Custom made

[MAXLISTER1987]

Good evening gents,

So I've been over to see Mr Mike Norris today at Brock&Norris and have now come away with an itch I feel I need to scratch..
Lots of good conversations held and plenty of options laid out on the table to consider.
So I want to share with you guys what I'm considering and see what your thoughts are and what you might have built or change with this

Base the build on a tikka action, with an 18inch varmint barrel, heavily flutted down. Bedded in a grs berserk or even possibly their new light weight laminated hunter. Chambered in 308.

I'm looking for a light weight stalking rifle that will spend the majority of its working life in woodland at close range targets

Look forward to your comments on the proposal or even Mr Norris and his work,

Thanks all

 

[ColinBr]

From what I've seen and felt GRS stocks aren't light weight, though I haven't felt 1 of the new "light weight" stocks you mention.

A beserk is definitely not light having personally felt and lugged 1 around.

Personally I'd keep an eye out for a second hand PSE E-lite stock to suit the T3x. I've had both the E-lite and E-Tac stocks (still have 2 E-tacs) and couldn't recommend them high enough.

 

[Ronin]

PSE e-lite

You don’t need a varmint weight barrel - stabdard hunter from any of the barrel makers (of reputable stabdard) will offer repeat accuracy

Built numerous to this spec in 308 / Creedmoor : 260

All offer repeatable and high accuracy and portable for long stalking trips or forest work
Circa 7 lbs

 

[User00040]

Good evening gents,

So I've been over to see Mr Mike Norris today at Brock&Norris and have now come away with an itch I feel I need to scratch..
Lots of good conversations held and plenty of options laid out on the table to consider.
So I want to share with you guys what I'm considering and see what your thoughts are and what you might have built or change with this

Base the build on a tikka action, with an 18inch varmint barrel, heavily flutted down. Bedded in a grs berserk or even possibly their new light weight laminated hunter. Chambered in 308.

I'm looking for a light weight stalking rifle that will spend the majority of its working life in woodland at close range targets

Look forward to your comments on the proposal or even Mr Norris and his work,

Thanks all

Don't use a Tikka for a 308, waste of space unless it's a CTR magazine (even then, do you really need 10 rounds?)

Bergara do an Extreme Hunter which is 18" and stainless in 308 Win. B14 Extreme Hunter

Swap out the stock (HS Precision Rem 700) and trigger (triggertech special) and stick a good moderator on (DPT Magnum). Could even source a HS Precision magazine conversion which will add to costs but also convenience.

All done and dusted with little to no 'gunsmith time', save maybe 50% or more than what you will spend on a 'custom rifle' (an assemblage of parts that you could have otherwised sourced and installed yourself, charged at a premium rate)...

Dare I say, go for a 6.5 Creedmoor instead and enjoy shooting it more?

BERGARA B14 EXTREME HUNTER 6.5 CREEDMOOR 18 INCH

Condition: New Make: BERGARA Model: B14 EXTREME HUNTER Calibre: 6.5 CREEDMOOR

rmacleod.co.uk

Rifle £900, top quality moderator £250-350, TT trigger £200-300 depending on model (wait for a sale on Brownells UK), stock could be £200 for a S/H H-S Precision or £300-500 for a second hand McMillan, £700+ for PSE (the latter two will need bedding), MDT picatinny rail £80.

Add scope and rings to suit.

Not sure what the going rate for fairy dust (gunsmith time) is nowadays? £100+ per hour?!

 

[Acm]

Had a Grs Stock on my .222 and honestly think you’ll be disappointed, I sold it and went back to the factory. Lovely and comfortable for bench and prone, but an absolute pig to carry and not the best for shooting off sticks.

 

[VSS]

If you want a lightweight rifle, what's the point in buying a heavy barrel and fluting it it down? Why not just get a lightweight barrel in the first place? Fluting looks pretty ugly anyway.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Sounds like you want an RPA Woodland Stalker clone to me

Woodland Stalker Hunting Rifle - RPA International

RPA Woodland Stalker Hunting Rifle Woodland Stalker Hunting Rifle Brochure (409Kb PDF) A high performance multi-shot sporting rifle manufactured from RPA's world beating products, designed for professionals and enthusiasts alike. The RPA Woodland Stalker has been specifically designed for the...

rpainternational.co.uk

 

[Donkey Basher]

Had a Grs Stock on my .222 and honestly think you’ll be disappointed, I sold it and went back to the factory. Lovely and comfortable for bench and prone, but an absolute pig to carry and not the best for shooting off sticks.

Have just fitted a GRS Sporter laminated stock to my Tikka M595 & absolutely love it, is ergonomically brilliant as far as shooting goes & does not weigh too much either.

However, as ACM says, it is a pig to carry in the muzzle down position thanks to the rear sling stud being in the side of the stock whilst the front one is underneath. I'm going to give mine a try muzzle up as it feels good when I tried it at home - like it was designed to be carried that way! If that doesn't work then I'll be making a mod to put the rear stud underneath soI can carry muzzle down.

Personally I don't like the Bergera stocks as they feel too artificial & the rubber pads on the forend & pistol grip are too 'sticky' for my style of shooting.

Sounds like a fun build though & you'll end up with the rifle you want not one that anyone else can buy in any shop!

 

[Sampo]

A synthetic .243 in stainless steel is what I consider to be a working rifle. Its what I can afford to get dirty, take a few bumps and not care too much about. Never associated a custom built rifle with one for woodlands but more of one for the range on a sunny day to enjoy and maybe show off a bit. All my rifles are just basic one that gets the job done.

 

[Mungo]

Good evening gents,

So I've been over to see Mr Mike Norris today at Brock&Norris and have now come away with an itch I feel I need to scratch..
Lots of good conversations held and plenty of options laid out on the table to consider.
So I want to share with you guys what I'm considering and see what your thoughts are and what you might have built or change with this

Base the build on a tikka action, with an 18inch varmint barrel, heavily flutted down. Bedded in a grs berserk or even possibly their new light weight laminated hunter. Chambered in 308.

I'm looking for a light weight stalking rifle that will spend the majority of its working life in woodland at close range targets

Look forward to your comments on the proposal or even Mr Norris and his work,

Thanks all

As has probably been said, what you’re proposing is not at all lightweight - in fact will be substantially heavier than a standard factory gun. .

GRS stock is a lump, and varmint barrels are noticeably heavier than sporter. Fluting seems largely cosmetic, and seems an expensive way to get to where you would have been to start with if you got a sporter barrel

If it’s genuinely lightweight you’re after, then it’s probably better to go for a standard sporter barrel and something like a PSE stock.

 

[Shaun Goss]

I went down the same rabbit hole, it wasn’t so much a woodland rifle I wanted but an all purpose.

I’ve been through quite a list of stocks including a berserk. I have ended up currently with a pse multipurpose. I went with a 22 inch fluted varmint barrel and would say now I could have just gone sporter and 20 inches.

As for your chosen gunsmith I have heard reviews at both extremes of the scale.

 

[sauer]

this is easy for me to say as ive scratched that itch ....

full custom action / build...years a go i went BAT action kreiger barrel jewel trigger , mcmillian stock etc on anew build from Russel Gall......
lovely rifle still got it and im left handed so left handed action etc .... i got what i wanted

but

i also have Bergara factory rifle (b14HMR ) i added a triggertech trigger to it .... i also have a tikka T3 anbd all ive done is but a spring from Valkyrie rifles in the trigger.....

im happy with em all and i dare say if you look at factory options for what you want then youll find something that 90% ticks boxes at a saving of £££

and rest of boxes could be ticked by aftermarket stocks / triggers , or cheek pieces etc

again.... easy for me to say as i scratched that itch, but if i had to do it all again id go factory and pimp it.....

now try listening to that when you havent scratched that itch...... good luck!!!!

 

[Will the chippy]

The bergara is a good shout. I handled the b14 crest. The carbon stock was really smart and everything was nicely finished. A definite contender for my next rifle. Brock and Norris did the contractor rifle built on a howa action in a MacMillan stock. A proper working tool and the howa actions are really tough. My mate accidentally ran over his, the scope came off but it still works and is accurate.

 

[gavfryer13]

I've been trying to get a GRS stock for my Sako 75 IV action and was told the wait was 30+ weeks

 

[Tim.243]

A synthetic .243 in stainless steel is what I consider to be a working rifle. Its what I can afford to get dirty, take a few bumps and not care too much about. Never associated a custom built rifle with one for woodlands but more of one for the range on a sunny day to enjoy and maybe show off a bit. All my rifles are just basic one that gets the job done.

Quite, at the close range the OP quotes you don't need a big mag as you can have spares in a pouch. Lets be honest it is not a shooting gallery at the fair, Mod or no mod a group will move off once one has been shot.
Hard to advise as what "we/I " would do is far away from the mind of the OP.
I manage quite well in woodland stalking with my long barrelled .270 T8 and a z6 how ever to keep the copper Gods happy
I would have a 6.5 for a bigger pointy bit, short "ish" black barrel (no glint) plastic stock 8x56 with a red dot, no mod but screw cut and a good set of electronic fitted ear plugs.

Easy to free hand as with no mod they come up lovely but are noisy lol

@MAXLISTER1987

 

[Phil fox man]

mike did a heavy barrel on my foxing gun, superb job and on time.the weight and stock configuration suits my style of foxing but you would need arms like Garth to free hand it or sticks made of scaff poles.
my 243 is a shorter barrelled zastava and you can carry it all day.
as said by others weight an point ability is your goal.
personally I would steer clear of a heavy barrel,fluted or not.
as for the stock just go to Danny at Staffordshire stocks and try one out.
phil

 

[User00040]

Comments regarding 'heavy barrel', the rifle just needs to be balanced.

Use a quality stock which is slightly butt-heavy (stock pack/cheek riser helps) and a lightweight moderator.

T8 moderator is one of the worst possible choices if you want a good rifle, as it is heavy and will rust (heaven-or a blowtorch, help you if it were to be left on overnight after shooting! ).

Newer designs are smaller, lighter and more efficient.

 

[Phil fox man]

funny thing them t8,s I got 2 when they first came out,one rotted out in 2 years the other I'm still using to-date,never oiled or cleaned ?

 

[Selous]

Tikka T3 actions are a good shout, probably the best bet of the factory actions. Wouldn’t personally touch Bergara with a barge pole though clearly some will disagree. Whilst beauty is in the eye of the beholder I don’t think your spec will be lightweight. If you went for a carbon stock like a PSE Elite and chose a lighter contour barrel you can more readily achieve your aims and save a bit of cash on the fluting. If you choose your moderator carefully the balance will be where it needs to be.

 

[User00040]

funny thing them t8,s I got 2 when they first came out,one rotted out in 2 years the other I'm still using to-date,never oiled or cleaned ?

Bad QC or were you using one on a smaller calibre/chambering?

Suspect that some powders which don't burn as clean will make them rot out quickly.