Custom Rifle under $1500

[Drhorsepower]

No one mentions Remington? I have to throw that name in the hat. You can build a rifle on a rem action for around 1500$ keep in mind most competition rifles are built around or designs based off of the rem 700. I guess the savage accuwedge on a rem 700 equals magic.

Like packer, ikic, bb said. Optics is a must and to remphasize what packed 58 said, you can turn an average shooting rifle into an accurate one by investing in reloading. That is what is going to make your rifle shoot well. Investing time and more time into load development. One of these days I need to take a picture of my reloading bench.

 

[Shaun]

+1 on the optics check out sightron also killer glass and amazing warranty if your mind is set on a custom rifle check out heart custom rifles I have an action I am sendin to them to build me a 7mm short mag

 

[Elkoholic307]

No one mentions Remington? I have to throw that name in the hat.

Maybe if you can find an older one or a Sendero. Their new stuff is pretty 'meh' anymore.

Savage is blowing away the competition right now.

 

[buckbull]

Maybe if you can find an older one or a Sendero. Their new stuff is pretty 'meh' anymore.

Savage is blowing away the competition right now.

I have the same sentiment concerning Remington. Their customer service is a total joke.

 

[Jon Boy]

You can always buy an older savage and build it your self pretty easily. Buy a barrel vise and barrel nut wrench and thats all you really need. Swap the barrel with a premium one of your choice, swap the stock with one of your choice, bed the action and free float, no reason why it shouldnt shoot under MOA, especially if you plan on handloading. If thats not good enough send it off to sharpshooter supply and have the action trued and timed or any other gunsmith. That would keep you under $1500 and ull have the satisfaction of building your own rifle. Once I get some money thats what I plan on doing.

 

[buckbull]

I know you have to take rifle reviews with a grain of salt from gun editors but here is nice writeup from David Petzel over at field and stream on the new weatherby vanguard.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/gun-nuts/2012/02/rifle-review-weatherby-vanguard-series-2

 

[Rackman1]

No one mentions Remington? I have to throw that name in the hat. You can build a rifle on a rem action for around 1500$ keep in mind most competition rifles are built around or designs based off of the rem 700. I guess the savage accuwedge on a rem 700 equals magic.

Like packer, ikic, bb said. Optics is a must and to remphasize what packed 58 said, you can turn an average shooting rifle into an accurate one by investing in reloading. That is what is going to make your rifle shoot well. Investing time and more time into load development. One of these days I need to take a picture of my reloading bench.

What press should i start with turret or single stage? budget job here lol kit or piece a set together?

 

[ChadH]

What press should i start with turret or single stage? budget job here lol kit or piece a set together?

I really like the Hornady Loc n Load. I got the single stafge kit when they first came out. It has served me well for many years, and is very easy to use. The single stage suits the volume that I am loading.

Chad

 

[packer58]

What press should i start with turret or single stage? budget job here lol kit or piece a set together?

Rackman1,

Since your just getting into the reloading world I would suggest starting with a good single stage press, I own RCBS gear, a single stage and the ammo master turret. The single stage RCBS is what I reload all my big stuff with, and I think with less moving parts you can controll seating depths a little better IMO. Also, if your primarily loading hunting stuff you won't need the high volume of the turret press. As far as "kits" or "piece meal", there are kits available that will get you started in basic reloading for a reasonable price. Let me give you some sound advice from many years of handloading...............start out with a LARGE reloading bench/table, at first it will look a little empty and you'l have lots of space but before long you'll have more gadgets than carter has pills.

 

[Drhorsepower]

Rackman1,

Since your just getting into the reloading world I would suggest starting with a good single stage press, I own RCBS gear, a single stage and the ammo master turret. The single stage RCBS is what I reload all my big stuff with, and I think with less moving parts you can controll seating depths a little better IMO. Also, if your primarily loading hunting stuff you won't need the high volume of the turret press. As far as "kits" or "piece meal", there are kits available that will get you started in basic reloading for a reasonable price. Let me give you some sound advice from many years of handloading...............start out with a LARGE reloading bench/table, at first it will look a little empty and you'l have lots of space but before long you'll have more gadgets than carter has pills.

Good advice. For all hunting or accuracy loads, I use a single stage rcbs. You can pick up an rcbs reloading kit. I have seen them at Walmart even. I think it comes with the press, scale, powder measure and trickles. Most of the basics you will need. You can pick up a cheap tumbler at harbor freight along with media. You can go to a buddys house to borrow his trimmer. And a lee auto prime is fairly inexpensive.

It is called the rock Chucker master reloading kit. Comes with essentials. Check it out. That's what I would get. I have the same press and it is great. Don't waste your money on a turret press for the reasons packer said. Too many variables.

 

[packer58]

What press should i start with turret or single stage? budget job here lol kit or piece a set together?

Rackman1,

Just recieved my spring 2012 Natchez shooting supply catalog (www.natchezss.com)
The Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit is on sale for $289.95, plus $50.00 rebate if you purchase $300.00 in RCBS products.

The kit includes:

1) Rock Chucker Supreme press
2) 5-0-5 powder scale
3) Uniflow powder measure
4) Speer reloading manual #13
5) Hand priming tool
6) Hex key set
7) Case loading block
8) Case lube kit
9) Powder funnel
10) Deburing tool

You will need to purchase caliber specific shell holders and dies seperatly. Add a case trimmer, powder trickler, calipers and your set.

This setup will get you well on your way........

 

[bigshot]

http://redhawkrifles.com/products/rifles/customrifles

I agree, with ColoradoV, I bought a 7MM SAUM from them couple years ago and love it. It shoots half inch groups all day, with several bullet types and weights.

 

[Rackman1]

You can always buy an older savage and build it your self pretty easily. Buy a barrel vise and barrel nut wrench and thats all you really need. Swap the barrel with a premium one of your choice, swap the stock with one of your choice, bed the action and free float, no reason why it shouldnt shoot under MOA, especially if you plan on handloading. If thats not good enough send it off to sharpshooter supply and have the action trued and timed or any other gunsmith. That would keep you under $1500 and ull have the satisfaction of building your own rifle. Once I get some money thats what I plan on doing.

What model savage would be the best to start with ?

 

[Drhorsepower]

What model savage would be the best to start with ?

The rem 700 kind. Just kidding.

 

[Jon Boy]

What model savage would be the best to start with ?

110 or 116 depending if you want blued or stainless, I dont think the 2011 or 2012 models work but every year before that does. I think a stevens action will work too but im not positive. You can find deals at pawn shops these days for 300 bucks or so. A shilen barrel will run you in between 350-450 depending on what grade you want. They bolt right up, and you pick your caliber. Your choice of stock, bell and carlsons are good as are mcmillans. Im planning on a laminate blank because there cheap, I like there looks and my dad and I are going to do some custom work to it. Bedding and free floating are easy and cheap to do. Theres a little more to it than that but not too much. Very doable for most people.

 

[BigSurArcher]

I've done a few, and I would go with a Win 70 or Rem 700. My roommate and I are in the middle of our third customizing rifle project right now. Start with a solid lightly used factory barreled action in the caliber/ length of your choice. Perhaps you already have one... even better (and cheaper). Get an aftermarket stock for it. No need to go crazy, as the B&C Medalist is sufficient with it's full length aluminum bedding block. You have plenty of options on finishes for that custom look. Glass bed the action... something you can do yourself with some patience and confidence. Install a Timney trigger, top it with a nice piece of glass, and there you have it.

Before going out and buying a premium barrel... make sure the factory barrel doesn't shoot first. Example, my completely factory M70 setup shot 2" at 100, but the same barreled action now shoots 1/4" (and many times same hole) at 100 after my improvements. AND, I didn't even buy a new stock for it. I used the factory "boat paddle" and reinforced it throughout using epoxy before bedding with Devcon 10110. A well-played paint job gave it a very custom look. With the addition of an M1 turret on my VX3, it's well within deer lung area at 700 yards.

After we pop our Rem 700 out of the stock today and put the finishing touches on the bedding job I will snap some more photos and put together an instructional write-up on how to execute a proper bedding job.

 

[Jon Boy]

^^ agreed. Rarely do you need to get a new barrel. But if I had 1500 bucks laying around and wanted a custom gun id probably slap a new barrel on for shits and gigs haha

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

BSA,

I would like to see the bedding pic. Do you just fill the voids with a lot of epoxy? As far as the instructions on bedding, I referenced a good series of YouTube videos on bedding in the Savage 110 project thread. Those videos pretty much lay out the technique I use. Is yours different?

It is amazing how a so-so rifle turns into a new beast after a good bedding job. Devcon 10110 is the way to go.

 

[Jon Boy]

I would also like to know BSA. Im planning on doing the same to my original stock.

 

[trkytrack2]

I hunt with a tikka currently in 30-06 and a savage in a 243 win. Looking for a mildly custom rifle in a 300 win 300wsm 7 mm but most importantly try to achieve better accuracy than i currently have .

With just a bit of tweeking and some good handloads with good bullets that 30-06 will shoot as good as any custom rifle and kill just as dead as any magnum made and it won't cost anything near what a "custom rifle" will.