First custom rifle questions

[archeratlrg]

Your price range is very good. Rely on your research or the smiths recommendations. Most smiths will get you a discount on actions. I used defiance for the last two, I'm too cheap to buy TI or carbon barrels. I really like Karl at Kampfeld Customs in Idaho. Excellent communication with timely phenomenal work, and he builds hunting rifles for hunters. His brake was as effective as a four port MBM on my Edge.

Kampfeld Custom - Custom Rifles, Custom Gunsmithing

Given the lack of availability of components I would opt for a 7mm Rem mag. Use a 7.5 to 8 twist barrel and have your smith throat it like the PRC so you have built I accuracy they are claiming the PRC has. Properly loaded the 7 Rem mag will give you a 100fps over the PRC , you can shoot factory ammo, it will be much cheaper to shoot in the long run. Just my .02 after a lifetime of buildi rifles.

 

[FEENIX]

Apologies FEENIX, I had forgotten that by the time I read to end of thread

No apologies needed, I was just re-emphasizing it. Cheers!

 

[JAYgs8163]

Ok so I guess my question should have been, which one of the Bighorn actions are you guys running?

I run the Origin, have 2. You should also look at Kelbly Atlas actions, actually I kind of prefer them over the Origin but that's me. Both of the actions can use a shouldered prefit. My other choice would be a Defiance Tenacity. I've built 4 rifles myself now using prefits, all shoot 1/2 MOA if I do my part.

 

[huntoregon]

I just need to start making phone calls to see who has what in stock, and to get in line.

 

[Lee7588]

I just need to start making phone calls to see who has what in stock, and to get in line.

Look on the classified forum here I've recently seen Zermatt, defiance, kelbys for sale

 

[Mark37082]

I had them build my first rifle, a 280ai. Greg and Russ are great guys to deal with and very knowledgeable and can keep you on the right path. Very reasonably priced and their work is second to none. They have a lot of the components that you might need as well.

x3. Have been very happy with the SPR guys. The bonus for me is they are only a couple hours away for me.

 

[akdad]

I'm very new at the whole custom thing so forgive my ignorance but why has Mack bros not been mentioned? I apologize if I missed it

 

[M1A1ABRAMS]

Bartlein makes stainless and carbon. I had a few bartlein stainless that always shot great. My next build will with be a bartlein carbon.

I have one proof and had some weird experiences but it's shoots good now.

If broughton was still making button barrels I'd say try one but there are a lot to choose from
Hart, Douglas, Krieger, Bartlein, Proof Research, Benchmark, Shilen, Brux, Rock Creek, Hawk Hill, Criterion to name a few. Stay away from CA barrels

Don't want to hijack the forum. But has anyone tried Shaws custom barrels ?

 

[JAYgs8163]

I just need to start making phone calls to see who has what in stock, and to get in line.

Bryce at Preferred Barrel blanks will have actions in stock and spin up a 7PRC barrel also.

 

[TX Badger]

IMHO trying to put all the parts together yourself is going to take inordinate amounts of time and lots of frustration and more expensive.

Do yourself a favor and call the folks at GA Precision. They use top of the line in everything - defiance actions, bartlein barrels, trigger tech triggers, manners stocks., etc. I have 5 of their rifles in my safe - 3 for hunting, one for prs that I just received, one for ftr.

Lead time will be around 9 months and once you order it and give them a deposit there's nothing else to do. They also have some rifles in stock that are for sale. If you want to save a little money, look at used ones - there are always some on this site for sale.

The only advice that I'd offer is regarding the caliber. If you don't reload, I'd look at either the 6.5 prc or 300 prc - inherently accurate and lots of off the shelf ammo.

Good luck

Not to be a contrarian, but bolting a rifle together is pretty simple, takes very little time and is free. My last bighorn action and trigger tech trigger came from northland in less than a month. So did my last stock from manners. And bottom metal. All this past summer.

I bought my last barrel blank here and had it shipped directly ES Tactical. They turned it around in a couple weeks. That was a couple years ago. I'm not saying they are GAP quality builds but they shoot.

I enjoy tinkering, its a fun part of this game for me. If that's not you and you have the time and money for a good smith go for it, but do not be intimidated by doing it yourself.

 

[TX Badger]

^^^^True words!

Assembling an accurate, long range bolt gun is NOT the same as assembling an AR!

To do a true "custom" bolt gun (at least in my mind) with components from various vendors, one needs a machine shop, tools and skills to do the work.

Prefit components for a bolt gun kind of defeats the entire purpose of going down the "custom" lane IMO. You'd be much better off (and undoubtedly happier with the finished product) buying a good quality rifle built by Proof, GAP, Christensen, and others.

Is this from experience?

 

[brcfo_outdoors]

Is this from experience?

Haha, clearly not.

 

[Southern 62]

Definitely so many Great gunsmiths as mentioned here if you decide to go full custom. I may have missed it but Dallas Lane @ Lane Precision Rifles gets my vote. After talking with him and going over exactly what I wanted in a light weight packable hunting rifle he built the hunting rifle iv always dreamed of. 7pounds 11oz. Rigged out with a VX5 HD When you see one on here they don't last long!!! Pm me if you got any questions.

Enjoy the wonderful ride of either building your own rifle or doing a full custom. Don't leave a stone unturned. Build it exactly the way you want it. Best of luck and hope to see pics of it one day!!!!

 

[JAYgs8163]

^^^^True words!

Assembling an accurate, long range bolt gun is NOT the same as assembling an AR!

To do a true "custom" bolt gun (at least in my mind) with components from various vendors, one needs a machine shop, tools and skills to do the work.

Prefit components for a bolt gun kind of defeats the entire purpose of going down the "custom" lane IMO. You'd be much better off (and undoubtedly happier with the finished product) buying a good quality rifle built by Proof, GAP, Christensen, and others.

Actually, assembling a bolt gun with a high quality prefit barrel is easier than a AR. Putting a trigger in a bolt gun is easier than a AR milspec and assembling a lower and upper from scratch is much more difficult. Why do you think Krieger, Proof, Shilen, and so many other barrel makers now offer high quality prefits. It's because the average guy can now quite simply headspace a barrel very easily in a small home shop. Can there be some learning experiences and challenges along the way, absolutely there can. Bedding was the only real challenge I ran into. I've done 4 now. All shoot sub 1/2 MOA.