thinking of a custom, need advice please.

[Kal52]

The past few months Ive been kicking around the idea of having a rifle made.
Seems like I really cant find anything I want on the shelf nowadays that I want.

I have a basic Idea of what I want, just need advice on how to go about it.
Im trying to do this as cheaply as possible, I dont shoot competition or long range (if I can help it), this wil be a hunting rifle, for pests/predators/deer

What Im wanting is a very slim/compact profile bolt action rifle,  I like my CZ527  very much and was thinking of one of those to start with, or another short action, of the same slim compact design. was thinking maybe a savage 25 could work, I like the idea of removable magazines, on both of these rifles.

The barrel will be a 18" light/med contour varmint,  I like the cz varmint barrel, or the one on the savage 25, not too heavy yet stout.
I like my rifles to be a bit front heavy.

as far as chambering I figure the 6x45 sounds like a good first step, I shoot alot of .223 now, and have alot of brass stored up, my brother shoots a 243 so we can share bullets, that and it sounds like its basically just a barrel swap and your good to go.

another option would be the 6.8, I shoot that in a contender handgun atm, like it, but with all the differnet specs/twist etc, I dont know if itll change next week or stay the same, its kind of a turnoff.

any advice on where to start?  what do you guys think?

thanks

Dave

[Rangr44]

Have you considered a CZ-527 Carbine in .7.62x39 ? - Or, just have  any/your .223 CZ-527 bored out to 6mm/.243.

.

[Kal52]

I already have a mini in 7.62 x 39, and I dont want to do anything to my cz, Its a shooter and I really like it the way it is.

Just want something a bit different, and I want a certain contour barrel, Not a heavy barrel, but not a sporter/skinny one either.

Dave

[Mikey]

Dave:  the CZ action is a sweet one and if you are thinking of a 6 or possibly 6.5x45 you are making a good choice.  A rebarrel seems to be about it for a changeover and either round will give you what you want in that lightweight action.  The barrel - think of a #4 contour - not a heavy barrel but not a skinny sporter either.  As for length - hmmmm, since this rifle will be 'custom' to your personal specifications and the length, weight and balance specific to your particular body size I would suggest going longer first - you can always shorten but you cannot lengthen - and I would not drop below 20-22". 

As for the 6.8 - nice 6.5mm round.  This round performs very well from the shorter barrelled AR type rifles and I'm certain should perform well from a bolt.  Good luck. 

[Catfish]

I personally like the Savage actions because I can change the barrels and bolt faces myself. You can pick up a Savage in 222, 223, 204, 17 Rem. ect and just unscrew the barrel and screw in a 6 x 45 barrel and your good to go. If you want a better trigger Sharp Shooters Supply makes and ecelllant one. As for the stock you can keep what you got or spend as much as you want. If you do not understand how to head space I would recomand you have a gun smith swap the barrels.

[Kal52]

I was looking at savage as well,  I love my 22mag, and have heard nothing but good things about their centerfires.
I was also told that if you call the custom shop, they may/may not set you up with a custom chambering and a mix and match of whatever options you wish from their line up. Again, just from what Ive heard, havent made that call yet.
I do hate their stocks though, ugly and to me clunky.

the more I read about the little model 25, the more I think Id like to try that action, just wish they made a synthetic stock for it.

As far as me doing the work, I think it best for a trained pro to do it, that would be a recipe for disaster.  

The more I read about the 6x45, the more I think Ill like it, quite a bit more smack than a .223 but not a pelt shredder if you load it right.

Thanks again.

Dave

[Catfish]

I never plaied with the 6 - 45, but I do have a bench gun in 6 - 47 ( 222 Rem. mag. case) and it shoots like a bench gun should shoot. I also have a .25 cal. on the .221 Fireball case that I bought for the action, but it shot so well I never rebarreled it. I may rechamber it to the 222 mag. case though.

[1sourdough]

  For your criteria something like a 20" barreled 243 or 7mm-08 seems in the ballpark. Since I set up the family 'youth' rifle a few years ago I've been carrying a 243 more often for predators & deer. I stumbled upon a Model 7 Predator not to long ago that's a nice carrying rifle.

[Freezer]

Ruger makes a 30 caliber round that was designed for the 18" barrel I think it was called the Rugar Compact Magnum (RCM).  It's a very interesting round that should meet your neds very well.

[Kal52]

I want to be able to keep it somewhat fur freindly, .270 would be the biggest id go, just because of the 6.8.

Ive thought long and hard about getting another .243, but they can shred a pelt, but its such a good round that its still soo very tempting, I loved my old encore in it. 

hmm, something to think about some more.

Dave

[Mikey]

Hmmm, pests, predators, deer, not long range, don't want to shred a pelt - if you already have a 243 why not use solid heavy slugs for pelt work and soft nose bullets for predators and deer; that or step up to the 6.5 bore as there are lots of bullets available in that bore, fmj included, and that should be a sufficient pelt saver. 

[Freezer]

  Larger round nose 30 cal bullets (165gr) should pass through without much hydroshock or pelt damage..

[Kal52]

I used to have a .243, I foolishly sold it, probably for something that I "needed to have" at the time, which Im sure I traded for something else "I needed".

Ive shot coyotes with my 30-30, and surprisingly didnt mess them up as much as i thought that they would with a 170 RN, in fact I had one cased and is in my wall, sewed up real good, but still want to stick with a smaller bore.

I know, its kind of a tall order, but the pests I can shoot with whatever is built.
Deer, it wont be my main deer rifle, but my extra doe tag/target of opportunity rifle
will probably be used more for coyotes than anything.

I was looking at some different actions tonight, and man are they spendy, I may just have to wait and find a good used rifle and see what I can build off of that.  Will have to wait a bit, for a "custom", but its fun looking!

Dave

[Freezer]

  I have a custom Rem model 7 chambered in 7TCU.  I generate 2400 fps with 140 gr Sierra GK bullets and hold 1/2 moa.  It is quiet and good for about 200 yards.  If your not familiar with the 7TCU, it was developed as a silaute cartridge for the TC Contenter.  It's a .223 neck up to 7mm.  I fire form my owm brass and hand load so the odd cartridge isn't a problem but the dies weren't cheap. Short action light gun 18" barrel that will handle deer, bear and coyote without noise and recoil.
  This gun is also a lot of fun at the range and deer camp.  It's very effecent, cheap to load  and and has no recoil. When the folks at the range or camp ask what I'm shooting it's fun to tell them. Any short action 223 could be rebareled for this cartridge.