Help with my first build

[Red_Beard]

Hey everyone, I have asked some questions along the way with limited response, so I wanted to go from a different angle.

I have been shooting tactical matches for a little more than a year now with my ruger 7mm rem mag sporting rifle and have been having an absolute blast, so I figure it is time to take the next step and have a rifle built. Being left handed and not loaded my options are more limited.

I would like to build on a custom long action (I am aware that there is no guarantee that the action will be true, but I have a smith that will take care of me regardless).I want an action that is strong and reliable above anything, but I am also concerned with resale should I fall on hard times and need to sell. I have heard great things about all the top actions from surgeon to smaller guys like bighorn, but does one resale better than the other?

Also, I will be building on an AICS and my smith recommends that I at least skim bed the action if I want to get the best possible result. I know there are those that say there is no need so odds are that I will try without bedding at first to see if I can get my desired results, but any additional input into whether or not skim bedding will ruin my ability to sell the chassis in a worst case type situation.

Thanks for your input,
Jordan

 

[MdrnBR]

You can't go wrong with Defiance, Bighorn, or Surgeon. I really like Borden to but if you are building a "tactical" rifle with resale in mind, I would stick with the first three. I think the smith plays a bigger factor than the action does though. I would rather have an awesome smith with a good reputation build on an old mauser action than some jackass build one on a custom action. I have never had XLR chassis or Manners with mini chassis bedded and have run just fine, that is one of the perks of a chassis. That being said, I have heard some guys say that bedding the chassis gets rid of any potential for stress on the action.

 

[Red_Beard]

Thanks for the input. I would love to send it off to APA to have them piece it all together, but I am the kind of person who like to touch everything and play with it before I actually commit to having it built. That is really the only reason why I don't just buy one of the already built guns.

 

[MdrnBR]

No worries. You can watch the PX for all of the components and send everything to the smith when you have it all. It may take longer to put together, but you get a solid deal. You should also check out Manners website for their stocks that are ready to ship, I comb it regularly and just got another one in the mail today for my next build.

 

[JB02]

AICS are rugged, but heavy, and it might be challenging to find a left handed model. Perhaps you might want to get something from Manners or McMillan? Since you're a lefty, look at getting a Defiance action. [MENTION=21640]JST[/MENTION]ARZ just had a LH build done by BlackOps that might be what you're looking for. I would probably build something like that if I was in your position.