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I've built a couple of custom guns, and keep swearing that I will never do it again. (This time I really mean it!!)
Pac-Nor will make you a custom pre-fit barrel, in stainless, for $300. My local 'smith will true an action, screw in the barrel, and check headspace for $60. That isn't bad, and I really like Pac-Nor. They did a 6.5x55 barrel for me, that I get to try out here in a couple of weeks.
My current project started with a brand new commercial #1 barrel in 7x57, already blued. With a little digging, I quickly became convinced that this is one of the nicest general purpose rounds available. Paid $87, shipped.
So here is how that project stacks up:
Barrel $87
Commercial Mauser action, all blued, drilled, tapped, $200
Synthetic stock, $85
Leupold rings and bases, $40
Burris FF2 scope, $200
Smithing $60
Total cost, up and running, $672 for a lightweight rifle, ready to hunt about anything but big bears. Whole thing just drops right into the synthetic stock.
If you have a strong, modern action, and run the 7x57 full throttle, with a 140 grain pill, it is a very close rival to the 270. At milder pressures, or smaller bullets, it is a low recoiling, pleasant to shoot round for big mulies, and everything on down in size.
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