Best rifle to progressively build?

[nvduckin]

I see I can buy a used Rem 700 for fairly cheap ($400ish). Is it worth the money to buy it and have the action blue printed? Or should I look out for a Savage and go off of that? If so, which Savage should I look for? I see a lot of 111's for sale.

This will be my first long range build, I've been lurking for while now. Also, if anyone has a quick and dirty guide to doing your own build, that would be great.

 

[Ragnarnar]

Long range precision and accuracy are usually thought of as the opposite of quick and dirty. Just sayin.

I once pulled the bolt handle off a savage in the field. Kinda killed my day hunting. After that I won't trust another one, so I can't comment anything savage. Your mileage may vary. I know there are plenty of people here who like them.

As for Remington, I advocate saving your money a little longer and going with a custom job. At the end of the day you can make a Remington have near the same feature set as a custom, but it's going to cost you near the same, and even then it won't have the same reliability or resale value as a custom action.

Figure the cost breakdown about like this. This is taken from a major and reputable gunsmith local to me plus major websites for other prices.
Remington action 400
Trued and printed 200 (which is cheap compared to others I've seen)
Side bolt stop 125
Mini 16 extractor. 125
Badger bolt knob 120 threaded and installed
Enlarge base holes 40
New lug 40
Pic rail base 120-150 for a good one
Sexy bolt fluting 50

Works out to 1200 ish assuming there's no taxes. Plus shipping to get the gun there and back if it's not local.

Or go with a custom action and get all of or equivalent features above plus the name.
surgeon 1295
Defiance 1330
lone peak 1350

In my opinion, a Remington or savage will work fine for average hunting. I know there are plenty of people who shoot them further and they work well enough. But in order to really improve and make yourself a better shooter, you need to isolate variables so if something goes wrong you can figure out where it happened. I like having confidence every time I pull the trigger which is why I've opted for custom options for anything serious and long range.
"Did you pull that third round flyer that ruined a one hole group or was it the gun?" Isn't a fun game to play.

But this is just one mans opinion. Best of luck either way.

 

[Greyfox]

Either and can serve you well but if you are looking to "progressively" build, I think you would find greater availability of upgrades and components for the Remington 700. I put this rifle together from a 70's era Remington 700. It was a progressive type of project that spanned a couple of years. Turned out to be a good shooter.

 

[Standbanger]

Nice rifle Greyfox

to the OP your almost better off finding a used rifle with a lowish round count ready to go

 

[Barrelnut]

I see I can buy a used Rem 700 for fairly cheap ($400ish). Is it worth the money to buy it and have the action blue printed? Or should I look out for a Savage and go off of that? If so, which Savage should I look for? I see a lot of 111's for sale.

This will be my first long range build, I've been lurking for while now. Also, if anyone has a quick and dirty guide to doing your own build, that would be great.

I always liked this LRH article: Long Range Hunting Rifle On A Budget

 

[FEENIX]

I always liked this LRH article: Long Range Hunting Rifle On A Budget

Ditto! They are the most DIY friendly IMHO. Cheers!

 

[ATH]

Depends on your sequence. If your donor action has a sporter setup and you are going to a thicker contour, the stock needs to go. At that point it's not much of a progressive build.

In general, I think it is easier to go progressive with a Savage if your stock is already adequate. You have more flexibility in the bolt head to change calibers when you swap the barrel. More makers of Savage prefits than Remage barrels. Easier to deal with the lug.

I've got several homemade Savages. It's pretty easy to build a 1/3-1/2 MOA semi-custom off a Savage. My first Remage is being assembled next weekend so I can't yet comment other than it took a lot more effort to make sure everything would be compatible.

As for availability of Savage parts, I've hardly found that limiting unless you start with a bottom bolt release. Just don't go there.

 

[7magcreedmoor]

If you aren't a machinist and want to do all the work yourself go with the savage. The above mentioned article is an excellent starting place.

 

[nvduckin]

Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate. I've spent the last hour or so looking over that LRH article, and that was a wormhole of a lot more reading. I was hoping to at least decide on a direction, but I think that's going to take a lot more reading.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Best rifle to build... Easy... Remington 700. There are more aftermarket parts out there for them than anything else, and every gunsmith worth his salt knows how to build them in his sleep.

 

[Zerk]

Savages are just cheap guns. Magazines are bad
Feeding so-so.


Only bolt guns I have had not go bang. Accurate. But cheap. Many disagree.

 

[ATH]

Savages are just cheap guns. Magazines are bad
Feeding so-so.


Only bolt guns I have had not go bang. Accurate. But cheap. Many disagree.

If you meant the Axis line, you'd be onto something. The 10/110 series, not so much.

 

[ohiohunter]

What caliber are you considering? Aside from part availability rem has the longer mag box, so you won't be forced to jump bullets with 06 class and magnums. The lack of parts for savages is very frustrating, especially when you're trying to save $ and watch quality rem stocks sell for $3-400 and you're stuck w/ a $600+ bill and an 8 month wait.

Budget? Intended use? DIY or smith?

 

[Zerk]

If you meant the Axis line, you'd be onto something. The 10/110 series, not so much.

Both mine are 110 series. Doubt I will ever buy one again . Failure to feed and failure to fire.