Building a new rifle

[Taff]

I am building a new rifle in 223, for goat hunting, very steep country, long walks, ranges from 200 - 400.
Points to consider are weight, barrel length, 10 round mag ( it’s the limit here) so barrel will get hot.
No bi pod required as shooting of sticks.
Maximum spend on rifle $3000 so half that for pounds.
Let’s here what you think.

 

[75]

Maximum spend on rifle $3000 so half that for pounds.
Let’s here what you think.

I think you'll struggle to "build" anything for £1500. I'd buy a T3X lite and a 10 shot magazine. 223 isn't a barrel burner so I'd not personally worry about the lighter barrel (and would take that option over a heavier varmint if you're walking a lot).

 

[75]

Oh and maybe a lighter trigger spring, but they are only a few quid.

 

[Bowland blades]

Get one with a sized action to the 223 , otherwise you might as well get a 22-250 , 243 win etc

 

[RCS Deer Management]

I am building a new rifle in 223, for goat hunting, very steep country, long walks, ranges from 200 - 400.
Points to consider are weight, barrel length, 10 round mag ( it’s the limit here) so barrel will get hot.
No bi pod required as shooting of sticks.
Maximum spend on rifle $3000 so half that for pounds.
Let’s here what you think.

Just buy a tikka ctr and be done with it, Probably the best you can do in that budget.

 

[RCS Deer Management]

Get one with a sized action to the 223 , otherwise you might as well get a 22-250 , 243 win etc

Not sure I agree. Main reason to shoot a .223 over a 250 or .243 is barrel life, barrel heat and ammunition costs when doing high volume culling. Action size isn’t a benefit that actually affects anything. I shoot a sako 491 in .222 that has a true small action, I wish I hadn’t of bothered and just got a t3 that you can easily get components and parts for.

 

[takbok]

@Taff I thought you sold rifles day to day?

Surely be hard to look past a T3X lite?

 

[Taff]

I do sell rifles on a daily basis, have a choice of any rifle, when I worked out the price I forgot I am working on my cost not retail . I have a ctr here which I could shorten, this would give me a heavier barrel, we have some sako carbon lite stocks which have gone sticky, being replaced on warranty, other option is a carbon wrapped barrel, but which action would most people want to use if they had the choice.

 

[Jagged77]

I’ve just cut my .223 down to 16” - it’s. 1:9 twist R700 varmint barrel. Getting 2930 fps with 69gr SMK’s so respectable. Coupled with a MDT LSS with folding stock. AICS 10 round mags (plastic so quite light). Easily fit inside a rucksack for trekking long distance. I’d build something similar for your application, maybe a slightly lighter profile barrel, a muzzle brake instead of mod perhaps. Build off a Remmy or T3.

 

[TringSaint]

I am building a new rifle in 223, for goat hunting, very steep country, long walks, ranges from 200 - 400.
Points to consider are weight, barrel length, 10 round mag ( it’s the limit here) so barrel will get hot.
No bi pod required as shooting of sticks.
Maximum spend on rifle $3000 so half that for pounds.
Let’s here what you think.

Steyr SM12 in mountain configuration with 10pms mag - slim barrel and light stock but still accurate, but might not get under the price limit for a new rifle

 

[Rafter]

A T3, Glacier stock and a pocket full of Waters Rifleman 10 shot mags.
When Waters get their Rem 700 SA bottom metal up and going I'll set my 6mm204 up in a Glacier Elite and use their (Waters) AICS mags too.
.

 

[welshwarrior]

So I’d go a different route it doesn’t have a 10 shot mag only 5 but most things you asked for.

CZ 527 action (cheap readily available light weight and easy true up etc)
new Barrel of your choice
Carbon fibre stock or chassis system

Light accurate shooting rifle

 

[jthyttin]

which action would most people want to use if they had the choice

If you're looking for opinions, if building probably just boring T3(x) stainless action. Of course it's std length but still lighter than most short or even mini actions. And aftermarket support is there.

Don't know about 10rd mag though, would need to be a design that doesn't stick out or sticks as little as possible. Would be perfectly happy with (detachable) 5rd mag on such rifle.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Howa - Carbon Stalker or Carbon Elevate?

Edit - no 10rd mag

 

[Rafter]

Howa - Carbon Stalker or Carbon Elevate?

Edit - no 10rd mag

Howa Rifle items accessories improvements

Howa Rifle equipment and magazines. Howa 1500 short action, Howa 1500 long action, Howa Mini, Howa Superlite. Magazines, Bottom Metal, DBM, Howa screws, fittings, equipment, accuracy improvement

watersrifleman.com

Waters make magazines for all manner of rifles.

How about a .223 BLR and a bag full of 10 shot mags?

 

[Reddish]

A Mini howa in .223....perhaps with a magazine/floorplate upgrade over the awful original plastic bits...and a decent quality scope.

 

[alled12]

I am building a new rifle in 223, for goat hunting, very steep country, long walks, ranges from 200 - 400.
Points to consider are weight, barrel length, 10 round mag ( it’s the limit here) so barrel will get hot.
No bi pod required as shooting of sticks.
Maximum spend on rifle $3000 so half that for pounds.
Let’s here what you think.

Christensen Arms FFT carbonfibre stock and bottom metal (forget the 10 round mag for a minute), takes a standard Remington 700 action foot print so gives you plenty of choice. Total weight is around 625grams or 1lb 4oz in old money. They are about $600 dollars and the bottom metal was on Brownells USA reduced to about $100. Hawkins Precision scope rings 2 to 3oz $90. Go for a lightweight sporter profile barrel fluted at 22 inches, 3-9x42 scope or similar and replace the bolt on the 700 with a fluted one, lightweught firing pin and blue print the action at the same time. I would think you could put something together for about 6.5lbs or so for significantly less than $3000.
Now if money were no object exchange the remington action for a Pierce Engineering titanium one and total weight goes down even further, there action is about 18oz, which with the right barrel means you could probably get the rifle down to sub 6lbs all in.

 

[Sniper308]

Not sure on the budget you have set to “build” a rifle. However, price point aside, I’d be looking into the carbon route options to keep the weight down.
For me it would be;
carbon proof barrel
MDT hnt26 or crbn (depending on the style you like)
Which would the leave you with a choice of Remington 700 action/ footprint or a tikka t3 action- the t3 would only fit in the hnt26 chassis

 

[Matabele]

I wonder if you could find one of the short action Remington rifles on the used market, and put most of your budget into a decent stock, and optic. More of a semi-custom build.

 

[Rafter]

Browning BLR .223rem MINT | Trade Me Marketplace

Browning BLR .223 Rem Mint/Perfect Condition. Used once on the range.

www.trademe.co.nz

Precision Pro Browning BLR 243/7mm-08/308 10 Round Magazine NZ - Rifle Magazines by Gun City

Precision Pro Browning BLR Extended Magazine | 10 Rounds Don't leave yourself short next time you're out shooting. Extend your BLR's magazine... Rifle Magazines in NZ.

www.guncity.com

Sorted