Building a bolt gun

[jkgts1]

Hello everyone I'm interested in putting together my first bolt gun. I've been doing some research on the interweb and think that I kind of got an idea what is involved. This is for fun, im not a pro shooter nor am I a competition shooter. Anyway I'm trying to do this on a lower budget but get a decent sub moa rifle out of it. I've been thinking of the Bighorn origin action. Seems like a good action at a good price point. From my reading the Origin comes with a small shank savage pre fit threading. So, I've seen quite a bit of options for pre fit savage barrels, so I haven't decided on one yet. Then I figured I would throw it into a KRG bravo stock. So, I don't plan on hunting or anything, just target shooting.

I'm not a gunsmith or anything so I'm looking for a way to put an accurate rifle together without having a gunsmith do any work on it. I know I'll need go and no go gauges for the barrel install, but that part seems easy. Am I missing anything? Is this doable or am I forgetting something big?

[General]

I've been think about it but haven't done any research yet so I'll just follow this thread. Seems like fun, good luck.
Tagged

[ar15barrels]

Hello everyone I'm interested in putting together my first bolt gun. I've been doing some research on the interweb and think that I kind of got an idea what is involved. This is for fun, im not a pro shooter nor am I a competition shooter. Anyway I'm trying to do this on a lower budget but get a decent sub moa rifle out of it. I've been thinking of the Bighorn origin action. Seems like a good action at a good price point. From my reading the Origin comes with a small shank savage pre fit threading. So, I've seen quite a bit of options for pre fit savage barrels, so I haven't decided on one yet. Then I figured I would throw it into a KRG bravo stock. So, I don't plan on hunting or anything, just target shooting.

I'm not a gunsmith or anything so I'm looking for a way to put an accurate rifle together without having a gunsmith do any work on it. I know I'll need go and no go gauges for the barrel install, but that part seems easy. Am I missing anything? Is this doable or am I forgetting something big?

Besides headspace gauges, you will also need barrel vise and action wrench.

I can usually headspace a barrel nut barrel on to an action for less than you can buy just the gauges.

[longrange1]

Hello everyone I'm interested in putting together my first bolt gun. I've been doing some research on the interweb and think that I kind of got an idea what is involved. This is for fun, im not a pro shooter nor am I a competition shooter. Anyway I'm trying to do this on a lower budget but get a decent sub moa rifle out of it. I've been thinking of the Bighorn origin action. Seems like a good action at a good price point. From my reading the Origin comes with a small shank savage pre fit threading. So, I've seen quite a bit of options for pre fit savage barrels, so I haven't decided on one yet. Then I figured I would throw it into a KRG bravo stock. So, I don't plan on hunting or anything, just target shooting.

I'm not a gunsmith or anything so I'm looking for a way to put an accurate rifle together without having a gunsmith do any work on it. I know I'll need go and no go gauges for the barrel install, but that part seems easy. Am I missing anything? Is this doable or am I forgetting something big?

you can buy prefit barrels for just about any action made now days whether they are shouldered or use a nut so easier/better just to buy a shouldered barrel spin it on torque to 75-100fp and done no need for head space gauges but youll still need a vise and action wrench.

you can get a nice vise for around $60-$80 bucks i have this one and have changed over 30 barrels with it...my vise is a davidson form brownells but same design.

http://www.pmatool.com/barrel-vise-by-viper/

action wrench you can get form big horn or what ever action manufacturer you decide to go with.

trigger....i just switched from a 2 stage bix n andy to the trigger tech diamond and will say that ill be swapping out the BnA on my vudoo for a TT next week.

stock/chassis...the bravo is a good choice they make a ton of up grades for them so its a great start

scope...sense you doing a budget build id look at vortex...there is a LOT of inexpensive scope out now days...i looked through a new scope a couple of weeks ago called a riton...really nice glass and tree reticle...also the athlon line.

you can put a real nice rifle together for about $3000 + or - a couple hundred bucks.

[jkgts1]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I figured I would need a action wrench and a vise of some kind. Scope I can think about later down the road. If I build this its going to be a slow build as not to piss off the wife lol. I was thinking about this because I have a Remington 700 that I have had for 10 years. And was thinking if I need a new barrel I would have to take it to a smith again. Then I learned that there are Remage barrels now. This blew my mind hahaha. I was really into long range in the beginning of my shooting interest, that's what got me into guns. Then over the years with life and family I drifted away and now im into it again. So, I'm just now catching up and researching. Do you guys think that a correctly installed, shouldered barrel, will be more accurate then a pre-fit deal?

[JackEllis]

OK, I have to ask. What's the whole purpose - a DIY rifle or a consistent (same POI for a given POA every time) shooter? What's the budget? If it's consistency you're after, do you plan to reload or are you just going to use factory ammunition? How often do you plan on shooting it?

[bsumoba]

Sending an action to a gunsmith isn't that bad anymore to get a barrel cut for your action. Spin off the old barrel, then send the barrel to a gunsmith who already have uncut barrels in stock. Choose your cartridge (most good ones will already have the reamer for the most common cartridges) and then wait for it to come back. If you are okay with sending your 700 barreled action to a smith, they can do all the assembly and you will not need an action wrench or barrel vice either and it eliminates the need for you to get gauges and you get a barrel cut to your action.

Most recreational shooters will not burn out a barrel so if you're not going through many barrels just get one that you know is headspace to your action.

Accuracy wise, I don't see a huge difference since i did have a RPR at one point, but there is just something about barrel nuts on bolt actions that I prefer to stay away from.

[BillyGoatMachine]

Do you guys think that a correctly installed, shouldered barrel, will be more accurate then a pre-fit deal?

A prefit barrel will never be as accurate as a properly shouldered barrel, at least if you have a competent smith put it together correctly. Now, in the hands of the average shooter they may not be able to tell the difference or be able to use the rifle to its full potential, especially without handloads.

Every barrel in existence today is crooked to some degree, some more than others. With a prefit you will never get your barrel properly timed to 12oclock. So essentially your barrels will all be timed incorrectly. Will you notice the difference, probably not. With the proper tooling you may be able to time your barrel with a prefit, but that will also affect your headspace. It's really up to you what level of quality you want.

[jkgts1]

OK, I have to ask. What's the whole purpose - a DIY rifle or a consistent (same POI for a given POA every time) shooter? What's the budget? If it's consistency you're after, do you plan to reload or are you just going to use factory ammunition? How often do you plan on shooting it?

Its just for fun. I like to d DIY when I can. I mainly shoot at steel, so im not shooting F-class on paper. Currently I can go out to 500yrds or so. Im trying to build a rifle minus scope for about $2000. I know I can pick up a good rifle for less than that, but where would the fun be? I only get to shoot when I have time maybe once a month. I work full time and have 2 little ones so my free time is not so free. I do reload currently.

[jkgts1]

A prefit barrel will never be as accurate as a properly shouldered barrel, at least if you have a competent smith put it together correctly. Now, in the hands of the average shooter they may not be able to tell the difference or be able to use the rifle to its full potential, especially without handloads.

Every barrel in existence today is crooked to some degree, some more than others. With a prefit you will never get your barrel properly timed to 12oclock. So essentially your barrels will all be timed incorrectly. Will you notice the difference, probably not. With the proper tooling you may be able to time your barrel with a prefit, but that will also affect your headspace. It's really up to you what level of quality you want.

Yep that's what I figured. Yeah not sure how much clocking/ timing will matter with a joe schmo like me lol. Plus I would love to shoot as far as my equipment allows, but where I live, im limited.

[JackEllis]

If I build this its going to be a slow build as not to piss off the wife lol.
...

Then over the years with life and family I drifted away and now im into it again.

I asked because of what you said above.

Reloading is cheaper. It's DIY. It's something you can teach your kids. It's a continuous science experiment (which is what attracted me). The only downside is the risk of lead dust but that can be managed.

My second best shooter is a Howa 1500 in .223 with a varmint barrel and a relatively inexpensive scope I bought used for less than $600. It was originally sold as a package deal. It's unmodified and does MOA or less with hand loaded, pulled 62 grain boat tail bullets.

[jkgts1]

I asked because of what you said above.

Reloading is cheaper. It's DIY. It's something you can teach your kids. It's a continuous science experiment (which is what attracted me). The only downside is the risk of lead dust but that can be managed.

My second best shooter is a Howa 1500 in .223 with a varmint barrel and a relatively inexpensive scope I bought used for less than $600. It was originally sold as a package deal. It's unmodified and does MOA or less with hand loaded, pulled 62 grain boat tail bullets.

For sure I enjoy reloading and it is a constant experiment, its something you can dive into way deep. I have found myself looking and all kind of things precision guys do when reloading. I have to stop myself and say "I don't need to do all that." I picked up a howa 1500 in 308 a few months ago, sadly I have not sat on a bench to see how accurate it is yet. It was $299 at tuners so I couldn't pass it up haha. I took it to the desert but just fired a few rounds to be on paper. I was sitting on the floor and using a wobbly seat as a bench.

[JackEllis]

I picked up a howa 1500 in 308 a few months ago, sadly I have not sat on a bench to see how accurate it is yet. ... I was sitting on the floor and using a wobbly seat as a bench.

For reasons I can't quite explain, I get my best results shooting from a tripod or sticks.

[LynnJr]

For your purposes buy a barrel from Grizzly Bruno's or someone like that who has the barrel in stock.
You can then save up more money and get the dies.
Since you reload already your way ahead of the game.
Pick a cartridge that the F-Class or Benchrest guys use as they will consistently shoot small groups.
Make sure the cartridge you choose has brass available from Lapua or pick a different cartridge.

Have a gunsmith who already has the reamer install the barrel and you will be way ahead of the curve.
You want a match type reamer not what is called a standard reamer.
The straighter you start a bullet down the barrel the better that gun will shoot. Match reamers have much tighter throats in order to keep the bullet in line with the bore.
SAAMI reamers are not your friend unless it is one of the most recent purpose built chamberings.

[sigstroker]

Hello everyone I'm interested in putting together my first bolt gun. I've been doing some research on the interweb and think that I kind of got an idea what is involved. This is for fun, im not a pro shooter nor am I a competition shooter. Anyway I'm trying to do this on a lower budget but get a decent sub moa rifle out of it. I've been thinking of the Bighorn origin action. Seems like a good action at a good price point. From my reading the Origin comes with a small shank savage pre fit threading. So, I've seen quite a bit of options for pre fit savage barrels, so I haven't decided on one yet. Then I figured I would throw it into a KRG bravo stock. So, I don't plan on hunting or anything, just target shooting.

Also look at the mc3 stock from McMillan. It's almost as cheap as the KRG.

Wait a couple weeks until after SHOT to see if any new cheap actions are announced.