Customizing a hunting rifle.

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tdlockha

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I am looking for my next gun and my first project. I am looking for a gun to buy that I can use out of the box and then customize as I have the funds/desire. I am not looking for a show piece so I will be going with stainless and a synthetic stock. I am considering a .308, 30-06 or 7 mm rm. The gun is to be used to put on the quad, throw in the truck and generally abuse. It will be used on everything from deer to bears to moose. Bears will mostly be the ones that show up in the horse pasture when they are not welcome.

For this gun wood and blued metal are not an option. I have other guns in 300 wm, .308, 35 rem, 30-30, 30-06 and they all serve a purpose.

Modifications i plan on doing to get the gun I want will be fluting the barrel, if the base gun is over 22 inches I will be cutting the barrel down, replacing the trigger, coating the metal, bedding the action/free floating the barrel. My end goal is a nice accurate truck gun that is 7.5-8 lbs scoped and easy to handle.

I may eventually replace the stock and thread the barrel but I am not a fan of brakes.

What guns have people used as a base to start a project?
 
Remington model seven stainless 308. Buy it. Throw it on the quad or truck . Done. Most shoot right out the box . You don't really need a custom gun to do what you're describing. Imo
 
With your weight specs I would try a Tikka superlight stainless or Veil light. Already fluted barrels, the Veil action and barrel are coated with Camo stock. For pure reliable function when required a controlled feed action and no mag to lose a Winchester featherweight would be a good start as well.
 
Personal opinion customizing rifles is dumb, you never get out what you put in and all you are doing is putting another tomato can muffler on a camry

Just buy the rifle you want or a close proximity
 
OP ..... A M700 is about the best place to start. They are good out of the box and the list of aftermarket attachment thingies are endless. Shoot it as is for a couple yrs and think about it. I call mine the 700 Lego Guns.
 
If you want a detachable mag. T3, if your ok with a box mag or hinged floor plate Rem 700.

Both shoot well out of the box, triggers can be turned and lots of options for stocks.

I just built a 700 for the same purpose, wildcat stock, tuned walker trigger, McLennan barrel, powder coated the metal black. Talley lightweights and a leupold fixed 6 power riding on top. It’s became a favorite very quickly, makes a lot of things redundant.
 
Thanks for the suggestions and opinions. I know I will end up spending more but it is more about the process. I had forgot about the mag options. I prefer mags and could also be a possible mod depending on the donor gun. I was looking last nigh and found a 700 5r milspec on sale. That leaves me lots of barrel to play with. I love my heavy barrel tikka but I want a light gun for grabbing to deal with intruders (bears and coyotes and wolves). My heavy barrel (varmint) tikka is great off the deck with the bipod. As for scopes i will probably go with a plain 2-7 or 3-9 scope I have even been look at the scout style 1-8 power.

I am wanting a lighter quick handling gun where I get to try different things and take some pride in that it is my gun and not an out of the box gun.
 
Tikka super lite, the cerakoted model, if your used to the slick tikka action, and quick cycling, others may leave you disappointed, I do own a couple savage lightweight hunters, and for the price used there hard to beat.
 
Ruger Scout. Slap a Macmillan stock on it, maybe an XS rail. Cerakote it if you want. Done.

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Perhaps I'm missing something, but why are you doing all this work for a hunting rifle. If its going to be a project gun, go that route and there are many options. If you want a reliable hunting rifle, the Tikka T3's out of the box are everything you'll need.

*Edit*
I read further down the post; honestly my plan for my project gun and keep it light is as follows: Rem700, Oryx Chassis, Viper HSLR. The oryx chassis is a side project of MDT so the quality is there, it also allows you to use very available AICS pattern magazines. .308 or 6.5 are your friend in ammo choices and will easily take down pretty much take down anything here in Ontario at least. If you're on a budget, the Diamondback Tactical FFP is a budget version of the Viper HSLR; only real difference being glass quality.
 
What I fail to understand is why you would want to do all of this unless you can do the work yourself. If you send the same rifle out multiple times to multiple shops it will cost far in excess of a semi-custom build. If you want to play dress up, buy a 10/22. Buy a rifle that fits your needs now and into the future, if necessary, have a gunsmith build you one.
 
Wow, I've never seen more people try and dissuade someone from customizing a gun. Chopping or threading a barrel or changing a stock hardly approaches semi or full custom prices. Literally thousands of guys have done what he is looking to do here.

Imagine this with lighter barrel profile:

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2043982-Here-Piggy-Piggy-Piggy?highlight=pork+sword

Cost may be a factor, but except for detachable mag Kimber adirondak or mountain ascent would be pretty close for the calibers you are looking at.
 
DMS1 said:
Wow, I've never seen more people try and dissuade someone from customizing a gun. Chopping or threading a barrel or changing a stock hardly approaches semi or full custom prices. Literally thousands of guys have done what he is looking to do here.
Click to expand...

The difference is he is wanting to buy a factory rifle and then modify it. That does approach semi-custom prices, and judging by the original post will exceed it. If he wants to modify something in his safe already, great. But spending money on a new rifle that doesn't meet your requirements just so you can change it is silly when you can buy a factory or semicustom rifle that already fits the bill.
 
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