possible new project

[RedNoma]

I've been thinking about embarking on a new project, a custom long range rifle. My goal is to shoot tight, accurate groups at 600-800 yards. This will also be a gun that I want to be very reliable and strong. I've been considering the Winchester model 70 and Remington 700 actions. I really like the Browning A-bolt and Weatherby Mark V actions, but I've never seen any aftermarket barrels or stocks for them. I will be using a composite monte carlo stock and an aftermarket 26" heavy barrel. I'm just wondering what actions and calibers you guys would use. I think I'm leaning toward a 7mm magnum or 25-06, but haven't decided yet.

Edit: The sort of style I'm going for is similar to Ed Brown's Marine Sniper model rifle.

 

[thatguy]

All the guns you mention are good quality but I think the military favors the Rem 700 for its long-range rifles. Hard to argue with that.

 

[Jim Watson]

I am a casual, occasional, recreational Long Range shooter.
I watch what the big guys shoot. Actions are Remington, Winchester, and full custom. Shooters on a budget or wanting to DIY use Savage. I have never seen a Browning or Weatherby on the 600 or 1000 yard line.

Caliber should be one or another chamber for 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, or .30 cal; there is not much choice in .25 match bullets. Berger makes a few and that is about it. You don't need a magnum to shoot 800 yards, the trend seems to be away from the big boomers to smaller calibres shooting high ballistic coefficent bullets. Read up at:
www.long-range.com/forums/ and
www.benchrest.com/forums/

I just bought a Savage 12BVSS-S single shot .308 to replace my elderly .30-06 and the .223 experiment that didn't work out. I will see what it will do and if it is not up to snuff or if I just want to tinker, it can readily be upgraded.

 

[RedNoma]

I am a casual, occasional, recreational Long Range shooter.
I watch what the big guys shoot. Actions are Remington, Winchester, and full custom. Shooters on a budget or wanting to DIY use Savage. I have never seen a Browning or Weatherby on the 600 or 1000 yard line.

Caliber should be one or another chamber for 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, or .30 cal; there is not much choice in .25 match bullets. Berger makes a few and that is about it. You don't need a magnum to shoot 800 yards, the trend seems to be away from the big boomers to smaller calibres shooting high ballistic coefficent bullets. Read up at:
www.long-range.com/forums/ and
www.benchrest.com/forums/

I just bought a Savage 12BVSS-S single shot .308 to replace my elderly .30-06 and the .223 experiment that didn't work out. I will see what it will do and if it is not up to snuff or if I just want to tinker, it can readily be upgraded.

I didn't really see much for the A-bolt action. I really like that action though. Mine (.308) is among the smoothest I've shot. I'm not really going to do any competitions shoots or anything. Just want something that I can be confident in for hunting and recreation at any range within reason. I will probably use a 70 or 700 action in 7mm magnum. Also do you guys know any places that sell just the actions for these? Or will I have to buy a "donor" gun?

 

[Jim Watson]

From what I have read, you had just as well buy a donor gun at Walmart as to pay Brownell's price for a Remington action. Or watch the second hand ads. A true custom target rifle won't use anything but the receiver and bolt. Takeoff barrels and stocks are worth a few bucks on ebay.

 

[Essex County]

Most folks will steer you to the 700. I prefer`The M70 as a platform for personal prefrences. The fact that that the military uses the 700 doesn't hold a lot of sway with me. Back in the sixties I had a meal in a Marine Corp dining hall and it wasn't great. This is NOT to be taken as a slur on one of my favorite branches of the military. Sincerely, Essex

 

[Kiwi98J]

Here's a link to GoGo Varminter classified.

http://www.varminthunters.com/cgi-b...&subcategory=Actions&results_format=headlines

A few actions there at market prices.

I just finsihed 2 custom rifles for my kids for Christmas gifts - both are built off of M-10 Savage actions, 1 in .243 and the other in .308. My cost was $909 for each including threaded match barrels, chambered and throated to the dies I supplied. I did all of the stock inletting and finishing, bedded the action, installed Sharp Shooters Supply comp triggers, bolt handles and recoil lugs and I installed and headspaced the barrels. Both are good shooters at .5 moa with 80 rounds down range. Looks like the .243 is gonna prefer 85 gr Nosler BTs and the .308 168 gr SMKs.

action - 250
Laminate stock - 110
barrel - 350
SSS trigger - 92
SSS lug - 25
SSS bolt handle - 25
Bedding kit - 12
Dies - 45​

I suppose I could have paid a gunsmith another 250 each to headspace and install the barrels, bed the actions and assemble off remington actions but then I would have had to wait another 10-12 weeks.

I just picked up a ss action and a stock - leaning toward a 6.5-284 or maybe a .280 or a 7mm-08 or ??? - well I have all winter to decide.

 

[RedNoma]

Thanks for all the info guys. I was just doing a little research and found a rifle that pretty much meet the standards I was looking for. I don't really have any experience with the brand though. Here's a link to it. I know a few people with older Savages, but I've never shot any of the newer ones. If they are decent this could probably save me a lot of money. What do you guys think of this rifle?

http://www.savagearms.com/12fvss.htm

 

[djl4570]

I had my first custom rifle built on a Remington Model 700. It is a .244 Remington Ackley Improved. Pillar bedded, action trued, Sako style extractor fitted to the bolt and a #8 taper Pac Nor barrel. At 100 yards this Rifle shoots groups that you can completely cover with a dime.

I have a similar project in mind and will buy a Remington 700 as a starting point. I'm planning on using .300 Rem SAUM, possibly with a 40° Ackley style shoulder. I haven't ruled .300 Win SAM out but I am leaning more towards the Remington because it's based on the .404 Jefferies case. The Winchesters do not have a parent case. If these cartridges do not penetrate the market well Winchester brass could become scarce while the Remington cases can be formed from the parent as long as you don't mind the root canal on your wallet from buying forming dies and RWS brass. I am hoping that this cartridge can make a 200 to 220g matchking go 2600 - 2800 fps.