Help me build a rifle
 

A good friend of mines dad just passed away.While digging through his stuff he found two older sako long actions.He has offered to give me one to build a rifle with.So I am looking for input on caliber,barrel and stock options.I am leaning toward a 300 win mag for caliber,but am open to other options.This will be more of a long range, beanfield type rifle.I do want to stay with commercially available ammo.Any input is appreciated.His dad was a gun lover and an avid shooter.So I want to make him proud.


Thanks

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

Put a Krieger barrel and chamber that puppy for the Warbird!!

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

I would do something that would have been from his dad's era. Roy Weatherby was a hero to many back in the day, and most of our "magnumitis" today comes from seeds ol' Roy planted back in the 1940s.

I'd get a nice, composite stock, a Jewel trigger, a Lilja barrel 26" long and have the rig chambered for the original...and ol' Roy's favorite...the .270 Wby Mag. Not a finer long-range deer/elk round exits.....!!! :D

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

Find a GOOD gunmaker. He will ask questions and welcome your i9nput during the rifle making progress

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

For a "beanfield" caliber (and I assume deer?) I'd look as calibers like 25-06, 270,7mm and the good ole 30-06. Not very exotic or "custom" but if we're gonna stay with factory ammo that takes advantage of a long action I think those are solid choices. Most the others that come to mind are either short action or not very available. Hairtrigger has good advice. Shop around. I'd look at it as a prime oppurtunity to get your feet wet with reloading. Yeah, there's some start up cost....but your building a custom gun. Consider part of a package deal. Then I might go with 270 Ackley Improved just spice things up a bit:)

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

I appreciate the advice,keep it coming.This rifle will be used primarily for deer. However, I would like a gun that I could take out west for elk.I know an ought six is plenty for elk.But I already have one.So I think a magnum is in order.I have reloaded in the past and have the equipment,just not the time right now.So far I'm leaning toward the 30 cal remmington ultra mag or weatherby and also the 7mm rem mag and 7mm ultra mag.The biggest question is which brand and contour of aftermarket barrel?

Thanks

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

Krieger is top of the top of the line. There's also Hart, Shilen and few mor that I'm sure I've forgotten, ER SHAW isn't a "match-quality" barrel but there's little wait on a custom order and they're very well priced. I've heard something along the lines of "they shoot better than they have any business shooting," considering their price.

Fight the temptation to go with a heavy barrel and build a "tack-driver" if you're goin' out west with it. It helps but is usually uneeded in a custom hunting gun with a match-grade barrel. You oughta still be able to get under MAO accuracy.

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

The 7mm remington ultra mag would be awfully hard to beat as far as cartridge.Any of the top barrel makers will more than satisfy your needs.

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

.300 win mag is a very fine caliber, as very versitile and powerful at the same time.

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

Since you have an 06 I would look at a .300wm or .338wm . The .338wm would be a good compliment to your 06. Good luck there are so many good caliburs these days.

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

I would stick with the 300 winne if you want factory ammo. Put a lilja, or douglas barrel on it. As for stock I would go with a mcmillan. You could go with a7mm stwitwouldmake a good reach out and touch'em deer rifle. I would personaly stray away from 7rum not much for ammo selection and they like to eat the throat out of your barrels were the stwwill bea little easier on the barrelandwinchester makes a good load for it and the difference is hardly noticable from the rum. But if I were going to build a rifle like this I would seriously think about reloading then your options are unlimited.Try that black hills ammo for the winne good stuff and good luck

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

I would stick with the .300 Win Mag, as well, ammo is everywhere, is a fine, long range cartridge, and won't burn barrels like thw RUM line of cartridges

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

I'd go with the 300 Win or the 7mm Rem Mag since you want to be able to still shoot factory fodder out of it. Both will definately reach out an touch what you are shooting at.

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

Ditto.....barrel not as wit.....just build it, they will die. Regards, Rick.

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

Mcmillan Stock

I highly recommend you rethink reloading.
If you are going to make this rifle personal then why notmake the ammunition personally.

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

First of all, do you know what cartridgethis action was originally chambered for? If it was a cartridge based on the .30-06 case then bumping up to a magnum will require altering the bolt face since the head diameter of a magnum cartridge is larger than that of the .30-06 family of cartidges. The bolt facething is not a huge deal, but you may also run into having to do other alterations to the action and magazine if you want to go to a cartridge the action was not originally designed for. So think about that. Personally, I'd stay with a cartridge within the same family as the original sothat alterations to the action would not be necessary,but that's just me.

BTW, I had my Sako 75 rebarreled last year by Hill CountryRifles in Texas. They put a Lilja on it and it shoots great.It was originally a .300 Wby, but the new barrel is chamberedin .300 Win. Since both are based on the same parent case, no alterations to the action or bolt were necessary. I'm very pleased with the way things turned out.

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

I don't have my hands on the action yet so i'm not sure what the original chambering is.That could very well have an impact on the final deciscion.As of now I'm leaning towards a 7mm rem mag or 300 win mag.A little more umph than the o6 but nought too much for the local deer population either.Thanks for the replies and advice.I have noticed that several of the barrle makers use button rifling and just a few(krieger) use a cut rifling process.Is either process better? It does seem that a button rifled hand lapped barrel takes less break in.

Thanks

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: Solitary Man

First of all, do you know what cartridgethis action was originally chambered for? If it was a cartridge based on the .30-06 case then bumping up to a magnum will require altering the bolt face since the head diameter of a magnum cartridge is larger than that of the .30-06 family of cartidges.

Hello SM. To the best of my knowledge, the L61R Sako action and bolt were identical in all calibers from '06 to 338 Win Mag. Regards, Rick.

RE: Help me build a rifle
 

montana rifle makes excellent barrels as well. As far stocks go, you check out Boyds, Richards Microfit, elk ridge. They all have web sites. My favorite is a Boyds JRS. Good Luck and enjoy the building process. I am working on a 35 whelen right now and it seems that finding the components you want and getting them to work together is as much fun as the end result--shooting and hunting.