Most important bolt action upgrades.

[Buckshotu2]

I know this sounds like a stupid question, but I’m this age of information overload, people cannot help but wonder which upgrades will make the most impact.

Forums are a blessing and a curse because we constantly see incredible examples of rifles that are awash with every conceivable customization. If money were no option, I’d imagine most of us would load up our online shopping carts with a custom action, carbon fiber barrel, and a Manners elite fill (folding) stock with a mini chassis.

Now assuming a regular (non match shooting) person who shoots in various areas regularly wanted to get a solid factory bolt gun and perhaps upgrade a few things, what would be best?

Let’s call it a semi custom, bench rest, sling up hunting, do all, truck gun......

Options:
•New barrel (carbon fiber?)
•Sweet chassis or bedded stock
Trigger
•Custom action (or is a factory action acceptable?)
•None of the above and spend the money on glass and ammo.


This also brings up the real guy question of caliber....... Is a regular guy going to benefit THAT MUCH from switching from 308 to 6.5 CM, or the like?

 

[m6z]

Trigger is typically a good upgrade for a rack grade rifle like a 700 or a Savage without the AccuTrigger.

It's very hard to give advice with general questions like this.

It matters what you are starting with.

$300 Savage, Tikka CTR, Bergara Pro, JH, MPA, AI, etc.

 

[Crang]

Trigger. 308 to 6.5 depends on range. Less than 500 its probably not worth the money if you already have the 308 and inside 250 definitely not worth the money. If a new gun- 6.5 is a no brainer.

 

[Buckshotu2]

So if someone is buying a new factory rifle.... Get a 6.5CM and a new trigger.

Other upgrades aren’t worth the money? Or are they just not necessary?

 

[BurnOut]

As others have said, trigger, and ensure that the barrel is free floated in the barrel channel. You can also bed the action in the factory stock unless it's Tupperware. If push comes to shove on the stock, you can go with a Boyd's for a couple hundred dollars and be in decent shape.

Beyond that, good glass and a good load... and lots of practice.

 

[m6z]

So if someone is buying a new factory rifle.... Get a 6.5CM and a new trigger.

Other upgrades aren’t worth the money? Or are they just not necessary?

How much money are you prepared to spend on the rifle? How much for glass? We need a budget to work with.

 

[jetmd]

If you plan to shoot the rifle on a regular basis my 1st mod is always a conversion to feed from AICS detachable mags.

 

[Buckshotu2]

I guess I should throw this in as an option.

Let’s say that someone was going to buy something and doesn’t already own a rifle.

Building is expensive, but you get what you want out the gate. Is it worth the money for a custom rifle, for an average guy, or does it make more sense to buy a factory rifle and replace the trigger....

 

[m6z]

I guess I should throw this in as an option.

Let’s say that someone was going to buy something and doesn’t already own a rifle.

Building is expensive, but you get what you want out the gate. Is it worth the money for a custom rifle, for an average guy, or does it make more sense to buy a factory rifle and replace the trigger....

Are you cool with waiting a year for a custom rifle to be built or do you want something right now?

You can go out and buy a Bergara PRO today and be at the range by the weekend.

I ordered my Origin action in Feb and just received it a few weeks ago.. I'm still waiting on PVA for the barrel and I've yet to decide on the stock/chassis. I won't be shooting this rifle till spring at the earliest.

 

[Bkultra]

What's your budget? Factory rifles can range from Savage to AI

 

[Bandit31]

The question still remains on how much you want to spend.

If a custom built rifle to your specs is not in your budget, then find a good factory rifle which there are plenty to choose from now.

If your budget is limited to a factory rifle, why only focus on the ones you have to spend more money on changing shit out?

 

[Buckshotu2]

How much money are you prepared to spend on the rifle? How much for glass? We need a budget to work with.

I’m partially writing this for myself, but also for guys that are going to search out this info in the future.

For myself, I have a 308 Remington 700 that was trued but a previous owner. I wanted to upgrade the barrel and stock, but I figured that by the time I installed a new barrel and Manners mini chassis, I could be in the same neighborhood as having a whole new custom action built to spec.... only problem is that a custom rifle seems overkill for an average nocompetive shooter.

I can spend 3000 bucks or so and already have a Nightforce NXs 5.5-22x56 scope. Still not sure if that is money well spent to go 3k on an average guy bolt gun.

 

[Buckshotu2]

What's your budget? Factory rifles can range from Savage to AI

I consider a factory rifle a Rem 700 or maybe a Tikka.

 

[phlegm]

Modest rifle.
Usable trigger.
Reliable optic AND mounts.
Purdy Dang Good Ammo

 

[Buckshotu2]

Is it common for people to overspend on rifles and fail to put enough time into load development and shooting skills for the higher quality rifle to even make a difference?

 

[Keel Haul]

I was in this position last year went with an off the shelf 700 in 300WM. If had to do it over again, I would have gone the semi custom route. I’m swapping out almost everything but the receiver and bolt it seems at this point (remage conversion in the future though). I’m thinking if I didn’t try and, for lack of a better term, cheap out, I wouldn’t be buying and swapping out parts. First thing to go was the B&C stock since it gave me a jaw weld with the glass I have on it, which was replaced by a manners with all the bells and whistles and a detachable mag. Next on the chopping block is the factory trigger and since the rifle makes decent groups, I’ll have the barrel threaded for brake/can use. A couple of jobs for the bolt will be done after the holidays and I should be ok for awhile. When the barrel is ready for replacement, I’ll be doing the remage conversion, probably next winter-ish.

If I had it all to do again, I would have paid a little more up front and got what I wanted, a trued action with a rail already intergrated, large bolt knob, the pre threaded barrel, the stock, the trigger and bottom metal. Sure you can reclaim some cash in trying to offload the stock parts, but there’s no guarantee they will sell though.

Just my opinion. Good luck in your quest.

 

[m6z]

Quality rifle options at $3k or less.

https://kineticresearchgroup.com/product/sotic-precision-long-range-rifle/

https://patriotvalleyarms.com/john-hancock-bolt-action/

https://masterpiecearms.com/cat/mpa-bolt-action/barreled-actions/

https://www.bergarausa.com/Bergara_Production_Rifles.php

 

[Buckshotu2]

I was in this position last year went with an off the shelf 700 in 300WM. If had to do it over again, I would have gone the semi custom route. I’m swapping out almost everything but the receiver and bolt it seems at this point (remage conversion in the future though). I’m thinking if I didn’t try and, for lack of a better term, cheap out, I wouldn’t be buying and swapping out parts. First thing to go was the B&C stock since it gave me a jaw weld with the glass I have on it, which was replaced by a manners with all the bells and whistles and a detachable mag. Next on the chopping block is the factory trigger and since the rifle makes decent groups, I’ll have the barrel threaded for brake/can use. A couple of jobs for the bolt will be done after the holidays and I should be ok for awhile. When the barrel is ready for replacement, I’ll be doing the remage conversion, probably next winter-ish.

If I had it all to do again, I would have paid a little more up front and got what I wanted, a trued action with a rail already intergrated, large bolt knob, the pre threaded barrel, the stock, the trigger and bottom metal. Sure you can reclaim some cash in trying to offload the stock parts, but there’s no guarantee they will sell though.

Just my opinion. Good luck in your quest.[/QUOTE

Yes, it seems common for people to buy a factory rifle, pay for it to be trued and then build an entire rifle around it.

 

[KirbAppeal]

I’m partially writing this for myself, but also for guys that are going to search out this info in the future.

For myself, I have a 308 Remington 700 that was trued but a previous owner. I wanted to upgrade the barrel and stock, but I figured that by the time I installed a new barrel and Manners mini chassis, I could be in the same neighborhood as having a whole new custom action built to spec.... only problem is that a custom rifle seems overkill for an average nocompetive shooter.

I can spend 3000 bucks or so and already have a Nightforce NXs 5.5-22x56 scope. Still not sure if that is money well spent to go 3k on an average guy bolt gun.

This topic is so subjective that it’s honestly very hard to answer. I have friends coming to me all the time and asking what they should buy. My first questions to them are always “what’s your budget? What do you want to do with it?” From there we discuss option in that price range and ‘job description’, with caliber choice usually being the easiest thing to decide.

As it turns out, i have a friend coming to me right now in just about the same dilemma as you. He wants a nice ‘do-all’ rifle, but isn’t a die hard shooter, nor does he have the time to shoot a lot. He keeps asking if i think $2k is worth spending, and i give him the same answer every time. “What $2k is worth to me on a rifle, it may not be worth to you” Personally, i’m Fine with spending what some folks would consider top dollar on a rifle i may only shoot once in a while, and more than likely won’t be able to shoot to the rifle’s full capability. There are a lot of people out there however that would be sick at the thought of $4k spending 350 out of 365 days a year in their safe. Hence the subjectivity.

 

[MarinePMI]

@Buckshotu2 Unless they buy a Tikka. I've never heard of a Tikka that needed to be trued. With pre-fits now available, I'd be hard pressed not to recommend them to a new shooter. A CTR and a chassis will set you back about $1500. That leaves the other $1500 for all the other stuff (bipod, sling, bags, Kestrel/Garmin BC). This assumes you already have glass (as you stated that you had)...

All this being said, let's be honest: This is most certainly not a poor man's sport. More like a rich man's disease.

 

[Buckshotu2]

I realize the subject is a bit all over the place. I should narrow my questions down.