Building my first precision 308

[SICARIO]

I'm planning on building my first precision 308 and looking for some input. Range will likely be 100-800 (may stretch out longer if I can fine a place to shoot)

What I will have shortly (hopefully):

• savage long action
• CDI bottom metal, long action metal with short box
• PTG Fluted Bolt

I need input about barrel, barrel length and stock.

This will be shot suppressed (have an SWR Specwar in NFA Jail), and I was thinking of going with a Lothar Walther barrel, but can't decide on 24" or if I should cut it down to 20" when it's threaded. (also considering other barrel makers kreiger/hart/lija/etc)

Stock I was thinking Manners MCS-SL superlight. (but not decided, maybe other Manners/McMillan/HS/etc)

Any feedback or opinions on the barrel make/length and stock choice? I'll spend money where it counts, but I'm hoping to stay around $12-1500 for the build minus optics.

Thanks

 

[BoilerUP]

Here's a 20" barrel, already threaded. I have this same barrel in a 1:8 260 and it performs very well.
McGowen 308 Win 20" Varmint Threaded SS 1:10

I personally would not get a superlight stock and then incur the weight of a DBM and magazine - blind mag would work just fine for that setup. A MCS T2/T4/T6 or McMillan A5 would be great options IMO.

 

[SICARIO]

Here's a 20" barrel, already threaded. I have this same barrel in a 1:8 260 and it performs very well.
McGowen 308 Win 20" Varmint Threaded SS 1:10

I personally would not get a superlight stock and then incur the weight of a DBM and magazine - blind mag would work just fine for that setup. A MCS T2/T4/T6 or McMillan A5 would be great options IMO.

I'm a newb when it comes to bolt guns (been playing with the semi's for a while now), and only know of the general top names in barrels. How does to McGowen compare to other premium barrels out there?

 

[Chiller]

Why Savage, Why long action, Why .308?

 

[Mrt88]

I'm picking up a 24" 1-10 twist .308 for my long action hoping its a good barrel it's used with 400 rounds down the tube are these decent barrels ? Not trying to hi-jack your thread would like to know myself I'm getting a good deal on it he is upgrading to 30" barrel

Why not a savage ? Easy barrel swap he can do his self instead of paying a gunsmith xxx amount of dollars and I think a long action maybe because you can seat the bullets out longer ? I'm unsure new to the game I'm doing the same with mine

 

[BoilerUP]

Building my first precision 308

I'm a newb when it comes to bolt guns (been playing with the semi's for a while now), and only know of the general top names in barrels. How does to McGowen compare to other premium barrels out there?

I doubt most people could shoot the difference between the different brands of Savage prefit barrels. As I said I've got the same barrel as that in a 1:8 260 and am pleased with it - it shoots just as good as the 26" Criterion I previously had.

If you run the CDI LA/308 mag DBM, use a 204/223 extended bolt baffle and bolt throw will only be 1/4" longer than a Savage short action.

As for "Why Savage" and "Why long action", I'd bet budget plays a major role. And frankly, it will work just fine (see my 223AI built in a 110 long action). "Why 308" is a great question though, given the existence of 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[SICARIO]

Why Savage, Why long action, Why .308?

I'm getting a pretty good deal on one. I like the option of swapping out the barrel myself. I also like the idea of being able to seat the bullets out longer if need be. I already have a semi in 308, and a ton of ammo, just want something that can go out a little farther and a bit more accurate. The .260 has been tempting me for a long time, and that may be the next project, but this is my first long"ish" range bolt action. I'm not sure if those are the best reasons for the choices I'm making though....

I doubt most people could shoot the difference between the different brands of Savage prefit barrels. As I said I've got the same barrel as that in a 1:8 260 and am pleased with it - it shoots just as good as the 26" Criterion I previously had.

If you run the CDI LA/308 mag DBM, use a 204/223 extended bolt baffle and bolt throw will only be 1/4" longer than a Savage short action.

As for "Why Savage" and "Why long action", I'd bet budget plays a major role. And frankly, it will work just fine (see my 223AI built in a 110 long action). "Why 308" is a great question though, given the existence of 6.5 Creedmoor.

That's good feedback and advice, thanks. I'll look into that McGowen barrel and the extended bolt baffle. Will those work fine with the ptg bolt?

 

[BoilerUP]

If you use the LA/308 DBM, you will be length limited by the magazine you use (roughly 2.88 for AICS, 2.95 for Alpha Type 2.

 

[Oddball Six]

6.5CM ammo availability and price could be as much a consideration as the build budget. If you are doing it right, you will spend more money on the rounds you put through it than you will on the rifle that shoots them!

 

[Chiller]

6.5 Creed as factory ammo goes really brings the .308 into question.

when you start to roll your own.....the 6.5 Creed will really be a go to caliber.

 

[SICARIO]

Building my first precision 308

Ok, I have all my parts on order, hopefully it works out well

Savage long action
Ptg fluted bolt
.223 extended bolt baffle (thanks BoilerUP)
CDI bottom metal (long action, short box)
HS precision M24 stock
McGowen 20" threaded 308 barrel
NSS barrel nut and recoil lug.
Total cost was about $1000

Also picked up an action wrench, barrel nut wrench and headspace gauges, which I'll be able to use in future builds.

Now I just have to decide on a scope base and scope.

Thinking viper pst 4-16 or 6-24 for a scope. Any opinions?

Also, any merit paying to have the receiver blueprinted, or buying the tools to do it yourself. The general cost I've seen is $500 to do the job, or $6-700 to buy the tools, but then could sell/loan/use them for other builds.

 

[clj94104]

CDI makes a good bottom metal. Jeff's shop is literally 15 minutes from my house. Great guy, great product. You won't be disappointed.

 

[SICARIO]

Here's my progress so far. Have the viper pst on the way and will start breaking in the barrel. Then will bed the action and scope rail.

 

[SICARIO]

Got the scope and mags for it. Adjusted the trigger to 2lbs. So far so good

 

[SICARIO]

Building my first precision 308

Still breaking in the barrel, but here's one of my 5-shot groups.



100yrds

175gr federal gold metal match (really old stuff)

1.158moa

 

[SICARIO]

Building my first precision 308

Just got it glass bedded, accuracy tightened up to 0.96moa. Will start to do some load development to see if I can get it even better