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Hello:

 

I have a dream of one day having a custom .308 bolt rifle built using a McMillan gunstock. I like their A-4 stock. It just looks cool.

 

I really like straight, untapered barrels with recessed crowns. I appreciate the phenomenon of barrel harmonics and how thick, untapered barrels reduce or eliminate harmonics. There's heat absorption too. I figure a typical 1:10 twist will do fine. I've settled upon 168 gr. Federal GMM cartridges.

 

However, when I visited Bartlein's and Shilen's websites I quickly became confused. A few straight barrels are listed, but I'm not sure which one to get. I had no idea so many barrel contours existed.

 

All I know is I'd like to get a straight barrel that's maybe1.25" in diameter and perhaps 26" long, and drilled & tapped for a scope. I have straight .920" diameter Green Mountain barrel for a .22LR project. I assume a straight or untapered .308 barrel needs to be thicker.

 

Anyway ... I have a few questions:

 

1) When ordering a barrel, how much extra length (if any) needs to be included for machining a .308 Winchester chamber? I couldn't tell if they chamber the barrel for you.

 

2) Is the barrel I've described called a bull barrel or a target barrel? Are the two synonymous?

 

3) I have an extra Remington 700 .30-06 ADL. Can its action & bolt be adapted for a .308? (I inherited a beautiful Weatherby Mk.V deluxe in .30-06 from an uncle). If not, I'll just get a new action.

 

4) What needs to be done to a stock so it'll be magazine fed? What's a good 10-round .308 magazine?

 

5) Glass bedding or pillars, or both?

 

6) What is the flat dark finish on barrels? I don't want a bright stainless steel barrel. I want a darkened barrel. However, it's not a glossy dark blueing I want.

 

7) Is it better to go ahead get a stock that's inletted? If so, do you send McMillan your action & barrel or do you just tell them what you have?

 

8) How the heck do I pay for all of this?

 

9) Am I even asking the right questions?

 

10) Why do the voices in my head keep telling me to build a custom rifle?

 

 

I am ignorant about custom builds so any enlightment is welcome. Right now, if I walked into Bartlein's or Shilen's shop I'd probably sound like a complete idiot. I am not a competition shooter.

 

I'd just like to take a MacMillan A-4 stock, a new bull barrel, and a new action (maybe a Tymney trigger too) and have a gunsmith put it all together one day. I just don't know the details.

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Plan to spend thousands either way you go. You may actually get a better deal on a rifle or customizing package from a reputable specialist, as well as some sort of accuracy guarantee.

 

 

The little voices in my own head tell me that I will never shoot long range enough here in Florida to get my money's worth out of anything more than an off the shelf Savage. When things settle down and I decide to get a bolt gun and some decent glass, I am just going to go with a Savage of some sort just in case I decide to fiddle around with it later and change something barrel related. they just seem like the sweet spot for value and ease of working on.

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I went w/Savage. Match grade accuracy without the heavy $$$.

Put your money in optics and range time.

 

I've seen guys win matches with guns that looked like they'd been through a war. The shooter makes more difference than the gun.

Edited by patriot
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