What to look for at the gun shows

[jpuke]

I'd like someday to make a rifle for myself (actually, I'd probably have a gunsmith do the majority of the work) and I'm wondering where to start looking for an action.  Are the 50-75$ mausers that I see at the gun shows a decent place to start or will that just end up a lot more expensive than looking for an old Rem 700 action or something similar?  I'd like to make something in 358 Winchester and finding something in 8mm Mauser seems logical because their head sized is the same, any advice would be appreciated.

[bigdaddytacp]

I'd like someday to make a rifle for myself (actually, I'd probably have a gunsmith do the majority of the work) and I'm wondering where to start looking for an action.  Are the 50-75$ mausers that I see at the gun shows a decent place to start or will that just end up a lot more expensive than looking for an old Rem 700 action or something similar?  I'd like to make something in 358 Winchester and finding something in 8mm Mauser seems logical because their head sized is the same, any advice would be appreciated.

..........Unless you can do most of the work yourself you will end up with more in the gun than it will ever bring or be worth..imo....with the large number of barreled commerical mausers or other actions available already fitted and chambered and blued ...I would get one of them and a good fiberglass/syn stock or a prefitted stock that you can finish and fit to your wants or needs........If you are going the high dollar name gunsmith then again I wouldn't start with a surplus military action.....and I would get a good modern action with nice floorplate and safety system to make the gun look nice.......the 358 will work in almost all short/med actions and the rimsize is the most popular in those size actions and won't be a problem to find........and then there is the problem of checking the action and finding out any problems BEFORE the gunshow closes and the dealer is not to be found?..........again for a shoot as is fun gun the surplus guns can be nice and fun....but farming out the work? gets longwinded and expensive....imo....good luck and good shooting!!

[Catfish]

Unless your wanting something special you would be better off checking Mid-Way and the others for a barreled action and eather buy a stock from them or make your own if you want. You should end up with a gun that shoots pleanty good enough to hunt with at alot lower price than buying it a piece at a time. I`ve got a couple of rifles laying around here for just the reason you want your, but I like to play with strange thing. My smallest wildcay is a .17 AH and largest is a .411 Hawk. I have 5 wildcats at present and am going to get a .20 cal of some kind, maybe a .204 Ruger, but just as likely a wildcat. I get mine with tight necks ect. which make them more accurate, but it also runs the price up and it`s alot harder to sell a custom gun for what it`s worth than it is a factory gun. Just some things for you to think about.

[headshooter]

I'd like someday to make a rifle for myself (actually, I'd probably have a gunsmith do the majority of the work) and I'm wondering where to start looking for an action.  Are the 50-75$ mausers that I see at the gun shows a decent place to start or will that just end up a lot more expensive than looking for an old Rem 700 action or something similar?  I'd like to make something in 358 Winchester and finding something in 8mm Mauser seems logical because their head sized is the same, any advice would be appreciated.

I built a custom rifle based on a Enfield 1917 action (action cost me $60) i removed the military bot handle and put a Dave Talley bolt handle on it, a speedlock kit and a cock on opening kit plus a timney trigger and a stainless heavy profile douglass barrel with a 10 degree crown and had all metal work moly-resin'ed , i bought a Custom kevlar lined stock which i painted (camo) myself and put a pachmayer decelerator recoil pad on it

(rifle chambered for 300wby neckeddown to 7mm) the total cost was around $1000 , the stock was expnsive everything else i got for a great price.

I love the enfield bullet proof action you can find them relatively easy

My rifle shoots 1 hole groups easily (as long as i do my part)..breaking the barrell in is a must to have a awesome custom rifle.

anyway here is my 2 cents....building a custom is a once in a lifetime thing for me, and i am more than happy with everything.

good luck and shop around for the best gunsmiths and pricing

 

[huntsman]

When I was looking for milsurps, I always tried to find one already sporterized, because part of the work was already done (stock and scope mount esp.) Then it wasn't too expensive to add the few details that made them into respectible rifles. Of course, I am not looking at custom barrels or anything like that. I would say look for something as close to what you want as possible. Every step in customizing adds some more $.

I found a couple of M96s in 6.5x55 with scopes mounted and good sporter stocks. I only had to add the upgraded scopes (needed on a new rifle anyway), kickpads, and Bold triggers and I was in business.

I would guess that a brand-new moderately-priced rifle that is close to what you want would also be cheaper than building anything from the action up.

Good luck with your search!

[polack]

Built two rifles 6.5/06 and a 300 wby with rem 700 actions. The smithy that made them specialized in 1000 yd guns and recommended rem actions. So far these guns are great shooters and the actions are excellent.
Polack

[turfman]

I'm getting into building( Designing ) a custom rifle of my own. Now I punch the clock just like alot of guys on this site.  I don't think money is the issue for me. Some of the most spectacular rifles I've seen were on old millitary actions. Think of the fine rifles of the early 1900's.  The craftsmanship and style that were in these rifles is second to none.  C'mon; look at a G&H, oberndorf, manlicher, english, german, austrian... etc.  

Now thats my take on it. For what its worth; If you're going to put a plastic stock, chamber it for a newer wiz bang, and put a muzzle break on it.    Then by all means, use a rem action. If you want to go along the more classic lines, read the above again and ponder the past.

turfman

[safetysheriff]

jpuke,

why not get a savage rifle, shoot it for a while to see how you like it, and then get an add-on barrel that you can easily set up with that great system they use to set head space.     with the Proper tools you can turn one rifle into a couple simply by sticking with one diameter for the rim, and by using an action of appropriate length.    a .30-06 could be set up with an after-market barrel for .280 Rem' and quite possibly turned into a tack-driver.    setting the head space would be relatively easy.      

the guys on long-range.com might have some suggestions, too.

[Fla Brian]

jpuke,

Having gone the mil-surp to sporter route myself, I agree with a lot of what has been said here about resale value, but if you're building a rifle to use, and don't care about its value to anyone else, go for it. The project can be very expensive (if you go for a custom stockmaker and a high end barrel) or relatively modest (if you go with a drop in stock and stick with the original chambering).

For the first one, I'd stick with the original 8mm. It's a fine cartridge, suitable for almost anything in NA. If you want something more potent, a simple rechambering will get you an 8mm-06, or, even better, one of the "improved" versions. http://www.ch4d.com/ has dies for the standard version and several shoulder angle "improved" versions for not much more than you'd pay for an RCBS standard set. I recommend the 40 degree version a la Ackley.

A bit of advice, bring a bore light to the show with you to look very carefully at the rifling of the samples you look at. Be especially vigilant in examining the throat area. This is where heavily used rifles experience serious erosion. If there is a bit of erosion, not too far down the throat, and you really like the rifle, you can rechamber as I mentioned above. That will take out the eroded area. But, it's best to pick one with a good throat.

You'll need to change to a scope clearing bolt handle and drill and tap the receiver. I'm used to the military triggers, but, for not a huge pile of currency you can get an aftermarket trigger with a built-in safety. A drop in stock can go for as little as $75 or so (Ramline), or you can go for a more expensive one. I've been quite satisfied with the Ramlines I've used.

This will give you a basic sporter rifle. You can always make changes/upgrades later.

Have fun with your project.

[Coyote Hunter]

jpuke -

My old boss is into building custom rifles and has a favored 'smith that does the work.  Got to shoot his '03 in .338-06 and is was a wonderfully accurate rifle -- as it should be for the money invested.

For the same dollar investment (and a lot less time and effort), I could have bought 2 new rifles in any calibers I wanted and had money left over.

In looking at modern actions, I've noticed that the cost of the action alone often approaches the cost of an entire rifle at the gun shows.  (A blued Ruger action for $400, when I can buy a new rifle for $429, for example.)  Haven't looked much at older actions as I would want the advantages of modern steel and CNC machining in any custom I built.

Recently I was thinking about going the custom route with a Savage 110E (long action, short magazine) that was shot out.  The original chambering was .22-250 and I was thinking .257 Roberts or .308.  Dad had given it to me and it had some sentimental value, but after looking at the cost of barrels and new stocks, I decided to sell it anyway.  Got $250 from someone at a show who was going to rebarrel it.  A few minutes later I added $150 and got a very gently used Ruger in .257 Roberts.  The Ruger had a Leupold scope mounted.  After floating the barrel and polishing the trigger, it recently put 3 of 4 into 0.95" at 200 yards.

Not to disuade you from going custom, but buying a modern rifle and tuning it up can get you a great shooter for far less money.  For me, with two girls in college this fall, that's an issue that can't be overlooked.  I'd be looking at a Remington 673 or new Ruger M77, both in .350 Remington Mag.  This cartridge will do everything the .358 Win will do, and then some.