Which Barreled Action to start a new project with?

[00Scot]

I have another thread where I asked which rifle of the following 3 would you recommend. So I please forgive me if this thread sounds similar to that one. As you read thru this question you will see why I am posting this new thread. It is mainly because I can not get any of the three brands set up exactly the way I want it to be so it looks like I will have to build this one myself. Just like I did with my last Rem700. When I built my Remington the other 2 brands were not even on the radar and the rem700 was the only real way to go for a hunting rifle. But now the other two have made a name for themselves and have become trusted in the industry. (to some degree)

Here is a little background on the intended use of this project rifle. I am looking for a new rifle to use strictly for hunting. The only target shooting I will ever do is to work up loads and sight in the scope. But that does not mean that I want a less accurate rifle because it will only be a hunter. My intended prey will be Coyote, Bobcat and Hogs at ranges under 500. Caliber will be 243 or 243AI. This will be a walkout gun so weight is an issue. I am not building a rig or bench gun. I want it as light as possible without paying through the nose just to shave off an ounce here or there.

The three actions I am looking to use as the basis for this rifle will be the following

1. Rem700
2. Savage
3. Howa

I am planning on buying either a barreled action or just the action and having it barreled myself. I do not know the availability of each of these actions by itself. I do believe I can get barreled actions for each of them but Not sure if I can get the action by itself. (If you know the answer to that please let me know so I don't plan on getting one or the other just to find out that buying it one way is not even an option)

I will be placing the barreled action into a Hogue overmolded stock. Yes I know there are much better stocks out there. And I own a few of them. But seeing as this is only going to be a hunter I want the stock to be comfortable and quiet. With the Hogue it will cut down on little noises when something hits the stock. Which is important to me. Plus these stocks are extremely comfortable. Ever since I picked up the first rifle with this stock on it I knew I would have to buy/build a hunter with one.

My main questions are these - Can I get each of the three by itself as well as in a barreled action? What is the aftermarket situation like with each of the three? Is one easier to work with over the others? Is one more accurate then the others? and finally is one much lighter then the others?

I do have some experience with the Rem700 action but zero with the Savage and Howa. The only aspect of this project that is set in stone is the Hogue stock. So there is no need to recommend others. There is also no need to discuss optics as they are not pertinent to this part of the build. I will address those questions in another thread when the time comes. But any other part of this build is open for debate.

As always - I thank you all in advance for any help you can offer. Your ideas and opinions have greatly helped to shape each of my projects as they move closer to fruition.

 

[Bradsb]

I do understand where you are coming from. I too am always thinking about how to get that perfect shooting rifle just like you. But for what you want to do I would first look at one of these brands as just a factory rifle out of the box. I believe that all of the brands that you mentioned have the configuration that you are looking for with a varmet barrel and the hogue stock. I have had a few of them in Remington myself and they would all shoot close to 1/2 moa. One took a bedding job and a very careful load workup. But my point is the were all good shooters. The great thing is if you do buy one that you can't get to shoot as well as you want you can still use the action, stock and other parts for your build. I have bought new Remingtons for $550-$600. If you purchase a bare action for at least $400, Hogue stock $150, trigger $100, bottom metal $50 you just spent more than the price of the whole gun. So why not buy the complete gun and if it shoots great but if it doesn't no harm done you needed the parts anyway.

On the other hand if you are going to plan on building from parts anyway no matter what you would be better off going with a custom action from the start. Any factory action you plan to start with will need to be trued up. You can add $300-$600 for that. If you add that to the price of the action at $400+ you just bought a custom action.

So I guess what I am saying is I believe that you should either buy a factory rifle, play with it a little and it will probably shoot great for your application or build on a custom action from the start. Don't try to turn a factory action into a custom you won't save any money. Unless you already have the action from the start.

I probably didn't help much but at least I gave you some more to think about

 

[00Scot]

I do understand where you are coming from. I too am always thinking about how to get that perfect shooting rifle just like you. But for what you want to do I would first look at one of these brands as just a factory rifle out of the box. I believe that all of the brands that you mentioned have the configuration that you are looking for with a varmet barrel and the hogue stock. I have had a few of them in Remington myself and they would all shoot close to 1/2 moa. One took a bedding job and a very careful load workup. But my point is the were all good shooters. The great thing is if you do buy one that you can't get to shoot as well as you want you can still use the action, stock and other parts for your build. I have bought new Remingtons for $550-$600. If you purchase a bare action for at least $400, Hogue stock $150, trigger $100, bottom metal $50 you just spent more than the price of the whole gun. So why not buy the complete gun and if it shoots great but if it doesn't no harm done you needed the parts anyway.

On the other hand if you are going to plan on building from parts anyway no matter what you would be better off going with a custom action from the start. Any factory action you plan to start with will need to be trued up. You can add $300-$600 for that. If you add that to the price of the action at $400+ you just bought a custom action.

So I guess what I am saying is I believe that you should either buy a factory rifle, play with it a little and it will probably shoot great for your application or build on a custom action from the start. Don't try to turn a factory action into a custom you won't save any money. Unless you already have the action from the start.

I probably didn't help much but at least I gave you some more to think about

Unfortunately none of the factory off the shelf offerings come the way that I want it to. The Howa comes closest so I might just go that way. At least I'd get the action and stock I want, then I would see how she shoots. If she shoots acceptable groups then there ya go. If not, then I'd have her rebarreled. Howa is the only of the three that will work with you to get what you want. I can get the barreled action the way I want just not with the camo color I want. But At least I would have the rifle set up the way I would like. The other 2 manufacturers can't/won't even work with me to get the stock and barreled action set up that I want. At least Howa will. The more I work on this project the more I am realizing that I will have to forget getting it in camo unless I have her dipped after the original purchase.

The only problem with the Howa is it is the one of the three that has garnered the least amount of support form my other thread as well as other people I have talked to. Howa does not seem to put out as many "good shooters" as the other two manufacturers. So there is more of a chance of having to rebarrel her then there is with the other 2.

 

[harry.hacking@kiewit.com]

You could re-chamber the factory barrel to a 243 AI or a 6mm Rem AI. The 6mm Rem AI would take a long action, the 243AI a gunsmith would have to bump the should back and take a little off the chamber to get a good crush to fit. As for your camo issue you could always try the painting it yourself route, works for the military.

 

[00Scot]

You could re-chamber the factory barrel to a 243 AI or a 6mm Rem AI. The 6mm Rem AI would take a long action, the 243AI a gunsmith would have to bump the should back and take a little off the chamber to get a good crush to fit. As for your camo issue you could always try the painting it yourself route, works for the military.

Been there-done that. My paint jobs have been acceptable. But don't last very long and I was never satisfied with them. As for the 243AI, well I plan to do that if the brl wont shoot well. If it does I'll shoot for a little while then try a AI bump down the road.