I'm looking to put together my own custom build this coming summer and was hoping for some feedback on the parts I have selected for it to see if I'm missing something obvious (either literally missing parts or figuratively missing something better). My goal for this build is that it would be something that would not require a gunsmith, so that I could assemble it myself.
Action: ARC Nucleus Action (pre-SHOT Show order)
Barrel: Criterion Savage Pre-fit barrel chambered in 6x47 Lapua
Trigger: TriggerTech Diamond
Muzzle Brake: Thunder Beast 30CB Brake (so an Ultra 9 can be attached)
Chassis: MPA BA Competition
The primary use for this rifle would be PRS matches and similarly styled competitions, which is why I chose 6x47 Lapua. Enough speed to shoot ballistically similar to or better than a Dasher without worrying about finding or fire forming BR brass (and not as slow as a standard BR). The decreased barrel life compared to a Dasher feels to me like it's negated by the fact that you don't have to worry so much about fire forming your brass since you can just size down the (easily obtainable) 6.5x47 brass. That said, maybe I'm missing something here and there's a better option?
I like the look and features of the Nucleus action, since it's threaded for Savage pre-fit barrels already and it's a 3-lug action with controlled round feed. At the pre-SHOT Show pricing it feels like a steal. This is the one thing (besides the muzzle brake) that I don't want to change about the rifle since it's already ordered and I definitely want to build on it.
As far as the TriggerTech, the Criterion, and the MPA go I'm open to other suggestions if there's a good reason to use something else. I chose the TriggerTech since it's a sealed unit and I know based on my location that the rifle will be seeing a lot of fine silt blowing around and it's adjustable to the range that I prefer (somewhere around 8-10 ounces, and single stage).
The Criterion I choose just because for a good Savage pre-fit it seems to be between them and Shilen, and from what I've red they're more or less the same in terms of accuracy. If that's not the case I'd love to hear it, but it sounded like the main difference people found is that the Criterion barrels had tighter bores than Criterion barrels. I saw that Bugholes will make pre-fits out of Bartlein, Rock Creek, or Krieger barrels but I wasn't sure if it was worth the extra $160-190 plus the additional wait time (I'm already going to need to send the barrel out to get threaded with a cert I have, which is an expected turnaround of about 2 weeks).
As far as the MPA goes I'm a little more set on this than the others, though I do like the Manners stocks and I can get 30% off of an XLR (I would get the Envy if I went XLR for the Arca Swiss rail). I like the full length Arca Swiss rail, the vertical grip, and the various attachments that MPA has developed for their chassis such as barricade stops and movable bipod mounts (to fit on top of a barrel, for example). It's a good system, and I think it's popular in PRS for good reason.
Like I said, if anyone can point to something I'm planning that's stupid or if I'm missing something better or just missing something entirely, it would be much appreciated. This would be my first rifle build, so I'm trying to plan it all out in advance and have it ready hopefully by August or so (if all goes well on the Nucleus front).
Action: ARC Nucleus Action (pre-SHOT Show order)
Barrel: Criterion Savage Pre-fit barrel chambered in 6x47 Lapua
Trigger: TriggerTech Diamond
Muzzle Brake: Thunder Beast 30CB Brake (so an Ultra 9 can be attached)
Chassis: MPA BA Competition
The primary use for this rifle would be PRS matches and similarly styled competitions, which is why I chose 6x47 Lapua. Enough speed to shoot ballistically similar to or better than a Dasher without worrying about finding or fire forming BR brass (and not as slow as a standard BR). The decreased barrel life compared to a Dasher feels to me like it's negated by the fact that you don't have to worry so much about fire forming your brass since you can just size down the (easily obtainable) 6.5x47 brass. That said, maybe I'm missing something here and there's a better option?
I like the look and features of the Nucleus action, since it's threaded for Savage pre-fit barrels already and it's a 3-lug action with controlled round feed. At the pre-SHOT Show pricing it feels like a steal. This is the one thing (besides the muzzle brake) that I don't want to change about the rifle since it's already ordered and I definitely want to build on it.
As far as the TriggerTech, the Criterion, and the MPA go I'm open to other suggestions if there's a good reason to use something else. I chose the TriggerTech since it's a sealed unit and I know based on my location that the rifle will be seeing a lot of fine silt blowing around and it's adjustable to the range that I prefer (somewhere around 8-10 ounces, and single stage).
The Criterion I choose just because for a good Savage pre-fit it seems to be between them and Shilen, and from what I've red they're more or less the same in terms of accuracy. If that's not the case I'd love to hear it, but it sounded like the main difference people found is that the Criterion barrels had tighter bores than Criterion barrels. I saw that Bugholes will make pre-fits out of Bartlein, Rock Creek, or Krieger barrels but I wasn't sure if it was worth the extra $160-190 plus the additional wait time (I'm already going to need to send the barrel out to get threaded with a cert I have, which is an expected turnaround of about 2 weeks).
As far as the MPA goes I'm a little more set on this than the others, though I do like the Manners stocks and I can get 30% off of an XLR (I would get the Envy if I went XLR for the Arca Swiss rail). I like the full length Arca Swiss rail, the vertical grip, and the various attachments that MPA has developed for their chassis such as barricade stops and movable bipod mounts (to fit on top of a barrel, for example). It's a good system, and I think it's popular in PRS for good reason.
Like I said, if anyone can point to something I'm planning that's stupid or if I'm missing something better or just missing something entirely, it would be much appreciated. This would be my first rifle build, so I'm trying to plan it all out in advance and have it ready hopefully by August or so (if all goes well on the Nucleus front).
