Having a custom rifle built

I

ILoveBigRacks

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Okay, this has been threaded and re-threaded so many times i can't count but each instance is unique so I'll start my own here.:D


Am looking at having a custom lightweight hunting rig built. I usually try and do my own shopping so for now consider most major components will be supplied by myself, with prior consultation with my chosen smith. Prior consultation is the key here as i really have no idea what the hell i'm doing.

Here's what I DO know:

- Bolt action

- .270 Wby Mag

- Lightweight & handy (I'm talking 6lbs, 6.5 lbs at the most hopefully - not even sure if this is feasible without sacrificing integrity based on some of the options I want ie: magnum chambering, no hidden mag (prefer detachable, but floorplate at the very least), 24" bbl. + kdf, vais or some other kind of contoured profile brake.

- Stainless (at least the barrel) and teflon, powdercoat, or other protective coating. Fluted barrel - Lilja, Shilen or other somewhat high-end bbl.

- Higher end lightweight synthetic hunting stock (HS Precision, MacMillan, Brown Precision, etc...)

- Very good adjustable trigger.



Locality of the smith isn't too important as shipping costs would be negligible based on the overall cost of putting the rifle together. Timeline isn't too critical as after deciding on components i would take my time in locating them personally, unless the smith happened to have some of them available at really good prices.


So, what am i looking at ballpark for the smith work? This is considering the action will most likely have to be rechambered (don't see alot of actions in 270 Wby available out there unfortunately), bbl might be a brand new and need all the required work, etc...

I realize i'm probably missing alot of the variables required for an accurate estimate but maybe someone can at the very least let me know what they have for a custom gun (that they themselves had built) and what it cost for them based on their own set of variables. Who did the work? Are you happy with it overall and worth the investment? You supplied components or smith supplied?

For you smiths, what recommendations do you have? For a lightweight action do you suggest a Rem 700 LA, a Win70 (crf?), a Mauser of some sort? What should I be looking for? Does current chambering matter much?

I do have a budget but this will vary as I decide what sorts of components I'll be buying. If I decide i need to spend more bucks, I'll sell a few other toys as the need arises.


What am I missing as far as details i may have missed? I'm a complete newbie to anything other than factory rifles so I'm positive I've overlooked some very important info, I just need to be told what it is :redface: .

Feel free to reply here and/or send me a pm with your ideas.

Thanks,
ILBR:)
 
I think you are aiming a bit low for weight for the cartridge you want. It will buck quite a bit at your prposed weight. You are also going to be committed to a long action and the extra weight it comes with.

You might want to think about the 284 Win as being an easier way to get good performance with light weight. You might also consider dropping 2 " off your barrel length.

Barrel contour, length and stock weight are going to be key to getting it that light. The Brown Precison "Pounder" stock is one way to get a light one. I think there may be others that are similar.

Have a talk with Mitch Kendall in Kamloops as he has built some very nice light rifles and can give you more specifics than I can.
 
ILoveBigRacks said:
Okay, this has been threaded and re-threaded so many times i can't count but each instance is unique so I'll start my own here.:D


Am looking at having a custom lightweight hunting rig built. I usually try and do my own shopping so for now consider most major components will be supplied by myself, with prior consultation with my chosen smith. Prior consultation is the key here as i really have no idea what the hell i'm doing.

Here's what I DO know:

- Bolt action

- .270 Wby Mag

- Lightweight & handy (I'm talking 6lbs, 6.5 lbs at the most hopefully - not even sure if this is feasible without sacrificing integrity based on some of the options I want ie: magnum chambering, no hidden mag (prefer detachable, but floorplate at the very least), 24" bbl. + kdf, vais or some other kind of contoured profile brake.

- Stainless (at least the barrel) and teflon, powdercoat, or other protective coating. Fluted barrel - Lilja, Shilen or other somewhat high-end bbl.

- Higher end lightweight synthetic hunting stock (HS Precision, MacMillan, Brown Precision, etc...)

- Very good adjustable trigger.



Locality of the smith isn't too important as shipping costs would be negligible based on the overall cost of putting the rifle together. Timeline isn't too critical as after deciding on components i would take my time in locating them personally, unless the smith happened to have some of them available at really good prices.


So, what am i looking at ballpark for the smith work? This is considering the action will most likely have to be rechambered (don't see alot of actions in 270 Wby available out there unfortunately), bbl might be a brand new and need all the required work, etc...

I realize i'm probably missing alot of the variables required for an accurate estimate but maybe someone can at the very least let me know what they have for a custom gun (that they themselves had built) and what it cost for them based on their own set of variables. Who did the work? Are you happy with it overall and worth the investment? You supplied components or smith supplied?

For you smiths, what recommendations do you have? For a lightweight action do you suggest a Rem 700 LA, a Win70 (crf?), a Mauser of some sort? What should I be looking for? Does current chambering matter much?

I do have a budget but this will vary as I decide what sorts of components I'll be buying. If I decide i need to spend more bucks, I'll sell a few other toys as the need arises.


What am I missing as far as details i may have missed? I'm a complete newbie to anything other than factory rifles so I'm positive I've overlooked some very important info, I just need to be told what it is :redface: .

Feel free to reply here and/or send me a pm with your ideas.

Thanks,
ILBR:)
Click to expand...



- Bolt action MAKE IT A REMINGTON 700 AND YOU CAN ADD A KWIK-KLIP VERY EASILY. I HAVE A KWIL-KLIP IN STOCK.

- .270 Wby Mag I HAVE AN EXCELLENT REAMER FOR THAT.

- Lightweight & handy (I'm talking 6lbs, 6.5 lbs at the most hopefully - not even sure if this is feasible without sacrificing integrity based on some of the options I want ie: magnum chambering, no hidden mag (prefer detachable, but floorplate at the very least), 24" bbl. + kdf, vais or some other kind of contoured profile brake.

I AM THE VAIS DISTRIBUTOR FOR CANADA AND I ALSO OFFER A CUSTOM BRAKE OF MY OWN DESIGN.

- Stainless (at least the barrel) and teflon, powdercoat, or other protective coating. Fluted barrel - Lilja, Shilen or other somewhat high-end bbl. GAILLARD MADE HERE IN CANADA IS EVERY BIT AS GOOD.

- Higher end lightweight synthetic hunting stock (HS Precision, MacMillan, Brown Precision, etc...) BROWN PRECISION IS LIGHTER THAN MCMILLAN – BOTH ARE EXCELLENT.

- Very good adjustable trigger. THE 700 TRIGGER CAN BE RELIABLY ADJUSTED TO A SAFE CRISP 2.5 POUNDS.

I HAVE BUILT 7.5 POUND RIFLES (INCLUDING SCOPE AND MOUNTS, IN 7MM REMINGTON MAGNUM VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WANT. I SUGGEST NO LIGHTER BUT THAT IS YOUR CHOICE.

SEND ME AN EMAIL IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.

DENNIS
 
I have a 7 pound remington 700 in .270 WBY done by RMR in Dawson Creek and it shoots like a house on fire. Mine has a 26" pipe and no brake and with the Mcmillan stock, it kicks like a .270 win at the most. So far there are two Whitetails, one mule, and one very dead Antelope that really did not like this gun.:D
 
Ian Robertson said:
Why not get the best stock, made it Canada?
Click to expand...




Ian, I think you missed he is looking for a lite weight stock....:D .......but then maybe there is more coming in a later post...:)

On a serious note , Brown precision, McMillan edge (pricey) or High Tech Specialties (for Rem actions) are some of the lightest stocks. Jim Borden is making some light weight rifles on his stocks. I have heard good things about this stocks as well. Of course a std. Remington action in ADL format with GreTan firing pin assembly, sheet metal/al. follower saves some weight. Going to a short action format would also be recommended

There are talented people on this board who could build the rifle very easily.

Barrels, well many good ones out there and likely all of them have had problems at one time or another. Look for excellent customer service in the event of a problem.

You might want to consider going to a chrome moly barrel if you are going pencil thin. 416R stainless apparently does not have excellent low temperature properties...and you may run into problems. At one time I did some basic searching on low temp charpy impact tests for 416R but I couldn't find much and I gave up. I didn't look too hard perhaps I'll do some more digging. It probably won't be a huge issue above -20C but when you start getting colder... not too much shooting going on at -30/40C and in most cases the powder is as cold so I don't think the same magnitude of pressure spike is obtained. I really wish I had some factual information to post instead of a substanceless interjection but given this is a light weight rifle (ultra thin or heavily fluted (which scares me more)).
 
Why Not Robertson Composites?

Ian is right gents. Ian Robertson makes some of the lightest stocks available. He is a GOD among the silhouette crowds as his stocks, mainly the Nesika Hunter and Mark Pharr's hunter designs reign supreme. These stocks come in at around 21-22 ounces and would be an excellent platform for a ligtweight hunter. He is also a Canadian manufacturer. I would certainly give Ian a call.
 
I think the High Tech Specialty stocks are 20-21oz. Nicely finished and at $265ish cdn, pretty hard to pass up on but time will tell how much of a bargin they are.
 
Yes we do. That was 2005 pricing. Not too sure what 2006 pricing is just yet. These stocks are available for Winchester, Remington, Ruger and Weatherby..to name a few.
 
http://www.robertsoncomposites.com/htmlfiles1024/RobertsonComposites1024.html

Robertson Composites Inc.
149 Bentley Ave. Unit 7A
Nepean, Ontario, Canada
K2E 6T7

I was not aware of this site or these stocks. Last year I built a .260 for a fellow, trued the action and all and installed it on a fiberglass stock he provided. It was a beautifully made stock, excellent quality in a bright blue colour. I now recognize it was probably one of these.

I also see a considerably number of the stocks they offer are made in the U.S. as well.....
 
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What I can see of their stuff looks very interesting, but the web site seems pretty badly "gimped" - the Home page won't open for me, and the 'Contact us' page comes up blank.

Where are these folks based? I'd sure like to see some drop/cast off/comb/LOP measurements on their 'General Purpose Hunting' stock.
 
Something wrong with your computer then because it works fine on my computer and all the info is listed there. The general purpose stock is heavy at 3 pounds 2 ounces they make a stock that has a huge cheek piece and looks like a weatherby stock that is 22 ounces but IMO its ugly
 
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