Im subscribing to this as I justed ordered parts to do the same project. Im trying to do it at a reasonable cost as others have suggested its not the best platform to start with. I like to be different, i like the underdog, and I hope to attain the performance of a rifle that costs twice as much.
The reality is that there is no guarentee.
Ive ordered the speedlock, timney trigger, (i read the stock trigger can get sketchy when reducing trigger pull too low, but i cant confirm.) , and a high tech specialties stock.
Im going to try to do as much work as possibl myself. Such as glass bed action, lap lugs and bolt, possibly order a short chambered barrel an install it myself. Ill have to send out the action to check squaring.
At the moment im looking at barels from pac_nor, shilen, rifledouglas, walther, brux, and bartlein. Im waiting on responses to my inqueries. Im thinking #2 or #3 contour since its a hunting rifle.
Do you think it is a mistake to install your own barrel? With the reamer and go no go gauge it doesnt seem like it would be too complicated. BUT a barrel is a pretty expensive piece to f up the install.
Pac nor seems like a pretty good deal for sending in your action. $300 includex truing the action, lapping, and barrel install. Id probably have $100 in tools just for doing the lapping on my own.
Sorry about the length of post, tell me more about the direction you are headed.