Building a hunting rifle

[10XSHOOTER]

Use a long action. You can then throat for longer bullets and not worry about mag length.

 

[DGP4]

Use a long action. You can then throat for longer bullets and not worry about mag length.

That's an interesting idea! Have you done this and are there feeding issues to be concerned about?

 

[243Lapua]

Alot has been mentioned, but for me it depends on the terrain. If your planning on walking, build yourself a lightweight rifle. And if from a blind, you can always go with something more heavy, like a light varmint.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

I have built such a rifle. a 260 Imp 30*. used a long 700 action. and feed it with Magpul LA magazines.
Feeds like a dream from them. Use the 30-06 LA mags. Not the Magnum mags

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Used a #4 Krieger barrel finished it at 26". Loved the 130 Nosler accubonds! Wasn't a heavy rifle

 

[Evan]

American rifle Company Mausingfield has a lot of nice features for a hunting rifle.

 

[JSH]

Buddy and I have burned a lot of midnight oil hashing out what a perfect hunting rifle is.
Light and accurate. Meant to be carried more than shot.
With a wad of cash I think you can find a new or used cheaper than building from scratch.
Getting weight down is more costly than making a heavy rig.
Myself for me cartridge wise, I lean towards 300WSM. Though with that being said, if travel is involved cartridge should be readily accessible across the country, so that leaves 300WM or 30-06.

 

[K22]

50 + years of hunting
taught me its not the gun. its the hunter ! rick

This is exactly my experience too.

The most accurate custom rifle with all the bells and whistles is only as good as the guy behind it. I know this is not a popular position in this day of super technology but it's what I have also learned in 50+ years of field shooting.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

AGREE with THIS ^^^ Just buy, a 7mm-08 Tikka, T-3 for, "Hunting", to 500 yards, and give the rest of, the "Custom Money" to,.. Wife , or, grandkids, because MOST shooters, CAN'T, "Shoot the Difference", in the FIELD.
150 grain, Hornady ELD-X's or Bergers, pushed by StaBall 65, ARE,. "Thumpers", in the 7mm-08

 

[JEFFPPC]

So to this point we have missed the most important thing we can do vs most off the shelf rifles. Fit the stock to you with your heaviest clothes and coat you might wear.

 

[TaperPin]

Why not try something a little different and use a long action for the 7mm08 and get a second barrel in a bigger cartridge, or smaller, or all three.

The biggest difference you’ll notice with a more expensive action is the fit and finish. Even a Christensen Arms next to a Remington just feels and looks better. The machining is better, the lines are crisper, even though parts would almost interchange between the two.

 

[effendude]

You really think you'll stop after just building one? The fun has just begun!
Borden, Kelbly, Stiller, Surgeon, Defiance all make great actions, along with many others.
My go-to rifle for the last 3 trips to Africa, Idaho and here in MN is a 284 Shehane, long action Surgeon, and a Bartlein 5r barrel, in a Manners EH-1 stock, with a NF NXS 5.5-22X MOAR scope. Wears a Thunderbeast Ultra 7 suppressor.

Have fun, not matter what!
Scott

 

[DGP4]

you may be right Scott! Thanks.

 

[searcher]

I had the bug to build a nice hunting rifle a number of years back. I chose a BAT left-handed magnum action, Krieger fluted barrel with a Vais muzzle brake, Jewell trigger on a McMillan HTG camo stock. Had the same 'smith build it that built my BAT-actioned target rifles. It is a sweet-shooting rifle for pigs, deer and occasional coyote and will shoot around 3/8" MOA with Barnes TSX's in various weights. It turned out to be a heavier rifle than I like to lug around, particularly with the big Swarovski scope - though it was designed as a longer-range rifle for shooting canyons. I'll be using it tomorrow to hopefully bag a few pigs. If I had it to do all over again, I'd definitely go with a caliber that fits in a standard length action. I'd be looking at one of the new 7 MM numbers that compare with a 7 Mag in performance. Reading your post, I'd opt for something a bit more powerful than the 7mm-08, yet the 7-mm-08 is perfectly suited for deer and under. Just depends on whether you think you might be hunting larger animals. You mentioned maybe getting two stocks - one wood and one synthetic. If it is for hunting - forget the wood. And you will likely get minor point-of-impact shifts between the stocks. Wood is beautiful - but just not practical, particularly if you might hunt in inclement weather. All that said - building a custom big-game hunting rifle is a project of vanity - and a great way to throw money away (I'm worse than politicians). Earlier, I said "if I did it again". I likely would not. I'd buy a factory rifle in the caliber I want (assuming you choose one for which factory ammo is sold). I'd take the extra 1K to 3K and find something else I can't live without. A decent factory rifle costing 1k will likely shoot to within 1/4" MOA of a custom big game rifle and I'm not going to get all PO'd if it gets dinged, scratched and abused - which they all do if hunted a lot.

EDIT: I felt I should add that I WOULD build custom varmint rifles again - and I am in the process of another. for those, that extra 1/4" MOA is worth it to me. On big game - it matters little if shooting within reasonable hunting distances.

 

[DGP4]

Thanks for all that info searcher! I may just buy a Tikka and call it good. I don't need a more powerful cartridge than the 7mm-08 as all I hunt is deer and hogs here on the eastern USA.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Thanks for all that info searcher! I may just buy a Tikka and call it good. I don't need a more powerful cartridge than the 7mm-08 as all I hunt is deer and hogs here on the eastern USA.

GOOD,.. "Choice" !
Sierra, 150 gr. GK's and 150 gr. ELD-X's shot WELL, in my son's, Tikka 7-08.
Good Luck !

 

[std7mag]

While most people thumb their noses at them, a friend & i have "built" several rifles using Savage actions.

I bought a 24" sporter barrel in 257 Roberts from a member here several years ago.
Got a good price on a new Savage 111 in 270 Win. (barrel is still for sale)
Reamed the chamber. I now have a decent 257 Roberts AI.

Took the 250 Savage barrel off of my Stevens 200.
Bought a new Axis II in 7mm-08.
Took barrel off & reamed chamber to 7mm-08AI. Installed on the Stevens.
Axis II is now a 250 Savage.

Friends Axis II in 30-06 is now wearing one of the last barrels from Stan, chambered in 284 Win.
Boyds stock.
It's accounted for 6 deer in 2 years.

 

[S Miller]

Couple things that make my hunting rifles effective for me are a good trigger and a bettter scope.

 

[Bugs]

My 7-08, put together many years ago is a standard, short Remington action, Douglas barrel, Macmillan mountain rifle stock and a 6x Léupold. It weighs almost exactly 8 pounds in hand with three shells, a nylon web sling and butler creek scope covers. It will shoot around 3/4 moa which is more than adequate for what I do with it. I may get flamed for saying this but, if I were doing the same project today, I would look long and hard at a factory Tikka.

 

[slm9s]

Thanks for all that info searcher! I may just buy a Tikka and call it good. I don't need a more powerful cartridge than the 7mm-08 as all I hunt is deer and hogs here on the eastern USA.

Then I'd opt for a 6mm or 6.5mm option. Less recoil and plenty of energy for those prey. If you're a good shot a 6mm Creedmoor will drop any deer or hog.