Project Rifle Advice

[Dieselj19]

I am interested in buying a rifle with intentions of customizing it a bit as a little project with the goal being a rifle that I can hunt with (deer, elk, moose) as well as increase the accuracy for some longer range target shooting. This will be my first rifle project and i would like to do it on a budget of not too far north of $1000 (not including optics). I intend to change stock, barrel, trigger and keep it relatively basic for my first gun project. Any advice on action/caliber, or starting platform/model would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[CanuckShooter]

You will need more than 1000.....a new barrel alone will be 6 to 700 or more...

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

You will need more than 1000.....

x2 .. for sure , but well worth the additional $$

[CanuckShooter]

And once your done....spending all that money, you will never get it back on resale......

My 338 Ruger I'm into for perhaps $1200...with just some minor mods...and I'd half to sell it for about half the price of a brand new off the shelf Ruger if I ever wanted to get rid of it....

Just be aware of this before you start.

[Salavee]

We probably should consider that the current retail gun prices in Canada include foreign currency exchange rates (about 35%) plus shipping charges, and Distributor and Dealer mark ups ( another 35%). What are these guns really worth as compared to the used market ?

[BigChevy]

No need to go changing a barrel in my opinion. I'd buy a Tikka, change the stock, bolt handle and shroud, lighten the trigger and call it a day!
You will need about $1500 if you buy a new rifle but if you find the right deal you could save by buying a used one.

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

Tikka T3 if you can.

Look in the BUy/Sell forum here on AO or on CGN for a used rifle, save some $$$ and spend it on a better scope.

If you want a gun that shoots good but a really sloppy action, go Savage.

Don't think you will be under $1000....maybe under $ 2000
As for semi custom, my barrel was like $ 600-650 plus fluting plus powdercoating , PLUS the donor rifle (Sako m75 Greywolf) plus scope.

[260 Rem]

Just ordered an aftermarket CM sporter barrel .... $587.00 all in ... If it is a shooter, I will paint it myself, but to have it cerakoted would probably add another $100.00. I expect the chambering to add another $250.00 (that includes shipping/insurance).

[gtr]

You could also buy used from one of the thousands of fellows that built their own , only to become bored, and wish to sell for a fraction of what they have in them.LOL

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by gtr

You could also buy used from one of the thousands of fellows that built their own , only to become bored, and wish to sell for a fraction of what they have in them.LOL

Smart fella....LOL

[levigne25]

Originally Posted by Dieselj19

I am interested in buying a rifle with intentions of customizing it a bit as a little project with the goal being a rifle that I can hunt with (deer, elk, moose) as well as increase the accuracy for some longer range target shooting. This will be my first rifle project and i would like to do it on a budget of not too far north of $1000 (not including optics). I intend to change stock, barrel, trigger and keep it relatively basic for my first gun project. Any advice on action/caliber, or starting platform/model would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

I bought a Remington 700 sps tactical with threaded muzzle cost me 800$ brand new , I put high end chassis and scope better trigger and it shoots sub .5" moa at 100 yards

[ant12hony]

As with almost everything once you buy it the price went down so just the norm. And if I was choosing the caliber I would probably choose the .243 just because it will kill almost anything but will still save the fur on varmints and has pretty good accuracy out to 1000yd.

Anthony

[Robmcleod82]

My first question would be what rifles do you currently own?

[JustBen]

Only rifle that meets your needs without needing to visit a gunsmith would be a savage.

[Fowl91]

First you need to decide what cartridge you would want that would be suitable to hunt deer, elk, moose etc.
Then try and find a donor action within that same cartridge family.
My first Semi-custom was a Rem 700 in .280 Rem, and after changing just the stock and bedding it i was up to $600. Add a barrel and labour and your almost to $1200 altogether... not including the original price of your donor action/ rifle.

[Fuzzy39]

I built a 35 Whelen on a Savage action. Picked up a used 30-06 Trophy hunter for $300. Spent $500 on a 22 inch semi-bull, stainless shilen barrel and bought the head space gauges then went to work. This was the first time I had ever done any gun customization and I loved it. I bought my barrel through Jerry at Mystic Precision and he helped me through a lot of the stuff. The savages are easy to play around with and the Go/No go gauges are a super easy to do the head spacing with. I built mine because I wanted a 35 Whelen and there are minimal to be had. I had to sand the barrel channel on the Tupperware stock to maitain the free-float and the gun shoots true half moa (or less). I took my cow elk with it this year. 230 yard shot with a Barnes 225grain over IMR 4064. The bullet smashed through a rib on the way in and the way out. No bullet to recover, LOL. Initially I was going to put on a Boyds stock but after seeing how well it shoots of the bench, I thought there was no point. I did put a Limbs recoil pad on it but otherwise just a great barrel on a Savage action Good luck with your build!