Summer Rifle Project

M

MackDaddy

Guest
Summer has been here for almost a month now and I'm just getting started on my summer rifle project now.

I've decided to build a cheap, $1000 or less, sniper rifle with a short range, anything under 600 yards.

The caliber I've decided to go with is Remington .223, also known to NATO as the 5.56

The platform used is an out of the box Remington 700 SPS "Special Purpose Synthetic". I've mounted a Harris 1A2BR Rifle Bench Rest Bipod 6"-9" as well. The scope is a Bushnell Banner 4~12 x 40mm with Redfield mounts and rings and Butler Creek flip-up lens covers.

Here are some pics, range report to come soon. This is my first project weapon so feel free to comment with any advice or criticism.

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This is my first build so feel free to comment with any advice or criticism.
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Nice rifle but what exactly did you build? It's a factory rifle with a scope and a bipod. Not exactly a custom "built" stick.
 
2bad4u2 said:
Nice rifle but what exactly did you build? It's a factory rifle with a scope and a bipod. Not exactly a custom "built" stick.
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I stand corrected, more of a project then a build...
 
Just a few comments

MackDaddy said:
I've decided to build a cheap, $1000 or less, sniper rifle with a short range, anything under 600 yards.
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That is fine. If it is your first rifle good platform to start with. Many would find you have been better off with a Savage/Stevens which appear to be better out of the box these days. Those are those people. .223 is a good choice as is cheap to shoot whether you load or buy. I would not say good to 600 but non the less fun to shoot. You are limited by the twist of the barrel as to how heavy a bullet you can shoot thus limiting your effective range. That can be changed if you decide to screw a new barrel on.

The scope is a Bushnell Banner 4~12X 40MM.
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Yes you want to stay under 1g note but WHY WHY WHY the Banner? I personally feel those should only be mounted on Rimfire rifles. The min you should have looked at for in quality is the 3200. Yes it is more but in the long run it will be worth the extra money. I have been down that path as many other people have and plan to never do it again. My 3 main centerfire rifles sport a VariX III 3.5-10 40mm, VX III 8.5-25 50mm, and a VXII 3-9 40mm which is on my Rem 700 smoke pole. I will never look back. All I can say is good luck on the Banner. I had one on my Muzzleloader and it died after 2 years. It could not stand the recoil from it.

Good luck and enjoy,
Calvin

Here are some pics, range report to come soon. This is my first project weapon so feel free to comment with any advice or criticism.
 
I would of went with (gag) a Savage heavy barrel, and mount an Elite 3200 10x40 mildot.

how's the SPS shoot?
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Bartell, are you sick or something?? Suggesting a fugly savage!! :D


I agree with you though for the choice, price would have been pretty much the same. Better pipe IMHO... but then my rem700 243 would prove me wrong :rolleyes:


Nice Rig mackdaddy, let us know what it can do!!
 
You can always change the scope later and the remington action would be a good candidate for building a custom later. In the mean time, have fun and shoot lots! That's what counts.

My first car wasn't a ferarri and my first gun wasn't a Barret 50. I have a plain old SPS in 204 ruger and it is a tack driver. It shoots so well that I decided to wait until I wear out the factory barrel before I spent money on customizing it.
 
I think you did very well purchasing an entry level rifle. I would pick Remington over Savage because I do not like the look of the barrel nut on the Savage. My hope for you is this. I hope the rifle shoots well enough to tease you but not well enough to really excite you. Then like many of us you can fall into the bottomless pit of custom built rifles.

It starts simply enough - you say - "it could group better if I got it bedded", then you say - "heavier bullets would give me more range, so I'll just get a barrel with a faster twist", followed by - "if I could just see the target better - maybe a scope from US Optics would help", but then - "oh I need an adjustable stock so I can see through the new scope. . . McMillan's nice", and finally you exclaim to the world - "Look at me - I'm just like the government - I've got a $8000.00 sniper rifle!"

Then you say - "I need an entry level hunting rifle!" It should tease you but not really excite you. . .
 
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