Gunsmithing New project, need advice

[freedomfighter]

An upcoming project of mine is to build a long range tactical rifle. I've decided to go with .300 RUM. The problem is this...i've never built a bolt action rifle so a couple of questions...

How many different components are there to buy? Obviously there are a lot of parts on a diagram but I don't know which come together and where to look for them. Is it pretty much just barrel, stock, action and trigger? The part i'm most in need of knowledge on is the action. Does any of it come together or do you have to buy each individual part?

Barrels, who are the best to go with? Not necessarily the most expensive but where can I find a 26" matte finished fluted heavy barrel w/ muzzle brake for a 300 RUM. The main reason i'm looking to build a rifle is because I just haven't found a factory rifle that is close to what I want. The Remington 700s in that caliber are ok but they have no option for a barrel like that, otherwise I would buy a finished rifle and just tweak it.

What would the pros and cons be of just buying a Rem. 700 and rebarreling it with what I want (and restocking) versus building from scratch?

Basically, as you can tell, i'm no gunsmith but I do know what I want. Any advice on the best way to get there would be great. I enjoyed building my AR and have no problem diving into a boltgun but I just don't really know where to start or the potential headaches that may await. The AR was gravy, I suspect a boltgun may not be.

 

[Bryan27]

Re: New project, need advice

I'm definitely not an expert on the subject like some here but I'll take a crack at a few of your questions.

<span style="color: #FF0000">"How many different components are there to buy? Obviously there are a lot of parts on a diagram but I don't know which come together and where to look for them. Is it pretty much just barrel, stock, action and trigger? The part i'm most in need of knowledge on is the action. Does any of it come together or do you have to buy each individual part?"</span>
Stock, Action, Trigger, Barrel and Recoil Lug if it isn't integral to the action you choose. You don't buy each individual pin and spring, you buy the whole thing if it's multiple parts like the action or trigger.


<span style="color: #FF0000">"Barrels, who are the best to go with? Not necessarily the most expensive but where can I find a 26" matte finished fluted heavy barrel w/ muzzle brake for a 300 RUM. The main reason i'm looking to build a rifle is because I just haven't found a factory rifle that is close to what I want. The Remington 700s in that caliber are ok but they have no option for a barrel like that, otherwise I would buy a finished rifle and just tweak it."</span>
Bartlein, Hart, Rock, Krieger, just to name a few all make good barrels.....You aren't going to catch me claiming which one's best! Everyone has their favorite. What you'd be looking for is a 30 cal barrel blank in whatever contour you deem heavy enough to start. Then you give it to a smith along with your action and muzzle break of choice to have chambered, fit to the action and muzzle break installed. They can make it whatever length you want it. Then they can give it a media blasted matte finish or apply a coating in whatever color you like.

As far as factory rifles that meet your specs., the remington sendero is what you are describing...just add muzzle break. I would think this would be the best route to take to get you started on a 300 RUM. Have the trigger tuned, add a muzzle break and start slinging lead. After you shoot the barrel out you'd have a good platform to build a custom off of and have an idea of what's important to you and what you'd like to change about it.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-sendero-sf-ii.aspx

"<span style="color: #FF0000">What would the pros and cons be of just buying a Rem. 700 and rebarreling it with what I want (and restocking) versus building from scratch?"</span>
Pro's would be you'd have a ready to fire rifle that you could customize as you go and spend time shooting at the range rather than waiting on all your parts to come in. You would also be at your own leasure to shop parts and pick up deals since there wouldn't be a deadline. You'd be spreading the expense out over a longer period of time.

Con's would be that if your goal is to build a full on custom rifle, buying a factory rifle is an azz backwards way of going about it. You''ll spend a grand on the rifle just to throw away everything but the trigger and action, which you'll have to have a couple hundred dollars worth of work done to to get blueprinted and a trigger job. You can buy a custom action in the $800 range an a trigger in the $100-200 range and need no work done to either. The custom action'd rifle is going to have better resale value from what I hear, I wouldn't know as I've never sold a gun before, but that's what they say. As someone who would be buying such a gun, it makes sense to me though. I'd pay more for a custom action'd rifle that I was familiar with the quality of action they turn out rather than a worked on remington action that I don't know the level of work that was done. If I knew the smith who claimed the work, by reputation anyways, I'd weigh that heavily into consideration.

 

[freedomfighter]

Re: New project, need advice

Lots of good stuff, thanks Bryan. The whole part about getting the barrel and action together and having it chambered was the part that I was really clueless about. At least now I won't sound like a total idiot when talking to my gunsmith!

 

[Kells81]

Re: New project, need advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: freedomfighter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Basically, as you can tell, i'm no gunsmith but I do know what I want. Any advice on the best way to get there would be great. I enjoyed building my AR and have no problem diving into a boltgun but I just don't really know where to start or the potential headaches that may await. The AR was gravy, I suspect a boltgun may not be. </div></div>

LOL
This

Plus This

Add in a Gunsmith
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IPQM4h-UZtc"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IPQM4h-UZtc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>


Equals something like This

The only real choices you have to make is which......

Stock

Action

Barrel

Bottom metal

Caliber

Seems allot easier than an AR where there are SOOOOO many choices out there its not even a fair comparison.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: freedomfighter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Lots of good stuff, thanks Bryan. The whole part about getting the barrel and action together and having it chambered was the part that I was really clueless about. At least now I won't sound like a total idiot when talking to my gunsmith! </div></div>

I would suggest you get a Remington Sendero in this caliber (with a break). That way when you figure out its too much of a man gun for you to shoot the hit you take on resale wont be as hard as it will be when you have a complete one built. I have shot the Sendoro in the RUM and a couple of the Christiansen rifles and its not a stick for a newb... Its the type of rifle that will make you flinch just thinking about pulling the trigger.

 

[Bryan27]

Re: New project, need advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Poke</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would suggest you get a Remington Sendero in this caliber (with a break). That way when you figure out its too much of a man gun for you to shoot the hit you take on resale wont be as hard as it will be when you have a complete one built. I have shot the Sendoro in the RUM and a couple of the Christiansen rifles and its not a stick for a newb... Its the type of rifle that will make you flinch just thinking about pulling the trigger.
</div></div>

I was going to mention that too. If the goal is to hit a target at 1000 yards, or even beyond for that matter, there are many choices that can get you there without all the punishment, less powder, and more readily available components.......imo. I'd be looking at something in the .284 caliber range myself, or even the old standby 308. I can't imagine that a 300 RUM is going to be that enjoyable to shoot if built to a weight that wouldn't be a pain in the ass to carry around.

 

[freedomfighter]

Re: New project, need advice

Thanks for the info but i'm 100% certain that its not too much of a " man gun" for me. I like to shoot a gun that kicks every now and then and have shot many that do. In looking at recoil tables, it doesn't look much if any worse than a good, strong 12 gauge, and if it is worse...thats ok. I am a newb to long range shooting but not a newb to shooting in general. As far as less punch, I don't want to go any less because this will double as the big game stopper too. I want a bit more than a .284 if i'm trying to zap an elk at 600 yds.

 

[Kells81]

Re: New project, need advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: freedomfighter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> In looking at recoil tables, it doesn't look much if any worse than a good, strong 12 gauge, </div></div>

LOL get the f*ck outa here with that. If your researching recoil tables online and using that to judge then your all down the wrong road. I can tell you a 12 guage with 3.5" steel doesnt have shit on a RUM. And thats in a sendero weight gun. Go ahead and rock the RUM but be prepared to take a hit when you figure out it is too much of a MAN GUN.