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Custom Rifle On A Shoe String Budget

Defiance classic or that Kelby shown above
Manners EH1 from Redvanes on here
Ace barrel from Unknown Munitions or Red Hawk, or a prefit to match chosen action
Timney

You don't need anything near a 300 to kill Elk at 750 yards, 7prc with 180 hybrids or 195's would be the easy button. 6.5 CM or 6.5 PRC will do all day long as well.
 
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Apparently I goofed up.
No, you did not! It's your money, your choice. Stay on your course, and you'll be fine. If you have not done so already, start pricing out the individual components (action, barrel, stock, trigger, scope, etc) and GS costs, and adjust accordingly from there to achieve your budget goal. I did exactly this route on my last custom. I have to compromise on the stock weight goal (went over a pound), but saved ~$500. Besides quality components, your choice of reputable GS plays a major role. Good luck!

Ed

ADDED: If you are considering one of PT&G's offerings, @bamban had built 3 Valhalla actions. Crap, I do not need another build but I might get one just for the heck of it. I built 4 rifles in the last 5 years and have not finalized load development due lack of time.🤬
 
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If you don't mind putting things together yourself, should be easily doable, if you are patient.

I just put together a 300 RUM. Bighorn origin I traded into (they are like $900 new), a 24" prefit Proof carbon barrel with brake on a black Friday sale for $600, I had a triggertech special already but they pop up here all the time for $150 or so... Traded into a stockys carbon stock but they were also around $400 at Black Friday. Still needed bottom metal, but figure $150 plus or minus, depending on what you want and if you can wait for a good deal on the classifieds. So that's roughly $2,200 and you can put it together with and action wrench and barrel vice. I did also buy a Wyatt's box magazine combo so there was another $75, and got new action screws, so a little extra costs here and there. Say $2,300.

You would of course need ammo or reloading components (again, a lot pop up here periodically, which is where I got a great deal on some dies from a well respected member), scope rings and a scope. But at $2,300, that leaves a lot in your budget 😬

I rely heavily on the classifieds for sourcing a lot of stuff I don't want to pay retail for! Just do your due diligence and don't get scammed- there are a lot of online scams going on right now everywhere.
 
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Love the Rum, still have 2 Remington long action mag bolt face actions from a couple of rifles I've had. And when set up properly they shoot lights out. One of my favorite cartridges for hunting. I will never not own one. Message me if you need any interest in actions or brass. Or questions regarding the ultra.
I'm looking for a long action magum bolt face
 
I can't believe noone has suggested Kirby Allen, @Fiftydriver, on here yet. His new Prowler line is right on for your price range and not a soul on this forum can argue his quality or success. I know there was a thread on these new rifles a few months ago.
It's funny you say that… my buddy has had 2 built by him and another in the works. It is an option we are going to price out. I was thinking of a factory 300 PRC in the beginning. Then I saw his latest from Kirby and got envious. Its a beautiful piece.
 
Defiance classic or that Kelby shown above
Manners EH1 from Redvanes on here
Ace barrel from Unknown Munitions or Red Hawk, or a prefit to match chosen action
Timney

You don't need anything near a 300 to kill Elk at 750 yards, 7prc with 180 hybrids or 195's would be the easy button. 6.5 CM or 6.5 PRC will do all day long as well.

No one needs Macallan...but the man said he wants RUM...wait wrong forum 🤣
 
If you don't mind putting things together yourself, should be easily doable, if you are patient.

I just put together a 300 RUM. Bighorn origin I traded into (they are like $900 new), a 24" prefit Proof carbon barrel with brake on a black Friday sale for $600, I had a triggertech special already but they pop up here all the time for $150 or so... Traded into a stockys carbon stock but they were also around $400 at Black Friday. Still needed bottom metal, but figure $150 plus or minus, depending on what you want and if you can wait for a good deal on the classifieds. So that's roughly $2,200 and you can put it together with and action wrench and barrel vice. I did also buy a Wyatt's box magazine combo so there was another $75, and got new action screws, so a little extra costs here and there. Say $2,300.

You would of course need ammo or reloading components (again, a lot pop up here periodically, which is where I got a great deal on some dies from a well respected member), scope rings and a scope. But at $2,300, that leaves a lot in your budget 😬

I rely heavily on the classifieds for sourcing a lot of stuff I don't want to pay retail for! Just do your due diligence and don't get scammed- there are a lot of online scams going on right now everywhere.
I'm interested in seeing this build. I've definitely have been eyeing the classifieds for deals.
 
I'm interested in seeing this build. I've definitely have been eyeing the classifieds for deals.
I've since cleaned my bench 😂

But here is the only half decent pic I have at the moment, I could get more tonight if there was any specifics you wanted to see.

Sub 11 lbs with scope and suppressor. The suppressor is a long and heavy rex silentium, since my harvester evo isn't rated for ultra mag. Basically minus suppressor it's about 9.5 lbs scoped.

If I went to my HD LHT it would shave another 12 oz off... So I could be right at or possibly just under 9 lbs ready to hunt.

I guess I'd throw the brake back on it though, lol
 

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I'm in the process of building a 30 nosler.

Defiance Classic
Bartlein Carbon
Manners LRH Stock
Hawkins Bottom
Trigger tech trigger

Bugholes is doing the barreled action for me. I'm into the rifle a little over 3600 before rings and optics. Don't forget about factoring in the cost of brass and dies if you don't already have them. Good luck!
 
It's funny you say that… my buddy has had 2 built by him and another in the works. It is an option we are going to price out. I was thinking of a factory 300 PRC in the beginning. Then I saw his latest from Kirby and got envious. Its a beautiful piece.
One thing to consider is load development; it costs. Kirby does that, and guarantees 1/2 MOA at long distance. I have 3, 2 from the early days when he built off other actions, and a recent one off a Ruger American Gen 2 for my granddaughter.
 
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