Building a Rifle

[PacificNWhunter]

I was wondering if anyone has any experience building rifles on here that might be willing to give me some advise. I was considering buying a new rifle but then got the idea to keep mine and just make some modifications so I can afford a bow this year too. I'd like to get a match grade barrel, a new stock and possibly a new trigger. Anyway, will it be easier to buy the parts and have a gun smith install them or is it something I could do. I have never bedded a rifle or messed with changing a barrel/action and so on. Any help would be great....might be more of a project then I am expecting.

Jordan

[PacificNWhunter]

Oh, it's a winchester model 70.

[addicted]

I know there is that Custom barrel shop up in Arlington WA. 

[12Gauge]

A model 70 has a cone breech, it is more difficult to do compared to a Mauser action.  A model 70 is one of the best actions to re-barrel. 

You can go to MidwayUSA, barrel blanks and choose your medicine.  http://www.midwayusa.com/Search/#barrel%20blanks____-_1-2-4_8-16-32  you can also find the tools you need.  Ebay sometimes sells the vise and wrench.

To do it yourself you'll need tools:  this could cost more that you think
 Action wrench
 Barrel Vise
 Finish reamer (if not finished)
 GO & NO go gauges
 Depending on the chamber length (you may need a lathe)

I would have this guy do the work.    http://www.skaggsgunsmithing.com/
He has re-barreled two of my rifles and they shot .50 inch at 100 yards.  Chambered, squared the action, installed barrel to action, crowned and test fired for $85 + shipping back and forth.  a barrel vise alone will cost you that much.

Good luck

[PacificNWhunter]

Thanks guys!

[Slenk]

Sometimes if just cheaper to buy a new rifle.
Unless you shoot a Savage or Stevens.Then you can do one for $200 or less.
Slenk

[12Gauge]

Sometimes if just cheaper to buy a new rifle.
Unless you shoot a Savage or Stevens.Then you can do one for $200 or less.
Slenk

Yeah, good idea,  Savage 10 or 110  you can buy a spare barrel for $129.99 at Midway USA and about $40 for go, no gauges

[Slenk]

Yeah, good idea,  Savage 10 or 110  you can buy a spare barrel for $129.99 at Midway USA and about $40 for go, no gauges
[/quote]

You need more than that but you can head space with new sized brass if you reload. I do it this way all the time. You need action wrench that can be made out of hard wood block, and a barrel nut wrench from Midway for about $40. A good sturdy 6" vice is nice also. You will need at least a 3lb. dead blow hammer also.
I have a setup that I use that goes into the hitch on my truck and can do a barrel swap at the range in about 20 minutes.
Slenk

[littletoes]

A Whinny 70 is an excellant rifle to build a custom gun with, better than something off the shelf I'd say.

What your talking about is only limited to what you want. Type of stock, type of barrel, trigger, and what you want to spend.
If you do it right, you'll have a better rifle than anything off of the shelf. The Winchester trigger can be tuned, so a new custom trigger could wait.

What are you interested in as far as stocks go? Or barrels?

[Dansk]

What are you trying to do by spending more money on your rifle?

If you are using it for extreme ranges, varminting, accuracy at the range, etc, then spending hundreds more to get you cloverleafs at 100yds might be worth it.  If its just to improve your hunting rifle and you are already shooting great groups- why bother?  The best shots (hunting) I know all have one thing in common- they have been shooting the same gun since they were 12- and these rifles are by no means spectacular.  If it ain't broke....

I built my rifle on a 98 Mauser action- its not cheap nor easy... so get some help from a good 'smith.  I had lots of help from my uncle who is a hobbyist 'smith.

I don't recommend doing it yourself if you have not done it before- esp rebarelling.  You can get into a dangerous situation messing with the barrel if you don't know what you are doing.

Trigger, Match grade barrel, decent stock, all installed, bedded, headspaced, lugs & bolt face squared etc. will cost you over $500 easy.  The deer will taste the same, and a dead dear doesn't know if your rifle shoots sub MOA or 2" groups at 100yds.

If it were me......Take that cash and buy a bowtech guardian, mathews DXT or other top end bow.... you will definitely notice the difference a few more hundred dollars buys you in a bow!

(besides.. if you start to bow hunt, you might not pick up your rifle again! )

..just my  ....  hope it helps.

[AWS]

Pac-Nor will install a match grade stainless barrel, your choice of caliber and contour, true the action and lap the lugs $580+shipping.  New stock FG $150-$450.  Model 70 great trigger , take to gunsmith to adjust. $50.
 
http://www.pac-nor.com/

You can save some with an ER Shaw barrel and their instalation.

http://www.ershawbarrels.com/about.asp

AWS

[PacificNWhunter]

Thanks for all the replies. The more I think about it I might just get a new scope and call it good. I guess with my busted up hand I am getting a little antsy and the only thing I have been really doing lately is messing with my gear...And since had some time on my hands (hand) I was tossing the idea of getting my gun fixed up.

Dansk-you make some really great points in your post. My gun actually shoots darn good. I shoot on average around 1 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards...give or take depending on how I am shooting. The gun is way more accurate then I am. And that's why I have not gotten a new scope either. I have a $100 scope on the gun that came with it, shoots well on the gun. It sucks in low light conditions and I have been wanting to replace it but if it's broke don't fix it right?

[AWS]

Sounds like you have a pretty nice rig already.  If you do anything up grade the scope to something like a 2.5x10x40mm Bushnell 4200, Weaver Grand Slam, Nikon  Monarch etc.

AWS

[PacificNWhunter]

Sounds like you have a pretty nice rig already.  If you do anything up grade the scope to something like a 2.5x10x40mm Bushnell 4200, Weaver Grand Slam, Nikon  Monarch etc.

AWS

You must be a mind reader!  I just looked at the bushnell this weekend and for the money it's pretty darn nice. BUT Leupold has some nice scopes in that price range too.

[CastleRocker]

Here is my  Depending on which M-70 you have, you can make that rifle shoot better than you can shoot it, without spending that much money on it.  A good glass bed, make sure the barrel is free floating, a trigger job, and a good scope with good mounts, then find a load that it likes.  I'd buy a used Leupold if I was you.  Be patient and watch your local classifieds and Craigslist, you will find one.