Custom build

[E5B]

Ok fellas, here's the deal....I'm looking at purchasing a rifle in a 22-250 when I get back from this deployment. I had the Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Sub-MOA in mind but I recently had a custom gun maker in Texas has offer to build me anything I want at cost. He has an outstanding reputation.

So far I've asked him to build it on a Mauser action, heavy barrel (blued). Other than that I really don't know what to ask for. He told me this rifle will be limited by my imagination. I've been doing a little research online since I've never dealt with (or thought about for that matter) a custom job.

I figure Squeeze, Fly Navy and FedDoc will have some input for sure.

 

[metro]

I'd recommend glass- or pillar-bedded stock, and specify as light a trigger as he can *safely* provide. That's all I ever really ask for in a rifle.

 

[Fly Navy]

Honestly, that's not my field. Now if it were an AR-15...

 

[xmid]

what are you building this rifle for? Tactical/varmint shooting? Go with an A-4/5 stock or an AI chassis. You won't be dissapointed with either.

 

[BlkPny]

If you want to use a Mauser action (my favorite for custom rifles), try to find a good short action, like a Mexican Mauser or Peruvian Mauser (both manufactured in Germany), or a German K98, either small-ring or large-ring. Find an action manufactured between the wars if possible (better steel). That sort action will work fine for a 22-250 (great caliber, by the way).
Put on a 24 inch barrel, something like a Douglas or a Shilen. Pay for their top-of-the-line models. Don't bother putting open sights on it. You'll always use a scope. Use a Timney trigger, so you can adjust to suit yourself. DO NOT bed the barrell. Leave it free-floating, so if the wood moves, it won't move the barrell.
Do not try to use a fancy piece of wood for the stock. It will move in strange ways. Use a piece of DRY, AGED English walnut, with good straight grain. Put an oil finish on it, so it penetrates the wood, not just coats the wood.

 

[metro]

You wouldn't bed the barrel? Interesting opinion. I have always found bedding a bolt-action rifle makes the rifle feel a bit more substantial, and keeps me from "oscillating" as much. To each their own, though.

My AR-15 and my 10/22 are free-floated, but that's because I move around a lot more while shooting with both of those, therefore exerting more intense/varying pressure on the barrel as I move around.

 

[E5B]

Great info fellas. This exactly what I was looking for, various opinions.

The guy is going to take pictures as he builds it and if anyone is interested I can post them on here. Should take him 6 months or so. I'm in no hurry anyway, I'll be on deployment for a while longer.

Stock color is going to be hard to decide on.

 

[feddoc]

Hmmm,,,,,

IF I were building it, I would have a Shilen barrel (Hart, Douglas, Liljen are good also), with a Timney trigger, blueprint the action....then have the whole thing cryo-treated just to make it a bit stiffer. It will make a difference.

You might also want to consider getting a 22/.250 Ackley Improved instead of the 22/.250.

http://www.benchrest.com/

http://www.benchrest.com/forums/


http://www.varminthunters.com/

http://riflescopes.com/

 

[BlkPny]

Great info fellas. This exactly what I was looking for, various opinions.

The guy is going to take pictures as he builds it and if anyone is interested I can post them on here. Should take him 6 months or so. I'm in no hurry anyway, I'll be on deployment for a while longer.

Stock color is going to be hard to decide on.

Stock color?! Come on now. Use good wood with a good oil finish, and try to fool everyone into thinking you have some class!

 

[snort]

I can personally recommend the Douglas barrel on a Mauser action. I had a Remington .25-06 with that barrel and it would shoot well under 1 MOA. Fiberglass stock, glass bedded.