Newbie seeking advice on building a rifle

[munsonbw]

First let me say thanks to the forum and its members. There is a great wealth of information and I have yet to read a thread that digressed into childish name calling. That is refreshing.

I am thinking of building a somewhat budget oriented build. Somewhere between re-barreling a Savage and hiring a smith to build a full on custom. I like to DIY things and part of the goal is to have something that I made. My initial plan was to take a PTG blueprinted 700 SA or the B52 and add a remage barrel to it. Jewell trigger and something like a Richard's microfit stock in midgrade walnut. The intended use is mainly paper punching at ranges of ~100 to 350yds. and maybe a pdog hunt one of these days. I am set up to reload in .223, but also considered a .204 Ruger. The 6mm stuff just seems excessive and I like the idea of being able to buy factory ammo if needed.

I read in a thread here that spending a premium on a re-worked or even custom action then putting a remage system on it was spending the money backwards. Why so? The Bighorn Origin is not too much more than the PTG and has the bragging rights (maybe resale) of a custom, but with the above statement it seems that I am going about it backwards with even more money. A Savage target action seems like a good base as well, but if the remage system is not the best approach, why is the savage barrel nut system any different?

Thanks
Ben

 

[CharlieNC]

I have read mixed reviews whether the PTG threads have been cleaned up to the extent that a standard threaded barrel will not fit properly, and that should be investigated to obtain an accurate answer. Regarding the remage barrel it seems strange that we trust a shop to make a long, true barrel but then question their ability to chamber said barrel. All I can from personal experience is that a group of guys in my area shoot Criterion prefits, and typically win or place high in Fclass matches and set NRA records. I do not doubt that a few gunsmiths have a few tricks up their sleeve regarding barrel timing, etc which leads to improved accuracy but I doubt many can load and shoot well enough to tell the difference. At your stage as a DIY shooter I would not hesitate to jump on a quality prefit such as CBI on a decent action, and the 223 is a great paper puncher for your stated yardages.

 

[urbanrifleman]

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/49420/REM+700+RECEIVER+S/A+SINGLE



Buds has the 700 single shot 40x action for $375. Get that. A Jewell trigger, and Criterion barrel, or better yet get a nut barrel from Bugholes.com from a BARTLEIN blank. That is Southern Precision and he is joy to work with. He has the Savage heavy Varmint contour read yto chamber with a nut. You can use his not or the standard Savage style nut (I would use the standard nut myself).

The Bobby Hart laminated stocks are made by Keystone and are amazing. Get the aluminum bedding block. No bedding is necessary. You could have assembled in a few hours.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Here is mine made exactly as I described. 40x single shot, Jewell, and Bobby Hart stock with aluminum bedding block. I use the EGW scope rail also. This guy here will shoot too.

 

[joshb]

Why do I like that yellow stock so much?

 

[urbanrifleman]

Bumblebee.

 

[munsonbw]

Thanks for the information, guys. Gives me some things to read up on more, but good to hear that good results are possible with remage style barrels.

If one could get a Stiller TAC30 for reasonable money, would that be a good basis? Better than a trued 700? I hear complaints about loose bolt fit (as I understand made this way intentionally) and since I am not using it for hunting does that make it any less accurate on the bench?

 

[hoz53]

I may have to sell my Savage and start over

Now you’re talkin

 

[hoz53]

Why do I like that yellow stock so much?

You’re working on the twin right now aren’t you

 

[urbanrifleman]

I have a Savage too. You could go that way, but there are less options and stocks are harder to find.

 

[munsonbw]

Unless you're a benchrest shooter you won't notice much difference except $$

I do plan to do bench shooting, but not benchrest competition. I assume you refer to the latter in your comment? I wouldn't have minded spending a little more on an action than just a stock Rem 700, but if I read it correctly that money just isn't going to have a big impact on accuracy when I am using remage barrels and varmint style stock options. I was just thinking of a used TAC30 for $600 that might be worth the extra few hundred.

Savage is out for me. For what I have in my mind a 700 platform is a better option, not that a Savage couldn't shoot equally well.

Urbanrifleman, that is a very nice looking rifle! Your build seems like it is what I need to do. Thanks.

 

[#40Fan]

First let me say thanks to the forum and its members. There is a great wealth of information and I have yet to read a thread that digressed into childish name calling. That is refreshing.

Be glad you haven't ran into Guffey. Crap, did I say his name out loud?

 

[#40Fan]

Brother
You can get a trued Remington single shot action and remage barrel from NSS at your door in a week

He could hook the OP up with the whole 9 yards. Action, barrel, trigger, stock, nut, tools...all without the fear of a sore backside from getting ripped off.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dont get a trued remington if you want to use a pre-fit.

 

[dolek]

Dont get a trued remington if you want to use a pre-fit.

Dusty,what is the reasoning behind that ? I have a trued 700 that I had thoughts of putting a pre-fit on in the near future. The bolt has been sleeved also . OP,sorry to hijack the thread but maybe Dusty can save us from both making a mistake ?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dusty,what is the reasoning behind that ? I have a trued 700 that I had thoughts of putting a pre-fit on in the near future. The bolt has been sleeved also . OP,sorry to hijack the thread but maybe Dusty can save us from both making a mistake ?

If the threads have been opened up and were already on the large side, they have to make the pre-fits fit even the smallest threads out there so with tolerance stacking AND an opened up thread the fit will be horribly loose not to mention the added bolt nose clearance it could get dangerous

 

[drover]

munsonbw,

From the uses laid out in your post a Rem 700, Remage barrel and nut from the maker of your choice, a varmint style stock (unless you plan on shooting it off the bench only, then a Benchrest style stock), a Jewell trigger will serve you well.

If Buds still has the single shot 40X action for $375 that would be my first choice of actions. Chances are that you will not see any signifigant difference in accuracy between a custom action and the 40X given your stated usage, in benchrest competition a few thousandths is the difference between winning and placing back in the pack for your use the differences are insignificant.

Your choice of 223 is good also, especially since you are already set up for it. It may not shoot groups quite as small as a dedicated 6BR but i certainly have no issues shooting groups in the .2 and .3's with the 223 - it is very user friendly, easy to tune and a lot of components work very well in it.

 

[munsonbw]

Dusty,what is the reasoning behind that ? I have a trued 700 that I had thoughts of putting a pre-fit on in the near future. The bolt has been sleeved also . OP,sorry to hijack the thread but maybe Dusty can save us from both making a mistake ?

I had exactly the same question in mind, so I am very glad you asked it.

What I can't wrap my head around is if they open up the threads are they no longer the same thread pattern? So, the barrel then needs to be custom threaded to a slightly larger OD? Would have never thought about this and I am very glad I started the thread to gain more knowledge before money started leaving the wallet. I would have understood the truing reducing headspacing.

I think I need to give NSS a call. Southern Precision is just a couple hours from me as well. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Evan]

Don't get stuck on one action. Look up a bunch of the rem clones and start calling around. You'll likely be surprised at how quickly and affordably you can get a "custom" rem clone that is worth more down the road as well as better put together than the reworked actions.

Edit: if you aren't in a rush, call around. You may again be surprised at how affordable a custom barreled action is. You make the stock and mount the optics and save thousands on buying a "complete" custom.

 

[munsonbw]

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/49420/REM+700+RECEIVER+S/A+SINGLE

View attachment 1061607

Buds has the 700 single shot 40x action for $375

That looked like a good option, but .308 bolt face. I'll search around and see if anyone else has them.