Building a Rifle on a Tight Budget

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.....
 
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.
 
An out of balance rifle is a risk of using a #6 contour, and one of the reasons that sights won't be purchased or installed initially. If it's too front heavy I can either recontour a bit, add some lead in the stock, or a bit of both. Once I have it how I want it, the sights and finishing will be done.

As far as the choice of sights, the NECG sights are the ones I'm aware of that are readily available. They look good and are highly functional, but I certainly would consider other options if I stumble upon any. For some reason, I'm a sucker for barrel band front sights, which complicates matters slightly when it comes to scrounging since the band diameter needs to be close enough to ream to fit. As a lefty, I've also found that attempting to scrounge parts, particularly actions and stocks, is a road to frustration, so it generally doesn't enter into my mind. I'm also far too picky about most things. I typically decide what I want and save money by waiting for a sale.

I actually was planning on a barrel band sling swivel to match the front sight, for both functional and aesthetic reasons. Having been bashed in the hand by a fore end mounted sling swivel, I can assure you it's less than pleasant. My current .375's both have barrel bands and I prefer it. It will also help the rifle stay where it belongs when slung with the suppressor mounted.

I realize it's somewhat odd to build a low budget, push feed, stainless and synthetic cerakoted rifle, throw a suppressor on it, and then insist on traditional express sights and a barrel band swivel, but we're all a little odd sometimes, myself more than most. Maybe I'll really blow your mind and install a quarter rib; I'm a sucker for them too, but it would potentially complicate scope mounting. Engraving a buffalo on the aluminum floorplate may really compliment the knurled tactical bolt handle!

In all honesty, the budget for this build is entirely imaginary. I just wanted to see how cheaply I could throw a nice, albeit somewhat ugly, custom rifle together. The only reason it's a .375 is that I haven't built one yet; I already have custom builds in smaller calibers. Once I decided on .375 I knew I'd blow the budget on sights. It was almost a .416 or a .458 since I have neither, but I choked on the idea of building a push-feed .4-something. If I do end up getting my hands on a lefty M70 CRF action the chambering will start with .4, and probably end with 16. That one will be at least a little more traditional, along with a lot more expensive.

While I'm afflicted with left-handedness, I'm fortunate enough to also be left eye dominant. I have a nephew who is left-handed and right eye dominant. He's learning to shoot right-handed as well. Fortunately, we caught that early and started teaching him right-handed, so there's nothing to unlearn for him. His father (my brother) has the worst of all worlds in this regard; he's right-handed, left eye dominant, and learned to shoot right-handed. His choices are to close his left eye, don't hit anything, or learn to shoot left-handed and have the same problems finding suitable guns that I do. So far he's chosen to close his left eye when shooting rifles, and not hit anything when shooting shotguns.
 

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Trying to be a bridge between Eastern and Western schools of conservation.
From India, based in Hungary.
Nugget here. A guide gave me the nickname as I looked similar to Nugent at the time. Hunting for over 50 years yet I am new to hunting in another country and its inherent game species. I plan to do archery. I have not yet ruled out the long iron as a tag-along for a stalk. I am still deciding on a short list of game. Not a marksman but better than average with powder and string.
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Badboymelvin wrote on BlueFlyer's profile.
Hey mate,
How are you?
Have really enjoyed reading your thread on the 416WSM... really good stuff!
Hey, I noticed that you were at the SSAA Eagle Park range... where about in Australia are you?
Just asking because l'm based in Geelong and l frequent Eagle Park a bit too.
Next time your down, let me know if you want to catch up and say hi (y)
Take care bud
Russ
Hyde Hunter wrote on MissingAfrica's profile.
may I suggest Intaba Safaris in the East Cape by Port Elizabeth, Eugene is a great guy, 2 of us will be there April 6th to April 14th. he does cull hunts(that's what I am doing) and if you go to his web site he is and offering daily fees of 200.00 and good cull prices. Thanks Jim
 
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