Building a bolt action

[Klauss]

Me and my oldest have been discussing his first hunting rifle purchase when he turns 18 soon. Everything from a cheap savage to a Blaser R8( he’s been saving up for awhile ).

Thought crossed our mind about building a bolt action ourselves. Neither of us have any experience with this and he is far more handy than I can ever hope to be. Also has expressed interest in gunsmithing.

I know there are a ton of guides online, but does anyone have any that are better for absolute beginner’s like ourselves?

[GimpyPaw]

How much of a budget are we talking? There are some high precision components that are machined to such tight tolerances that you can order an action, barrel, and stock that will screw together and be PRS match ready once you mount a scope, but we're talking about $1500 actions, $1000 barrels, and the stocks can run between $900 to $2000.

Get a Tikka T1 or T3. I help out at our club's hunter sight in (held every Saturday the month before hunting season starts). I've watched multiple people show up with a brand new Tikka and print a 1/2" to 3/4" group on the target. Have not seen one that couldn't do sub-1 moa yet.

If he really wants to do some gunsmithing work get a used Remington and have fun. Lots of plug n play components for those actions.

[baboon]

Ever thing about a used vintage scoped rifle? I see them from time to time on a Texas based forum. A pre 64 Winchester 30/06 with a period scope caught my attention recently.

[Klauss]

The “ budget “ is around 3k but it’s not much due to having no equipment for it.

At first he was looking at do it all guns but now that he found out his great grandfather used to put together flint locks with my dad he thinks it would be great for us to do together.

[GimpyPaw]

OK, so he needs a good deer rifle, a scope that will slightly outperform the rifle, a sling, and enough ammo to get dialed in and kill his deer?

Tikka T3 lite stainless in 6.5 PRC = $820
Vortex Viper PST Gen II FFP 5 - 25x = $850
Vortex 30mm rings (medium) = $76
Transfer fees and shipping (est) = $100
Total = $1846

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1183726027

https://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-viper-pst-gen-ii-5-25x50-riflescope-black.html?_iv_availability=in-stock&_iv_code=VX-RS-VVG250R-PST-5256

https://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-pro-series-30mm-riflescope-rings.html?_iv_parent-tube-diameter=30-mm&_iv_availability=in-stock&_iv_tube-diameter=30-mm&_iv_ring-height=medium-1-in

That leaves him some money for a good padded sling, premium ammo, and some range time to get deadly. With a 200 yard zero it's basically point and shoot out to 300 yards.