Custom Built Bolt-Action Rifles

[BigNate]

I've built ARs, I've modded hand-guns and rifles - but I've never "built" a bolt-action rifle. I know that there are portions of that sort of project that really need to be done by a knowledgeable gun-smith with the relevant machining tools - but I'd like to head down that path and have started looking for info on the web. Well - I'm finding things like this: https://www.ballisticmag.com/diy-bolt-action-rifle-build/ which describe parts selection and turnover to a gunsmith (with a parts list nearing $10K) - but I'm not finding much in the way of information about true DIY stuff.

If anyone here has links / info worth sharing I'd appreciate it greatly.

 

[BigNate]

OK - I found this link which is closer to what I was looking for - would still appreciate other insights...
https://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=10506

 

[G34]

sending parts to a gunsmith nowadays isnt necessary. The quality control and tight tolerances these companies hold make it easy to thread on a barrel and just set the headspace with gauges. prefit barrels arent new but the options for manufacturers is endless now. Bugholes/impact/daniel defense/Big Horn/ defiance etc do prefits or accept prefits for certain applications. I use big horn and criterion alot. American rifle company also.

 

[TheAccountant]

I think the short chamber went out of style years ago. There are much better options now that give you the same, if not better, end result without so much of a headache.

For years Kelbly has built actions that held tolerances tight enough that a barrel could be ordered off the shelf, cut at Kelbly, and then threaded on by the end user. There may have been others that did it before Kelbly but they were the first I had experience with. Now there many options out there, both actions and barrels, that do the same.

Start with a Bighorn Origin (or similar), buy a shouldered prefit from Keystone, PBB, Proof, etc, and thread it on. You should still check headspace but in the rare chance it’s off, the barrel mfr will take care of it.

You could also go with a Savage-style barrel nut option from Shilen or Criterion on really any Remington or Savage thread action, but the barrel nuts kinda scream garage build. If you don’t mind the look and have an extra R700 or Savage action laying around, it could be a cheap way to get into something that shoots pretty well.

Either way, you’ll need a barrel vice and action wrench to do it properly but those aren’t incredibly expensive. If you get an action with a pinned recoil lug then I would go with a rear-entry action wrench. The one in the Brownell’s article will work but there isn’t a great way to get a torque reading on it. The rear entry you can use a torque wrench with to get to the right spec.

Assuming you buy a fully inlet stock or chassis, everything else is pretty much bolt-on unless you decide to bed the stock. That takes a little to get the hang of but nothing that can’t be done in the garage.

 

[C172 Heavy]

Here's what I did for my last build and will do again:

Bought used Remington 700 then striped it down with my barrel vise. Sold everything but the action firing pin assembly, and trigger, in the end it cost me $50 for a 1969 Remington 700 action.

Bought a Lilja barrel, Badger Ordnance recoil lug, and a Pacific Tool & Gauge bolt.

Shipped it off to my builder in NV with a $700 check. I got back a trued and blueprinted barreled action throated for 175gr projos, threaded 5/8-24, 8-40 scope base threads, and finished in coyote tan.

To this point in the build I was out $1300, give or take a $100. The whole Remage thing was just starting out when I did this back in 2012.

 

[stomp442]

Like said above there is almost no need for a smith anymore unless you are picky and just want something exactly the way you want it. You can find custom actions for under a grand that have prefit barrels available from multiple makers that simply screw on and your ready to go. Heck you can even get prefit barrels for Tikka actions that will shave a little coin if you need to and shoot like a dream. Here is the last Tikka I built and it never touched a lathe.

 

[Doc]

Putting together pre fit parts is no more a custom build than a 3 shot group.

Facts.


Will a lego gun shoot, yes it will, but it’s not a custom.

 

[Basher]

Putting together pre fit parts is no more a custom build than a 3 shot group.

Facts.


Will a lego gun shoot, yes it will, but it’s not a custom.

Absolutely this. Much the same as how if you buy a bunch of parts for an AR and put them together, you didn’t “build” anything, you merely assembled a mish-mash of parts. “GoNsMiF.”

As for true custom builds, they’re super nice. But IMO just buy an AI and be done with it. It’s a full system built from the ground up to WORK AS A SYSTEM, not a bunch of random parts massaged until they all play nice together, LOL. But that’s just my take. If money was no factor I’d have a ton of customs, don’t get me wrong. But if you want “the best” in just one rifle, my personal opinion is you can’t beat an AI. And a good used AI (of various models) will run you the same, or maybe less, than a full-blown custom.

 

[G34]

would you say a
ARC action
Hawk hill barrel prefit
MPA chassis
be a custom or lego?

 

[TheAccountant]

would you say a
ARC action
Hawk hill barrel prefit
MPA chassis
be a custom or lego?

Who spun the barrel in the action? If Hawk Hill cut the barrel and spun it in the action, then it’s custom. If Hawk Hill cut the barrel and you spun it in the action, then it’s lego… or at least that seems to be the logic of some here.

Question: If Hawk Hill originally spun the barrel in action but then it’s pulled and reinstalled, is it still custom or is it now lego?

 

[Doc]

would you say a
ARC action
Hawk hill barrel prefit
MPA chassis
be a custom or lego?

It should be a shooter. Isn’t that the real goal?

But no, that’s a parts build.


Customs time runout to 12’clock top dead center. You won’t get that anywhere but a custom.

 

[Doc]

Putting together pre fit parts is no more a custom build than a 3 shot group.

Facts.


Will a lego gun shoot, yes it will, but it’s not a custom.

Absolutely this. Much the same as how if you buy a bunch of parts for an AR and put them together, you didn’t “build” anything, you merely assembled a mish-mash of parts. “GoNsMiF.”

As for true custom builds, they’re super nice. But IMO just buy an AI and be done with it. It’s a full system built from the ground up to WORK AS A SYSTEM, not a bunch of random parts massaged until they all play nice together, LOL. But that’s just my take. If money was no factor I’d have a ton of customs, don’t get me wrong. But if you want “the best” in just one rifle, my personal opinion is you can’t beat an AI. And a good used AI (of various models) will run you the same, or maybe less, than a full-blown custom.

AI > Most Everything Else.

 

[G34]

isnt AI factory and not custom?

 

[Basher]

isnt AI factory and not custom?

It is, but that’s my point. Unless you’re dying to have a rifle that was slaved over by a top ‘smith, an AI will perform to the same level as a custom while usually besting it in reliability and robustness (IMO), while often costing less (depending on which AI model you buy) and without the wait that many top gunsmiths come with.

Again, there are some crazy nice customs made by the likes of GAP, TacOps, and others. Heck, Keith at Phoenix Custom Rifles turns out a fantastic rifle in a much shorter period than the top-branded shops. I’d be delighted to own any of them. But since I’m not made of money, I’m buying an AI if I’m dropping more than ~$2500 on a rifle.

The AI chassis doesn’t agree with everyone, and the AI system is far, FAR more than 99% of people actually need. But yeah, if I’m dropping a few grand, I’ll buy once, cry once, and get a proven rifle system. I’ve never felt a better or smoother action or trigger than my AIs. I like my FN SPR A5M XP (such a ridiculous mouthful, haha) a lot for a factory rifle, but an AI it is not! I shall have one again someday soon!

 

[Doc]

isnt AI factory and not custom?

It is, but that’s my point. Unless you’re dying to have a rifle that was slaved over by a top ‘smith, an AI will perform to the same level as a custom while usually besting it in reliability and robustness (IMO), while often costing less (depending on which AI model you buy) and without the wait that many top gunsmiths come with.

Again, there are some crazy nice customs made by the likes of GAP, TacOps, and others. Heck, Keith at Phoenix Custom Rifles turns out a fantastic rifle in a much shorter period than the top-branded shops. I’d be delighted to own any of them. But since I’m not made of money, I’m buying an AI if I’m dropping more than ~$2500 on a rifle.

The AI chassis doesn’t agree with everyone, and the AI system is far, FAR more than 99% of people actually need. But yeah, if I’m dropping a few grand, I’ll buy once, cry once, and get a proven rifle system. I’ve never felt a better or smoother action or trigger than my AIs. I like my FN SPR A5M XP (such a ridiculous mouthful, haha) a lot for a factory rifle, but an AI it is not! I shall have one again someday soon!

Keith builds some great stuff!

If I had to sell anything I’d sell my AI. On top of being a great shooting rifle they hold their value

 

[h8pvmnt]

I am considering selling all my factory bolt guns and taking the money for one custom hunting rifle build. Something with a carbon fiber barrel short enough to suppress, light enough to carry, acurate to 600 yds or more. But its tough to find a caliber suitable from Elk to Javelina. I am not a huge handloader and thats part of the custom rifle game so i am told. Just a dream right now but i may make it happen. I got to hunt with an Owens Armory custom 6.5 Creedmoor last fall on a pronghorn hunt. The difference between it an my Remington 700 Sendero was night and day. I thought the Remington was a nice rifle. But compared to that custom it was a savage axis....

 

[G34]

Nick and Tomas have done 3-4 customs for me so far and all of em are great. Beard used to love them 7 SAUMS

 

[BigNate]

As to the "Lego vs Custom" question... for me it will boil down to how much better the gun is than me. If I can build a "lego" gun that is a 1/2 MOA gun, and "the loose nut behind the trigger" (me) is largely the limiting factor regarding shot placement and group size - then I'm completely happy with a "lego" gun. At the point that I shoot the gun and am convinced that I'm losing hits to the gun - then it will be time to build or buy a better gun. The reality is that I expect it will be quite a while before even a 1 MOA gun becomes the limiting factor in that equation.

That said - in my mind I would generally consider a parts build a subset of the "custom" gun world. If it has a part number and you can find a store, given them the part number, and walk out with a gun (or an order for a known quantity gun that is represented by that number - it is a "factory gun." Note that "factory guns" come in a range of cost and quality from the Rossi youth single shot .22 that I bought to teach my kids to shoot, to an AI AMXC which might be the best factory rifle ever made (best being subjective - but from an accuracy, dependability, and functionality perspective - it's the "bees knees" for sure). Now - if it is not a "factory gun" - what is is? In my mind, anything that folks build for purpose (and that can't just be ordered by a part number as a unit, is a "custom gun." Note - I'm not claiming equivalence / equal value between a parts build gun and a true custom built by a master gunsmith. Much like there is a dramatic range of quality and functionality in the "factory gun" definition - there is a dramatic range of quality and functionality in the "custom gun" definition too. I don't expect that the parts gun that I assemble will compete with the truly precision "ends of the earth" rifles built by / for the guys who win the KO2M competition. That said - the AR pattern gun that I put together to shoot Accurized AR matches - using a variety of new and used parts including a PSA heavy barrel'd .223 Wylde upper, a good quality BCG, Aero Precision lower, SSA-E trigger, and some other goodies is a sub-MOA gun and I have well less than $1000 in it. I did no machining, but I did do some polishing and cleaning up of things that I like to think made it better. Does that make it "custom?"

Just my 2 cents.