Help Please.....308 Custom Rifle.....What combination ???

[robbobsam]

Hiya Guys,

I have $5000 to spend on a custom .308 rifle. I want to use it mostly for long range varmint and deer hunting in the UK but also for target shooting out to 600-800yds.

I have been looking at the many different types of barrel, actions and trigger combinations and am in need of some guidance from you guys.

I dont want the rifle to be too heavy or I am not going to enjoy hunting with it, but I understand that in order to use it for long range hntinjg I need a long heavy barrel.

I already have the scope for the job a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22 X 56 so I just need some advice on the following.

1. Which action and why ???
2. Which barrel, what length and why ???
3. Which stock and why ???
4. Which trigger and why ???

I have taken a bit of a liking to the surgeon action as they look very rugged and have a built in picatinny rail, but if you can recommend better I will listen to any suggestions. As for barrel I would like a varmint type barrel fluted to reduce the weight a little, add strength and aid cooling. In order to keep the velocity up I was thinking in the 26" long range, but as for make, I really dont know.

I like the accuracy international stock, but it is so heavy, can you recommend a better chassis for my rifle that is as strong and rugged but lighter in weight?

Thank you in advance for your replies.

 

[Chuckw]

the surgeon is a very nice receiver and i use them a lot, but take a look at the bat VRPC. it also comes with an integral rail and recoil lug with typical bat quality. as far as stocks go, i had an AICS for a short time and did not care for it. take a look at manners or mcmillan and choose what you like. manners has a new copy of the mcmillan KMW stock that looks VERY nice. i would love to get my hands on one.

chuck

 

[jmatters]

Before I plopped $5,000 down a hunting rifle, with occasional use at 800 yard targets, I'd suggest you look at some of the "local" UK long distance shooters. If memory serves, there were a bunch of guys out there doing astounding things with Enfields at ranges well in excess of 1,000 yards. Why reinvent the wheel if you don't need to?
Whatever you decide, make sure you find a respected gunsmith, explain what you want to use the gun for, and let him work with you to figure out all the pieces to make your perfect rifle. You'll not be disappointed.

 

[bulldog284]

you cant go wrong with a surgeon action,as far as a barrel i would go with a krieger light varmint 26 inches long,with a 1 in 11 twist.as for a stock i would look at robertsons composites stocks they have some nice stuff and they can custom make one to your liking.

 

[SpencerC]

Barnard action (comes with trigger)
Robertson stock, your preference which one.
26" medium or light palma contour barrel.

 

[deadlyswift]

I agree with bits and peaces of all that has been posted. With maybe some other suggestions. Not that there is anything wrong with any of the above suggestion, but just to throw something else at you to think about or possiblities.

When it comes to a hunting rifle. I would suggest maybe considering a factory action like Rem,or Savage. Unless you want to just do a full blown custom hunting rifle, and I can very well understand that. I do like the Nice things and pay for them even when I don't really need them. Bat, Surgeon, Kellby and a few others too are all just Great actions! Take your pick!

Reason I say a factory action is for this reason. I have two Savage actions, and one Rem. action from the late 1980s. (Rem. is from the 1980s.) I have shot the Rem and one Savage in comp. They hold their own. Neither have been trued. Recently shot a Savage 308 factory rifle in a F class match and scored 134-1x, and 135-1x out of 15 shots for record at 1000yrds. I often wonder what I could have scored if the Savage would have had a Broughton 5c barrel on it? My score in that match isn't what I'm impressed with. I'm impressed that a Factory 308 Savage with a bedding job scored that. I would think that a Savage action with a good stock, and a good custom barrel, chamber with a reamer to my specs and throated for my desired bullet would be just fine for a hunting rifle at long range. However and like I said I do love the custom actions! Bat is my # 1 choice! Only reason I bring up factory actions is that they can shoot and shoot very well. However if you feel you need to have a factory action trued? Then after paying for the action and paying a smith to true it! It's not worth going with a factory action. For just a few hundread $$$ more you can have a great custom action! I understand wanting the custom action they are just great! I thought I'd bring the factory action thing up if you wanted to save a few bucks. However if my budget was 5k I don't think I would go with the factory option either!

Stocks, The above mentioned are all good. Micmillan and Manners would be a great choice! The Robertsons compsites that bulldog284 suggested would be great too. Have know experince with them but have never heard anything bad about them. Making a suggestion based on my own experince I would say Micmillan, Manners. First place I would look would be Bill Shehane's stock's at
http://scopeusout.com/ Bill makes some of the best stocks in the world! As well many other's do too. I know that Bill ships over seas so he has experinece there and want be a problem. He does make a hunting line as well target stocks. Check out his web site!

Barrels, My first choice would be a Broughton 5c! As bulldog284 suggested Krieger would be great too! Have a few online buddies that shoot them and they swear by them! I have just had such good luck out of my Broughton I can't stray! Another great barrel would be Pacnor! A little cheaper in price but still a force to be reckon with! I wouldn't hesitate to put one on my hunting rifles. I can get a prefit from Pacnor for almost what a Broughton blank cost me. My smith loves them. I have seen him shoot very well with the Pacnor barrels! To be honest If some start winning matches with Pacnor barrels you would probably hear a lot more about them! I would aslo choose 26" in length. That's about as long as a barrel that I want for a hunting rifle, and You will be able to get enough vel. needed for what you want easliy. Twist again I agree with bulldog284. 1in11 will do well, even with a 190gr Berger maybe even bigger. So that is plenty of twist!

Tirgger, First choice would be a Jewell! If the Jewell want fit the action or can't get one for your needs my 2nd choice would be a Rifle Basix! Rifle Basix makes a great trigger. Not a jewell for sure, but still a great trigger.
Good luck and enjoy!
Mark

 

[Rust]

A Surgeon action is probably the cream of the crop among 700 footprint actions, with greater barrel tenon engagement due to the integral recoil lug, added stiffness with the integral rail, and just plain better tolerances.

Barrels, well, take your pick. Since Border Barrels is essentially a local company for you, and they make a quality product you might want to investigate them. I use a few Lothar Walther match program barrels and am more than satisfied with them.

Barrel length? I would say somewhere between 24-26 inches, especially with a rifle that would be used for stalking. My personnal choice would be 26" if it were to be used for long range target shooting just to eke out a bit more velocity.

A medium Palma taper is still light enough to carry well and heavy enough for good accuracy.

Stock design, now there is a conundrum. Most target stocks do not lend themselves to offhand field shooting, and do not carry especially well. Most field designs will shoot reasonable well off a bipod, although not as well as a dedicated target stock off a machine rest. Assuming that as stated your primary usage will be in the field I'd recommend something along the design lines of a McMillan Sako Varminter (which can be ordered inletted for most actions) with the addition of a rail in the forend. The reason for the rail is simply versatility. One can use a sling with the appropriate inserts, and with a bipod the bipod can be shifted for and aft for best recoil characteristics and accuracy.

Triggers? I would not recommend a match trigger in a stalking rifle, nor would I recommend less than a 2 lb trigger pull. The primary concern would be the crispness of the trigger at that pull weight. Timney makes a newer trigger that is fairly crisp.

Ultimately accuracy comes down to the precision with which the barrel is chambered and fitted up to the receiver, and matching the chamber design to the loaded ammuntition you intend to shoot regarding COL vs mag langth, chamber neck diamter, chamber freebore diameter, leade angle etc etc. I would recomend speaking with a quality smith and making up some dummy rounds using the bullets you would likely be using to measure to determine which of the many many .308 chamber reamer designs would be most suitable.

 

[bwaites]

A lot of the recommendation should be based on how much of each you will do.

If you will shoot targets 10 times as often as you hunt, then I would lean much more towards a 28 or 30 inch barrel and live with the weight for the few times I was hunting. If I was hunting 10 times for every time I shot competition, I would lean towards a 26 inch barrel and a lighter profile.

If its 50/50, that then a heavy 24 or 26 might be best. I live with my 18 pound 7mm WSM for hunting, simply by planning hunts where I won't have to walk prolonged distances to hunt. That might be an option as well.

All the mentioned actions have great reputations.

If it were me, I'd buy a Savage .308, and simply consider replacing the barrel if it didn't shoot as well as I wanted.

Remember the Savage Team shoots factory rifles without bedding, and they were the majority of the US Team that won F/T R at the Worlds!

BILL

 

[bheadboy]

my 2c worth, i would go with a Hart bbl 26" fluted, 1x12, jewel trigger, Hart or other custom (700 style action), stock of your choice

I have a number of 700 and 40x actions that after being trued shoot very, very well, the cost is slightly less than the customes, and they are easy to pick up.

the caliber you chose is great, now for more confusion, i personally would go with the 7-08 or 7-08AI as the bullet selection hi BC is really great and they have been proven to be accurate and give less recoil than 308

also for hunting the 140s are all you could want at 2900 from a 26" bbl use a 9"twist

Bob