help with ideas for building low budget target rifle

Thanks for the suggestions on what i should look into for cambering this rifle in, i do like the ring of .275 Rigby AI. also why did you suggest a shortened 7mm gibbs, why not regular length?

Ok so i made it out to Bull meadow range here in NS and watched them shoot 300m and 500m TR and F-R i believe, and am going back tomorrow to watch the 800m shoot.

iI' pretty excited to get into this this type of shooting, SND was there are so i got to meet him, he explained how it all went down and showed my his rifle, and told me about the different types of shooting, i even got to watch him shoot a few matches.


so as of now, seeing what others are shooting and how their rifles are setup, I'm off the idea of this rifle should be unique to me and built to my odd liking, and more so on the idea that the rifle should shoot well and be setup properly for this type of shooting.

I'm still not sure what receiver ill use [probably the nest good deal in the EE hunting rifle section], but i do know ill be using a match barrel blank to start with for the barrel, I'm now open to use any receiver really, and also as much as i want it to be chambered in an interesting/less common round, im thinking i probably should use a known and proven round for this type of shooting.

being new to this and not being able to shoot very well to begin with, i probably should start with a well known configuration as to not make it harder on my self while learning, then after i get good and get some experience and want to add some more challenge to it, i could try building into not so charted waters


ok so now i guess i'm wondering if you were to use a receiver/trigger assembly off a rifle that goes for <500 dollars used, what would you be looking for or even instead of the model what brand really? could someone use a Win M70 receiver for this? or is there things i should be aware of when buying a rifle to use for parts? could a savage axis receiver work?

well its now time for me to go sell some restored LE rifles and some mlm/mle repro parts to fund this project as it's now costing 10 times more then the original idea and i don't have any parts for it yet.
 
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Savage FTR in 308 (do have it properly bedded if you dont want to do it yourself)... load up some Berger 185gr Juggernauts 20 thou OFF the lands, Varget, CCI BR2 primers... work up to 2700fps.

Tune for least vertical and best accuracy at 200 to 300yds.

Bipod, bags, optics, eventually triggers... off to the range to shoot The above gets you shooting and you can be very competitive in FTR with this set up..... AND You can be at a match this season.

I bet there are a few Savage FTR's on the EE right now.

Learn the game... THEN build once you know what the heck works for you.

PM or email if you need some parts or components.

Jerry
 
Marrr...Well that is not what i wanted to hear but honestly it is the best advice.

Im one of those people who build everything i own my self.(just because you can, doesnt mean you should though, is what im learing) Its a bad habbit i have because it uses all my time and thing often get about 85-90% complete, just enough for it to work, and then i move onto another peoject that has been waiting for me.


Ok ill buy a rifle to get me shooting then while im shooting that i can start to plan a rifle build for next season.


Thanks to everyone who posted and took their time to get me to the point of 'seeing the light'

This thread has been very helpfull for me. Also when i told my wife about you guys saying to buy a rifle instead of building one just to get me shooting this year. She actually laughed out loud and said " they must know you well, maybe you should try buying something, you dont have to make everyting you own. that way it will be finished and work how it should"
 
When it comes to Savage factory rifles, we've had a few guys use the Savage FTR, it does quite alright, mostly for its price vs full custom. You can always make a better stock for it and put that barrel/action into it if you don't like it over time, its stock is not ideal for tracking in the way more shoot F-class now(belly benchrest with a flat bottom rear). You might also be able to find a slight used FTR(or savage palma, more adjustment) for a better price, their retail prices varies a lot too it seems. It can be tricky to decide what to want/need on a rifle and budget, you still need scope, ammo/reloading equipment, membership, time and $ to come to the range, etc, it all adds up. But a decent action to build all the rest around it is #1, and good reliable sight.

This past weekend we had everything from factory rifles around $1,000 to rifles around $10,000(with scope), and everyone had fun with what they were shooting.
One thing I forgot to mention, generally our local matches are $20 to enter for the day. Our 3 day APM this past weekend was $110 to shoot all of it.

All that said... you should also try TR, its hard, its sweaty, its miserable at times, and its a lot more fun and addictive than shooting with a scope. Maybe there's some way we can have you try both at a practice, its just hard to find a jacket that fits sometimes for TR.
 
I'll put this out there on how I'm going from point A too Z on this F-Class idea for me here in Western Canada.

I was going to order the Savage FTR in 308 here in Alberta,,, 2 things stopped me in my tracks,,, availability and price.

One of these shipped in would of cost me about $2300 and change. It would take ruffly 4 too 6 months too see it arive.

Option #2 was buy a new Remington Short Action with factory trigger at $625,,, I'd still have to drop another $300 ish for a Jewel trigger and fit a barrel and stock on top of that.

Here's my option #3.

I bought a new Remington 30/06 Long Range with Bell Carlson stock for $800 ish and change,,, this long action can switch over from 30/06 too 308 after I shoot the barrel off it.

Shoot, shoot, and shoot till the barrle is ready for swapping over, it will take me all year too get there.

This is stuff before the F Class thing.
I started this about 2 months ago, now I have my Sightron scope in place,,, 6x24 and my Henry Remple F Class rifle rest. Jewel trigger too.

Both of these investments will put me closer to getting into the game sooner than later.

Yes that I'm kinda going the longer road too this, but I'm keeping my costs in check one step at a time.

This is supposed to be a fun frugal sport, so I'm aproching it at my pace.

Where's my advantages going this route.
First is the initial cost of the new rifle as I'll have a quality action too work with later on.
Time practicing ranging and learning load development.
And chatting with others at the range that share in what works and does not.

All 3 ideas will get each of us too where we want to be.
The main thing shared too me by the Western Canada FTR folks is that I need too get onto paper 99.9% of the time,,, and too keep this "consistant grouping with in the rings often.

Their words not mine... It is wize too choose a rifle that shoots better then the shooter him/her self.
With out this, then one will get discouraged fast too the point it's not worth doing.
Shot, shot, shot and learn,,, practic, practic and practic as we keep learning the whole time.

I have along road ahead, it's up too me too push my limits while keeping funds in the balance at the same time.

Western Canada Don
 
Pretty sure I recently heard of some savage FTR's in stock somewhere in the $1300 range. They probably show up on EE here sometimes used, I don't check that section much.
Although the FTR wouldn't be a good buy if someone planned to rip it all apart and just use the action, you can get a custom action for not much more. People who buy the Savage usually do so as a beginner rifle that is affordable and later get something custom built by someone else when they're finally ready to put $5-7k on it(and don't have the tools to make their own).

As to bipods, the Duplin is quite popular and likely one of the best options, looks solid while still fairly light, lots of matches being won with it. That said, I made my own bipod and it works good, Evan can do the same and it only takes a few hours.

Regarding barrels, a few of us have "old" match barrels that still have plenty of life left in them and will still beat anything on a consumer grade factory rifle. Just a matter of cutting about an inch off it and re-thread and chamber.


For me building my rifles and accessories and experimenting with stuff has been as much fun as the times I get to shoot.
 
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Back in the late nineties, when I decided to build a rifle for long range shooting, I found a push-feed Model 70 for 180 bucks. I was able to pick up a McMillan Marksman stock for 350, and had a 6.5 barrel under the bench. With these parts I was able to put together a rifle (in 6.5x55) which was competitive enough that I was able to win reasonably frequently with it. I still have that rifle different barrel, mind you) and it still shoots well. I scoped it with a 6-24 variable which worked fine but required a base which was adjustable for elevation. Today, it wears a fixed 20x which works well. I've been shooting all silhouette this year and have not made a serious effort at "F" class for some time but I feel there is still room for rifles built on a budget since so much depends upon the shooter's ability to judge the effects of the wind.
 
well the last few posts say a lot so ill address them one at a time

SND- I've been looking closely at savage rifles, and where i never paid attention to anything but mill surplus i have no idea what the difference in the models are, I'm starting to piece that together, the FTR looks good, I've been thinking on about that but more on rifle selection at the bottom of this post.

and yeah those extra costs are a lot easier to buy one at a time and arn't near as much as the rifle. I'm not worried about range costs, reloading dies, time and money to travel and also enter comps, i can make that all happen, i just need a rifle first so i have a reason to make all that happen, also with the rifle i do buy i can shoot pretty often at the local 100m range to get comfortable with the rifle, also i can make a mold at work and shoot hundreds of cast lead every time i go.

i have no idea where ill get a scope from or where i will find the money, but for now with a nice rifle i could put a 4-9x40 to shoot 100 m and try and tighten up my groups. i think if i leave the scope to last ill be able to figure something out.

i wouldn't mind trying TR but i will need to get new glasses before that, mine are about 12 years old and im sure my eyes have changed, i would love to try both types of shooting honestly, that would be very cool


Don_Parsons- thanks for the post and yeah seems pretty much like me, have many options and all have there good and bad points.
i may also just buy a nice used rifle and shoot the crap out of it for a while and then by next season change the barrel to a match barrel and go from there.

and i noticed you say "keep all the shots on the paper" id be worried for myself being so new that i may only score in the 20's id still have fun and learn but i would hope it would not makes others feel like I'm wasting their time.

SND- ive seen a few FTR's on EE i have also noticed they are model 12's and they go for cheaper so if i was making my own stock id probably skip the FTR model. and for making a bipod, id be all for it but i would like to have one in hand to see 'how others do it' so i know what I'm working with. i was thinking of buying a clone bipod and then making a new improved version as i find problems with it

yeah i was thinking about that as an option for a barrel, if i end up buying a receiver or a rifle in the wrong caliber, or if there was a used barrel in better shape then what i was shooting

for everything i do, 50% of the fun is making the parts/ project, 30% is testing and experimenting and then the last 20% is putting a finished project away 100% complete...... i always have WAY more fun designing/building/making then actually using/doing.

designing and raw material selection is my favorite part of most of my projects.

Leeper-- Basically that is exactly the type of build i wanted to do when i started this thread, and i may still go near that route but with a barrel blank i turn myself and a stock i made myself.
 
ok also i have sold off two Lee Enfield rifles and now have about 1000$ on hand to buy something, i may wait to the end of the week so see how much more i can stack up,

but i thinking of basically three different ideas, and i really dont know where to go with it or what rifles may actually work for this

ill list all three ideas and i hope some of you may be able to shed some light on this for me. it more then opinion i need experance in this part of the build. they are listed in the order i think i want to do them in


idea 1-- buy a nice rifle [800-1200$ used] chambered in a 6-7mm round or 308--- im thinking a bolt action from Tikka, Sako, weatherby, Ruger, savage
leave the barrel on it for now and shoot it as much as i can before winter, then over the winter machine my own stock and machine a barrel blank for it, and either do work on the trigger or buy an aftermarket one.

Idea 2--- buy a barreled action with a match barrel on it, so trigger assembly, bolt, receiver and barrel, there are a few barreled actions on the EE now for around 600-1200$, most i believe are rem700 receivers but that is now fine with me and then all i have to do is machine a stock and i can start shooting it

idea 3-- is to buy a complete receiver[with trigger assembly], then buy a barrel blank put them together and machine a stock. there are a few nice receivers around for about 500$, brand new commerical mauser at tradex and also a bnib rem700 mag receiver on EE for 425$ then i can find a blank for around 500$ so about the same amount of money but i get everything brand new.


so I'm thinking all three ideas will be about 800-1200$ and "idea 1" gets me shooting right away but the other ideas do just need a machined stock to start shooting.
 
Option 1... factory barrels are a crap shoot.. some shot, many don't. Very few will maintain a consistent POI when they get real hot. In F class, your barrels will get hot. The few factory rifles that seem to do a decent job are the Savage based single shot target actions. They are pretty much all the same except for action bolt spacing. Lots of different names/numbers, very few actual different parts.

Gets you on the range now

Option 2 - if you can confirm the state and condition of stuff, could be a really good way of getting some of the match stuff at a reduced price. Problem is again, you will not know until you shoot it for yourself. It would be a big bummer to inherit someone elses problem.

Option 3 - start with a donor and add quality NEW parts. Absolutely the best way to go except you now need to get all the appropriate tools AND learn how to do the proper work. Can you self teach... absolutely. This will be the slowest approach BUT you could have a great assembly right out of the gate. If you go this route, invest in a proper match barrel of the right spec so again, you are working with current tech for best success.

If you want to make it simple and less money, an older Savage or Stevens action makes a wonderful donor for little money. If you want to start with the prefit, again, less money once you get the barrel. If you want to add a barrel yourself, these are the least expensive way to get a great receiver without alot of fuss. If you prefer Rems, go for it..... can be more parts to tweak but if you can do all the work yourself, fly at it.

If you need parts and optics, I can certainly help with it all. Shooting season is 1/2 way done.. decide if shooting this year is important or not.

Jerry
 
I wouldn't rush it either, look at it as a winter project, our season here is pretty much over now, only 2 small local matches left and 1 or 2 practice, all the fun stuff is in other provinces the rest of this year. Come a couple times to try the range with a rifle you already have.
For scopes 10x is minimum, 20-40x is a good range for f-class.
I wouldn't mess with stuff like mauser actions personally.
 
Im glad I could share in a idea that works for me Evan as you will find your own path at your choosing.

I'm new too this F Class stuff and really like the idea of going this route too start as it "might" allow me a chance to try the TR thing later on,,, sounds like we are both finding our niche at this.

I'll pm you as well so the both of us can expand on our venture too this stuff.

I can send you pictures of my rest since you have the access to machines too make your own,,,

It is 2 legs that go up & down with adjustments of 5 1/2" too 10". Ruffly 18" wide.
The foot plate the rifle rests on has a right to left tipp-age thing so a person can level the rifle,,, my scope has a leveling bubble so the whole show remains consistently strait up and down.

The Sinclair F Class rest looks really easy to build.

Your lucky as you have the machine skills and tools, supplies too make alot of your own stuff,,, this will save you lots of funds.

We will chatt more I'm sure.

I think your getting lots of good ideas form the others on what actions that might work best for a build if you go this route.

My option was buy a Remmy short action at X amount of funds, or spend $2 too $300 more above just the action alone,,, too end up with the whole complete rifle ready too shoot out of the box seemed like a better plan.
My new friend Robert is one of Team Canada's National F Class shooters a few years back, so his wealth of info is threw the roof on this stuff,,, he too is a machinist and gun Smith too the core.

Heres a list todate so far for my route.
Remington Long Range $835
Henry Remple bypod rest. $398
Harrison bypod BR rest as secondary option $120
Sightron 6-24x50 $1320.
My back-up scope is a Leopold 6.5-20x50 $650 as new in the box still.
Jewel target match trigger with left side safety $360 ish.
2 back up triggers both from Remington. One is the 4 lb too 4Oz adjustment,,, the other is standard... The 4 Oz 1 is on stand by in another rifle if needed.

20 MOA rail $87, Leopold rings at $87.
2 boxes of 100 Lapua brass at $119 each.

Heres the reloading thing.
Lee cheap azz every thing with full assortment of FL dies and collect dies (neck only). About $400 too $500 ish.

Case trimmer that dose out side neck only, RCBS scale and hand primer tool,,, pad, machine graphite powder,,, lots of small trinket crap at about $300 ish.

I'm a pig when it comes too powders, primers and bullets.
$2000 ish and change.

All the above costs cover me for 2500 rounds till I shoot the barrel out.

I'll get our barrel guy (Bob Jury) too make me 2 extra extra long F Class barrels,,, 34".

These heavy weigth rifles stay so planted at 18 1/2 lbs that it our task too fight the mirages and winds.

I'm on the fence of 3 F Class categories.
The Open class, the FTR class, and the stock class.

Only time will tell this winter on what class I aproch in the spring of 2018.

In the mean time, I have 2 rifles and about 5000 rounds too launch too get me dialed in.

Small town Don from Lacombe Alberta Canada,,, 200 kms too the Eastern Slopes of Albertas Rocky Mountain Range.
 
I'd post a picture of my all season winter rig as there is no end of season for me, all my reloading stuff is in field,,, and will alway be that way.

I compete against 3 people every time I go out,,, I,,, Me,,, and my self. My personal best is who I chase.

Everyone so far has said these magic words... "target shooting is suppose too be fun."

So too make it fun I will do it at my pace. If I want too shoot then I will. If it's nappy nap time then thats what happens.

No off season for me since work and play time come when it happens.
Weather has no bearing on my out-door stuff as I work around it all the time.

Make a hot box set-up and enjoy the great outdoors.
Whether it be a camper box, out fitters tent or ice fishing shack.

Those of us that choose too go at stuff all season will find a way.

The Canada I live in is on going, my mind is blue skies with the sun shining even in the worst snow storms known too humans.
This is why we have tire chains and wood burning stoves.

There is 1 season in my world,,, its called Winntummer,,, its winter and summer combined as 1.

Each person can choose too follow the norm, or choose too address our Candian weather patterns the way it is.

I'm all season at work, so I might as well be all season on my free time.

Ain't no way mother nature is going to prevent me from being out-doors,,, our live-stock puts up with it, so I'm guessing I'll have too take it on too.

I'll think out side the box since its up to us too find the best bang for our buck when it comes to living life full bore.

Don
 
Mystic Precision- thank you very much for the detailed post about my options, that was exactly what i was looking for really. there are just so many options and different routs one can go, i had to start hammering down some ideas. I'm going to go with option 3/your end idea. i bought a Stevens 200 today and it hopefully will be at my place by Friday, its chambered in 308, but the barrel will be switched out very soon as we are talking via PM's. also shooting this year isn't important to me right now, i have have never shot longer then 100m so i should probably get some practice in/ try it lol. i hope to be ready for next season.

SMD- i don't feel that I'm rushing it though, i looked at that no4 receiver for months huming and hawing over building a Precision rifle with it, then after a while i figured i should start the build and then made this thread, so i have been kicking the idea around since the snow was still down. and yeah i don't think ill even be able to hit a target at 800m yet, I'm sure it will take some practice to be able to even enter a match without wasting others time. also yeah I'm not going to go the Mauser route, I'm going the Stevens 200 route

and yeah i was hoping to be able to try the range out a few times, I'm not sure if I'm going to be come a member now or wait until the year starts over for you guys on Oct31, and thanks for the info about the scope, i think I'm going to look for something in the 6-24x50 size, ill admit i have put much research into it but i was thinking something like a vortex crossfire II 6-24x50mm to start with.

Don, thanks for the posts, ill put the response when i reply to your PM soon
 
For optics, Sightron is the best entry point for price vs performance. The SIII8-32X56 is popular and gives you the features to do well in F Class. I use the SIII and SV 10-50 because somedays, mirage is low and the extra mag comes in handy.

I would not want a 6-24 by choice if I had to buy new.... and something with good glass and reliable tracking. There really isn't many options without spending a large chunk of coin.

Jerry
 
The SIII 8-32x56 is likely Sighrons pick of the litter and I've owned several ( I'm now almost 100% FFP so no longer ) but another awesome option is that sometimes on the EE you will see a NF Benchrest come up now that they have been superseded by the NF Competition. If you see a NF BR jump on it - excellent scope.
 
Awesome guys, thanks for the info on scopes, over the winter ill have to keep an eye out on the EE for one of the scopes you mentioned. I havent looked to hard into scopes really. I never use them unless im shooting my single shot .22.

But i mite as well stick to what you guys are using as you have been doing it for a little while now and by the amount of work put into your rifles id assume its probably pretty good.
 
so i figured id update this thread in case of anyone following it, the term budget has been blown out the window now, who knew even just buying really good quality reloading tools and components would cost so much. oh well, i guess it goes back to the old saying 'you have to pay to play'

im happy with the build though so far, price has gone way up but the quality of the build has too. i still need to get a scope mount, rings and a scope but ill get those over the winter.


so i ended up chambering the rifle in 284Win and went with shilen SS Select match barrel, bull contour, 9 twist, 30" finished target crown, polished
i also went with the Rifle basix Savage 2 trigger aswell
Redding and Forster dies, bullet seater and type S neck bushing die
Forster case trimmer and outside neck turner
Lapua 6.5x284 brass
also 100 of each bullets to find out what works the best in my rifle- 180gr Beger VLD and Hybrid also 183gr Sierra HPBT

these parts are all going on a Stevens 200 receiver

now to wait 3-4 months for my barrel to show up, i guess ill be just shooting the rifle as is at 100m with surplus 7.62 for a while.



to think this thread was started about using a free NO4 receiver and a 200 dollar barrel from tradex, and me making a new sear and trigger lever, scope mount and stock and then buying rings and a scope to spending 2500 dollars on the rifle and having no mount, rings or scope, is pretty crazy to me,

its safe to say "Well That Escalated Quickly"

.
 
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