So I was sitting here at work, thinking about better things. I have been thinking about this for a while. I will someday have a rifle built for me. But I know just enough about this subject to get in over my head, quickly.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a list common actions and list the more common wildcats and other 'unusual' cartridges that they can be converted to and suggested modifications.

Say something like this...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CZ550
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

458 lott: re-barrel or re-chamber 458 Win Mag, tweak feed rails, possibly install new or modify existing magazine.

470 Capstick:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
etc...

Does anybody know of a list like this. If not, I might be persuaded to compile and post such a list if provided the data.

Any thoughts and am I being naive?

Take Care,

-Steve

[This message has been edited by Steve (edited 11-17-2001).]

I've never seen such a list.
But I have also thought it would be nice to have.

Not your answer, but a quality gunsmith would advise you. Give the 'smith your ideas and a list of actions you have available. It would be nice to have a list done in a knowledgable manner.

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Member NRA, Life NMLRA

It would be nice, but depending on how much you are willing to spend, and what you are willing to live with, most actions can handle most rounds. It's only the 416 rigby, 500 Jeffrey and 505 gibbs that really limit ones choice of actions. Thus you are looking at the large 550 action, 602, the large ruger M77, the P-14, dakota, and other custom mauser varients.

When you start with the belted basic or 404 brass, it just comes down to std length or mag length action.

To make a bolt gun properly feed, it should have it's magazene, follower and feed rails cut precisely for the round it is chambered for. One can get away with less, but then one ends up with less.

you don't need a list because at your point you wouldn't know what it said, just names and numbers...

If you want a custom rifle, pick out a very good smith, and talk it over with him and let him fit you out with exactly what you want and need....

Your concern should be picking out a good gunbuilder at a fair and reasonable price...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

I'm disappointed, which is thankfully pretty rare on Saeeds boards. But I'm always disappointed when the Holyer-than-Thou-arrogant "What YOU need" card gets played. Hell I'd bet 90% of us are self taught in what we do.

You know IF there WAS such a list, then it would come a whole lot closer to no longer being just "Names and numbers" to a whole lot of people. Sorry, but in my book, education , particularly SELF education, and the attempts at it are to be encouraged, not belittled.

Ok. I'll get off my soapbox now.

But in closing what calibers would YOU have thought the 22 Rimfire actions could be used for?

A list is meaningless because it is subjective to what the gunsmith is comfortable with.

Folks have opened up 98 mausers to 375 H&H length, there is even Harry Selbies 416 Rigby on a 98 action, yet many smiths choose to limit the 98 to 2.5" long cases. Whats right?

The Rem 700 can be opened up to 416 Rigby, but many folks feel the 404 size case is pushing it.

The Win M70 as well can be opened up quite large, but what is good, and what is prudent is up to argument.

The Ruger #1 has been used for 577 NE, but many state 500 NE is the limit.

Etc, etc.

There is also the issue of how much are you willing to spend, and exactly what do you want? Are you looking at getting a 458 win mag, and having it opened up to a 458 lott, or 460 G&A or 450 Rigby? Is one looking for the "best" action to start with? Does one just have to have a pure mauser type action, and is willing to spend what it takes to modernize one, or go with a custom made mauser. Some folks want the cheapest possible big bore to go bang, others want perfection in feeding, others have aesthetic desires.

You may not have cared for how Ray stated what he did, but he he hit the nail on the head, if you know what you want, a list isn't needed, and if you dont' know what you want, a list won't answer the question.

Perhaps the better way to state the question would be, I want to build an X caliber, and am considering Y action, or rather have Z dollars to spend, what are my options?

Well said Paul. And you did it without sounding like you meant to say "You're too stupid to even think about building a gun. Bravo.

I understand that there are umpteen begilion different oddbal things one can do and end up with a workable firearm. But that's not what I understood the question to be. I may have missed something in the reading and rereading of the question, but I did not get that Steve wanted an exhaustive disertation of all the possible scenarios. But if the Winchester Mod 70 action is commonly used for X,Y,Z calibers and what length is needed.

or if one has a wildcat in mind based on parent Case Y, what actions are "commonly" used.

People have been known to build their actions from the ground up to fit a particular case, but I didn't get out of his post that that was what he was after.

And Steve probably could have done without the condesending attitude, I know I've never appreciated being addressed in such a manner (Even when I really asked for it and deserved it). And you proved that the point COULD be explained with out it.

I just re-read Ray's post, and really didn't read it the way you did. I appreciate Ray's ability to concisely state his opinion. At work I've learned the value of polishing ones presentation, but I do enjoy to the point posts. Sometimes the curt verse of a curmudgeon presents alot more then an initial read would lead one to conclude.

Honestly most folks would be way better off going after doing it right then trying a save a buck, or over analyzing the ideal this and that, when it has already been done, and valid conclusions reached based on way more field experience then we'll ever have.

I don't suppose simply saying that the CZ 550 action is perhaps the best starting point for a big bore provides much education, but there are alot of reasons for me reaching that conclusion, that aren't easily expressed in that statement. I'd also say that one should factor in ~$2k as entry fee for a big bore DGR that you'd really be happy with. Again, alot has gone in to that asessment on my part, and while folks can say, well so and so can put these parts together for me for $1k, they are missing the value of what they've overlooked.

No argument with any of your post. In fact I think you cut to the heart of the matter (Again) in your second paragraph.

"Honestly most folks would be way better off going after doing it right then trying a save a buck, or over analyzing the ideal this and that, when it has already been done, and valid conclusions reached based on way more field experience then we'll ever have."

The list of what has "Already been done" is what I interpreted Steve to be asking for. Without anyones assessment of what might have been "best". But it would provide us relative newbies with a vague notion of what the options were. And a place to start researching as to what we wanted vs what we wanted to achieve.

I think I have exhausted my views on this subject, at least to the point to where I think further discussion could turn counter productive rapidly. But I do appreciate your jumping into it Paul. You turned a potential flame war into (what I think was) a rational disscussion. The point may be moot however, since Steve seems to have opted to completly bow out of it.

Vibe,
You read a lot more into my post than I intended..

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

That being the case, I appologise for my harsh reply. My point was only that a "list" of what has already been done would help keep folks from having to reinvent the wheel everytime. It would probably save the gunbuilder some time having to talk a body out of doing something that wouldn't work. I can see how that story, told over and over, would get old and frustrating in a hurry.