Building a Rifle on a Tight Budget

[WI-2021]

I put a Mcgowan barrel on my Vanguard 300WM and it's a shooter. I've been very happy with the choice, and it was used for multiple animals by my friend and me in RSA in May.

The McGowan barrel is ordered, so now the wait really begins. I ended up going with a Pac-Nor #6 contour at 20" long. This should put the weight of the completed rifle right about 8 lbs bare.

In keeping with the budget build theme of the discussion, I'm about $1900 into parts on this build. Labor has typically run about $200 including assembly, headspace check, laser engraving caliber marking, bead blasting, and glass bedding. NECG express sights and installation, plus cerakote, will up the price substantially, but that won't be completed until everything else is dialed in.

Of course, right after ordering all the parts for this build, I may have an opportunity to pick up a CRF Model 70 long action in LH with a magnum bolt face. Always a new project.....

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Interesting. You may bring that rifle up to 8 lbs with #6 contour on 20" barrel, but sitting on a synthetic stock I have a feeling this gun will be significantly out of balance. I have carried a significantly out of balance heavy rifle in the field hunting (my brother's 300WM Browning BAR) and it ain't fun!

I'm not sure I see the utility of a fancy very expensive NECG express rear sight on a gun you intent to sandblast and paint with creakote? I opted for like-new used 1990s Winchester Safari Express sights on my 404J build. Had already installed the same on my 30-06 03A3 after rebarelling and rebluing. The rear sight has a short ramp and it's adjustable all ways. Its single leaf folds flat. Folding leaf I could do without but I guess it's nice for storage, especially sliding in and out of soft case. I paid $100 for first set of sights and $150 for second set + shipping (too much but didn't have time to shop around). Presumably you will not be adding a barrel band swivel? With 20" barrel a conventional stud mount in fore end should be fine.

My grandson is left handed and right eye dominant. He has just started shooting at local juniors club. I insisted that he learn to shoot right-handed. Seems to make more sense. I must say I was very relieved to find he was cross dominant when I tested him at the first session (and I tested him several times to be sure). Gave me a legitimate excuse to force him to learn to shoot right handed. Now my guns are assured of a good home in the future where they will be used.