Help Me Design A Custom Deer Rifle

C Broad Arrow

C Broad Arrow

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After 30 years of chasing whitetails I have decided to build a custom rifle for hunting in the Ontario bush. Having been a member here almost since the begining, I have grown to respect the various learned opinions on rifles in this forum.

So I am soliciting input before I embark on this custom rifle project.

I have a number of parameters that need to be considered.

One of the reasons I am building a custom rifle is that I am left-handed. I have a 7mm Rem Mag, a 270, a 338WM and a 375H&H and am looking for a light, easy to carry, quick to point rifle specifcally for whitetail.

I currently hunt with a Remington Model 7 in 308, but it is in right hand.

If this rifle was available as a left-handed offering, I would not be posting this request. I can carry it all day and it is powerful enough to knock down the whitetails that I chase. But unfortuneatly Remigton does not make this rifle in left hand.

So what I am looking for is input on:

*the action and make
*the calber
*accuracy
*the stock
*the optics

Feel free to comment on any other aspects of this project you feel might be helpful.

I have not set a budget for this project, but somewhere around $4-$5k will be the limit.

Your collective wisdom will be greatly appreciated.
 
*IF* you hunt the same ON bush I do, I would say:

Ruger 77 Action (CRF, true short action, best scope mounts around)
McLennan Barrel in 18.5", med contour, Fluted (Rob is a local boy as well) Anything else is too long in the Boreal
Cartridge: .338 Fed (Nothing not to like about this round, especially in ON bush.
Stock: TOTALLY depends on your tastes....banser is a nice light composite, I prefer laminates, or talk to bullseye about his walnut guy if you want to go that way
Rings: Factory rugers, lapped and trued
Optics: Leupold VX3, 2.5-8X36,duplex or heavy duplex, BEST "all around scope" I have ever used, light, compact, looks great on a smaller rifle.

My .02
 
I believe Savage make a left handed action. There are a ton of accessory stocks available to fit the right handed action, so I assume the leftys are not out in the wilderness.

Not a hunter myself, but this part of Ontario seems to be 75-200 yard country, so a short action ought to do.
 
Remington 700 Action. Lefty of course. Easy to tune and get parts for, many smiths can true these in their sleep.

Krieger Barrel in .260 , 7-08, .308. Light weight contours available.Whatever length you choose when it's off to the machinist.

Pick the stock that fits you best, try some different ones , whatever is most comfortable , whether it be $75 or $400 , go with one that fits. The usual bedding/floating procedure.

Optics, I again have to enforce my now exclusive choice of Zeiss due to clarity and ease on the eye, 3-9 or 4.5-14 in a 50mm objective for low light hunting.

As for accuracy, you build with that stuff and re-load, the deers will be in deep trouble!!!

Oh, and you will be WAY under your budget!
 
#1..don't waste your time looking for an action, especially a lefty 700.
..just buy a new lefty SPS youth in 7mm-08 and sell the stock and barrel...some guys will pay real money for a new unfired 7mm-08 barrel even if it is a couple inches short....you might get a few bucks for the stock..or buy a lefty CDL if you want an action with a nicer finish.

#2. Call Ted Gaillard and order a 7mm 9" twist stainless blank in the Remington Mountain Rifle contour.....

#3. order a McMillan Edge stock in the Remington Montain rifle pattern with your choice of colour and LOP....

#4. send all the parts to one of the good 'smiths on this board...have him adjust the trigger while it's there....in a few months you will receive a good custom barreled, McMillan stocked lightweight 700..in 7mm-08 of course...

#5. mount a new Leupold compact 3-9X in Talley Lightweight rings......sight it in and you're done...

total weight...maybe 7lbs

total cost?..who cares, it's what you want right?..after carrying it and taking some game with it you'll forget what it cost you.

That's what I would do, but it's your party...YMMV
 
C Broad Arrow said:
After 30 years of chasing whitetails I have decided to build a custom rifle for hunting in the Ontario bush. Having been a member here almost since the begining, I have grown to respect the various learned opinions on rifles in this forum.

So I am soliciting input before I embark on this custom rifle project.

I have a number of parameters that need to be considered.

One of the reasons I am building a custom rifle is that I am left-handed. I have a 7mm Rem Mag, a 270, a 338WM and a 375H&H and am looking for a light, easy to carry, quick to point rifle specifcally for whitetail.

I currently hunt with a Remington Model 7 in 308, but it is in right hand.

If this rifle was available as a left-handed offering, I would not be posting this request. I can carry it all day and it is powerful enough to knock down the whitetails that I chase. But unfortuneatly Remigton does not make this rifle in left hand.

So what I am looking for is input on:

*the action and make
*the calber
*accuracy
*the stock
*the optics

Feel free to comment on any other aspects of this project you feel might be helpful.

I have not set a budget for this project, but somewhere around $4-$5k will be the limit.

Your collective wisdom will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Well, you could always hunt the way many Europeans have been doing for a log, long time!:)
You can get these in many different calibres, and stock dimensions can be custom ordered.

These two guns have quick detachable ( return to zero!) scope mounts, and both are accurate with irons - they also have a set of shotgun barrels as well.
You also won't get a faster two shots than an express rifle, if that is a concern
DSCF0108.jpg
!:D
DSCF0098.jpg

The top one is in 6.5X55 with an extra set of 20 gauge barrels, the bottom is in 9.3X74R with an extra set of 12 gauge barrels.
Cat
 
depends on how custom you want it to be, you can add some flames or even chrome it out. If you want to go even further you can tint your lens and put them on some low rings :p
 
The OP wasn't asking for a factory rifle, he wants to build one.

Nothing better than having something done to what YOU want, it is just a more satisfying feeling.I totally agree with the idea,I did the same thing and couldn't be happier!!

Besides, you can't take the cash with ya! ;)
 
Hunitng in the "bush" likely indicates shots no longer than 200ish yards.

If this is the case, I don't really see any need for a custom barrel unless you want one.

A left hand "youth" rifle would be an excellent choice. Then you can pimp it up with a bedded aftermarket stock and some good optics.
 
Gatehouse said:
Hunitng in the "bush" likely indicates shots no longer than 200ish yards.

If this is the case, I don't really see any need for a custom barrel unless you want one.

A left hand "youth" rifle would be an excellent choice. Then you can pimp it up with a bedded aftermarket stock and some good optics.
Click to expand...

A 200 yard shot in Ontario bush. Lol we call that a Road.
 
7mm-08 would do just fine in Ontario bush. As would the .260 or .308. I used the .260 last week and it hammered a big doe just fine.

The 7-08 LH youth rifle is a great suggestion, as it comes with a 20" barrel. All you need is a nice custom synthetic stock and you are good to go.
 
Not many choises out there for us leftys if its a custom or semi custom I would build on a Remington action and for $2500 you could have what you want or buy a 6.5x55 tika LH and put the rest into good optics great cartrige and light accurate gun just have to get over all the plastic !
 
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