Need advice on rifle build

[deadlyswift]

I have never shot a savage rifle and I have always wanted to have a gun built. I still have a scope to buy (nightforce 5.5x22 or Leupold vxIII) so I am trying to be reasonable given my budget. Unless I am mistaken a Krieger barrel, McMillan stock, Jewell trigger, gunsmithing, and some misc accessories are probably going to set me back at least $1500.00 w/o scope. that is my I am considering other options. I am also going to start reloading and I need to buy that stuff sometime in the near future. At some point I just need to make a decision but i appreciate the feedback.

Jm32526,
You are thinking way too much about got to have top of the line products to build a good, hunting, paper punching, fun gun to shoot. Just as Erik said for $900 or less you can go with a custom barrel, and a HS stock with the V block. The V block is really a great option. A lot of ppl shoot Krieger barrels. As suggested Pacnor really has some great shooting barrels and you can get one prefit ready to screw on. (No smith work) for less than what a Krieger blank would cost, and as said before you would have that barrel in probably half the time it would take to get a Krieger barrel. Jewell triggers IMO they are the best. The only competition Jewell has would be Kelby. But we are talking about comp triggers. There are many great triggers out there for a lot less. Scopes? Yes NF are awesome! For what you want Leupold will do just fine. As well look into Sighton scopes. I have blamed my equipment many times and spent a lot of money to try and fix a simple problem. Only to find out in the end I was the problem all along!

 

[Jm32526]

Your right. I have over thought this to the point of confusion and utter frustration. Definitely going with Leupold scope. My issue is I am trying to learn all this stuff in one day and then be able to pick the perfect setup. I like the PAC NOR idea. The only two decisions I got left are .260rem or 7mm-08 and McMillan or HS. Either way this will be my first of hopefully many builds.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Go with the 260, get a 1:8" twist barrel and get enough freebore to seat bullets with the bearing surface above neck/shoulder junction to maximize capacity. Having a long action is a plus in this case. Get Lapua brass and you are all set. Go with the HS Precision stock since no bedding will be required.

Good luck and may all your groups be one hole!

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Gotta comment on barrels... The advice you got, while well intentioned might lead you off somewhere you don't need to go.... Onto a waiting list...

Krieger makes great barrels, PacNor makes great barrels, Brux makes great barrels, Benchmark, Bartlein, etc, etc.

I would not choose one barrel over another based on anything other than what I want because availability is better than you might think. 3rd Gen Shooting Supply has Krieger 5R barrels in stock. Just a few minutes ago, rcw3 (a darn fine smith in his own right) posted both 6.5 (264) and 7mm (284) Brux 31" 8.5 twist barrels for sale. Trust me, his price is far better than you can buy them anywhere else!

Please just realize that we all have our preferrences. Some of the posters that have given advice have been through more than a few premium barrels from the big name manufacturers. Just because I'm currently shooting a Benchmark barrel for my 308 F/TR rifle doesn't mean that it is the only way to build a truly excellent target rifle (my "field" rifle has a Hart barrel on it).

I would also advise you to look at what you really are going to do with the rifle before putting a huge sum down on the stock. Sometimes there are other stocks that will serve your purposes just as well as a $400 stock for half the price.

I would also recommend Leupold optics. I would own a Nightforce if I could afford it, but I go out and win matches with my good old Leupy. Neither scope will win a match, they only make it easier to see the target (sometimes).

I hope some of this helps, it is good advice I got from another experienced shooter long ago, and has served me well.

 

[Cowboy Tom]

To the OP,

Let's just start by saying that there is nothing at all wrong with the good ole 270. Great caliber with tons of good components available. Seen lot's of elk perish in front of the muzzle of a 270. And believe me, as someone who has shot lot's of varmints (jack rabbits, prairie dogs, ground squirrels) it is and extremely effective varmint caliber, and can be made to shoot very well. If that's a little too mundane you might loot at a 25-06, 280... If those a still a little common then there are zillions of obscure calibers to choose from that would work in your standard length action. Before you commit make sure you understand the compromises with each caliber (i.e. how much effort do you want to put into forming cases, how much you want to pay for brass and bullets, barrel life......................) Lot's of info on this site.

CT

 

[Jm32526]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions!!! I went to local gun stores but in the end I just wasn't overly excited about any of the factory guns. So I ordered my stuff today. By the way busdriver thanks for the tip on 3rd gen shooting. They had almost every thing I wanted except the barrel. They should get more krieger barrels next week. I will post my results after its built. Thanks again everyone!!

 

[Jm32526]

As stated earlier here are is a photo of my build and a couple of targets. The rifle was built by Todd Koonce of Koonce Customs in Salem, Oregon.

Mcmillan A5 stock
Rem 700 Long Action chambered in .260rem
Krieger 8.5" twist 5r 26" stainless remington varmint
Leupold Mark IV 8.5 X 25 50mm
Badger Ord. bolt knob
Nightforce Rings
Harris Bi-pod
Trigger job, trued action.

 

[redneckclimbing]

GREAT IDEA FOR BOTH OF US-

I saw your post about the "Rifle Build". I have an idea, if you're interested, that may help us both out. I have another thread started on here called 7mm SAUM Wildcat. Check it out, anyways my thoughts were if I bought the reamer and dies, I would let you use them in your rifle build if you kept me up to date on your load results. Worst case scenario if you didn't like the cartridge you could always come in behind it with either a SAUM or WSM reamer and not loose any barrel length.
My criteria with this wildcat were to shoot the 180 Berger at least 2850 (enough for elk out 600 no problem), while using the same amount of powder as a .284 Shehane (to lessen recoil, and have better barrel life than the SAUM or WSM) for target work, as well as fit in a short action with the 180 Berger "loaded long".
You would have to either get the face on your bolt enlarged or get a new one from David Kiff (about $150, I think) which you might want to think about anyways if you have to bore out the bolt raceway during your blueprint (this keeps the bolt tolerances tighter).
This would save me from building an entire rifle to find out that it doesn't do what I want it to. But if it doesn't do what you want it to all you would have to do is get the barrel re-chambered. Let me know if you are interested.


P.S. Go with the HS Precision, you will not be disappointed!