Best Factory Donor

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viking499

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Feb 9, 2007
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So, for this winters project, I want to pull a barrel off a rifle and replace it with something else. Not sure on caliber yet, but will probably be in the 6mm or 6.5mm family. Mainly doing it for the experience and knowledge. And may end up swapping it a couple of times until I find what caliber/combo I really like.

What off the shelf action would be your choice to play around with? I know Remington and Savage are choices. Any other good options?

Any actions to stay away from?

I already have everything I need except for a barrel nut wrench, if I even need one for whatever I end up with and go/no-go gauges for whatever caliber I choose.
 
My Uncle likes Tikkas… bugger to get the factory barrel off of, but… I'm watching this one just for the reason I’m wondering on some others input.
 
MarshallDodge said:
The Remage setups seem to be doing well.

I'd probably buy a Mack Bros. It is a Remington pattern but has a lot of upgrades for a reasonable cost.
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I've been watching these, I'd really like to put something together using their Ti. At $775 they're a very good value for a 700 clone. I like that they extended the OAL to 2.990". I'll probably use one for my next build.
 
JmacD said:
My Uncle likes Tikkas… bugger to get the factory barrel off of, but… I'm watching this one just for the reason I’m wondering on some others input.
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I like Tikka's too. I know where one is that would work, but barrels seem harder to get as far as availability and time.
 
Savage is the easiest option to work with. It all depends on what your goals are for the finished product. I like Tikka a lot, but those are probably best left as they came from the factory. Not a lot of room for improvement.

Remington 700 probably has the most aftermarket support if building a custom rifle.
 
viking499 said:
Bet that is not an "off the shelf" option from the LGS.

One small step to see how it goes, and then maybe a top notch action for a build.
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It probably isn't off the shelf but I don't know your gunshop.

I've done the "off the shelf" thing several times. After buying a factory action and spending money for upgrades such as truing, adding a bolt knob, upgrading the extractor, and bushing the firing pin, I'll never do it again.

A $700 action that has all the upgrades done from the beginning, and can take Remington 700 pattern components, is a big step in the right direction.
 
I've been fiddling with a Howa lately... budget friendly, and the support is growing... I forget who it is that is making a nice "howage" barrel conversion that I'll probably go for when I shoot this one out...
 
First ask what you want from the build and how much of a project your willing/capable of taking on, then decide on a budget.


In a broad sense.....

If your in the " i just wanna try this to see how i like it category" then id start with a Savage 10/110 or Rem700.
They have the most available options, and if you get halfway through the project and decide you don't want to do it you can usually sell the parts for more than you paid for the original gun (as long as you got a reasonably good deal).

If your trying to build something specific, then id look harder at the requirements before choosing parts.
 
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I own a few Howa 1500s but they are either LA or 6.5CM that I like, very smooth and accurate, action wrench is the same as a R700, threads are metric, looking around they are usually a couple hundred less than a R700 on the used market. I saw a custom 6CM recently and whatever nut was on it covered the threads and looked good, it matched the receiver and barrel profile,
I've been thinking along the same lines and thinking going 6mm, still debating on which, 6mmCM, Factory guns available and factory ammo, better barrel life than 243. 6GT, longer barrel life, factory brass available, uses regular AICS mags for dependability. 6BR and 6Dasher, even longer barrel life, brass is getting easier to locate, needs a spacer for the mag that requires fitting and tweaking.
 
Loonwulf made some good points, really have so ask yourself what you like in a gun and the cartridge you want and what are you capable of doing.think the next gun I build that I don't already have a action for will be a 700 clone. Wish there were a affordable clone with crf and locking bolt.
 
No luck on finding a good/affordable Savage or Remington action the past couple weeks.

But........I did find a stainless Tikka 270 rifle for cheap......so I guess that will be my donor. Now just need to figure out my caliber since I have the .473 bolt head.
 
I'll throw 6BR into the hat for caliber 😃

The good part about a Tikka is the tolerances are tight enough that you can buy shouldered prefits. I just picked up a lightly used 6x47L barrel at a very reasonable price.

There are barrel nut versions as well.
 
viking499 said:
No luck on finding a good/affordable Savage or Remington action the past couple weeks.

But........I did find a stainless Tikka 270 rifle for cheap......so I guess that will be my donor. Now just need to figure out my caliber since I have the .473 bolt head.
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Nothing wrong with that, just slightly fewer options in terms of stuff for them (don't worry, theres still plenty).
 
Still have not figured out my caliber or barrel yet, but thinking Criterion. Any reviews of those from anyone here?
 
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