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Long Range Hunting & Shooting
Rifle Build - Help me decide
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<blockquote data-quote="Satchamo" data-source="post: 1428708" data-attributes="member: 105303"><p>So I've been back and forth and back and forth about how I want to go about building a new rifle. I'm looking to build a long range hunting rifle in 300 win mag. I want the finished weight of the gun with optics to be around 8-9 lbs. I already have the scope and it's an HST 4-15 and I believe they're 20 oz so I'd rough guess my optics weight will be 30 oz or so.</p><p></p><p>That being said, I have 3 options bouncing around in my head and initially had a budget of $1500 in my head. Here they are with what I believe to be their pros and cons:</p><p></p><p>Build off of Rem 700:</p><p>Pros:</p><p>-initial action purchase is cheaper (I've found SS LA Magnum for $340)</p><p>-Unlimited possibilities and accesories</p><p>-way more affordable stock options</p><p>-no limitations for COAL like a Tikka</p><p></p><p>Cons:</p><p>-needs trigger</p><p>-blueprinting is not cheap. I got a quote of around $1000 from LRI for blueprinting, rebarreling, fluting bolt, installing tactical handle, new scope base threads, timing bolt handle, new pinned lug, threaded barrel for brake and beadblasting it all. I know all this isn't necessary for the rifle to perform but it's what I want so I'm not skimping on it to decide I want it later. </p><p>-weight? I'm not certain here but I have to assume a till action is lighter than a Remmy but please correct me if I'm wrong.</p><p></p><p>Total cost: $2000 or so</p><p>Action: $340</p><p>Stock: $200</p><p>Barrel blank $250 (if I'm crafty)</p><p>Trigger: 200</p><p>Smith work: 800-1000 depending on my options</p><p></p><p></p><p>Tikka build</p><p>Pros:</p><p>-No action truing or tons of work needed to make it shoot so way less of a Smith bill. Right now I'm looking at around $500 to rebarrel, thread the muzzle and flute the bolt and I'd be happy. I might consider bead blasting it as well.</p><p>-Stock trigger is serviceable</p><p>-light. I'd have no issue keeping a till within my weight criteria.</p><p></p><p>Cons:</p><p>Higher up front cost for donor rifle ($600 from Whitaker's)</p><p>-slow factory barrel so I'd probably rebarrel it right away as I want to shoot the 215s. Barrel blank from tikka performance is 250 + $500 in work</p><p>-COAL limitations. I am a reloader and the idea of being limited by magazine length is annoying. I know there are AICS options, but I don't really like those setups for hunting as I don't need to be able to rack off 6 shots. Maybe they offer shorter aics magazines? Idk, I haven't researched much here. But regardless, that's probably $250 for new bottom metal and aics, or shoot the smaller bullets.</p><p>-stock options are way slimmer. Stockys has a carbon model I like and if I go this route I'd probably get but it's $567 vs $200 options on the 700 I liked.</p><p></p><p>TOTAL COST: $2100 or so</p><p>Gun: 600</p><p>Stock: 567</p><p>Barrel: 250</p><p>Smith work: 500</p><p>Bottom metal: 250</p><p></p><p>Option 3: buy a Christensen arms mesa and go shoot.</p><p></p><p>Pros:</p><p>-cheapest option $1200</p><p>-light</p><p>-nice looking</p><p>-no coal limitations</p><p></p><p>Cons</p><p>-it won't be "mine". I honestly enjoy the build process so bypassing it while saving money, isnt as much fun.</p><p>-stock is a sporter style which isn't want I want. </p><p></p><p>So anyways, here we are. I really didn't want to spend over $1500. I know there are ways I can save money here and there in the classifieds, or by going with less options at the Smith but I can't help but think I wouldn't end up happy and I'd just spend what ever money I saved later... So I'm willing to save up money, but the only issue is I'I building this to hunt with this fall and I've already offloaded my other 2 rifles to afford this so time is of the essence. </p><p></p><p>Feel free to pick apart my plans and tell me where I can save $, where I'm totsllt off base or where I should spend MORE money. And of course let me know what you'd do!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Satchamo, post: 1428708, member: 105303"] So I've been back and forth and back and forth about how I want to go about building a new rifle. I'm looking to build a long range hunting rifle in 300 win mag. I want the finished weight of the gun with optics to be around 8-9 lbs. I already have the scope and it's an HST 4-15 and I believe they're 20 oz so I'd rough guess my optics weight will be 30 oz or so. That being said, I have 3 options bouncing around in my head and initially had a budget of $1500 in my head. Here they are with what I believe to be their pros and cons: Build off of Rem 700: Pros: -initial action purchase is cheaper (I've found SS LA Magnum for $340) -Unlimited possibilities and accesories -way more affordable stock options -no limitations for COAL like a Tikka Cons: -needs trigger -blueprinting is not cheap. I got a quote of around $1000 from LRI for blueprinting, rebarreling, fluting bolt, installing tactical handle, new scope base threads, timing bolt handle, new pinned lug, threaded barrel for brake and beadblasting it all. I know all this isn't necessary for the rifle to perform but it's what I want so I'm not skimping on it to decide I want it later. -weight? I'm not certain here but I have to assume a till action is lighter than a Remmy but please correct me if I'm wrong. Total cost: $2000 or so Action: $340 Stock: $200 Barrel blank $250 (if I'm crafty) Trigger: 200 Smith work: 800-1000 depending on my options Tikka build Pros: -No action truing or tons of work needed to make it shoot so way less of a Smith bill. Right now I'm looking at around $500 to rebarrel, thread the muzzle and flute the bolt and I'd be happy. I might consider bead blasting it as well. -Stock trigger is serviceable -light. I'd have no issue keeping a till within my weight criteria. Cons: Higher up front cost for donor rifle ($600 from Whitaker's) -slow factory barrel so I'd probably rebarrel it right away as I want to shoot the 215s. Barrel blank from tikka performance is 250 + $500 in work -COAL limitations. I am a reloader and the idea of being limited by magazine length is annoying. I know there are AICS options, but I don't really like those setups for hunting as I don't need to be able to rack off 6 shots. Maybe they offer shorter aics magazines? Idk, I haven't researched much here. But regardless, that's probably $250 for new bottom metal and aics, or shoot the smaller bullets. -stock options are way slimmer. Stockys has a carbon model I like and if I go this route I'd probably get but it's $567 vs $200 options on the 700 I liked. TOTAL COST: $2100 or so Gun: 600 Stock: 567 Barrel: 250 Smith work: 500 Bottom metal: 250 Option 3: buy a Christensen arms mesa and go shoot. Pros: -cheapest option $1200 -light -nice looking -no coal limitations Cons -it won't be "mine". I honestly enjoy the build process so bypassing it while saving money, isnt as much fun. -stock is a sporter style which isn't want I want. So anyways, here we are. I really didn't want to spend over $1500. I know there are ways I can save money here and there in the classifieds, or by going with less options at the Smith but I can't help but think I wouldn't end up happy and I'd just spend what ever money I saved later... So I'm willing to save up money, but the only issue is I'I building this to hunt with this fall and I've already offloaded my other 2 rifles to afford this so time is of the essence. Feel free to pick apart my plans and tell me where I can save $, where I'm totsllt off base or where I should spend MORE money. And of course let me know what you'd do! [/QUOTE]
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