The Making of a Rifle

  

The building of a custom rifle begins by selecting an action such as: Montana 1999, Remington 700, Winchester Model 70, and 98 Mauser. These pictures will give you a brief look at the precision workmanship that I do when when I am building a custom gun. The action that I selected was a Remington 700 and it will be chambered in a .308 caliber.
The face of the action is recut so that it is perfectly true with the threads.
The lugs are lapped by hand on teh bolt so that they fit the action perfectly.
The bolt handle was made by hand so it would have a custom look and provide a good grip.
The bolt was fluted so it would also have a custom look.
The bolt shroud was fluted so it would match the bolt.
The scope base holes on the action were oversized to an 8/40 to make the mounting system stronger.
The front action screw was oversized to a 3/8 - 24 to support the oversized barrel..
The threads were hand cut on the barrel so that they would fit the action perfectly.
The oversized recoil lug was handfitted to the barrel so it would have a perfect fit.
The action was threaded on the barrel so the fitting of the recoil lug could be checked to make sure it was perfect.
The chamber is cut on the lathe and the head spacing was set back 20 thousandths so that the final cutting can be done by hand later.
Parish breaks the edge of the threads with a file as it spins in the lathe. He holds emery cloth against the barrel edges to polish and smooth them.
The barrel was fluted.
There was a recess target crown cut on the barrel.
Here is the action and barrel fitted with an oversized recoil lug. The bolt handle was cut off and a tactical knob, turned from bar stock, was welded into place.
The stock was made of Zebrawood which was laminated for strength and stability. It was finished in a high gloss urethane. The action and barrel were polished and blued. There was a Timney bench rest trigger installed and set to 3/4 of a pound. The total weight of the gun is 14 1/2 lbs.
Another shot of the finished product.
And a closeup--note the stainless washer made for that big action screw.
Another close-up of the bolt face.