First-Time Rifle Build Question:

[308reloader]

I'm in the process of doing my first rifle build and am curious as to which brand of bottom-metal I should use. I'm looking at doing this in .308 caliber and will likely be doing it over an extended period of time, so I want to find the best of the best to use on this project.
I currently have a Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308 and I've installed bottom-metal from CDI Precision Gunworks. I love it and am 110% satisfied with the product. I especially like the thickness and the sturdiness of it. I want to stick with the same magazines for each rifle for simplicity sake and to alleviate confusion.
I've already decided on an action to start with. I'm still torn between a McMillan A4 or a Manners stock of the same style.
Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. I can decide on the stock with minimal difficulty, but I am at a loss regarding the bottom-metal.

 

[Pusher591]

Re: First-Time Rifle Build Question:

Seems like you already know what bottom metal you need if you are 110% satisfied with the CDI. They make great stuff and IMHO that will probably do everything you need.

The A4 stock is great but is probably best suited for prone shooting most of the time. If your gonna be shooting from different/off hand positions then I would go with a Manners T2, Manners MCST, or a McMillan A1-3.

If you want something in the middle then a A3-5 or A5 from McMillan.
I went with an A3-5 after shooting with one.

 

[308reloader]

Re: First-Time Rifle Build Question:

I got the CDI bottom metal for the first rifle because it was one of the most inexpensive places I could find to purchase the product from. I wasn't sure if I should stick with that because it seems a lot of the stocks out there are already cut and inlet for Badger Ordnance bottom metal.
As for the stocks you mentioned, I'll have to google them and see what you're making reference to. I want a good stock with a vertical pistol grip and an adjustable cheek piece. I just have to figure out now if I want the saddle-style cheek piece or the integral adjustable cheek piece.

 

[Pusher591]

Re: First-Time Rifle Build Question:

If the CDI is working for you the I would keep it.

The first three stocks I mentioned have a more traditional palm swell and thinner forend to keep it lighter and a little more comfortable.

The Manners T2 is a great stock for an in between mix of thinner forend but still has a vertical palm/grip and is available with an adjustable cheek peice that is integral.

I say try to get behind as many as you can before you order, try to see what feels good to you and when you order your stock just order it inletted for you current bottom metal

 

[308reloader]

Re: First-Time Rifle Build Question:

Awesome. Thanks for all the advice. This makes my slow build so much easier. I'm excited about this, but at the same time I'm nervous that I'm not going to find all the stuff I want/need.

 

[Pusher591]

Re: First-Time Rifle Build Question:

Im by no means that knowledgable, I have just learned most of what I know
from this site. I have been trying to build me a rifle for 2 years and finally got off the ground in May of this year. Mines being built by Short Action Customs.

I hope your build takes off for you. If you'd looking for barrels check out Greg Young, he goes by 'bugholes' here. He always has Obermeyer, Rock Creek, and Brux barrels in stock. Any of those three barrel makers are top tier and you can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[308reloader]

Re: First-Time Rifle Build Question:

Any one of those barrels better than another for threading and mounting a can onto? I'm looking at the YHM Predator QD can to interchange between my new build and my existing rifle. It mounts using quick-detachable threads on a muzzle brake that can be put on a rifle and left on it. A person can buy multiple muzzle brakes and put them on different guns while still utilizing the same can.

 

[Pusher591]

Re: First-Time Rifle Build Question:

No, all those barrels are equal. One is no better than the other in my opinion. They are all single point cut rifled barrels. The Brux barrels are a smaller less well known company but their barrels have been said to be as good/ better then Kriegers. The more people that are using them the better their reputation becomes. After seeing some of the groups on here that were shot from a Brux barrel I'm completely confident in them, so much I bought one for my build

The threading comes into play depending on who you get to do it. Get a reputable smith to do your work and you will be fine. Greg runs a rifle shop as well so he can chamber and thread the barrel before he ships it to if you want. Give him a call, he's real easy going and super helpful.

Just out of curiosity, what action did you decide on?

 

[Pusher591]

Re: First-Time Rifle Build Question:

I should have said less well known in the tactical community. Brux has been supplying/Making record setting barrels for competition guns for sometime now.

 

[308reloader]

Re: First-Time Rifle Build Question:

I decided to go with the 911 (Stand Alone) Action from Underground Skunk Works here in Montana. I've read a lot about their actions and have seen quite a few write-ups in magazines and narratives on television about their actions, so I decided that I'd go with theirs. I'm still waiting on pricing and other information from the company, but I'm fairly satisfied that I've chosen a good action. The link to the action is at the bottom of the message here. I like it and I'm pretty damn excited about it. Like I said, this build will take some time, but I'm confident that I'll be able to put something together that will drive some pretty nice tacks at distance.
I'm very happy with my SPS Tactical, especially after I put the Bell & Carlson stock on it and all but threw away the piece of shit Hogue that it came with. I just want something that is 'all me' in a way. I can't think of a better way to say it. I want something that I have put together from the ground floor up, so to speak.
I don't want to spend a few thousand to buy something that someone else put together and says will work for me. I want to build something that I know will work for me.

http://www.undergroundsw.com/page15.php