Gunsmithing Budget Rifle Build

[168BTHPM]

I tried to go cheap everywhere I could and wasn't in a hurry to get it done so I could shop around a wait for the good buys.

Remington 700 ADL .243 at a pawn shop $275, I sold the original barrel, stock and trigger for $85 so only $190 in the action.

Factory .308 heavy barrel with green parkerized finish, $40 delivered on Gun Broker, .07 long on headspace when I put it on, had to give a buddy a 6-pack to set the shoulder back. I have used a couple of these barrels before and they were all .05 to .07 long on headspace.

McMillan 40-XC Modified stock complete with hardware, $200 delivered on Gun Broker, had to strip off about 6 coats of paint, then $5 to Jeep City for a can of green paint. Had to buy a set of takedown screws from Gun Parts, $17 delivered.

Mo Defina scope mount, $25 on ebay.

Leupold Vari-X III MK4 3.5-10 with Leupold QD rings and caps, $365 delivered on Gun Broker.

40-XB trigger, taken off of one of my CMP rifles when a Canjar was installed.

About $2 worth of Acraglas.

Total cash out of pocket $844 and about 3 hours of time. I guess next will be a bolt handle, I better start looking for one.

 

[nashlaw]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

Good work!

You stole the base rifle. I have bought a couple of really nice McMillan stocks of the web. One was a Winchester Marksman that was for a BDL, but had been filled in with accraglas to make it a single shot. I dug out the bedding compound, stripped the old Krylon off and hit it with some Krylon of my own.

It is now my fav(well, almost) rifle.

 

[dperry19]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

Let us know how she handles. Taken it to the range yet?

 

[168BTHPM]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: plinkin' duck</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Let us know how she handles. Taken it to the range yet? </div></div>

I just got the scope and rings in the mail today. I hope to shoot it this weekend if weather permits. Once I get it to the range I will post results.

 

[168BTHPM]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nashlaw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Good work!

You stole the base rifle. I have bought a couple of really nice McMillan stocks of the web. One was a Winchester Marksman that was for a BDL, but had been filled in with accraglas to make it a single shot. I dug out the bedding compound, stripped the old Krylon off and hit it with some Krylon of my own.

It is now my fav(well, almost) rifle. </div></div>

Thank you.

I did get a good deal on the donor rifle, one of the local pawn shops knew I was in the market for a 700 short action and called me when this one came out of pawn. I fix guns for them and don't take money I usually take movies or video games for my kids in trade so they did a favor for me.

 

[M855]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

Good looking stick for a on the cheap build

 

[Clark]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

Similar project:
$180 Rem700BDL 22-250 with shot out throat at gun show
$40 Choate Ultimate Sniper stock with Lead filled grip at gun show
$100 Krieger 6mmBRX 8" twist barrel with shot out throat with Harrel brake off 6mmBR website
$15 B-Square bubble level new from SWFA
$40 EGW one piece mount new from SWFA
$700 IOR 2.5x10x42 scope with steel tactical rings from Kombar here on SnipersHide website
----------------
$1075

I cut some off the barrel breech, recut threads, cut a 6mmBR chamber.
I took it to the range once, shot it off the varmint bags, shot 5 groups, the best was 0.55" 5 shots at 100 yards.

 

[168BTHPM]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

Got to shoot it today, not too bad for the first time to the range and shooting factory Federal GMM. I think once I have time to do some load developement it should be a tack driver.

This is a 5 shot group at 100 yards, I was shooting off of a bag with no rear rest. The last shot is the one that went low left, it was one of those shots that as soon as the trigger broke I thought "oh $#!T". With the bad shot it's still only 1.25". The target is an SR-21, 300 yard reduced to 100 for highpower matches.

 

[CenCalSplicer]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

Wow, great performance and the fact that you saved at every corner is testament that you don't need to spend thousands to build a great rifle. Congrats!!

 

[168BTHPM]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CenCal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow, great performance and the fact that you saved at every corner is testament that you don't need to spend thousands to build a great rifle. Congrats!! </div></div>

Thank you!

I try to be patient when I am putting something together, if you take your time you will eventually find most everything at a good price. This process also unfortunately leads to having numerous projects in the works at any one time.

 

[CenCalSplicer]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 168BTHPM</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CenCal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow, great performance and the fact that you saved at every corner is testament that you don't need to spend thousands to build a great rifle. Congrats!! </div></div>

This process also unfortunately leads to having numerous projects in the works at any one time.
</div></div>

That is what I am afraid will happen to me, so when I decide what I want to build I am going to take it one step at a time. Too many projects at once and the woman will kill me.

 

[monteboy84]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

Nicely done!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 168BTHPM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I guess next will be a bolt handle, I better start looking for one.
</div></div>

Yep, you had better. Though, in fitting with the build, it should be cheap, or even free. I happen to know a guy who installs them...

Send me your bolt and I'll slap a TacOps knob on it free of charge

Shoot me a PM when you read this and we'll work out the details.

-matt

 

[168BTHPM]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: monteboy84</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nicely done!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 168BTHPM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I guess next will be a bolt handle, I better start looking for one.
</div></div>

Yep, you had better. Though, in fitting with the build, it should be cheap, or even free. I happen to know a guy who installs them...

Send me your bolt and I'll slap a TacOps knob on it free of charge

Shoot me a PM when you read this and we'll work out the details.

-matt </div></div>

Cool, PM sent. Thanks a bunch!!

 

[168BTHPM]

Re: Budget Rifle Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CenCal</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 168BTHPM</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CenCal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow, great performance and the fact that you saved at every corner is testament that you don't need to spend thousands to build a great rifle. Congrats!! </div></div>

This process also unfortunately leads to having numerous projects in the works at any one time.
</div></div>

That is what I am afraid will happen to me, so when I decide what I want to build I am going to take it one step at a time. Too many projects at once and the woman will kill me. </div></div>

I agree, I do have too many irons in the fire (pun intended) so I am going to start finishing some of them up. Right now I have a lot of parts that need to be assembled into a few guns.