£900 tactical rifle (fantasy) build

[Dangermouse]

Can a "tactical" rifle be built for under £900?

(Apologies for using the "tactical" tag, what I mean is a rifle with heavy barrel, scope rail, bi-pod, changeable magazines and combined with stock that can give under 1 MOA accuracy to at least 600 yards and can compete in the McQueens)

Someone is selling a Howa bottom metal and 10 round magazines on eBay for around £103 - not bad as the Yanks are selling them for around $100.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Howa-1500-Mag ... 2a1f35cd8c
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Howa-Detachab ... 2a1f2a5c1b

This got me looking at the Howa 1500 Varmint and reviews. Although it will not set the world on fire, with some work you can achieve under 1 MOA with the right ammunition.
I see on GT that you should be able to pick up a new .308 Howa 1500 Varmint for £600 with a Houge stock.
Add £50 for a Bi-pod and £60 for a Picatiney rail and you have enough change to buy a second magazine and or a good bag.

Anyone care to build a fantasy "Tactical" rifle with new parts cheaper?

PS: I have had a Houge stock on my 10/22 and it was OK but I don't fancy shooting a .308 with one. Should I actually build such a rifle I would buy a cheap as possible Second Hand rifle £450 get it re barrelled £600, and put it in the GRS Varmint stock £425 with the above magazine job £105 = 1 nifty kit for around £1500

DM

[meles meles]

We're thinking of a Howa as the basis of a similar low cost, high performance 'tactical' rifle, though our idea was to have it in 6.5 x 55 Swedish. maybe a stock from Joe West, possibly a Dragunov style...

[M99]

The Howas come with a Pic' rail as standard. The stocks do not get a good review though - might be a better option to change the stock.

Bottom metal is not available in 6.5x55 for them

Mike

[meles meles]

A second idea we are turning over in our little brain is a rifle based on the venerable, but still in production, 7.62x54R round. A nice stainless barrel will allow us to fire low cost milsurp fodder without needing to go overboard on cleaning: we're sure a clever ooman could recommend the correct number of grooves and a twist rate to maximise performance. Maybe even use a standard Mosin nagant M1891 receive unless there is something else out there at a reasonable price. Pop it in a Joe West stock and it may well rival a SV-98

[20series]

A second idea we are turning over in our little brain is a rifle based on the venerable, but still in production, 7.62x54R round. A nice stainless barrel will allow us to fire low cost milsurp fodder without needing to go overboard on cleaning: we're sure a clever ooman could recommend the correct number of grooves and a twist rate to maximise performance. Maybe even use a standard Mosin nagant M1891 receive unless there is something else out there at a reasonable price. Pop it in a Joe West stock and it may well rival a SV-98

I'm liking the sound of this you could be onto something :goodjob:

Alan

[ovenpaa]

Pop it in a Joe West stock and it may well rival a SV-98

Hmm... he makes bloody good stocks but the lad really could do with a haircut...

:lol:

[meles meles]

We think the money should go on the barrel: that's what has the greatest effect on the accuracy. After that, a decent trigger in a sturdy receiver. Anyone any suggestions as to what a good twist rate and number of grooves would be for 7.62x54R with a 150 gn bullet ?

[Dangermouse]

Has the set considered one of these
http://www.rusmilitary.com/html/firearms_saiga.htm
At under £500 you could not go wrong if it was just to throw lead down range, for a little more you could go for the "sniper" version with the Dragnov style stock,

DM

[meles meles]

Oh we already have an AIA Lee Enfield jungle carbine in 7.62x39 equipped with AK47 mags when we want to throw lots of diddy little rounds downrange for a minute of madness. What we want now is something capable of longer range accuracy...

For a barrel, a .303 might make a good starting point as both it and the 7.62x54R fire a .311 bullet. Currently available 7.62x54R rounds are loaded with 150 gn light bullets rather than heavy 170 gn bullets (the .303 is 174 gn?) - might that make a difference to the required twist rate?

[Dangermouse]

An interesting thread here re the cartridge
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234353


Re loading info at the bottom of the page
http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage. ... iberID=216

DM