Left Handed M24 build [Parts Gathering]

[Sandman0077]

I'm trying to start a M24 build with a twist; I'm left handed.

I'm not going for an exact copy, just one that is pretty close to the one I carried. Due to the process of elimination, I'm stuck with very few options when going for a left handed 700. I've decided on the short action SPS Varmint from Remington in .308, basically because it was left handed and had decent reviews.

My main questions are:

1. Is the parts info I have correct?
2. Are the M24 parts compatible with the left handed bolt?

I've never built a rifle before, so I'm looking to you guys for the specifics on it. Here is the list of parts I've tried to piece together from the multiple threads here (sorry if I mislabeled something):

Base Rifle: Remington SPS Varmint Left Handed
Receiver: Short Action
Caliber: .308
Barrel: 24" 416 Stainless Steel 5R with 1-11.25 twist, M24 contour
Stock: H-S Precision PSV-097 (closest left hand I could find to the M24 stock)
Trigger: Pre X Mark Remington w/3.5-5lbs pull
Action Screws: Brownells 5/32" Allen-head
Bottom Metal: Williams Firearms Oberndorf Custom Steel Floorplate
Scope Rings: Mk4 30mm steel medium height
Scope Base: 1 pc Leupold Mark 4 w/8-40 screw size
Front Sites: Redfield International "Big Bore Globe" Front Sight
Rear Sites: Redfield "Palma" Target Receiver Sight
Front Site Base: ?
Rear Site Base: ?
Scope: Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 3.5-10x40mm (30mm) M3 Front Focal
Bi-Pods: Harris 1A2-L Bi-pod Sling Swivel Stud Mount 9" to 13" Black
Sling: Turner Saddlery 1907 National Match All Weather Sling
Sling Swivels: 1 1/4" Uncle Mike's Quick Detachable Super Swivel with Tri-Lock

Like I said, I'm not looking for a 100% exact down to the markings from a specific era, I just want to get the same accuracy that comes with an M24 and that has the look (but is left handed).

Any thoughts?

 

[red6actual]

Your biggest hurdle may be the stock, have to call HS and see if they make anything close in left hand.

The rear iron sight base would be on the right side if you used it and the redfield palma only mounts on the left side.

Good luck with it!

 

[Sandman0077]

I figured the stock would be difficult. I found one by HS on stocky stocks and it comes in left hand, but no LOP. It's not CRUCIAL that I have LOP, but to me it's one of those easily identifiable traits that really stand out.

With that being said, are the M24 stocks special order only? I might could try to track down a broken one to donate to the left handed stock.. idk. I tried going through all the threads here for M24 parts, but after 30 pages my eyes felt like falling out of my head.

 

[TheGerman]

HS Precision doesn't make the PST026 for long action or the short action with LOP/cheek riser in left hand. You're either going to get the non-LOP (is that one even the right profile?) or build up a M24A3 in an AICS stock if you're stuck with getting some form of M24 in a left handed version. The PST026 not being left handed leaves the M24A2 (the version I have) out of the equation as well.

 

[Sandman0077]

I was under the impression that the M24 stock was the PST024? I might be wrong but I copy/pasted that number from another thread. That's why I was asking if it was special order only because I can't find it for sale with the LOP.

 

[JSTARSZ]

I was under the impression that the M24 stock was the PST024? I might be wrong but I copy/pasted that number from another thread. That's why I was asking if it was special order only because I can't find it for sale with the LOP.

As a left handed person I have been down this road before as I too wanted a LH M-24 and I did call H&S Precision. What they said is they don't build the PST024 in left handed; however, you can get a good gunsmith to fill in the right side and cut a new bolt channel in the left side and it would work fine. It can be done. You can call around to some Hide gunsmiths and see if they are able to work the stock issue. If you end up going this route please let me know because I may follow your lead. Call GA Precision and see if they can do it as they make a very nice clone.

 

[avidflyer]

filling it in and cutting the channel is no big deal... I'm no body shop guy and did it for a savage, it looked and worked perfect. Maybe someone like short bus could help you out. If not call Alex at mastercraft he does great work. Drawing a blank on the name but there is also a guy here that cuts stocks for an adjustable check piece, sure he could something like that.

 

[Sandman0077]

Cutting and filling the stock wouldn't be too difficult I wouldn't think (I build prop replicas as a hobby). I'd just need to figure out the proper materials to do it. I think I would have to mill out some of the aluminum if I went the cutting method though. How did you proceed with that avidflyer?

Would that be easier than putting the LOP from the PST024 on a left handed stock? My concern with that route would be the stock not being able to accept the R5 barrel (as it's made for the original varmint barrel).

Also, does anyone see any issues with the above parts list? Either the wrong parts or won't be compatible with left handed shooters like the irons sights?

 

[Wyfox]

Just finished an M24 build myself in 300wm. I would get the PST024 and send it to stock doc and see if he can fix it for ya or try it yourself. The stock will need to be altered for the safety too. The SPS 308 will be a short action, you will need to find a donor LH action in 30-06, 270, etc and have a gunsmith thread and chamber a M24 contour barrel to it in 308. The front sight base is Ok Weber, rear sight base wont do you any good on a left hand action like stated above. The front sight base would give it the look your going for.The Leopold Mk4 2 piece spec base will be your best bet for a mount, the Badger M24 base has a cut out for a right hand action, could work but would look goofy.

 

[Sandman0077]

The SPS 308 will be a short action, you will need to find a donor LH action in 30-06, 270, etc and have a gunsmith thread and chamber a M24 contour barrel to it in 308.

I have no idea why I didn't realize that at all. I guess I was thinking that the short action just meant that the bolt wouldn't come back as far, not that the whole piece would be shorter. I have no plans on converting to the .300WM, so I didn't think I would need the long action. I realize now that the short action wouldn't fit in the long action stock. Is there no .308 long action that you can just buy and add the barrel? Do I have to convert a 30-60 or something to .308 I mean.

The Leopold Mk4 2 piece spec base will be your best bet for a mount, the Badger M24 base has a cut out for a right hand action, could work but would look goofy.

Could I not just turn the base and mount it with the cut facing the left, or do the screw holes not allow that. I would like to use a 1 piece with the cutout because I dislike the full rails and the 2 piece leaves a huge gap between the optic and bolt (that's my OCD talking there). I can suck it up if there is no way the 1 piece can be flipped around though.

Keep the info coming, please!

 

[Wyfox]

No body offers a 308 on a long action, Army wanted 300wm but it wasnt NATO when they contracted the M24 so they built them on long actions so they could upgrade in the future, 22 years later thats happening. You mentioned you didnt need an exact clone so you could go with a LH SPS 308 and I believe HS offers a short action adjustable length of pull stock with a Rem Varm contour. Your next option is to find a cheap Rem 700ADL 30-06, 270, or 25-06 and use the action in a custom build(thats what I did) all three of those calibers have the same bolt face as 308 and just need a barrel screwed on and chambered in 7.62.

Your only option is the 2 piece base, you cannot flip the one piece around because the front and rear of the receiver is different.

This is the one I just built using the LRI group buy in the group buy section

 

[Sandman0077]

No body offers a 308 on a long action. You mentioned you didnt need an exact clone so you could go with a LH SPS 308 and I believe HS offers a short action adjustable length of pull stock with a Rem Varm contour.

Thank you for clearing that up. Makes since. I would prefer to go with the short action because it's less custom work (in my mind). I just looked on Remington's site and the only left handed models they have are the XCR, CDL, and SPS Varmint, Compact, and Synthetic. Of those, only the Varmint comes in .308. Do you know if I can take the R5 barrel and get it installed on the Varmint receiver?

Your only option is the 2 piece base, you cannot flip the one piece around because the front and rear of the receiver is different.

That sucks. You mean how it contours to the receiver? Or the screws are different?

BTW, nice rifle you have there!

 

[wilecoyote]

[QUOTE=Sandman0077;2680394 ... only the Varmint comes in .308. Do you know if I can take the R5 barrel and get it installed on the Varmint receiver?

I can't think myself why not_

some next options about one-piece base could be buy a blank rail from Brownell's, and have it properly cutted & drilled, or buy a rh Warne one-piece base #M673M, and milling/levelling her central lower portion, maybe_

please,anyone feel free to disagree, if I'm wrong (my lh VS ii's quite interested about that, too)

 

[broylz]

Converting an HS Precision stock from RH to LH - SP Sniper Chat Here is a thread that shows how to convert a RH stock to a LH stock.

And as far as I know, the M24 was originally a long action based on the army wanting to use the 30-06 but not having enough ammo of the same lot for testing and being too short on time to refit everything to short action, they used the .308 ammo they had for testing and it stayed that way. 300 win mag was just an extra bonus and is only being used by select units.

 

[Sandman0077]

some next options about one-piece base could be buy a blank rail from Brownell's, and have it properly cutted & drilled, or buy a rh Warne one-piece base #M673M, and milling/levelling her central lower portion, maybe_

That's what I was thinking of doing. I might see if someone can 3D scan the right handed 1 piece and then flip the rail and CNC it for me.

Converting an HS Precision stock from RH to LH - SP Sniper Chat Here is a thread that shows how to convert a RH stock to a LH stock.

Thanks for that thread link. Makes it seem a lot easier knowing that he used a dremel and files to do the entire thing. The only problem with doing it that way is that HS doesn't make the PST024 in short action, which I've come to realized I need because the only left handed .308 by Remington is short action. I've found a stock they make that's visually close to the M24 stock (PSV069) that is for the short action, but I'm not sure if it will accept the 5R heavy barrel though.

 

[broylz]

why not start with a $379 R700 ADL in 30-06 from Academy Sports? unless you already have the short action to work with.

I will be building a M24 style rifle in 30-06. starting with my current hunting rifle as a base. can do anything the 308 can do and up to the lighter 300 win mag loads. i also read "The M24 SWS had the "long-action" bolt version of the Remington 700 receiver because it originally was to use the .30-06 Springfield M72 Match cartridge. It turned out there was an insufficient amount of these rounds in a single lot of manufacture, so the operational requirement changed to use the dimensionally smaller 7.62×51mm NATO M118 Match Grade cartridge." Its from Wikipedia so take it for what its worth but it does make sense a bit, however being done in 1988 seems to say that they were past the 30-06 by then...

 

[Macca]

Do you really want to use iron sights?Or do you want them to complete the whole package?
As Red6actual mentioned,the Palma rear sight only mounts on the left hand side of the action.
But if you went with the RPA trakker as is current,they do offer the sights in either left or right handed mounts.However,i'm not sure if the mounting plate that OK Weber supplies is available as a right hand mount.

 

[Sandman0077]

why not start with a $379 R700 ADL in 30-06 from Academy Sports? unless you already have the short action to work with.

I really want to stick with the .308 because it's what I've used and feel comfortable with. The only reason I was sticking with the Varmint was because it's the only one that comes in .308 AND is left handed. Unless someone knows where I can buy just the bolt and receiver, I plan on stripping the Varmint and selling off everything I don't need for the build. I'm trying to keep the cost of gunsmithing down.

Do you really want to use iron sights?Or do you want them to complete the whole package?
As Red6actual mentioned,the Palma rear sight only mounts on the left hand side of the action.
But if you went with the RPA trakker as is current,they do offer the sights in either left or right handed mounts.However,i'm not sure if the mounting plate that OK Weber supplies is available as a right hand mount.

I just want a set of back up iron sights. It doesn't matter to me if it is the old style or new style, I just want something I can zero and keep in my gun bag just in case. As long as I can find a set that comes in left handed, I can get someone to CNC me a base for it. If I can stick with the issued irons, then great. If not, then I won't be that upset.

As far as the reason the Army stuck with the long action, when I went through sniper school they told us it was because they wanted to use a bigger round but it wasn't sufficient enough for mass production yet, so they stuck with the long action for later conversion (it would cost less to convert then it would to buy an entire new rifle). We shot the .300WM for reference but stuck with the M24 and M110 for everything else. I just figured the short action meant that the bolt wasn't allowed to go back as much. I didn't think the entire receiver was shorter.

 

[broylz]

I just mentioned the long action 30-06 because if you want to rebarrel it, you can still have it chambered for 308 if you wish and it will be more true to the m24.

 

[red6actual]

Yes, the long action was to convert to .300WM, that '06 buisness is total nonsense.

The Leupold 2 piece bases are the way to go for sure and they are spec as well as used on the latest production rifles, making one in left hand is certainly possible but a pricey endeavor and may not be worth the time.

Short action is the way to go for your build as well.

 

[Sandman0077]

I just mentioned the long action 30-06 because if you want to rebarrel it, you can still have it chambered for 308 if you wish and it will be more true to the m24.

I understand, but I really have no use for the long action if it's going to cost me more to get it converted to .308. I'm mainly concerned that the 5R barrel wouldn't go onto the short action receiver.

Yes, the long action was to convert to .300WM, that '06 buisness is total nonsense.

The Leupold 2 piece bases are the way to go for sure and they are spec as well as used on the latest production rifles, making one in left hand is certainly possible but a pricey endeavor and may not be worth the time.

Short action is the way to go for your build as well.

You may be right about that. Do you know the exact model number for the 2 piece? I'd like to start pricing everything.

 

[Wyfox]

Barrel thread tenon is the same on short and long action. If you can find a take off 5R barrel in 308 it will screw right on a 30-06 left hand long action, just needs to be head spaced by a gunsmith. Buy the HS for The Rem Varmint barrel contour because its a lot lighter contour then the M24 contour, see the last couple pages of the M24 build thread.

 

[Sandman0077]

Barrel thread tenon is the same on short and long action. If you can find a take off 5R barrel in 308 it will screw right on a 30-06 left hand long action, just needs to be head spaced by a gunsmith. Buy the HS for The Rem Varmint barrel contour because its a lot lighter contour then the M24 contour, see the last couple pages of the M24 build thread.

Glad to hear the threads are the same. I'm assuming I can just call Remington and buy the 5R barrel? I don't see it one their site.

Also, the closest HS stock that I can find in left handed is this one:
H-S Precision Pro-Series 2000 Sendero Varmint A1 Tactical Full Bull Stocks - Remington 700 BDL (RH and LH Available) PSV 079 080 096 097 107

The downside is the left handed version only comes with the barrel channel for Varmint barrels. I would like to get the M24 contour, but does anyone know if I can mill out the channel on the stock or not? Beggars can't be choosers I suppose, but I'd like to get what I want, not what I have to, you know? The M24 contour might be heavier, but I humped it for 9 months in Afghanistan, so I have no real problem with the weight difference.

 

[AccuSol-ERN]

If you are going for a really close clone in 308 you will need a long action rem700 in standard bolt face. You can then convert the m24 stock to left hand pretty easily I have done a couple conversions myself (GAP). Using the correct long action stock will also allow you to use the correct bottom metal.

Either way you are going to spend some coin to get a good smith to do the stock conversion, blueprint the action, install the barrel, and refinish accordingly. This doesn't even include the price of the parts (action, barrel, stock, bottom metal, etc.)

If you are just after a good blaster for minimal cost, get a lefty sps varmint in 308win (short action) and drop it in whatever stock you want or try and find an older lefty Remington varmint in 308 that came with an HS stock.

BTW - You can modify anything to make it work but to have it look like it came that way you are paying someone skilled to do it. I have fixed a lot of botched M5 inlets and barrel channel inlets over the years, some of which looked like an angry beaver was in charge.

Thanks for your service........no bullshit.

Ern

 

[Sandman0077]

Using the correct long action stock will also allow you to use the correct bottom metal.

I was thinking that I could at least use the same brand, but the short action version.

If you are just after a good blaster for minimal cost, get a lefty sps varmint in 308win (short action) and drop it in whatever stock you want or try and find an older lefty Remington varmint in 308 that came with an HS stock.

I intend to just get the short action Varmint, have the barrel swapped out, and then add the misc bits to it. I will get everything together and then ship it off to whoever I find that can do a proper job. We have a local shop in town but my father went through 6 months of hell trying to get his Remington repaired after their gunsmith got ahold of it. Remington actually called the gunsmith and *****ed them out, and then billed them for the repairs! So I guess it all worked out, but I'll be looking for someone else (any suggestions?).

Thanks for your service........no bullshit.

No thanks needed. I enjoyed my time in. :thumbup:

 

[AccuSol-ERN]

There are a lot of good smiths here on the 'hide. Just pick a well known and approved one that has the lead times and pricing to suit your needs.

Ern

 

[Sandman0077]

Well I've updated my parts list in the first post. I need to decide on a bottom metal. I'm not sure if I can justify spending $500 on the Sunny Hill trigger guard. I read somewhere that I should go with the Badger Ordinance for a tactical rifle. Is there a reason for this?

Also I'm having trouble tracking down the trigger. Some are saying its the 40x but I thought that was on the M40. Others are saying its a normal trigger but tweaked. The Remington site just says Remington trigger.

So confused.

 

[kb1]

Talk to Dakota Arms about the bottom metal. They still had Remington contract BM (M24 BM) as of the beginning of August and it only cost me $260 shipped. Much cheaper than the Sunny Hill. The trigger is a pre X-mark trigger modified. Texas Brigade Armory does the mod for $70.

 

[AccuSol-ERN]

Since you are going with a short action, I wouldn't bother with getting a "correct" m24 bottom metal (just in short action). Since you are getting an HS Precision stock most likely inletted for the factory BDL bottom metal just get a good steel replacement as the factory aluminum bottom metal is crap. Pacific Tool and Gauge makes a decent steel replacement at a decent price. This should take care of your stock dilemma short of opening the varmint countour barrel channel to M24 contour and switching the short action m24 stock to lefty.

The rest should be simple parts acquisition.

Ern

 

[Sandman0077]

The trigger is a pre X-mark trigger modified. Texas Brigade Armory does the mod for $70.

BOOM. Thank you for that. :thumbup:

Since you are going with a short action, I wouldn't bother with getting a "correct" m24 bottom metal (just in short action). Since you are getting an HS Precision stock most likely inletted for the factory BDL bottom metal just get a good steel replacement as the factory aluminum bottom metal is crap. Pacific Tool and Gauge makes a decent steel replacement at a decent price. This should take care of your stock dilemma short of opening the varmint countour barrel channel to M24 contour and switching the short action m24 stock to lefty.

Yeah that's pretty much the conclusion I've come to. No need to pay hundreds for something that I will probably not notice, let alone paying to get a fancy one inletted. I might save up for a Sunny Hill but I'd like to get a working rifle first lol. The stock I found comes in left hand short action, so I shouldn't have to swap anything over.

Also I found a semi-decent guide on making my own M24 style length of pull butt. That should save me a couple hundred dollars and time tracking down a cheap donor stock.

 

[red6actual]

HS Precision makes a good stainless floor metal mag combo, if you want a mag, its drop in to their stock and I have it on my LTR, works great for a flush fit, only 4 rounds though but 10 round mags are available.

 

[red6actual]

The action screws are not stainless on the M24, so the if the action screws are the proper length on the donor rifle use them.

 

[Sandman0077]

The action screws are not stainless on the M24, so the if the action screws are the proper length on the donor rifle use them.

Thank you for pointing that out. I didn't think they were, but I just figured they were stainless steel that got coated if they were.

 

[Sandman0077]

So I've been tracking down more of the parts and I've decided on going for the Williams Firearms Oberndorf Steel Floorplate. Good reviews and cheaper than the Badger and Sunny Hill, but look identical (to me at least).

Also I'll be using a Turner Saddlery National Match All Weather Sling. I wanted the 1907 Leather model but if I can have the look with all weather materials, that's a no-brainer.