Modular rifle build

Like a lot of people I'm wrestling with the replacement of my AR. While mine was a pure hunting tool, I did rather like the modular aspect of the platform, and enjoyed building it from parts, with the possibility of morphing it to other niches (if I'd had the opportunity).

I've canvased several replacement options but nothing yet has reached my loosely defined personal "satisfaction/benefits vrs cost" ratio

However I've been thinking and have a modest proposal to offer for your opinions and thoughts . . . . now keep in mind that although I want "modular" I'm at heart a Blued Steel and Walnut fan.

A key gap in my cabinet is what some would define as a "walk-about varmint" rifle - lightish, with a bit of reach, smaller pesties to 300M, wallabies, goats and the like to 500M etc. I'm not too focused on the actual cartridge yet, except that it should fit in a short action.

With an eye to modular I got hammering the keyboard and bugging suppliers (the good buggers @camowsm @kiwigreg @dfmaisey ). Nothing has hit the mark yet with suppliers so it might have to be a order and wait project - but sometimes that's not a bad thing.

So - the proposed build details

Action - a Bighorn "Origin" ordered with two boltheads, .378 and .473 (and who knows, maybe the fashion bug will get me and I'd need a magnum BH for 6.5 PRC)
Barrel - something in the class of a Brux, Bartilen or Kreiger - about 20 or 22", light varmint profile
Bottom metal - Remington std hinged "BDL" floorplate etc (initially to save a few bob - its modular so can be changed), later I'd like a 5 shot flush mag with the ability to slam a 10 shot (er) in if that runs dry
A special recoil lug - a "Switch lug" which offers practically tool-less barrel changes, no barrel nut https://westtexordnance.com/product-...ry/switchlugs/ (note that this needs an action without an integral recoil lug)
Stock would be a Remington factory walnut sporter stock of the highest grade I can find through the course of the build. Long term upgrade into something with an adjustable comb.

I've been down the switch barrel route before and its not that useful for day to day changes, but with this platform I'm looking at the ability to change long term, playing with various chamberings, taking advantage of stocks or barrels that come up etc etc.

Thoughts??

Buy a Savage action...:P

Fascinating

Closest I've seen to what you want is the Black Collar Arms Pork Sword. Whether it fits your needs, not sure.

although I want "modular" I'm at heart a Blued Steel and Walnut fan.

Cold steel wooden heart, woodn't of picked it:thumbsup::D
KH

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Originally Posted by ebf

Buy a Savage action...:P

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Savage have a reputation for accuracy but to me they are just plain ugly . . . you could never love one

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Originally Posted by rossi.45

Savage have a reputation for accuracy but to me they are just plain ugly . . . you could never love one

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Yup.

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Originally Posted by rossi.45

Savage have a reputation for accuracy but to me they are just plain ugly . . . you could never love one

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On the contrary, I love 2 of them :P

Have a short and long action and 5 barrels between them...

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Originally Posted by ebf

On the contrary, I love 2 of them :P

Have a short and long action and 5 barrels between them...

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Theres always an anomaly to every rule ;-)

Hard to shop for tentman.
Found this in walnut, as for magazines! carry as many as you can read.
KH

Blaser

What about a mooseburge and don't feed me that line it's not walnut.
KH

https://www.ballisticmag.com/2018/05...n-rifles-2018/

I think I will purchase a direct impingement action as it's not a semi auto.:D

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Originally Posted by rossi.45

Savage have a reputation for accuracy but to me they are just plain ugly . . . you could never love one

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Yeah but still lots of fun....wait...are we still talking about firearms..?

Strasser system rifle?
Its like a Blaser but for straight Blokes.

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Originally Posted by Mauser308

Buy a chassis to fit what you like and replace the plastic furniture with Walnut?

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Interesting thought. I like wood for hunting as metal is not nice against skin, particularly in below zero conditions. If you've hunted at altitude in icy conditions with a Ruger PR its illuminating . . .

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Originally Posted by norsk

Strasser system rifle?
Its like a Blaser but for straight Blokes.

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Straight pull gun Lego... Looks awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ3PrJ926k0

I believe @The Claw has done the same kind of thing with that bighorn action??

Meh.Just an over engineered blaser imo.
Having the milled rail loses the modular tag for me and means you cannot swap scopes quickly or guarantee zero like the blaser. To me that's what makes the blaser besides its practicality, is that using the same ammo I can go from a low power scope for close country and swap it to a scope for LR in seconds and guarantee zero.

It looks as long, chunky and ugly as an A5 shotgun.[emoji16]
Huge bolt thro compared to blaser.
Parts essential to field stripping housed in the rifle is a potential disaster for kiwi hunters. Especially a klutz like me.
Blaser only requires one Allen key.
I doubt the trigger or accuracy would be any better either. However I do like the trigger system.
Suits a euro or yank hunter sitting in a stand or on a range shooting targets.

I'll stay gay with my 25yr old blaser.





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I've handled the basic Strasser version and I'd agree that the Blaser is a much better option (if you like Blaser's, which I don't). Proprietary systems where you're pretty much "locked in" just don't thrill me.

For me "modular" means the ability to mix and match from a range of barrels, triggers, stocks, mags etc.

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Originally Posted by Tentman

I've handled the basic Strasser version and I'd agree that the Blaser is a much better option (if you like Blaser's, which I don't). Proprietary systems where you're pretty much "locked in" just don't thrill me.

For me "modular" means the ability to mix and match from a range of barrels, triggers, stocks, mags etc.

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so something based on the M700 action with savage style barrel attachment maybe

Thats the "Remage" system for switch barrels and it seems to work pretty good. The "switch lug" https://westtexordnance.com/switchlug/ is an alternative, that is very interesting as its a whole lot less intrusive and possibly easier to do - and it should work with carbon wrapped barrels. I just conducted a wee test using a reloading die in the press. I could set the die to a desired depth (in a barrel threaded to an action = headspace) and hand tighten. If I put 20 inch lbs of torque on the die locking ring set screw (using split locking ring) I had to use a lot of weight on a open ended spanner to shift the die out (I couldn't adapt my big torque wrench to fit on a die to measure it). I could control the depth readily to plus or minus .001". I'd be interested in a machinists view of this.

I have a west Texas lug but I hanot mounted yet.
If you look at the new terminus action, the barrel is hand tighten and two grub screw finish to lock it in place either side

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8-__QAprVSA#

Also, tikka t3 have a very constant manufacturing process and so far on all the barrels I have swapped, the headspace has been always bang on.you just need a good barrel vise and wrench set up to do and undo your barrels.
There are also so many boltless barrelled actions around that with one bolt you could use multi calibres with out the worry of doing and undoing barrels

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Originally Posted by Mauser308

Is that because of the famed 'modular self-releasing bolt'?

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Haha - with a WTO recoil lug (or the Terminus system @Friwi refers to) we could have them (Tikka's) loosing barrels as well . . . . .

Straight pull bolt action of any interest.
See the browning that gun city are promoting.
did I miss caliber selection. from your list of requirements I'm guessing the 223 and similar power levels are out. short action so that takes out the cannons.
So, 220swift, 22-250, 6mm and 6.5mm.
Assuming as you are talking about pest to goats out to 500 mtr anything 7mm and bigger is out?.
Z

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Originally Posted by Tentman

Interesting thought. I like wood for hunting as metal is not nice against skin, particularly in below zero conditions. If you've hunted at altitude in icy conditions with a Ruger PR its illuminating . . .

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Closed cell eva foam stuck to the foreend and cheek pad should work and also give a sort of arctic camo pattern look.

drilling with a couple of barrel sets???? sure ticks the wood n blue boxes...sure to hold value over time...sure to be handed down to next generation....sure to be diferent.

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Originally Posted by Tentman

I've handled the basic Strasser version and I'd agree that the Blaser is a much better option (if you like Blaser's, which I don't). Proprietary systems where you're pretty much "locked in" just don't thrill me.

For me "modular" means the ability to mix and match from a range of barrels, triggers, stocks, mags etc.

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Get where you’re coming from but I would’ve thought a blaser would tick most of the boxes. Yes, you’re confined to blaser-branded components, but I don’t see a problem with that as their quality/functionality is as good as anything on the market. You pay for it though...

Also interested in what cartridge you go with. 223 with heavy pills could be a goer, but maybe not on goats at 500yd!

If your looking blued and walnut with out excessive cost and switch barrel look at the Shultz and Larsen. Probably exactly what your looking for. There was one with a thumb hole stock on trademe.

I did look at S & L but for me the cost/benefit wasn't there (again locked into their Proprietary barrels).

At this stage I'm thinking the first iteration will be 6mm Creedmore in either a Remmy Clone action or maybe a Tikka (even Beretta might start to like me if I cut up an old one to enable them to make the sale of a new one)

I have a Bighorn TL3 action set up as a switch barrel system. Currently have a 6mm Creedmoor and 20 Tactical barrel for it (along with the boltheads) and am thinking about doing a 22BR and a 6.5 PRC or SAUM. Mine is in a chassis (MDT ACC) but I'm thinking about getting a lighter stock for it for when I want to cover a bit more ground walking. Otherwise the chassis system is great I reckon. I also have a KRG chassis (now on my 22LR trainer) which has a polymer skin over the alloy so solves the cold issue.

I'm not sure if a BDL setup would be very successful with differing case sizes/shapes? I'm using AICS mags in mine and would probably get some APA bottom metal and a Curtis mag for a lighter set up and/or swap out my 10 shot mags for 5 shot with a lighter stock.

Between my current barrels there's less than 1 click of elevation and windage at a 100m zero. I have an action wrench and barrel vice and it's quick and easy to change barrels. I can see it being a bit of a hassle if you have to visit a range to verify zero though, I have a 100m target set up permanently at home so no problems there.

Happy for you to have a play with it Foster if you are up my way some stage.

Thanks for that most useful reply Sam, appreciated. I might be getting up your way later in the week (otherwise in a fortnight) so will take you up on that offer at some stage when it suits you.

For the ultimate in barrel swapping... It uses a case to tighten or loosen the barrel nut... Watch at the 1 minute mark.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBBzAywzZ1M

@Tentman I have a 100 6.5 creedmoor brass at Brians if you want it.

Nice - I will be undertaking a comprehensive inventory of all your stuff !!!! (for future reference haha)

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Originally Posted by R93

It looks as long, chunky and ugly as an A5 shotgun.[emoji16]

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@R93 ah mate how could you say that about one of my old favourites.
Philistine

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Originally Posted by csmiffy

@R93 ah mate how could you say that about one of my old favourites.
Philistine

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Didn't say they weren't a good gun tho. They are. Just fugly.[emoji16]

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