still like to know about the barrel maker as $215 for a stainless steel fitted barrel is a great deal. (as long as it shoots)

I love this kind of "Kitchen Gunsmith" custom rifle build. It seems you did all the right stuff and still came in under $600........Ya can't beat that with a stick! Plus, you get to get your hands dirty in the process.

The 6TCU is a fantastic cartridge. I shoot one out of a TC in both pistol and rifle length barrels. SUPER accurate and very easy to load develop. Be sure to report back once you shoot it.

 

[Pistoljunky]

Sign me up for 1000 Kreiger barrels at $215......Heck, you don't even need to thread or chamber them! .... ;D

I'd still like to know about the barrel maker as $215 for a stainless steel fitted barrel is a great deal. (as long as it shoots)

I love this kind of "Kitchen Gunsmith" custom rifle build. It seems you did all the right stuff and still came in under $600........Ya can't beat that with a stick! Plus, you get to get your hands dirty in the process.

The 6TCU is a fantastic cartridge. I shoot one out of a TC in both pistol and rifle length barrels. SUPER accurate and very easy to load develop. Be sure to report back once you shoot it.

Thats what originaly hooked me on the 6tcu. Yrs ago I had a 6TCU in a 18" contender platform, and it was the most accurate rifle I have ever shot in my entire life ( Well except for my fathers 222 DGA).. I use alot of 223's every week working on the ranch shooting hogs day in and day out, and thought with all the brass I go through I might aswell pick another caliber that I can reload using the same brass. Im pretty sure Im going to order another barrel for this rifle in 300 whisper, that way I can play around with some heavy subsonics with my favorite powder, Trail Boss! ;D

 

[rbertalotto]

Ahhh...The 300Whisper...Another favorite. I shoot a 300 Whisper Rimmed using 357 Maximum brass. The TC seems to like rimmed cases better. I shot a nice 8 point buck with the whisper, 220 grain at just about 1000fps.

BTW, the 6TCU can also be a rimmed cartridge in a TC using European 223 Rimmed brass.............

 

[McKinneyMike]

Now I am confused. I have two McGowens pre-fit Savages..... that is McGowen barrels that where made by them (McGowen) and chamber in their shop. Never head of anyone getting McGowen to thread a competitors barrel. Tim

Maybe the barrel was a "Kreiger contour" (which one though?) vs a Shilen contour. McGowen makes their own barrels.

 

[Pistoljunky]

Well, Im VERY, VERY, Pleased. After hand lapping the barrel, we headed to the range today for the first test of the Savage Edge/McGowen project, aka the "McSledge 6TCU" Using 80gr SP Hornady single shot pistol bullets behind 20gr of H-4198 and wolf SR primers gave me a average of 2400fps with a average deviation of only 30fps. Here is one of the 5 shot groups using a 3-9x40mm Burris Fullfield scope. Lets just say my next Savage/McGowen build is already in the works. ;D

 

[Heavies]

After hand lapping the barrel

Did you have to lap the barrel? Mine was hand lapped from Mcgowen. Very nice inside and out, and very easy cleanup. shoots very well too.

Nice shooting BTW.

 

[Pistoljunky]

After hand lapping the barrel

Did you have to lap the barrel? Mine was hand lapped from Mcgowen. Very nice inside and out, and very easy cleanup. shoots very well too.

Nice shooting BTW.

Yeah, hand lapping it really made it shine. I needed to be done. They may have done it from the factory, but if it was, it was not lapped enough.