Books on custom rifle building

• Dec 13, 2017

• #1

rtraverdavis

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I’ve become increasingly interested in building my own rifle, and wonder if anyone out there can lend advice on some books that can help me get started. I’ve got a possible donor action (M700 long action) that I’d like to build into a 30 Nosler. I reload, and love tinkering, but am a complete novice when it comes to building guns. Only interested in building rifles though—no pistols or ARs. Any suggestions on where to start would be appreciated.

 

• Dec 13, 2017

• #2

Doublecluck

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I don't know of any books, but you can put togeather a savage with a barrel nut wrench, go and no go gauges and a little internet recon.

 

Last edited: Dec 13, 2017

• Dec 13, 2017

• #3

MThuntr

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Quackillr said:

you can put togeather a savage with a barrel nut wrench, go and no go gauges and a little internet recon.

Click to expand...

They make barrels for Remingtons that use a similar nut (google Remage Barrels). Worth a look with little investment.

Custom building a rifle will require some specialty equipment (namely a lathe) that could cost you more than if you just had a smith barrel your action for you.

 

• Dec 13, 2017

• #4

cahunter805

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Do you have a lathe or access to one? If not it may be better to go the remage barrel route. You can still build most of the rifle and complete things like bedding the stock, mounting the scope and such.
If your only going to build 1 rifle and don't like the remage idea then I'd just have a gunsmith barrel your donor action.

 

• Dec 14, 2017

• #5

marksjeep

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Here's a decent article on building off a short-chambered barrel. Might be an option for you.
https://rifleshooter.com/2017/01/installing-a-short-chambered-barrel-on-a-remington-700/

 

• Dec 14, 2017

• #6

1

1_pointer

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While it won't help you build it, this book may be of interest...

http://siskguns.com/selecting-and-ordering-a-custom-rifle.html

 

• Dec 14, 2017

• #7

rtraverdavis

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Thanks guys. I don’t have access to a lathe, nor would I have any clue how to use one if I did. So I think having a smith barrel and rechamber the action would be the direction I’d go, then bed the stock and all the rest myself. 1_pointer, that Sisk Guns book looks like what I had in mind as a starting place. Thanks.

 

• Dec 16, 2017

• #8

S

std7mag

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Not sure why you would need a lathe?
I've "built" 2 without a lathe, rechambered another.

If your building a hunting rifle, that was fairly accurate to begin with, then you can do it yourself.
Need good workbench, vise, barrel vise ( clamps into regular vise), action wrench, finish reamer, go/no go gages.
Time and patience.

Try Gunsmithing Made Easy ny Bryce Towsley.. It's a good read.