Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats First Custom Build

Need some advice from the group on my first custom rifle build. I have a good idea of what I want, but would like some opinions on the best way to go about it. While I do not mind spending money for quality, I would like to avoid spending too much in areas that are not necessary to accomplish my goals for the rifle.

The chambering will be .257 Weatherby Magnum. It will be a carry gun for whitetail and I would like to keep things under 8 pounds scope included. As far as accuracy goes I would like to see 1/2 MOA, 3/4 MOA max.

Here are my thoughts on how to get there. Let me know what you think. Feel free to lambaste me if I'm way off base, I'm a noob and I know it. I wont take offense.

Action- Rem 700 is what I'm thinking because it seems like an easy starting point from what I have read. Couple of questions here. Am I better off buying a naked action or buying a cheaper model 700 complete rifle. If I buy just an action I would have to buy bottom metal and magazine components correct? Regardless of how I acquire the action, I plan to have my smith blueprint it for the sake of accuracy. I like a 2.5 to 3 pound trigger hunting and am not particular about triggers as long as it wont detract from accuracy goals. Would a tuned factory trigger be acceptable or is an aftermarket trigger a must?

Barrel- This would be the first barrel I have ever purchased and I am pretty much clueless here. From what I have read I know I should be getting a 26" to take advantage of the velocity of this cartridge. My initial plan was to take my gunsmiths suggestion on a stainless barrel that will suit my needs. I am thinking fluted to save weight. Gunsmith will be Tim Smith of Warren PA, not sure if anyone here knows of him but he seems to be very knowledgeable and helpful.

Stock- The best fitting gun I have ever picked up is my stock Remington 700 mountain rifle in 7mm-08. I would like to come as close as I can to duplicating this stock, only in synthetic. My thoughts are the McMillan mountain rifle stock in woodland camo. Not sure what fill I need. I know edge fill would be the lightest but I want to make sure I stay fairly balanced, maybe the standard fill would be ok?

Scope/mounts- Talley light weight mounts and Leupold VX3i 3.5-10X40mm is what I plan to use. I hunt mostly woods and have access to only one property where my maximum shot distance would be about 450 yards.

I do reload, and will be posting some questions in the reloading forum as I have never worked with Weatherby cartridges before. All opinions appreciated, let me know if I am on the right track.

Sounds like a good build to me! For 8lbs total I'd go no bigger than a #2 if going 26". Could even go with a Rem mag contour dupe.

Thanks, forgot to include contour but #2 is what I was thinking.

I'm not too sure but a standard fill with a 26" #2 and a long action might crowd 7 lbs pretty hard without mounts and scope?

Based on your parameters I'd call Melvin Forbes, depending upon your budget.

I've read about Melvin on this site and he certainly seems well respected. I don't have an exact budget nailed down, I have the extra funds, just don't want to spend where I don't need to. $2500 is fine with me as long as it is well spent.

Forbes will push closer to $4000. You could find s Colt light rifle in 7mm or 300 win. Send that to Melvin and he'll overhaul CLR, restock, bed, install a timney and Douglas barrel.

CLR - $500-700
Overhaul (include trigger and stock) - $650
Re-barrel - 600-800. I forget exactly.

Either way, under budget.

I have a NULA in 257WBY. It shoots bugholes with a large variety of bullets. I've only shot <100 rounds through it so far. I hadn't planned on selling it, but you never know.

https://mcmillanusa.com/product/6031/
http://bugholes.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=88_89_93&product_id=511
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/2387/Remington+ACTION+700+LA+SS+MAG

Have Redneck cut barrel at 24", chamber in 7mm Rem, throat it for 180 scenars. Bed it yourself.
$425
$340
$400
Plus Redneck's costs. I like a 7mm way better due to the better bullet choices but if you really want a 257, just find a barrel in stock and rock on.

croz2173,



Welcome to the 'fire.

Two things I will address. Twisted barrel fluted a barrel for me. I told him to lighten it as much as possible. He fluted with six straight flutes and reduced the weight by seven ounces despite it matching the lightest barrel Weatherby makes.

Also I would suggest Hasting Micro-cell recoil pad. Mine is 1.26" thick and weighs 2.9 ounces. Thaat's about half the weigh of other pads. It's been there three or four years and been on lots of hunts in different states and still looks good.

Whose #2 contour? Hard to find a maker that makes a #2 blank to finish at 26".

A 257 weatherby with a 26" barrel for hunting woods...seems like a poor choice.

Welcome to the fire!

If I were you I'd find a CLR in 7RM and rebarrel.

If you're really trying to spend money on stuff that'll improve accuracy I'd put your flute money into a trigger.

Also for handling and weight a 24" barrel will sacrifice a mere 100 fps or so. No deer will know the difference but you will when you walk it through the forest. As mentioned above, it's tough to find a #2 that'll finish out at 26".

A 22" 25-06 could be even better yet. Kimber makes one at 24".

The 700 rifles have only entry level features with ordinary plain quality.

Look at more 700's before you order anything and take a close look a Kimber rifles, pre 64 M70 rifles.

See the control round feeding that the others have along with necessary three position safeties.

Control round feeding.

I vote 270 Weatherby throated for Berger eol 170s.

I'd also go Remington magnum contour dupe. Remington Hunters Edge adl trigger guard, and l'd lose the Talleys in favor of a Nightforce direct mount. For the barrel I'd go with benchmark, Bartlein, Kreiger, et al, whomever could fill the order fastest. Since you'll be getting a 1:8" 270 barrel 😉 it probably won't be in stock.

The better solution is just to buy a Kimber Montana in 7mm-08 and put a good scope on it. Way less money and the way I'd go if shooting righty.

Could just buy a tika lite in 257 wby.

If you're going to use a rem 700 then buy just the action, you'll end up throwing everything else away anyway. You wouldn't want to use the factory bottom metal if you're trying to save weight, go with aluminum instead. Magazine box, spring & follower are cheap.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/2387/Remington+ACTION+700+LA+SS+MAG

Smith is a excellent smith and ive known him for years.
Listen to him.
I like my 700s to lock the bolt handle down so I avoid the new ones.
There triggers can be worked over and be very good.
I'd just find a M700 rifle and use the parts you want.
dave