I am finally able to have a custom rifle built. Budget has never let me. I have bought piece by piece over the last few months and am about ready to get it put together. I went with a Shilen Select match #5 contour, Bell and Carlson Medalist stock (tan w/black web), Holland oversized firing pin with spring, Sako style extractor, Callahan cocking piece, and Talley one piece rings. I chose to have it built in .308 win and am gonna have it teflon coated black. The action (rem 700 short) will be completely trued, rings will be lapped. The only thing I have done is gotten a jewell trigger and thats just down the road. I cant wait.

Best of luck to you.....I sincerely hope it's everything you expect in a custom gun.

russ,
all great choices you have there should be a winner. congrats and regards

I request you post pics of rifle upon completion. Post targets, and loads.

The 308 is a great choice.

What will the primary purpose of the rifle be?

I have 2 Shilens, #4 contour and have no regrets.

My Jewel triggers were preset from the factory at 1 pound.

ditto "Doc" let us see the finished product!

Few more details. The barrel will have a finished length of 24 inches. I will use it for white tails here in Georgia and no extreme distance but during the cooler months I practically live at the gun range. The 308 will give me good barrel life and should really be accurate with 165 grain Sierras or ballistic tips. I really want to try some match grade bullets and see what it will really do when I get it. The Bell and Carlson stock is really nice and the aluminum block makes it that much more rigid, but it is gonna be glass bedded to get that little "extra" out of it. I will try and post pics when its done.

#5 is a solid tube. Do you plan on having it fluted?

Your setup sounds sweet.

165 bullets will be perfect. If you want to try some match bullets, give the Bergers a try in addition to SMKs.

For hunting, don't overlook the Hornady 165 boat tail. I like that bullet quite a bit from the 308 as well as my brother's 300 SAUM.

Hey Russ, Who is doing the Gun Smithing and what kind of scope?

I dont want it fluted. I never really have been keen on how a fluted barrel looks plus Shilen says that fluting voids their warranty..

Oh yea, Its also gonna have a Badger Ordinance 3/8" thick recoil lug. Overkill maybe but the bedding will be solid to it and i know its ground truely flat.

The gunsmith is Bob Mangrahm in Milner Georgia. He is very knowledgable in all the questions I have asked him, and believe me I have drilled him repeatedly with good and stupid questions alike. He built a 300 RUM on a remington 700 action and a factory stock for a friend of mine and it shoots great with factory loads. His work was clean and thats what I wanted to see.

As for a scope I am looking at Burris, Leupold, and Bushnell Elite 3200 series. I dont want an adjustable objective so I will probably have to stay with something 4-12 power and less.

Sounds like a nice rifle Russ, would you consider a fixed rather than variable scope?

I'm new to both shooting and stalking (hunting) and went with a 308 on the basis of some of the reasons you list but I was a bit confused with scopes. I thought I needed lots of variable this and that. However, when I sat down and thought it out I had to admit that almost all my shots at game would be taken between 100 and 200 yards. Occasionally I have the chance to shoot out to 300 at the range. It seemed to me that a fixed power scope would do all this without additional moving parts and cost. My dealer took in a used S&B 8X56 which I bought for not a lot of money and now I have first class glass on my rifle that does everything I need it to do. The 56mm objective is maybe a bit on the big side and 6 times magnification would probably do the job just as well in theory but in use I've had no complaints at all.

Not to the taste of everyone I know and I also appreciate that as shooting is a hobby some people enjoy tinkering with scopes etc. and derive a lot of their enjoyment from such tuning. However, to me this seemed like a great way to get top grade optics that will fulfil all my needs for not a lot of money.

No matter what in the end you go for what gives you most fun and enjoyment and I hope you get a lot of pleasure out of the new rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Brumbelow:
The gunsmith is Bob Mangrahm in Milner Georgia. .. built a 300 RUM on a remington 700 action and a factory stock for a friend of mine and it shoots great ... His work was clean and thats what I wanted to see. .

Hey Russ, That is the very best way to find out how well a Gun Smith does his job. I hope you are as happy with yours as your buddy is with his.

I have both AO and non-AO scopes. For relatively close Hunting (inside 400yds) the non-AOs do just fine for me.

Best of luck to you.

I'd shy away from the ELite and the Fullfield in that power range, I owned both and they were very blurry when compared to Leupy VX3, Nikon Monarch(or BMs for that matter), and Conquest. The lower powered 3200s I've looked through were fine but, the higher powered 3200s and FFs I've looked through were blurry to my eyes. Just a heads up, wouldn't want to see subpar glass on that fine new rifle.

Good Luck

Reloader

I strongly agree with Reloader. Put a nice optic on such a fine rifle.

Make that three on Reloader's scope recommentation.

Sorry to disagree fellows, owned 3000 3-9 and 2-7, was not impressed, but the new short actioned 3-10x40 had longer eye relief at 3.7 and very clear.

Had a 1.5-6x -4000, owned a few 6-24's, and one 4-16x later models in 4200. ALL superb optics that allowed me to shoot VERY small groups and were very bright when hunting at dusk.

If you have not tried the 4200's or the 3-10x 3200, take a look for yourself.

And fyi I have owned other brands inc. Leupold.

Just posting MY experience FWIW.

6.5BR

I sold a 4-12 3200 not long back that was very hazy on paper, I couldn't make it focus on small detail like leaves, grass blowing, etc at ranges as close as 200. Had a FFII 4.5-14, same thing. Tried out a 4200 for a few groups at the range just 2 weeks ago(4-16), same thing. They are just plain blurry to me. I'm not saying they aren't great scopes, they'll probably hold up well and the 3x9 FFII and 2-7 3200 I have now are fairly descent. The clearest scopes in the mid range price arean to my eyes are Conquest, Monarch, Nikon BMs, VXIII, VXII. Just my eyes, you fellas may have diff opinions.

Have a Good One,

Reloader

I will not argue with what your experience was, but can say I shot a 1/2" group at 330 yds with my 6BR with a 4-16x40 4200, very clear to my eyes.

A friend who has owned many brands, Leupy, Burris, Nikon and Elites said the 6-24 elite is the one he can see bullet holes at 420 yds...others he cannot - same or higher mag. I do realize EACH scope of the same model can be different in resolution, focus to one's eyes, etc.

I am a leupold man from way back.
But I am very impressed with the new Nikkon monarch 2.5X10. Don't care much for the BDC reticle though.
I do not like Adjustable objectives as a rule , but the side focus version are a big improvment.
I think you would do well with a 3.5X10 VX3.
I would steer clear of a 4.5X14 with fixed objective. I can't remember the reason, but a tech at leopold explained it to me in techease a few montsh ago...tj3006

For optics on such a nice piece a

S&B PM II 4-16x50 mil dot
S&B 4-16x50 nr 4
Zeiss Diavaria 6-24x56

or

Swarowski any 30 mm tube would be a great addition.

/C

Guys I appreciate the input on the optics. I am looking at the Zeis 3-9 also. It maybe a little above my budget right now but I may be able to squeeeze it in. The best scope I have right now is a Nikon from Walmart. It was given to me,,,but the dang thing is clearer than my buddies Leupold VX 2 in the same power and even he says that its better. I may use it and save up for the Zeis.

Agreed: Your top notch rifle desrves a top notch scope :-)

Finally got it about a week ago and man I love it. First trip to the range was great. I am gonna try and post pics of the rifle and targets I shot. Take in mind this was fresh Nosler brass and all basically break in loads to fire form the brass so dont laugh at the targets too much.

The barrel is floated nicely and in the center of the stock.

And this last one is so you guys can see all my junk LOL.

And this last one is so you guys can see all my junk. LOL.

Hey Charles!

I can inform you that once you have started going the "Customway"...you will never look upon a factory rifle again...hahaha..Your mind will be set on the next "Project"...

Great looking rifle you have got there, and accurate too I see. Thanks for sharing with us

Rifle looks nice to me. Targets looked good too.

Congratulations on your first custom rifle.

Be sure to report this coming hunting season on what you kill with it.

Did you change your mind on the barrel length, 'cause it sure doesn't look 24" in the picture.

What a nice rifle - wonderful accuracy!

Charles
What does you rifle weigh? I was thinking of using a #5 but have been leaning towards a #4 to save a little weight.
Wes

Mike, its 24". It looked funny in the pic to me too but its sitting at an angle on the bench.

Wes, to tell you the truth I havent weighed it, but its not heavy "to me". Its just a tad heavier than my friends Weatherby Vanguard in 7mm Mag.

Russ, really nice man! Congrats. Those targets don't look good either, they look awesome. Fine shooting. That thing will be a hammer on our whitetails here in Georgia.

Good on ya!