Noob needs help with build..

Armyguy209

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Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 8, 2012
3
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45
NorCal
Hey guys! My name is Dan. I am new to this site as well as with precision rifles. I have several AR's and other style rifles/handguns but no precision..YET. I spent 4 years in the US Army, and one year in Iraq (OIF3). I got out in 2006 and now still do a similar profession(LEO).

So I am building my first rifle which I intend to use as a dual purpose rifle. It will mainly be for hunting deer. I would also like to use it for long range shooting just for fun. I might eventually get in to it more seriously but for now just what I stated.

When I was at the range a few weeks ago, I met a guy who was shooting an awesome looking rifle. I started talking with him about it and he let me shoot it a few times. I really liked the way it felt. It ended up being a AICS 2.0 with a Remington 700 drop in.

Needless to say I went ahead and ordered a AICS 2.0 short action in Dark Earth for a .308 caliber setup. It should be here next week.

Now my question is, since I don't already have a Remington 700, should I just buy all the parts separately? I am not sure who makes good barrels and actions for this, or how much better they are than the stock Remington parts? From the research I have done so far, it seems that the Timney and Jewell triggers seem to be the most popular. I also ordered the Harris swivel bi-pod which will be here Saturday.

Please help me out. If you guys think I should go buy a Remington 700 and just use that, then I will go that route. If you guys think I should just buy aftermarket parts from say Shilen Rifles, etc., then I will go that route. Please specify makes and models so I know what to look at.

Oh and even more important, Optics. I have had my eye set on something for a while but it is so darn expensive it's ridiculous. However, I still want it and plan on getting it eventually. The plus side is that I can quickly detach it from the rifle and use it at work for night ops. Plus I can write it off on my taxes which is a big help for a single guy. I can always use it on whichever rifle I would need it for based on the circumstances. This is what I am looking at. The link is not to a sales site, just the info from the manufacturer. I think it should be ok to post it but if not please let me know and I will remove it.

http://www.thor-scope.com/thor-320-3x

I will probably buy a $300 scope in the mean time until I can buy that one.

Thanks for any and all help.
 
Re: Noob needs help with build..

What's your budget?
if you just wanna build off a 700 you can get the action from a cheap ADL package, ~ $425 then add to that what you like, barrel, stock, etc. Just be sure you have a local gun/Riflesmith that can do the work. Everything has a price...
I bought one of the 700 sps AAC-SD models because it was cheaper than the 5R but that's a good rifle as well.
I hear allot of good things coming from Savage and TIKA as well so research some more and see what route you wanna go, but in my opinion, can't do wrong with any 700
 
Re: Noob needs help with build..

Your best bet is to buy a R700 5R and drop it in your AICS you have coming. If only going to spend $300 on an optic, get a SWFA SS 10x or 16x or a Bushnell Elite 3200 10x. Make sure you get a mil/mil version of whatever you get. Then get into reloading. Put 2000-3000 down the tube and decide what you really need in a full blow build after that. Just my .02
 
Re: Noob needs help with build..

Thanks guys. Maybe I will just go with the 5R in .308. If it is really good then there will be no need to upgrade later. I found what I think is a pretty good deal on one and it has a Leupold VX-II 6-18x40mm scope on it for $1,200. The only thing I noticed is that it has a 24" barrel. I would prefer a 20" barrel. Do they come in both lengths because I have seen people with both? Or are people just getting them cut down and threaded?
 
Re: Noob needs help with build..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Armyguy209</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would prefer a 20" barrel. Do they come in both lengths because I have seen people with both? Or are people just getting them cut down and threaded? </div></div>

They come in 24" with an unthreaded barrel or 20" with a threaded barrel.