Custom build questions

[Jburke]

I am interested in building a custom or at least semi custom hunting rifle.  Is it easiest to buy a cheap donor rifle just for the action?  What action would you all recommend?  I have heard a lot of people using Rem 700 or Mauser actions.  Opinions?

[Biggerhammer]

Yes, buy a donor rifle. If you're wanting to build on a Remington 700 you can pick up a new Rem700 SPS synthetic at Walmart or Bi-Mart for 389.00 to 425.00, you can find them at other places in the same price range or even cheaper if you catch a sale.

[snowpack]

I think it is cheaper to buy the donor vs a custom action--even with the follow on shop time.  Plus you get parts left over to sell and trade.  I would think even easier to get the donor these days due to the long wait times for the custom actions.  But some custom actions require very little, if any, machining whereas a donor action could require the works.

[Yondering]

Mauser actions were great for building custom rifles back when they were cheap, but not so much any more. You'll spend a good bit more just on parts to build a good Mauser sporter than you would to just go buy a new rifle.

These days, I think the Savage 110-series actions are the best for a custom build. Lots of parts available, the actions are somewhat modular and lend themselves to caliber changes easily, and there are lots of them out there. They also don't require the machine work that a Remington 700 action does when swapping barrels.

[mountainman]

I would find a used Remington or a new savage. Any new made 700's on dealer shelves should have been sent back for the trigger recall

[Jburke]

I would find a used Remington or a new savage. Any new made 700's on dealer shelves should have been sent back for the trigger recall

I kind of figured it would be easiest to find a used gun at a pawn shop or something similar.  I'm in no hurry whatsoever just thought it would be a fun thing to do.  Figure I can shop around and wait for the right deal on a donor rifle and take my time buying the rest and spend a little here and there to spread out the cost over time.

[salmonchaser]

I've done this a couple of times, it's fun and rewarding to build something to your specifications. Before you buy a donor action, decide what caliber you're going to build. Will you need a short, standard or long action.
Odd ball or standard chamber.  I like odd ball (wild cats) getting brass to work with is a nightmare right now.
Which brand of bullets do you like to shoot, heavy for caliber, haven't decided yet.
Below .260 you really want to consider twist rates and your intended applications, above 30 caliber you have less to worry about.
If you like Barnes bullets, make certain the Smith cuts the chamber so you can reach .05 off the lands.
With Noslers, my preference, you want enough room in the magazine to reach the lands or be .1 off the lands without intruding on powder capacity.
All that being said consider having a Wyatts magazine box installed, allows for longer overall length if needed. Have a good conversation with your Smith on this.
A good trigger.
The more specific you are in advance the happier you'll be.

[DRobnsn]

When I talked with Rbros about doing some work to a gun I had, the first thing he asked me is how does it shoot now? He said depending on how it currently shoots will be a good indicator on whether or not its worth doing all the machine work to a factory gun vs just going with a quality custom in the first place. I know this isn't exactly what you asked but I figured it would be good food for thought.

I'd be curious just to see the actual cost breakdown of a full on rebuild on a factory action vs just buying the custom in the first place.

[b23]

I have both semi customs built on Rem M700's and full custom rifles built on after market actions.  Both will easily shoot better than me any day of the week.  One being more accurate than the other is far more dependent on personal skill than whether it was built with a factory or custom action.  Now, if you're a benchrest shooter where the difference between winning and losing can be measured in thousandths, well, you'll likely want to go with the full custom build.

Something that a lot of people either overlook or simply aren't aware of is retained value in whatever it is you have built.  By the time you have all the work done to a factory receiver you'll be within $300ish of what a custom receiver cost and a rifle built on a custom action will retain its value considerably better then a semi custom build.  Now, do you have to have a factory action blue printed, nope, you sure do not but I wouldn't think of NOT having it done either.  You will also find that most of your good gunsmiths WILL NOT do a semi custom build without blue printing the receiver.  I'm sure you will find many that will tell you having a action blue printed is a bunch of hog wash and nothing but a way for gunsmiths to builk a few hundred dollars out of you and if you only plan on shooting this rifle a few hundred yards and if you're idea of a "good shooter" is 5-8in. at 300-400 yards, I'd say they very well could be correct.  In fact I'd suggest saving your money and just buying something off the rack at the local sporting guns store.  BUT, if you are going to spend the money and invest the time to have a custom or semi custom rifle built, why wouldn't you want to make sure everything was done right.

Soooo, the short answer would be, built properly a semi custom rifle with a Rem M700 will shoot right with a full custom built rifle.  The biggest difference is going to be retained value.  If both rifles were taken care of the same, the custom build will return you very close to what you spent having it built whereas the semi custom will not.

[salmonchaser]

B23 is absolutely correct IMHO.

[rbros]

Depending on what you can get a donor 700 for will determine if it's cheaper.  If you end up wanting to flute the bolt, add bolt knob, etc. you will be close to a custom and still not as strong or precise as the custom.  Either will shoot if the smith does their part.

[Biggerhammer]

Either will shoot if the smith does their part.

 

[BKMFR]

Take your time and really make sure it is what you want. If you don't know, do the research. A lot of it will be personal preference. Writing down what you "think" you want as a end result will be a good starting point(it will probably change a time or to). Find a really good gunsmith that will work with you and not do what they want, but what you want. Use there expertise, but remember you're the one paying the bill and it's your custom rifle. Writing down your goals such as the type of extraction....Winchester has their style, Remington has theirs, Sako has theirs.... Or you can have a Sako Extractor put on a Remington, for that fact you can have a 3 position wing style(Winchester) put on a Remington also..... Lots of variables and it takes time. I'm in the process of building another right now, and don't have a clue when it will be done, but it will be done right when completed. Remember you get what you pay for! so take your time, ask lots of questions and be careful it's a bad bug to get bitten by, once you go there factory rifles kinda lose their appeal.....

[yorketransport]

I'd seriously consider a custom action. Like others said, if you need to buy the donor rifle and then have it modified to fit what you want, you're within  the price of a custom. You can find custom actions (Stiller) in stock, for under $1000. By the time you're done blue printing, opening the bolt face, changing bolt handles, and fluting bolt bodies, you're right in the $1000 range.

I buddy of mine is going through this right now while having a 338 Edge built. He only saved $100 to build off of his Remington compared to selling his Rem and buying a custom action. And the Rem will never be quite as smooth or as strong as a custom. I love my Savage's because I can do the work myself. If I were to pay somebody else to build a rifle for me though it would be on a custom action.

Andrew

[mountainman]

Can beat Defiance/Phoenix for the custom route!