Squeaky 135 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evlblkwpnz 3,418 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 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. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 (edited) 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 January 21, 2018 by patriot 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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