Started first custom build...
 

So I have been wanting to build a custom rifle and a few weeks ago my wife gifted me a "build it yourself" custom rifle for our 10 year anniversary!

After a great deal of thought, I settled on building a 257 Roberts AI...always wanted a Bob...always wanted an Ackley in the safe! Best of both worlds.

I started in earnest this week...after several weeks of looking, bidding and losing I finally acquired the action by buying a Remington 700 BDL left handed rifle (lefty...makes it harder!) in 270 today! YAAAAAAAY! I wanted a long action to take full advantage of bring able to shot the heavy bullets...

Tuesday the action will be on its way to the 'smith!

Barrel was ordered today from Midway...it will get a Shilen Match Grade Barrel in #3 contour finished at 25" (debating having it threaded for a brake still)

Trigger...order today as well...Shilen wins again!

I have opted for a AA Grade Claro Walnut Stock from Richards Microfit Gunstocks (yeah I have heard good and bad...I am prepared for what I get).

Glass is still in the decision making stages...I have a 2-10x50 Nikon Monarch new in the box, but again, not sure...

Final finish will be blued...I'll post pics in 5 months (god I hope it doesn't take that long!) when it's done!

Congrats!!:party0005:

What will it be used for?

My wife is afraid this could end up being a new trend!

CO...I plan to use it to whitetail hunt initially...will also take it on Pronghorn hunt in WY next year. Hoping it will like both the 85g and 110g Noslers...

RR...tell me why you don't like Shilen Barrels? I have one on a 7mm Mag that was just a barrel swap and has always performed well.

The smith work is being done by a friend in Salem, Oregon and my father is doing the stock work...he has handmade from scratch a pile of stocks for his rifles so he had offered to do the final finishing and inletting...plus he only lives 30 mins from the smith so proximity helps. And dad works for free :)

Being this is my first rodeo...any suggestions from those of you that have done this before? RR??

I have had a few done. Expect some cost over-runs and don't be too surprised if the projected time is not the finish time. My biggest headaches always included starting with a Mauser action - and ending far in the future with a heavy and costly rifle.

Starting with a 700 action should cut some of the unforeseen problems and make this a happy time. I have had good results with Shilen barrels.

So did I misunderstand your previous comment about the barrel? Just curious...

Being left handed (do I remember you are a lefty too?) limits my options and I have several Remmy 700's and like the action so it made sense to go that route for my first one...I too expect overruns...haha!!

Question...having difficulty settling on a stock...I really prefer a nice classic wood stock, but having trouble finding a good option that it's way more than I want to spend.

Im excited to see the outcome! I had never even heard of a .257 before and I just happen to read about the caliber in an older hunting magazine. Apparently it is one of the more accurate rounds ever created, it just lost is favoritism with hunters due to the production of more modern calibers.

Congrats buddy !!!

Enjoy making your personal decisions on what you like, and then never look back.


I built my AR like Frankenstein......... enjoyed every minute !

Thanks for the advice...I appreciate it! Richards is what I am looking at...my father is a woodworker by trade as was his father, and he's done a few stocks so I am confident he'll get the job done! I have heard good and bad about Richards but most the bad I have seen is people that were expecting finished stocks...which I am not.

Thanks for the advice on the barrel...we'll see how it goes. My smith really likes the Shilen's...worse case scenario is I have to replace a barrel at some point (I am sure even a boarderline barrel can out-shoot me!). I am going with a 1:10 as I wasn't able to get ahold a 1:9 (we'll see if it holds up to my expectations)...that being I haven't ordered the barrel yet, so I have time still to change my mind so I will certainly look at the Lilja...which I have also heard a lot of good things about!

Thanks!!! I am super excited...the wait is gonna kill me!!!!

If the barrel hasn't been ordered, I'd hold out for 1:9. I own a Bob in Ruger 77, can't get the 117s or 120s to shoot worth a damn.

Thanks, we'll do! I am familiar with Pac-Nor as I one on one of my AR's and love it! I fired off an e-mail to Chris...we'll see if he can help me in a timely manner!

Thanks...the more I think about it the more I really want to be able to shoot 110's and 120's...especially the 110 Accubonds! So I am gonna wait till I find the right barrel.

Thanks for the input guys!

Well I had a great conversation today with Daniel Lilja of famed Lilja Barrels...after a lengthy discussion I decided to go order a Lilja barrel (it helps that he actually had it in stock and it has already shipped). I ordered a 1:10 (#3) Stainless Steel .25 cal barrel for a couple reasons...

1: Lilja doesn't make a 1:9 in .25....

2: He provided me with test data showing me his 1:10 performs well with 115 and 120g bullets including Bergers.

3: He actually had the barrel in stock and was able to ship it immediately...my smith will have it by Thursday :)

4: The folks at Shilen said it would take 14-16 weeks to get a 1:9 (or even a 1:10 in stainless...if I wanted a Chrome Moly barrel I could have it today...no thanks!)...the folks at Pac-Nor didn't respond to my e-mail or phone message...

5: The Lilja was only $50 more than the Shilen and barely more than a Pac-Nor...and again...unlike the others, it was available to ship in less than 14 weeks!


I am guessin' I can't go wrong with a Lilja!

Update...

Had to make a change on the stock after a really bad customer service experience with Richards Microfit's...kinda expected it based on reviews I had read but was hoping for the best. That being said I had a very good conversation with Jesse, the owner of Custom Rifler Stocks ... http://www.gunstockduplicating.com/duplication.html ... anyone else ever dealt with them?

Call Jerry, he is a dealer for Shilen barrels. His prices are cheaper and he gets barrels faster than anybody else. I had my 6br in about 2weeks.
http://www.thebarrelman.com/

Thanks Stapher1...I already ordered a barrel for this build directly from Lilja and had it in 4 days. I will certainly keep that link for future use.

Finally, this project is finished and I took delivery from my smith over Thanksgiving ....here's the 411 on the finished product!

The gun was built by gunsmith Kevin Ridling in Salem and he did an awesome job.

The rifle is a 257 Roberts Ackley Improved built on an early 1970's Remington 700 BDL (left handed) long action that started life as a 270 Win. The sad thing is the donor rifle was in such beautiful condition when I found it, I almost didn't cut it up for the project!

Barrel is a Lilja #3 contour stainless steel barrel (bead blasted) 1:10 twist and cut to 24" (Made in Montana and Dan Lilja was very helpful, I highly recommend them!) http://www.riflebarrels.com/ fitted with a custom muzzle break by my gun smith.

Trigger is a Shilen and is has got to be the nicest trigger I've ever had hands down! http://www.shilen.com/ and set at a very crisp 2 pounds...breaks like glass!!!!

Stock is a AAA Fancy Walnut stock and was cut by Jesse at CRS Custom Rifle Stocks in Pennsylvania http://www.gunstockduplicating.com/ and he did an amazing job and the stock required very little fitting work post-delivery for the action. Richard Noble who works for Kevin did an awesome job finishing the stock with about a dozen coats of tongue oil (my favorite finish on walnut). Stock is glass and pillar beded and barrel is completely free floated.

Optics...currently it wears a 6-18x50AM Swift Premier (http://www.swift-sportoptics.com/) set in Warne steel rings and bases (made in Oregon!) http://warnescopemounts.com/...eventually the rifle will get a Nikon Monarch 3 4-16x50SF/NP...just gotta wait for a sale

The rifle shoots like a dream and I can't wait to put some bench time behind it! Test fire groups with 100g Nosler Ballistic Tips @100 with IMR4895 produced under 1/2 MOA!

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I built my .257 AI 30+ years ago. I bought a Mark X barreled action in .25-06 and had a smith cut and re-chamber it to .257 AI. I then put into Fajen walnut that I finished and checkered. It's been one of my favorite rifles.

About 4 years ago, I bought a .300 Weatherby Vanguard and I re-stocked in AA Fancy Feather Crotch Claro Walnut from Richards. The first stock that they sent me looked several grades below the AA Fancy ones pictured in their advertisements.

I sent that one back and the second one that they sent me was more of what I wanted.

I pillar and glass bedded the action, glassed the barrel channel, floated the barrel, installed a mechanical recoil reducer in the stock, fitted a Limbsaver pad, and checkered the stock with my favorite multi-panel pattern. I think I put around 100 hours into that project.



Good luck with your project.

I really like that stock. I got a ruger mk 2 ultra light in 257Roberts and really like that caliber.

Sorry, or some reason your last few posts didn't show on my computer until after I made my post.

Your rifle came out looking GREAT!! With that brake, it should kick about like a .223.

nice stick EMT, now make something dead with it.
ya did good.
RR

Absolutely beautiful rifle, congrats! My lone custom is also a .257, but the standard cartridge. M98 action, Douglas barrel, Timney trigger and good old Weaver 3-9x38 scope on top.

Beautiful gun EMT ! Curious as to why a muzzle break on a 257 bob?

Thanks guys! This gun was a blast to build...had a few challenges along the way and learned a few lessons...but for my first custom build, very satisfying and wonderfully addictive process. I am already planning my net build, but this one will be for my daughter in .250 Savage I thing....anyway.

RR...I can't wait to make something dead with it...the little time I have had with it to date has been a pleasure on the bench and easy to find loads it likes. So far IMR4895 seems to be the willer with 100g pills.

Why the break...well, long story short my smith has a passion for making custom breaks and that actually accounts for a great deal of his business. A good friend of mine works for him which is why I chose him as the smith to build the gun...(got the friends and family discount too)...anyway he asked about a break and I said nah...then he said, but i'll do it for free....OK, free it was. He also provided me with a threaded cap so the break can be removed if so desired. I gotta say, shooting it with the break is amazing...I think it actually kicks less than my .223 and makes accuracy that much easier. Can't wait for deer season next year!

Thanks again to everyone who helped me through this process by providing feedback and guidance! I appreciate ya'll!

Came out very nice! Be sure to get some hunting pictures up for us next year!
-Jake

emt,
as you get used to the brake you will discover its use will allow you to precisely see through the scope your bullet impacts, yep they are loud....would I do without one... Not a chance.
RR

Yeah EMT, mighty fine piece of shooting iron I do have to say!!!!! And you will love that MB on it as well. I wish I had done it with my build on my -06 back when I did it in the 80's. Great weapon again and go draw some blood!!!!!!

Yeah I surmised that there was no down side to having one...I have a couple 308's and 2 of my AR's (in 556) that have breaks and they are all worth having.