Building a rifle

[Ishi&Elvis]

I have never done it, but I think I would like to. Where do I start? Where do I buy components? I am thinking a 25-06, or the new 25 Creedmoor. I am not wanting an AR type rifle, more classic, with wood stock, or synthetic, bolt action. Advice please, fire away.

[mikemorvan]

I'm in the midst of this now. Here's what i did, so far it seems to be going well. I bought a Remington Model 700 ADL from Grab-A-Gun. The least expensive i could find. I wanted a nice wood stock that i'm going to finish myself. I bought a AA Claro Walnut stock from Richards Microfit Stocks in Cali. There are all kinds of stock manufacturers and styles. Do some research and find one you like, finished or unfinished. I sent the bolt to a guy in South Dakota to be fluted and have a knob put on it. I bought a Timney Trigger, and Swaro scope. The guys that are doing the build provided a BRUX barrel and rechambered the action to 7mm-08. They are bedding the stock now. I should get it back next week to finish the stock. Once i'm done, i'll get it back to the gun guru's to assemble, etc. I went through SilencerCentral to get a suppressor. That was a relatively painless process.

I did this for no other reason than 'why not'? I'm looking forward to the end product. Good luck with it all.

[tpepper70]

If you're going to build it all yourself, I'd look at the Savage rifles or an Rem 700 pattern rifle and get a barrel nut style barrel. Savage already has this, Rem you have to specify. This makes it easy to set headspace and change barrels if you want something different.

[HTOWN]

Depends on what you want and how much you want to spend. LOTS and LOTS of options.
I'm in the process of a build myself. I wanted a smaller, lighter rifle and suppressor ready.Went with a 22 Creedmoor
I chose a Defiance TI-X action
Peak 44 Blacktooth stock
Proof carbon barrel 18inch light sendero
Trigger tech
Hawkins flush box magazine
Either going with a Leopold VX5 firedot or NF NX8, have both scopes, will choose which one when the time comes

Just have to take it to the gun smith and let them do the rest. Other than needing an FFL to ship the action to, the rest is just shopping and buying what ya like.

[Ishi&Elvis]

Thanks, y'all are giving me some good stuff. I would have never known. Please continue to chime in. I did not even know where to start and did not know all of those companies even existed, except for the major gun companies you listed.

[bmc09]

It all depends on how much you want to spend. I've bought a short action savage for cheap and stripped it down to the action and started from there. I've also bought a custom action and spent a lot more on the build. Either way I did not have to go to a gunsmith for headspacing because one uses a barrel nut and the other uses prefit barrels. I will say prefit barrels take all the concern and guesswork out of it. Lots of tutorials on youtube to help along the way

[TX03RUBI]

Plenty of quality actions out there with prefit barrels available for them. I’d be surprised if a TBHer with action wrench and barrel vise wasn’t near you that could help you torque it down. I’ve put quite a few rifles together with top shelf components. Takes maybe 20 minutes if that. Grab a set of Fix It Sticks for a torque wrench set, and it makes the job even easier plus you’ll be surprised how often you use them elsewhere.

[Ishi&Elvis]

Anyone use a thumbhole stock on a new build? How are they?

[LWD]

Anyone use a thumbhole stock on a new build? How are they?

I really like thumbhole stocks. I have one on my heavy barrel .308 and one on a heavy barrel 10/22. They give you better control. But you have to be much more deliberate when gripping the stock. I don't know that I'd want to be still hunting with a rifle with a thumbhole stock. I also don't recommend them on heavier recoiling rifles.