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Building a long action/.30-06 on a budget, a piece at a time?

ChrisBCS

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Feb 8, 2014
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I see Brownells offers complete, NIB, Remington 700 LA actions. I was hoping to buy receiver, trigger, bolt, etc. all separately so I could go a bit at a time. Is this feasible? Is there I place I can procure a boltless and/or even trigger less quality LA receiver to slowly build a .30-06 rifle from? For example, even a used action would work, I imagine, as long as it can be trued.

The part I had planned to spend the most on was the barrel.
 
The brownells actions are the same price as a full rifle from walmart. I would rather have a gun I can shoot and then upgrade over one I have to upgrade everything before I can shoot. Even better would be to scour used rifles for the donor action. The new long range looks pretty sweet as well.
 
The brownells actions are the same price as a full rifle from walmart. I would rather have a gun I can shoot and then upgrade over one I have to upgrade everything before I can shoot. Even better would be to scour used rifles for the donor action. The new long range looks pretty sweet as well.

Good point. The local mom and pop has a used Marlin XL7 in 30-06 already. With optics. $350. I've read good things, but they have had some problems in the past with their bolt guns. And I'm not sure how upgradeable it would be.

Or I could find a Springfield 1903 action... Heheh.
 
Seriously, look at AIM surplus 1903A3 stripped recievers! Their the cheapest action you'll probably find. Mine is looking good so far, I have completed the action and now just need a stock, barrel, and sights.

I know 03A3s are not the latest and greatest, but a properly built one will still shoot great as long as the barrel is quality, like a Bartlien.

Btw, the most expensive item thus far has been a Timney Sportsman trigger for ~$60.
 
Seriously, look at AIM surplus 1903A3 stripped recievers! Their the cheapest action you'll probably find. Mine is looking good so far, I have completed the action and now just need a stock, barrel, and sights.

I know 03A3s are not the latest and greatest, but a properly built one will still shoot great as long as the barrel is quality, like a Bartlien.

Btw, the most expensive item thus far has been a Timney Sportsman trigger for ~$60.

This was actually my EXACT first instinct, it certainly doesn't seem to be something thats done much that I could find. Do you have a build thread?

What kind of stocks worK? How do you deal with the action-integral recoil lug?

I am a huge fan of the 03, action and all, and would do this in a heartbeat if I knew how feasible it was. Le Mare farm and Belleau wood have proven what even a service rifle M1903 is capable of at distance. Latest and greatest be damned, the M1903 has earned its renown.
 
Buy a complete Rem 700 in 270 for less than the stripped action then get a Criterion RemAge barrel from Northland Shooters Supply http://northlandshooterssupply.com/ then for the same money you will have an extra barrel already headspaced in another caliber. I have a collection of different caliber barrels and headspace gauges for my Savage.
 
This was actually my EXACT first instinct, it certainly doesn't seem to be something thats done much that I could find. Do you have a build thread?

What kind of stocks worK? How do you deal with the action-integral recoil lug?

I am a huge fan of the 03, action and all, and would do this in a heartbeat if I knew how feasible it was. Le Mare farm and Belleau wood have proven what even a service rifle M1903 is capable of at distance. Latest and greatest be damned, the M1903 has earned its renown.

I do not have a build thread, that will come upon completion. Thus far I have this:

Rem. 03A3 action
surplus parts from Numrich (bolt parts, bottom metal, stock screws, etc.)
Striker spring from Wolff at #22lbs
Timney Sportsman Trigger

Plan on:
Barrel: Bartlien 22", 1-10", 30-06 in a special contour mixing a GI barrel with a light palma
Stock: Joel Russo will be making me a custom laminate stock, hope to blend an HSP Pst014 with a "C" stock

Probably going to go with GI iron sights, and I might go back down to a GI striker spring for my application (utility rifle).

McMillan can make you a non-inletted stock if you insist for their stocks, your gunsmith will just have to cut the stock to match the action. They do have capabilities do to a Mauser 98, if thats another option for you.

If you have more questions, I'd love to answer anything!