Building my own gun
04-09-2003, 07:18 PM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Waynesboro Georgia USA
Posts: 1,113
RE: Building my own gun
I went through the Trinidad State Gunsmithing School.
First thing we needed was a mauser 98 receiver. I got one from a guy for $50. We had to rebarrel it in what ever caliber we wanted. I did mine in 308. But I ordered an Interarms Mark X (mauser copy) in 7mm Mag. for the Stock making class. I wen' t all out a bought a $200 fancy grade blank of Bastone Walnut. It is such a beautiful stock that I still have not shot the gun and I made the stock in the fall of 1991! I keep saying I' ll shoot it every season when sighting in for deer, but I always forget to do it.
Make it in a caliber you plan on using! We had several brainy-acks who made old African big game rounds. Then when it came time to test fire they were standing around scratching their heads wondering why they were about to pay $50 dollars for a box of custom ordered ammo.
Make something you can use. And if its your first gun, plan on keeping it to pass down, IF GUNS ARE STILL LEGAL IN THE FUTURE!!!!!
First thing we needed was a mauser 98 receiver. I got one from a guy for $50. We had to rebarrel it in what ever caliber we wanted. I did mine in 308. But I ordered an Interarms Mark X (mauser copy) in 7mm Mag. for the Stock making class. I wen' t all out a bought a $200 fancy grade blank of Bastone Walnut. It is such a beautiful stock that I still have not shot the gun and I made the stock in the fall of 1991! I keep saying I' ll shoot it every season when sighting in for deer, but I always forget to do it.
Make it in a caliber you plan on using! We had several brainy-acks who made old African big game rounds. Then when it came time to test fire they were standing around scratching their heads wondering why they were about to pay $50 dollars for a box of custom ordered ammo.
Make something you can use. And if its your first gun, plan on keeping it to pass down, IF GUNS ARE STILL LEGAL IN THE FUTURE!!!!!
04-09-2003, 09:43 PM
#17
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,679
RE: Building my own gun
It' s not my first gun but it will be the first one that I will be making myself. It will definetly be something that I will use. I plan on making a thumbhole, laminated stock and either pillar or epoxy bedding the action. Going to put a 25 or 26 inch Douglas barrel on it. I see nothing worse than having a perfectly good rifle sitting around the house just " looking good" . That is a SIN SIN SIN! 
[>:][>:]
Get out and shoot that gun!
[>:][>:]Get out and shoot that gun!
04-10-2003, 06:19 AM
#18
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greensboro NC USA
Posts: 563
RE: Building my own gun
Well, since you are building your rifle, you want something kind of exotic, yet in a commercial round, and in a big game (ie, mulies, elk, moose, etc.) round. My vote would go to the venerable old .300 H&H or .375 H&H Mag. If it were going to be a classic design rifle I would go with a 98 Mauser or commercial equivelant. If it were going to be a more modern design, I would lean toward the Montana Rifleman M1999 action, which kind of favors the pre-64 M70 somewhat. If I were going to go with a short action round, I would look at the .284 Win or .358 Win, and make a light weight carbine rifle. Regardless of what I built I would not use a Douglas barrel. They may be OK and some may swear by them, but I swear at them. There are better barrels avaliable for the same price.