Custom Rifle On A Shoe String Budget

[skipglo]

As far as custom goes, my definition would be to hand select all the components to create a complete system. A 1/2 MOA gun in capable hands is something I'm going to be after, but that might be a dream with my budget.
I'm also a little recoil shy, so I'm looking to build a heavier gun. Something in the 12-14 pound range probably.
Ultimately, I'd like to be able to take an elk at up to 750 yards. I'm nowhere near capable of that right now, but I'd like to have the equipment to do it as I get better.

My initial concern was with the 300 RUM choice when you first put it out there. Now with the " A LITTLE RECOIL SHY" confession....why ? In order to reach your LR goals you will need a lot ....A LOT of practice time with an expensive to shoot heavy hitting gun...just me...but for my first LR experience I would rethink the caliber. ..!

 

[FrogFire7]

My initial concern was with the 300 RUM choice when you first put it out there. Now with the " A LITTLE RECOIL SHY" confession....why ? In order to reach your LR goals you will need a lot ....A LOT of practice time with an expensive to shoot heavy hitting gun...just me...but for my first LR experience I would rethink the caliber. ..!

I only answered the initial question... But this is good advice! It's wise to get something that isn't intimidating/fatiguing to practice with (not to mention $$$ to shoot), and shoot a lot.
300 RUM isn't really either of those... But that gives you a good excuse for a "trainer" rifle, too

 

[nksmfamjp]

This is not an attack on the OP. He will choose what he needs to choose.

Before I get going, I ordered a 300 WSM, 300 Sherman and 28 Sherman Magnum, so I know about the kid in a candy store going big problem.

That said, I just bought a 6.5 Creedmoor. I couldn't force myself to buy a 6 Creedmoor for deer.

If I buy again or rebarrel, it will be a 6, 25, 6.5 that runs 3000fps.

No, I'm not a whimp. I have a 458 Lott for plinking!

I've just found that I want a lightish gun….under 9lbs ready to hunt that is not barrel heavy and has a good, unfortunately, ~2lb optic.

I guess my point is, consider the values of being able to shoot a lot on a barrel, being well practiced with your hunting gun, and letting the bullet do the work….i.e. focus on delivering a med-heavy bullet for caliber at 2000fps at a reasonable range….a range that you are hitting a 10" plate 10/10 in some wind.

I think you will find the RUM's look like missles on paper, but the go fast PRS guys are shooting 6 Creedmoor, 6 dasher, 6x47, 25 Creedmoor, etc.

 

[dogz]

Budget Rifle ??
Personally,.. I'd Buy a .300 WSM, T-3 lite, SS NON-Fluted, 24" barrel, Tikka ( $900.00 ish ) and have, PVA do Brake / threads ($350. approx ) put on Zeiss 4-16 Scope ( $800- $850 ish ) Adjust Trigger to 2 lbs, Buy an adjustable Cheek riser ( $75 ), Put a LimbSaver Pad on it ( $40 ) , Rings / Mounts
( $125 ish ) Bipod ( $200- $300 ? ) Holland Bubble Level ( $80 ) 5 Boxes of, BERGER Ammo ( $300 ?) and go learn to Shoot All, the FIELD Positions. For "Practical Hunting" to, 800 Yards. THIS Rifle / Cartridge combo, Will Do Fine, on Elk,...
And Nobody, On Planet Earth can "shoot the Difference", between, a 1/4 Min "Custom Rifle" and a 1/2 to 3/4 Minute, "Tuned Up,..Tikka" from FIELD Positions, in the Windy aszz, Mountains,.. on Deer / Elk !
Knowing how to, Shoot / Read WIND, is FAR more important than having an Expensive, Custom Rifle. But all, JMHO from, 60 Years of, Big Game Hunting and, as a Former Gunsmith for, 25 years.
Spend the rest of your Money on your,.. Wife / Girl friend / Mom ! AND,.. a LOT more,.. Ammo !!!

This!

 

[fguenther0925]

My initial concern was with the 300 RUM choice when you first put it out there. Now with the " A LITTLE RECOIL SHY" confession....why ? In order to reach your LR goals you will need a lot ....A LOT of practice time with an expensive to shoot heavy hitting gun...just me...but for my first LR experience I would rethink the caliber. ..!

I do understand the concerns. I only bring that up to express why I'm building a heavier gun. It's not that I won't shoot the thing. I'll get behind anything put in front of me. I don't won't to get behind a 6 lb 300 RUM, but I will 9+.

 

[Rum Man]

This is not an attack on the OP. He will choose what he needs to choose.

Before I get going, I ordered a 300 WSM, 300 Sherman and 28 Sherman Magnum, so I know about the kid in a candy store going big problem.

That said, I just bought a 6.5 Creedmoor. I couldn't force myself to buy a 6 Creedmoor for deer.

If I buy again or rebarrel, it will be a 6, 25, 6.5 that runs 3000fps.

No, I'm not a whimp. I have a 458 Lott for plinking!

I've just found that I want a lightish gun….under 9lbs ready to hunt that is not barrel heavy and has a good, unfortunately, ~2lb optic.

I guess my point is, consider the values of being able to shoot a lot on a barrel, being well practiced with your hunting gun, and letting the bullet do the work….i.e. focus on delivering a med-heavy bullet for caliber at 2000fps at a reasonable range….a range that you are hitting a 10" plate 10/10 in some wind.

I think you will find the RUM's look like missles on paper, but the go fast PRS guys are shooting 6 Creedmoor, 6 dasher, 6x47, 25 Creedmoor, etc.

I tryed to take my 338 Edge to a local prs match , they said absolutely not .
The ding of steel getting hit with the 300 gr Berger would have give me the biggest Smile ...!!!
Plus they only have a 1154 yard range!

Rum Man

 

[Rum Man]

I do understand the concerns. I only bring that up to express why I'm building a heavier gun. It's not that I won't shoot the thing. I'll get behind anything put in front of me. I don't won't to get behind a 6 lb 300 RUM, but I will 9+.

I wish you were close to me !
I have short , long , light , medium and heavy Rums you could take a Spin with !
I'm glad I seen your post on the 300 Rum. It gives me a push to go send some down range !

Rum Man

 

[skipglo]

I do understand the concerns. I only bring that up to express why I'm building a heavier gun. It's not that I won't shoot the thing. I'll get behind anything put in front of me. I don't won't to get behind a 6 lb 300 RUM, but I will 9+.

I understand...for me it's the $ 5000.00 ....if I'm not happy 15 days in...but younger fellas with money like you...not a big deal...you can amortize it over the next 40 years as so many of us haveIt's truly a difficult decision,...I want to get out to 1000+ yards, I want to enjoy my time shooting, and I want a hunting rig....that's 9-12 lbs @ 1/2 MOA..it can be done...i was just putting an old man's caution out there...that's why I NOW.. have dedicated guns to the task...lighter, heavier and **** heavy...in the same calibers. You can get some great factory guns for 1/2 your budget that will take you easily to 1000 yards....AND THEY HAVE A WARRANTY and sub moa guarantees...Best of luck and good shooting

 

[troupe]

Don't know if it has been mentioned, Kauger actions are very reasonably priced and are straight, so you can get a prefit. 700 footprint.

 

[fguenther0925]

I wish you were close to me !
I have short , long , light , medium and heavy Rums you could take a Spin with !
I'm glad I seen your post on the 300 Rum. It gives me a push to go send some down range !

Rum Man

It'll give me an excuse to "see my family" in Michigan. They are towards the center and bottom of the palm.

 

[StoneCold]

After reading all of this I say.....

Build up a RUM ! Obviously it is what you want, you are pretty committed to it. You also have other rifles you can use to train with. If you are buying an optic for the RUM, I would switch it between guns when you practice so you know it inside out.

The 300 RUM does have horsepower that is hard to match with anything else. If you build one you will be happy as long as you can shoot it.

Now the nitty gritty...

Don't build a 14 pound rifle for the recoil management. Put a quality brake on it and keep it 12 pounds or less all up. Make it fit you. Maybe consider a chassis even if you haven't for adjustability. You will actually take it hunting then.

Next as @FrogFire7 said.....without emphasizing it enough....

Build it off an action you can build yourself with an action wrench and some go, no go gauges. That will make the cost less - depending on who you were planning to pay to do the work. If nothing else when you burn a barrel out you can change it yourself and save money then. There are several actions precise enough with open source dimensions for you to use. Lots of barrel companies will put one together right for your action too.

All the other parts can be sourced multiple ways that can keep costs down.

I say go for it!

 

[Teri Anne]

I'm embarking on a custom rifle build for my first soree into long range shooting and hunting. I'm pretty confident it will be a 300 RUM. I don't have a huge budget, as I would like to be all in for around $5k including optics. So with that in mind, of the 4 major components (action, barrel, trigger or stock) what would be the one that you'd say doesn't have to be the best of the best? For example, I'm considering a blueprinted 700 action from PT&G versus one of the lower end Defiance actions. If I were to go the Defiance route, something else would have to give in order to meet my budget.

If you are trying to do the rifle on a budget I would use a Remington 700 action, That action has proven itself over the years in competitive shooting. I have a 700 in 338 Win Mag that is a tack driver with the original factory barrel. I had it pillar bedded, the barrel floated, a target brake, Trigger Tech Black Diamond and a Limbsaver recoil pad. It's heavy at around 9 pounds with a Vortex 5 - 25 x 56 FFP scope. It shoots between 0.5 and 0.7 MOA with either Sig Sauer 225gr ammo or handloads with 210 gr partitions. All told I have less than $3000 into it.

 

[Jnm300ultra]

Here's a nice rum in the classifieds that's close to your budget. I've owned a Moa rifles 300 rum before and it was stupid accurate.

For Sale - MOA RIFLES EOL Carbon Extreme 300 UM

Rifle is broken in only, round count 81. Shoots .3 with the Hybrid 230 at 2979 on my Garmin. Not a scratch. Carbon Game Warden stock. Brass, dies and 79 loaded rounds. NF rings with ATACR 4-16 FFP. Rifle weight 6lb 10oz + scope. Safe queen. $5300 for package. Tom 541-944-8154 Oregon

www.longrangehunting.com

I would take his advice.

I purchased his old Moa in 300 RUM rifle off him. It's been a great rifle. The ad is the easy button. The weight of this rifle will add up quickly if you add a bipod, sling, ammo, you will hit your 10 pound rifle, and when it feels to heavy take off the bipod and put a lighter scope.

If you are really wanting to build something yourself
my suggestion is look at a Defiance action. The reason is to get a 4" cut on your action. I'm not sure if they would do it on the Classic model or only on the higher priced versions. The ultra mag really shines when you can load a 245 or 230 grain Berger and not single feed it. Also use a Wyatt box for your bdl or get a seekings or Unknown detachable magazine. As far as other parts it really depends what style of stock you're looking for.
Good luck with your build,
Jason

 

[cohunt]

I guess we all have different "definitions" of what "shoe string budget " means