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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 171
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OP
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 171 |
If I were to decide to build a couple custom rifles at an affordable price, which components would you recommend? I live near a VERY good gunsmith that will do the work at an affordable price. He said he would put together any components I choose, so I thought I would get the thoughts of you guys that have done many build before. I was thinking maybe Remington stainless action Bartlein or Brux barrel Bell and Carlson medalist stock???
what components would you choose, and where would you get them at the best price? Thanks for your help
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,065
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,065 |
What do you want to do with said rifles?
"You know why nobody panic buys 30-06 ammo? ... Because men with 30-06's don't panic"
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
The most affordable custom rifle is the one that is built exactly the way you want it without the concern of cost.
If you build several affordable rifles you'll end up with something you won't be quite happy with and then you'll sell them at a loss.
You want affordable, get a factory rifle, want a custom, get exactly what you want.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,353 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,353 Likes: 3 |
Lots of moves with a 700 build.
I'd grab a SS take off bbl from the classifieds and spend a bit more money on a McM Edge something or other. The .243, 7-08 and some .260's are twisted good if you want to shoot heavies although the throats can be way out there. You could always have him set it back and throat it properly.
Screw you! I'm voting for Trump again!
Ecc 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but that of a fool to the 24HCF.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,722
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2008
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If it's savings you're after buy other people's customs when they get the itch for something else. Much more money can be saved like that than labor or components.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
The most affordable custom rifle is the one that is built exactly the way you want it without the concern of cost.
If you build several affordable rifles you'll end up with something you won't be quite happy with and then you'll sell them at a loss.
You want affordable, get a factory rifle, want a custom, get exactly what you want. Yup. Most all "affordable" custom rifles are "parts" guns; not "custom rifles. The term is used loosely today. Some smith screwing an after market tube onto a Rem 700 or M70, then bedding in a synthetic stock isn't "custom". The affordable part means you cut corners somewhere and thats where the custom goes out the window,within reason.
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 29,689 Likes: 5
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 29,689 Likes: 5 |
The most affordable custom rifle is the one that is built exactly the way you want it without the concern of cost.
If you build several affordable rifles you'll end up with something you won't be quite happy with and then you'll sell them at a loss.
You want affordable, get a factory rifle, want a custom, get exactly what you want. Yep I've gone this route and found it true. A rather expensive lesson I might add. That having been said you should ask yourself what it is you want (what you're looking to accomplish that can't come from a factory) and then build with those questions in mind. A Remington 700 build like you describe can't be bad but if you're looking to do a lightweight .280 Rem maybe a mountain rifle with a McMillan added can get you there for less money? Just an example but you see what I mean. Higbean raises a good point too. If you want a really accurate rifle built to your specs that can be a good way to go. Good luck! This is an expensive but rewarding addiction...
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,666 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,666 Likes: 6 |
What do you want to do with said rifles? ↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑
WWP53D
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,963
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
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You could save a few bucks by going with an ER Shaw barrel I'm using a couple of their #1 contour barrels right now and they are very nice. For example, if you were building a Mauser in Brownells sells them("Brownells" barrels are made by "Small Arms Manufacturing" aka ER Shaw) for around $85(selection is limited to 25/06, 6.5 Swede, .308 & 30/06). Numrich has a few others for around $120(bought a couple .270 barrels from them and they look fantastic).
I had a custom done a year ago with a NOS Yugo milsurp barrel in 8x57($40!!!) and have been very well pleased with it. A LOT depends on what YOU want...if you hadn't guessed I prefer Mauser actions(Good donor Mauser's can be found for about the same price as 700's).
I guess for me the most important thing is to know what you want. If you can be a bit flexible you can find products to get you there for a bit less cash, but look for parts that fit your plans, don't change the plans to fit the parts.
Mauser Rescue Society Founder, President, and Chairman
I don't always shoot Mausers, but when I do...I prefer VZ-24s.
jdi do píči
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,254 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,254 Likes: 1 |
What do you want to do with said rifles? Yep. For me, I like finding a used donor rifle, generally a 700, buy the barrel blank I want, and sent to a smith for installation. I find the stock, trigger, and bottom metal I want and take care of the bedding upon receiving the barreled action. The parts you choose are dependent on your budget. A build with factory bottom metal, a Medalist stock, tuned factory trigger, and a bead-blasted SS tube is going to be a lot cheaper than the same rifle with aftermarket bottom metal, a bedded McMillan stock, aftermarket trigger, fluted barrel, and Cerakote. Just those differences listed there can easily exceed $850 in cost difference, even though the rifles may shoot just the same. It boils down to where you want to spend your money and how much of it you have to spend. That being said, a very good-quality "parts gun" doesn't have to be crazy expensive. I saw ADL 700 package rifles at Wal-Mart the other day with rebates. They were hard to walk away from at $300 effective cost for the actions. A person could have a good custom stainless tube installed to their specs, with basic lug-lapping and action refacing, and bead-blasting at $550-$600. A used H-S or new Medalist can be found for $250-$275. A tuned 700 trigger is $50. That's about $1,150-$1,250 for a rifle that will likely shoot well, provided you had a good smith. And you get the chambering and barrel twist/contour/length you want.
Now with even more aplomb
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,020 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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If I were to decide to build a couple custom rifles at an affordable price, which components would you recommend? I live near a VERY good gunsmith that will do the work at an affordable price. He said he would put together any components I choose, so I thought I would get the thoughts of you guys that have done many build before. I was thinking maybe Remington stainless action Bartlein or Brux barrel Bell and Carlson medalist stock???
what components would you choose, and where would you get them at the best price? Thanks for your help As you can see from the previous posts a little more thought needs to go into this. Decide what you want the rifle to do. Look pretty? Shoot dime size groups off a bench? Weigh 5 lbs all up? All of the above? Once you decide what you want the rifle to be, talk to your smith. If it was me I would talk to several smiths and get their ideas on which way to accomplish your goal. And don't forget about getting the stock fit to you. The best components in the world won't make an ill fitting stock feel natural to you.
I am continually astounded at how quickly people make up their minds on little evidence or none at all. Jack O'Connor
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 775
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 775 |
Do you have a budget for rifle build? google Will Fairbanks @ Fairbanks and Fairbanks rifles, see what Will can do for you. He built this 6.5 Creed for me and you wouldn't believe what I paid for it, Deviant Action Bartlien Barrel Jewel Trigger DBM McMillan A-5
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,401
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,401 |
Dollar to a donut one of them will be a 280AI...
“There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.” ALDO LEOPOLD
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 473
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 473 |
If it's savings you're after buy other people's customs when they get the itch for something else. Much more money can be saved like that than labor or components. A lot of truth in that.
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,048
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,048 |
You build what you want to build.
Don't let anybody tell you what you should or shouldn't do.
If you want to build something affordable than do it.
Who cares if you build it then want something else down the road. Nothing wrong with upgrading as you go.
Have fun doing it!
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 778
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 778 |
The key to an affordable custom, is to not get in a big hurry, and find deals as you come across them. It also doesn't hurt to be a wheeler and dealer.
I've got a 280 AI build at the smith right now, and from wheeling and dealing, it's a very affordable rifle.
It consists of:
Rem 700 Action w/PTG 1 piece bolt Brux fluted Barrel Jewell Trigger McMillan Stock PTG Bottom Metal Seekins Base and Rings Leupold VX-6 3-18x44 and a few other parts
My total investment, including the scope is just over $650. Proof that a quality rifle like you want can be had with a bit of time and effort.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 797
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 797 |
I have started down the ACR (affordable custom rifle) path a few times and always found I could buy someone else's ACR that had lost it's shine to them much cheaper. Have a 700 in 6.5-06 in a Brown Precision with Shilen barrel that somebody decided wasn't custom enough for them.
That said I still find my self buying parts for the my next ACR run. But as SlickyBB said, I just buy them slowly over time as deals present themselves.
I say go for it. You might want to look at starting with a stainless Howa. Whole rifles were going for less than $400, sell the Hogue and barrel and you'd only have about $250 in the action. Plenty of aftermarket choices for stock, trigger, etc.
Good luck.
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 512
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 512 |
The key to an affordable custom, is to not get in a big hurry, and find deals as you come across them. It also doesn't hurt to be a wheeler and dealer.
I've got a 280 AI build at the smith right now, and from wheeling and dealing, it's a very affordable rifle.
It consists of:
Rem 700 Action w/PTG 1 piece bolt Brux fluted Barrel Jewell Trigger McMillan Stock PTG Bottom Metal Seekins Base and Rings Leupold VX-6 3-18x44 and a few other parts
My total investment, including the scope is just over $650. Proof that a quality rifle like you want can be had with a bit of time and effort. Not a snowballs chance in hell you bought all of that for $650........i dont care how long you waited around for the deals!
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 778
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 778 |
The key to an affordable custom, is to not get in a big hurry, and find deals as you come across them. It also doesn't hurt to be a wheeler and dealer.
I've got a 280 AI build at the smith right now, and from wheeling and dealing, it's a very affordable rifle.
It consists of:
Rem 700 Action w/PTG 1 piece bolt Brux fluted Barrel Jewell Trigger McMillan Stock PTG Bottom Metal Seekins Base and Rings Leupold VX-6 3-18x44 and a few other parts
My total investment, including the scope is just over $650. Proof that a quality rifle like you want can be had with a bit of time and effort. Not a snowballs chance in hell you bought all of that for $650........i dont care how long you waited around for the deals! Well, believe what you want, I have no reason to lie. However, I have tracked my costs on this gun, down to the penny, and if you want to know the actual figure, it adds everything posted above plus a Holland Competition Recoil Lug, Callahan Speedlock, Tac Bolt Knob, PTG Bottom Metal, and new SS action bolts. Down to the penny total investment in parts is $653.08. The only part that isn't new or custom ordered, is the 60s model 700 action. It's all about finding deals, and wheeling and dealing.
Last edited by slickyboyboo; 09/24/16.
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 366
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 366 |
The key to an affordable custom, is to not get in a big hurry, and find deals as you come across them. It also doesn't hurt to be a wheeler and dealer.
I've got a 280 AI build at the smith right now, and from wheeling and dealing, it's a very affordable rifle.
It consists of:
Rem 700 Action w/PTG 1 piece bolt Brux fluted Barrel Jewell Trigger McMillan Stock PTG Bottom Metal Seekins Base and Rings Leupold VX-6 3-18x44 and a few other parts
My total investment, including the scope is just over $650. Proof that a quality rifle like you want can be had with a bit of time and effort. Not a snowballs chance in hell you bought all of that for $650........i dont care how long you waited around for the deals! Well, believe what you want, I have no reason to lie. However, I have tracked my costs on this gun, down to the penny, and if you want to know the actual figure, it adds everything posted above plus a Holland Competition Recoil Lug, Callahan Speedlock, Tac Bolt Knob, PTG Bottom Metal, and new SS action bolts. Down to the penny total investment in parts is $653.08. The only part that isn't new or custom ordered, is the 60s model 700 action. It's all about finding deals, and wheeling and dealing. Would you at least care to share some how's? That scope alone for $650 is an absolute steal when they msrp for around 1200.
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