308 Bolt Action Build!! The Beginning!

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saltbait

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Chester, Nova Scotia
I've decided to do a little timeline genre of post as all I've done so far on this part of the forum is ask questions!

I'm getting really stoked that this build is ready to get started! I've done quite a bit of researched, asked quite a few noob questions, and racked up my long distance phone bill a tad!

I started off with the idea that I needed to replace my 308 semi which I just sold. I fell in love with the 308 caliber and have always had one in the safe....I don't know what I'd do without one (cue the 308 haters...I have a creedmoor too).

Ideally the finish weight of this rifle will be around 14lbs....so far it's lined up for that weight, but who knows...it will be close at least.






Current Parts List:
Beven King Spiral Fluted 30 Cal Barrel Blank, 1.25" shank to muzzle (no taper) 1/10 twist.
Stiller Tac 30 action
1.25" OD muzzle brake (made by Gary @ bighorn sales)
Triggertech Trigger
PTG Bottom Metal

The barrel will be cut down to 23" (possibly 22" if the flutes allow). I have purchased a used Mcmillan A1-3 stock which is in the mail. The finish on the stock is krylon, but I'll be giving the stock and barrelled action a cerakote or gunkote finish.

I'm planning to use Talley Lightweight rings which will let me mount the rings directly to the receiver (no rail required!).

Optic wise still fairly unsure. Looking for something with decent turrets for quick adjustments in cold weather along with a reticle that I can use to range and do hold overs. FFP would be preferred. Looking to get something around or under the 23oz weight mark.

Feel free to send some advice my way....or even some approval!

Stay tuned!
 
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Unless Talley makes direct mounts with built in cant I would advise against them, assuming you're shooting at long distances. Depending on your scope you will want anywhere from 15-45 MOA of cant to make full use of the scopes adjustment range.
 
What are you planning to do with your new baby? Hunt? Target? Competition??

I'll gladly help you spend your money once I know what your plan is!!
 
Thanks for all the replies guys!

@ Shabazz: I may have to look into that. I was set into the talley lightweights because of their weight and no need for the pic rail. Fairly sure that the talley's do not have any cant. The talley's were 0.16lbs and don't require a 0.1lbs pic rail. I've looked at the ATRS lightweight rings, but it would still be 0.5lbs more than if i used the talley rings. Any suggestions?

@ Gunneegoogoo: Looking to use it for PRS and would like to use it for bait hunting...don't want to carry this guy all day! Any advice/criticisms are welcome!
 
saltbait said:
Thanks for all the replies guys!

@ Shabazz: I may have to look into that. I was set into the talley lightweights because of their weight and no need for the pic rail. Fairly sure that the talley's do not have any cant. The talley's were 0.16lbs and don't require a 0.1lbs pic rail. I've looked at the ATRS lightweight rings, but it would still be 0.5lbs more than if i used the talley rings. Any suggestions?

@ Gunneegoogoo: Looking to use it for PRS and would like to use it for bait hunting...don't want to carry this guy all day! Any advice/criticisms are welcome!
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My thoughts are that you're not gonna wanna carry a 14-16lb gun for PRS, but it'd be good for shooting critters from a bipod. I think that 23oz scope that's appropriate on a heavy barrelled target rig doesn't exist, I don't think. You'll be looking at 30oz+, likely 40oz, and maybe even 49oz (Vortex Razor HDII)!!!
 
Most prs guns are over 14lbs, vortex has a very nice new razor gen 2 scope out this year that is lighter than their big ones. It's a 6-24x50 with ffp and 30mm tube. Not sure of exact weight. But I know it's lighter.
 
An AI AT weighs 13.9lbs bare (24" barrel, no brake, empty mag).

I would bet most PRS rigs weigh at least 15 lbs. A 24" or 26" barrel will do that to you.
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
My thoughts are that you're not gonna wanna carry a 14-16lb gun for PRS, but it'd be good for shooting critters from a bipod. I think that 23oz scope that's appropriate on a heavy barrelled target rig doesn't exist, I don't think. You'll be looking at 30oz+, likely 40oz, and maybe even 49oz (Vortex Razor HDII)!!!
Click to expand...

Everyone has heavy ass guns for PRS. My rifle w/ bipod unloaded is 15 lbs. The only time you'll be carrying your rifle is between stages. Komboyatch added weight to his PRS rifle just to make it more "handy".
 
Very nice built in perspective!

I am myself completing a build. Mine is no were near as intricate as yours as I haven't dove in the main component of my rifle as I was happy with the .5-.75 moa my 10 tr was getting.

My main focus were the following. 1 was accuracy. 2 weight. 3 reliability of the system. 4 ergonomic and 5 looks.

I love chassies and such cause of the flexibility they provide for length of pull adjustment and pistol grip ( I hate traditional stocks for there grips). But there major draw back beside price is weight. One of the factors in the ridiculous weight is often the bazillion rails on the chassies. I mean who actually use a full top rail on a precision rigg? Its one and only use is a nv or thermal clip on sight and nobody's using that in Canada, well 99.99% are not.

For exemple the cadex cdx lite in 308 tips the scale at 14.5 lbs as per cadex. That is without mussel brake rings and scope, so fully dress your looking at 16-17 lbs. That a beautiful rifle but crazy weight!

IMO a good "smart" chassie system shouldn't had too much weight. In my built I didn't go the smartest direction weight wise as I really wanted a NF NXS 5.5-22×50 and I also bought NF 6 screws aluminium rings. With the original mag and bipod it tiped the scale at 12.9 lbs. I could probably have save a pound with a good leopold and light rings but I wanted the NF ruggedness. Now I drop it in a mdt lss-xl, polymer mdt 10 round mag and I temporarily stole a Magpup Prs from my m14. Now it weighs 13 9 lbs, so It gaine one pound to gane the stability and flexibility of the chassie plus 10 round mags instead of 4. I am ordering pretty soon a mdt light skeleton stock, with it I should be around 13.2 lbs. So that would only be 0.3 lbs increase for full feature chassie.

With that I will be happy, id prefer 12 lbs but I wanted the NF.

So anyhow chose your parts with care to not end up with a 16 pound gun as it's a 308 you don't need the weight like a 338.
 
Sounds like a great build Rally Guy! I really like MDT products. I've handled there Tac21...had a few dislikes, but it won me over in the end, but then I handled the HS3 which was an absolute beauty! Loved the weight and how balanced it felt (guess that has to do with more than the chassis though). I've never handled a Cadex chassis, but have only heard great things about them.
I choose the Mcmillan since I am planning to take this rig to Australia with me. The hardhats there are pretty antsy about anything that looks like an AR...e.g., a bolt action having a pistol grip and AR buttstock. Planning on moving there with the misses in the next year-ish....so sold my semis (prohib in oz) and decided to build this fella!
I think I made a great choice!
Although I miss my semis a little.....
 
bsand said:
Everyone has heavy ass guns for PRS. My rifle w/ bipod unloaded is 15 lbs. The only time you'll be carrying your rifle is between stages. Komboyatch added weight to his PRS rifle just to make it more "handy".
Click to expand...

I would guess that your gun is even on the light side of things. 18" to 20" barrel if I remember correctly from the pics, most PRS guys run a 24" or 26" barrel to get those higher velocities. Those TT scopes, although not a Vortex of NF are not lightweights either - most jealous though.

To confirm, offhand stuff is tiring with a 15+ lb rig but doable.
 
22" but yeah off hand is pretty awesome, so much of the weight is right around the pistol grip area. Using the ### bags sitting no sling, making 300 yd hits on steel consistently from the very start. Tried the same with a guys 223 rifle that weighed about 11 lbs, very front heavy and extremely hard to keep balanced comparatively. The 11lb rifle felt heavier than my 15lb'r, balance is key.
 
The stock arrived today!

It's a Mcmillan A1-3 with an aftermarket installed cheekrest (KMW hardware).
The finish on the stock is a bit rough (krylon), but I'll be fixing that up with some nice gunkote work!

 
Will be mounting a sightron 6-24x50 on this fella.
Planning to shoot up to and over 1000 yards with it.....basically want to shoot as far as my abilities will let me.
Wondering what taper I should get on my scope base (20MOA, 15MOA, etc...).
Any words of wisdom?
 
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