Custom Rifle Build #1 6.5x55

NiceOldDouble said:
Yes Sir. Don’t know much about good leather slings. Feel free to make a suggestion.
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Slings are like holsters and preferences weigh big. Personally on that rifle I’d go with understated darker tapered leather hunter type ... maybe braided accents ... but just enough to accent the rifle but not take the eye away from it’s craftsmanship or it’s Mauser lineage.
 
Slow clap.....nice work man. Once you see it all put together its like how did i even make this thing! then it back to the bench for number 2 🤣
 
I would ask for a range report, but that rifle is too pretty to shoot!

I love that old school butter knife bolt handle. It says to me that its a fine precision instrument that doesn't need to be slapped around by its ball. 😜
 
cold1 said:
I would ask for a range report, but that rifle is too pretty to shoot!

I love that old school butter knife bolt handle. It says to me that its a fine precision instrument that doesn't need to be slapped around by its ball. [emoji12]
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I wouldn’t call it a real range report, but this is how it fired in a quickly test to get the sign off and the grade. 100yds, mil-surp ammo. The tape square in about 1” square. I hope to get to spend more leisurely time with it soon.

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Can’t decide between amazing/beautiful so I’ll go with both !! Terrific work! If this is your first I can’t wait to see your future builds !
 
Rifle looks great!

How much $ and hours did you have to put into this? It's definitely a dream of mine to do, and going through the community college system seems like a good route for access to tools/equipment/etc, and education/guidance as well. I don't think i'll have time to do it until the kids are in college though. :(
 
papa_smurf said:
How much $ and hours did you have to put into this?
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Not sure about the time. I started it spring semester 2020, before they shut is down for COVID. Resumed work this fall.
For money it’ does been $300 for the wood, $215 for the barrel, $200 for the action, and about $80 for the trigger.
 
NiceOldDouble said:
Not sure about the time. I started it spring semester 2020, before they shut is down for COVID. Resumed work this fall.
For money it’ does been $300 for the wood, $215 for the barrel, $200 for the action, and about $80 for the trigger.
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The end results, do not match the raw costs of the material. You built an absolutely gorgeous rifle. No one will ever walk into a LGS and be able spend $800 and have a rifle as beautiful or as well crafted as that one.

I know that you are a craftsman and don't need encouragement from someone from the internet, I just wanted you to know that your work is admired and appreciated. I would love to see your work in person sometime.
 
@cold1 I appreciate the encouragement. New to rifle building, and don’t have much rifle caliber experience whatsoever. Several times while building this I thought it was going to be garbage. There’s a list of things that aren’t as good as they could have been. Thankfully, I get to learn from this mistakes right away as I get started on #2.

You’re welcome to stop by if you’re ever in the neighborhood.
 
NiceOldDouble said:
@cold1 I appreciate the encouragement. New to rifle building, and don’t have much rifle caliber experience whatsoever. Several times while building this I thought it was going to be garbage. There’s a list of things that aren’t as good as they could have been. Thankfully, I get to learn from this mistakes right away as I get started on #2.

You’re welcome to stop by if you’re ever in the neighborhood.
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What are you going to build next?
Please keep us in the loop as you build it.
 
NiceOldDouble said:
@cold1 I appreciate the encouragement. New to rifle building, and don’t have much rifle caliber experience whatsoever. Several times while building this I thought it was going to be garbage. There’s a list of things that aren’t as good as they could have been. Thankfully, I get to learn from this mistakes right away as I get started on #2.

You’re welcome to stop by if you’re ever in the neighborhood.
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I know the feeling of thinking its going to be garbage as you build it. I also know that "you are your own worst critic". I can show you every little mistake that I have made on each gun I have tinkered on, 90% of those mistakes never get noticed by anyone else. 😉

As an aside, spend the extra on the wood. Most people can not appreciate the amount of work or craftsmanship that you put into the metal side of it. Its not a knock against them, its just that most do not have any frame of reference for that side of the work. The wood on the other hand, most people can really appreciate the grain, figuring, and finish.

It can be disheartening when you have spent more time on the metals fit and finish than you have anything else and then most everyone first comments are on the wood.

I like the fact that you are choosing older calibers that have fallen out of popular use. I think it gives your builds a touch of the old class and harkens back to the days of legends like Keith, Howe, and Ackley.
 
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When we were building our first rifles, my benchmate asked the teacher what he could sell his finished rifle for. The teacher responded with- "Nobody ever sells them but if i had to put a number on it id say no less than 2500$". That was 18 years ago. Great job man. I think if i laid mine beside yours you would be the winner! ;)
 
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