[ChrisPhilly]

I know this comes up all the time. A guy wants to build his own bolt action riffle. I did too but it's too labor intensive and requires tools and skills I don't have. I was thinking about finding a solid platform to trick out to my specs. Does anyone have any ideas what a good starting point would be? Also the best platform to tear down and rebuild

 

[RobOz]

If going for accuracy I would start with a custom 700 clone.

 

[BOOTOXEN]

target, hunting, tactical?

I have each. If i wanted a good shooter for target / chucks I'd buy a 40x from remington. If they even make them anymore. I bought the across course 40x and it shoots great. Shot out the first barrel (thousands of rounds), replaced with a hart. Added a jewell trigger. I have way less cash in that gun then the other custom rifles i own.

vz-24 mauser in 7mm mag
Mark X Mauser 243 thumbhole
Model 70 in 3006 fiberglass
win 52 in english walnut - not finished yet but my finest piece
700 in 243 lam stock

 

[Jerbo]

What is a Riffle?

Back in the day, a guy by the name of Roy Weatherby made a reputation for himself, buying 1917 Enfields, converting them into hunting rifles. One I owned was chambered for .300 Weatherby Magnum.
Today a 1917 Enfield is not a common rifle,they were sold as surplus 60+ yrs ago, but almost non existent today.

When I was a kid, the gun builders would buy up all the Remington 721's they could find and re-chamber them to something else.
The 721 had extra steel in the chamber area - enough that you could ream it out to something bigger, or buy a barrel made in a different caliber.

Today the 721's are hard to find in unmolested condition.

The Model 700 would be a good platform, but all the rifles I see for sale are in the $500+ range. More money then I care to spend to buy a rifle that I am going to spend another $500 to re-chamber to another round!

That leaves the Savage 110 series of rifle, which already comes in many popular calibers.
Or a Ruger bolt action rifle - I have seen .270 Winchesters modified to .270 Gibbs that shot very well.

 

[BOOTOXEN]

$500 + $500? LOL, thats peanuts when yer talking quality custom.
$3-6k total with hand build fine wood stocks,machining, bedding and hand checkering. Maybe more

Everyone has a different idea of "custom"

 

[DAK]

Check out the Ruger American Predator in the 6.5 Creedmor and top it with a Athlon Argos scope if going for a budget target/hunting set up. Do a little research on it, proven reputable 1,000 yd set up in the right hands under $1000.

 

[triggercreep]

Savage 111

 

[kozman4907]

mauser K98

 

[Pa. Slim]

jerboa, I have one of those Remington 721 in 300 H&H mag that never been altered. never will change it.

 

[outofstater]

A custom to me is possible the most accurate as possible it can be made.
Rem 700 action blue printed- However you can buy a total custom action for around 1,000.00 - 1,200.00 that is top of the line.

Custom match grade ss barrel- 3-400.00

Fiberglass Stock- 2-500

Trigger -250.00

Labor for above services 5-700.00

3-4k will get you in the ball park.

 

[MountainMan88]

Just finished a build off of a 700 action with my cousin. His gun I just steered the direction of things when he wasn't sure on something. Have about 5500 wrapped up right now

 

[stoolshooter]

Take a look at a Cooper. You can order anything you want and they will supply it. Beautiful wood and very accurate.

 

[6-DASHER]

Costs, if you have an old model 700 action laying around that's a great place to start...true it $200, a great barrel $400, chamber and fit $200, stock $200, trigger $200..I saw it could be done for $1200.00, it would take some time to get it done...they make some nice stocks these days which really cuts down on costs...pm if you need a great gunsmith name and number, time to start now for next years deer season!

 

[Tony300wby]

I know this comes up all the time. A guy wants to build his own bolt action riffle. I did too but it's too labor intensive and requires tools and skills I don't have. I was thinking about finding a solid platform to trick out to my specs. Does anyone have any ideas what a good starting point would be? Also the best platform to tear down and rebuild

The options are endless. Cartridge, bullet, wood or synthetic stock, metal finish, final weight, budget? Once you narrow down what you are looking for you can get better ideas.

Good luck, Tony

 

[tdd]

It really depends on your end goal.

I have a "kinda sorta custom" M70 in 35 Whelen.

M70's were never made in 35 Whelen. They WERE made in 30-06, though, and a place called JES Reboring will ream barrels and re-rifle them to bigger calibers/chamberings. I had my 06 reamed to 35W. I took the nasty plastic stock off and put it in a McMillan and pillared/bedded it. Cost of the rifle, plust $300 for rebore and $350 for the Mickey (got it second hand).

One of my very favorite PA deer rifles is the result....

If I were building one from scratch, since I'm a big M70 fan, I'd look for a pre64 action, a quality barrel, and have a smith with a known and good track record assemble/lap/true everything, then pillar and bed it into either a stunner of a walnut stock or a McMillan, Manners, or the like.

And while he's got it, I'm gonna have him mount/lap/true the scope rings/mounts and get that all squared away. Not that I can't do it, but if he's got it on the lift, so to speak...

As for chambering, I'm not sure what I'd personally do. Probably either a 338WM or a 375H&H or WBY. I don't have anything "above" the 35 Whelen, but I've got a ton under it. So that's probably what I'd do.

From talking with folks who have built rifles from the ground up, so to speak, they generally wind up at 3500-5000 for the final, finished product.