Just as the title said I keep wondering of all the new and old bolt actions rifles out there, which ones are the best to work with in building a new Sporter/squirrel rifle? I have really loved working with the Remington 581 action but they are getting harder to find and the price is getting a little higher. These are a rifle that if you have had one you have probably found it to be very accurate. I didn't necessarily rebuild or modifiy them to make a more accurate Sporter but did it to make something more "special" to me and my son's. I might like a different stock, trigger, barrel or everything but wanted to make sure the action I started with was worth the time and effort to build around. In this thread I'm not looking for people to comment on how it was already plenty accurate or why would you spend more money on a gun that already shot well etc. That's no different than saying why would you go to a bar and spend $3.50 on a beer that you can drink at home for $1.00, you may do that for many reasons but odds are you are getting some kind of enjoyment out of it.
Right now I will keep scrounging for 581 actions as I love using them for builds, I think they are a great platform. As some of these new rifles, CZ 457, Tikka T1x, Lithgow etc, become more available on the used market there will be deals available to the sharp eye and they will be used for builds. If they prove to be exceptional platforms they will be bought new and pulled apart as DJ and others have shown us these can be even better rifles . It's not a negative towards the rifle but a compliment towards the action so don't start getting offended if you think yours is the greatest rifle ever and why would anyone every destroy one. I personally had a hard time convincing myself to pull apart my first 581 as they aren't made anymore and you can't replace them but mainly it already shot better than a lot of people are happy with in the squirrel woods.. My last build I pulled apart a very nice early production, small port walnut stocked 581 but I absolutely love the gun I built with it. Would I do this to an all original, primo condition Remington model 37 that I had to pay $1800 for?, I doubt it but that is a highly collectable gun and I am a cheapskate. Haha
Anyway, if you like to play and want to build, what platform do you think looks best? I am really getting interested in the CZ 457 and the Tikka T1x. They are starting out in a price range that as used ones come back onto the market may be priced very well. Say a CZ 457 Scout used may be $250ish or a Tikka could land in that upper $300 range?. If I knew of a custom action that was a repeater, light weight, and in that $3-400 range I would also really look at it. If some of these actions were available new in a decent price range I would just go that route but typically if you can buy a new action the price is more than a complete used gun. Also when your done dismantling a used gun you can then sell the extra parts and recoup some of your initial cost.
Well I think you can get the feel for what direction to go in this thread.
1. What action do you think would work well for a build?
2. Why
3. No crying about taking a gun apart or "your gun" is fine the way it is. Lol
4. If you want, what would the end product be? Barrel, stock trigger, scope etc
Here are a few rifles I built using the Remington 58x series rifles. I have built others for friends and they all shot as well as the original rifles or better but mainly they were just more for what I wanted and the purpose I wanted. If some people want to argue spending money on a cheap action, the camo stocked rifle is a barreled action that was given to me in parts, I reworked the trigger, reset the headspace, dropped it in an old Anschutz stock that I reinletted and pillered and bedded and have a $65 scope on. It may very well be my favorite squirrel rifle, that is with some pretty steep competition including a Cooper, Weatherby, Anschutz and more. I have about $145 in the entire setup because I did it myself. If I had to hire it done and pay new price for everything what would it cost, barreled action $250, stock $300, all that labor from a smith $500? I really don't know if I would even sell it for that, is it worth it I don't know but when you build a custom how often can you recoupe your money? When you build it yourself it doesn't hurt so bad.
Should be interesting, what's your thoughts.
Right now I will keep scrounging for 581 actions as I love using them for builds, I think they are a great platform. As some of these new rifles, CZ 457, Tikka T1x, Lithgow etc, become more available on the used market there will be deals available to the sharp eye and they will be used for builds. If they prove to be exceptional platforms they will be bought new and pulled apart as DJ and others have shown us these can be even better rifles . It's not a negative towards the rifle but a compliment towards the action so don't start getting offended if you think yours is the greatest rifle ever and why would anyone every destroy one. I personally had a hard time convincing myself to pull apart my first 581 as they aren't made anymore and you can't replace them but mainly it already shot better than a lot of people are happy with in the squirrel woods.. My last build I pulled apart a very nice early production, small port walnut stocked 581 but I absolutely love the gun I built with it. Would I do this to an all original, primo condition Remington model 37 that I had to pay $1800 for?, I doubt it but that is a highly collectable gun and I am a cheapskate. Haha
Anyway, if you like to play and want to build, what platform do you think looks best? I am really getting interested in the CZ 457 and the Tikka T1x. They are starting out in a price range that as used ones come back onto the market may be priced very well. Say a CZ 457 Scout used may be $250ish or a Tikka could land in that upper $300 range?. If I knew of a custom action that was a repeater, light weight, and in that $3-400 range I would also really look at it. If some of these actions were available new in a decent price range I would just go that route but typically if you can buy a new action the price is more than a complete used gun. Also when your done dismantling a used gun you can then sell the extra parts and recoup some of your initial cost.
Well I think you can get the feel for what direction to go in this thread.
1. What action do you think would work well for a build?
2. Why
3. No crying about taking a gun apart or "your gun" is fine the way it is. Lol
4. If you want, what would the end product be? Barrel, stock trigger, scope etc
Here are a few rifles I built using the Remington 58x series rifles. I have built others for friends and they all shot as well as the original rifles or better but mainly they were just more for what I wanted and the purpose I wanted. If some people want to argue spending money on a cheap action, the camo stocked rifle is a barreled action that was given to me in parts, I reworked the trigger, reset the headspace, dropped it in an old Anschutz stock that I reinletted and pillered and bedded and have a $65 scope on. It may very well be my favorite squirrel rifle, that is with some pretty steep competition including a Cooper, Weatherby, Anschutz and more. I have about $145 in the entire setup because I did it myself. If I had to hire it done and pay new price for everything what would it cost, barreled action $250, stock $300, all that labor from a smith $500? I really don't know if I would even sell it for that, is it worth it I don't know but when you build a custom how often can you recoupe your money? When you build it yourself it doesn't hurt so bad.
Should be interesting, what's your thoughts.