How hard is it to build a rifle by yourself??

[460 magnum]

I am not mechanically inclined. So the thought of purchasing parts and putting a bolt gun together was pretty overwhelming. I figured I would blow myself up for sure. However I have now done 2 remages, 7 savages and I am working on a Bighorn TL3 right now. So it can be done and by someone who isn't the best mechanic. My first rifle didn't come out the way I wanted as I didn't watch it's weight. I wanted a hunting rifle but didn't pay attention to the weight as I bougt parts. The rifle weighs 13 pounds and is very accurate but it's a bench/varmint rifle.
My suggestion to you is look at each parts weight so you don't make that mistake.

I done this very thing. I have a 13# with out the scope 22-250 but hey it shoots good.

 

[Varminator 911]

I've read here that shouldered barrels can be chambered with correct headspace for some of the precision custom actions without the gunsmith even laying hands on the action. If that's true could I buy such an action and have a barrel chambered by say Criterion? Get no/no go gauges to check headspace. Then buy a chassis some of which should be drop in with perfect fit. Or bed the stock.

If all that works how hard is it to fit a trigger tech trigger to the action?

Does this sound doable?

 

[Tidus56]

I've read here that shouldered barrels can be chambered with correct headspace for some of the precision custom actions without the gunsmith even laying hands on the action. If that's true could I buy such an action and have a barrel chambered by say Criterion? Get no/no go gauges to check headspace. Then buy a chassis some of which should be drop in with perfect fit. Or bed the stock.

If all that works how hard is it to fit a trigger tech trigger to the action?

Does this sound doable?

The Bighorn actions can have a shouldered barrel made for them without a gunsmith ever seeing the action. They are also very accurate.
With Bighorn actions using a Remington 700 footprint you can simply find a stock or chassis that fits a Remington 700 and it will fit together. I bed my stocks and it's simple and makes a difference. You'll then be able to put a trigger tech trigger on in less than 10 minutes. It's pretty easy.

 

[Hard Cast]

A Savage action will never be a Bat action ever! All you described is nothing but an off the shelf rifle from BPS not a custom! A good McMillan stock costs about 6-7 hundred.
Why cut corners?

I am kind of curious as to what the point of these comments are? For example, "A Savage action will never be a Bat action ever!" What is your point? I will assume (maybe I am wrong) that you understand that the specific brand of action has NOTHING to do with the accuracy a rifle. So, with that fact being the case, are you saying that the appearance of a Savage action is not as appealing or that you prefer the way the Bat action functions compared to a Savage? It could be that some folks would rather save some money with a less expensive factory action (Savage, Remington, etc.) and use their money for components that actually do affect the accuracy of a rifle.

Lastly to dragonfly; Again, I am curious to know why you keep bring up the gunsmith issue when the OP is asking about building a rifle with a method that does not require ANY smithing at all? Maybe some of us readers lack understanding so please explain to us why you would need a "skilled machinist" for a project that does not require any machining at all?

 

[KyCarl]

The action has nothing to do with accuracy? And then you woke up!
A friend of mine shoots .22 rifle matches. He sorts ammo by rim thickness with a fixture and indicator He says thickness affects lock time which is all in the bolt in the action?
If you were right all the action company's would fold and only Savage actions would be made. But in the REAL world the action company's are backlogged for months.
You have to stand in line to get one...
Look at "What the pros use" Savage ranks right at the top doesn't it..LMAO!

 

[Triggerhead Ed]

I have one of those not custom guns
Savage action
Shilen threaded and chambered Barrel
Medalists stock
Sorry it is a 6.5 Creedmore
The hogs deer and steel don't care
Shoots .300 MOA all day
I'm calling it MY Custom Rifle
You can not buy it from any factory
The only thing I have that shoots this good is a Factory built Shilen Bench Rest Gun
I am a Tool Maker/Machinest
But used no machines on this gun
check u tube you can do this also

 

[Tidus56]

The action has nothing to do with accuracy? And then you woke up!
If you were right all the action company's would fold and only Savage actions would be made. But in the REAL world the action company's are backlogged for months.
You have to stand in line to get one...
Look at "What the pros use" Savage ranks right at the top doesn't it..LMAO!

I have a Savage build that has shot .1-.2 groups with five different shooters. I am thinking I will put the barrel from the Savage on my Big Horn TL3. I am curious to see if the custom action increases the accuracy/consistency of the groups. The OP never states what he intends to use the rifle for but In my opinion if he isn't shooting competitions at the highest level he will be fine with a Remington, Savage or Tikka action to build from. For hunting, varmint shooting or punching paper for fun a BAT action is an excessive cost.

 

[KyCarl]

You can cite specific instances but day in day out....
The cost is a dead giveaway. Closer tolerances are harder to maintain ..scrap goes up..
every part takes longer

 

[Tidus56]

You can cite specific instances but day in day out....
The cost is a dead giveaway. Closer tolerances are harder to maintain ..scrap goes up..
every part takes longer

I actually agree with you. I understand that higher end parts have very tight tolerances. Therefore they cost more and often come with great features. I don't think most can justify the gain for $ amount. JMO

 

[KyCarl]

And I understand you Does a custom action work better and have more options to justify
2x's or 3x's the price of a factory action? For me it has been a sliding answer.
40 years ago I could barely afford anything so it would be NO it doesn't.
But now as situations/time have changed I'm inclined to say Yes they do?

 

[Hard Cast]

The action has nothing to do with accuracy? And then you woke up!
A friend of mine shoots .22 rifle matches. He sorts ammo by rim thickness with a fixture and indicator He says thickness affects lock time which is all in the bolt in the action?
If you were right all the action company's would fold and only Savage actions would be made. But in the REAL world the action company's are backlogged for months.
You have to stand in line to get one...
Look at "What the pros use" Savage ranks right at the top doesn't it..LMAO!

Apparently I was wrong and you don't understand the relationship of the action to the other components of a rifle. Apparently you thought I was stating an opinion. It is a physical fact (physics) that a specific "brand" of action has nothing to do with the accuracy of a rifle. How the components are attached to the action, and most importantly, the quality of the barrel/chamber is are what determines the accuracy of a rifle.

I am not trying to be rude to you my friend but the fact that you made this statement: "If you were right all the action company's would fold and only Savage actions would be made" shows that you really do not understand what I said above. I was clear that the brand of action has nothing to do with accuracy - including Savage.

This comment: "But in the REAL world the action company's are backlogged for months." And? This statement has no relevance to this subject? And just for your information, I am a big fan of aftermarket actions and a plan to buy one soon. But I am purchasing the action for the functionality not because I am under the delusion that the action will make my rifle more accurate - that is physically impossible. Any brand of action can be tuned so that the other components are aligned properly.

"Look at "What the pros use" Savage ranks right at the top doesn't it..LMAO!" I would strongly suggest that you do some research before making inaccurate comments like this. Here is a historical fact for you. I used to shoot at Douglas Ridge Rifle range in Oregon which is the where the world champion shooters (at that time) practiced. If my memory is correct, they won 9 of the 12 medals that year at the World Championship match. Guess what all the fellas used when they won all those medals? Well, I'll tell you - all used factory Savage rifles. That is right - factory rifles. And these folks took home almost all the medals competing against mostly custom built rifles. Personally, I have never owned a Savage action because I am not really a fan of the fit and finish AND I understand that the action is not what helped those fellas win those medals.

Lastly, my guess is that you will continue to believe what you want to believe despite evidence (physics) but I am taking the time to explain this so that other readers that come across this thread and who are considering building a rifle will realize that they can build a rifle with any action and as long as the action is trued, the rifle (not the action) will shoot as good as any other brand of action that has been machined properly.

 

[KyCarl]

Before your hole gets deeper read this and think twice...
https://precisionrifleblog.com/2018/12/29/custom-rifle-action/

 

[bdlesh]

So I am looking to build a rifle for hunting. A trued reminton 700 action is $475.00 and the barrel I am looking at is another $500.00 with a brake installed. As for a stock, I am hoping to use a walnut that I can finish myself. For me it's more of the feeling of accomplishment than extreme accuracy. Having a rifle that I put together and will leave to the kids is all I need. Now if I was planning on completion shooting, that another story. I would want all the bells and whistles......but what do I know...

 

[Australia]

Thanks for the info everyone. I am not a machinist, but I do own a metal fabrication company. I was thinking I could take certain parts to a local machinist to thread if I need to. I have already gone crazy on rifles this year, so I will probably start accumulating parts and try a build next year. I have been thinking about getting a hydro dipping setup for some signage that we manufacture. Does anyone know the difference between the durability on a hydro dipped stock compared to a cerakote one?

Yes I have had guns with both forms of coatings and have found that the Cerakote is the only way to go particularly in harsh environments
The Hydro dipped stocks looked flash in the camo print but didn't stand up to the usual bush scratches so it depends on whether you want a gun to be fancy for the range show or a practical gun for hunting
My choice is Cerakote but have it done by a specialist as I have seen some DIY that have been a failure