“Send it.” Scott McRee’s voice rose above the range chatter as he peered through his spotter. I was on the rifle, a McRees Precision BR-10 chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, a rig I had built under his mentorship just a day earlier.

“BRASS. Breathe, relax, aim, stop and squeeze,” I recalled to myself as I settled down and proceeded through the sequence. I was low and right. He called out corrections and I responded, “Hold over or turret adjustments?”

“Just adjust your turrets.”

His reply marked the beginning of the end for me. “My turrets are MOA.”

He quipped back, “I thought you told me earlier your scope was mil (milliradian/mrad).”

“Well, my reticle is mil but my turrets are MOA.” My first lesson was abundantly clear even before his next response.

“What the hell kind of scope is that?”

He was right, the scope made zero sense, and this was part of my learning process. I learned firsthand what happens when you choose the wrong tool for the job; in this case, the optic was my undoing.

Many years later, with those initial lessons learned and a new addiction ignited, I’ve spent quite a bit of time on scores of shooting ranges either behind the spotter or on a rifle, gathering DOPE, testing equipment and banging steel out beyond a mile. A side effect to catching the long-range bug is rifle building. Over the years, I have built quite a few rifles — heavy precision rifles with bull barrels, mid-weight projects pulling double duty as long-range and hunting rifles, and lightweight rigs for hunting but without compromising on dead-nuts-on accuracy. Depending on cartridges, I am generally focused on projects capable of ¼-MOA grouping at 100 yards.

With ¼-MOA groups as a starting point, I look for ½-MOA to 1-MOA groups at much longer distances, but I am also a realist: The caliber I choose certainly dictates my expectations on the back end of its ballistic capabilities. As examples and keeping caliber choices pared down what is most readily available, I have good faith in the ballistic performances of the 300 PRC for 2,000 yards, .300 Win. Mag and 6.5 PRC out to 1,800 yards, 6.5 Creedmoor to 1,500 yards, .308 Win. for 1,000 yards, etc. Yes, I understand some may take these cartridges a bit further, while many more have never shot those distances at all.

That said, seasoned veterans and less experienced shooters alike who have been bitten by the long-range shooting bug all have something in common. They all want to buy or build something that extends their game and tightens their groups; something that outperforms expectations or even takes up some slack in their fundamental shooting game. Let’s face it: A shooter learning or honing precise shooting fundamentals doesn’t need questionable components getting in the way. Moreover, shooters seeking advice from retailers should be able to look to YOU as somebody armed with solid, performance-enhancing suggestions as they navigate through firearm or DIY building options.

The latter, as a subject well worth the chatter, is a critical junction of knowledge (retailer) and trust (customer). Great advice from a retailer to a consumer, with positive range results post-project, often result in years-long loyalty and repeated sales. Long-range hunters and shooters who build almost always start other projects, and your advice, along with carrying the right components, ensures they come to you for both repeatedly. As such, it’s important to learn about premium components and their purposes and about precision shooting in general. Equally as important, retailers interested in servicing the growing precision-shooting community should carry a wealth of products — enough to complete DIY rifle builds.

Bolt-Action Rifle Projects

While AR-platform rifles have gained quite a bit of traction in long-distance accuracy, bolt-action rigs still rule the long-range roost and are the focus of this article. Bolt-action rifle options are exponentially more varied than just a decade ago, and the trends of ultra-cool match-grade systems and DIY projects show no signs of slowing down. Additionally, where the 1,000-Yard Club has always been viewed as elite, that distance continues to extend. Today, the 1-Mile Club is much more appetizing for shooters residing in areas where such distances can be accommodated; in fact, most members of the 1,000-Yard Club want in. Naturally, hunters aren’t going to be shooting game at these distances, but they might wish to practice at them at the range in order to extend their own hunting range to something beyond their normal 200 yards. A mile is the new talk of the town, and some shooters are itching to get well beyond that. This is where purpose-driven really comes into play. Understand what your customer wants to accomplish and deliver parts that go the distance.

Depending on purposes and, yes, aesthetics — what pleases a consumer’s eye without deviating from purpose — stocks are the bones of the build; the foundation. Many shooters definitely want a tactical-inspired, precision-machined aluminum stock like those from McRees Precision, while others may opt for composite stocks like those from McMillan. Many want nods to heirloom-quality beauty under other extended-range components. For those folks, there is no denying the jaw-dropping looks, fit, form and function of John-Kyle Truitt’s insanely stunning Foundation Stocks. While Foundation stocks are machined from micarta, they certainly have the look of heirloom-quality exotic woods and cuts. A Foundation stock will catch your eye every time, but its overarching purpose is to complement other components for next-level, surgically precise accuracy. As a point of interest, I undertook a 6.5 PRC project with master-craftsman Karston Davis at Boring Rifles, using one of Truitt’s prized Foundation Revelation stocks. It will be passed on to my son.

Woox also offers a unique mix of heirloom hunting stock meets next-level match function. The wood components contrasted with black receivers are striking, and Woox stocks most definitely are employed by many next-level shooters. Boyd stocks also are great options and are most often found at a lower price point while continuing to offer exceptional performance as the foundation of a precision rifle build. Boyd stocks are beautifully crafted laminate wood stocks employing various wood types and colors. Boyd’s At-One stock is quite a looker and a sound choice for cost-conscious consumers.

Of course, stock choices are based on actions, which are based on calibers. New shooters or builders may need a little help determining the best caliber for their project. As a general rule, basic options are long or short actions and magnums or non-magnums. A .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor are short actions; a 6.5 PRC is a magnum fitting both short (with a slight modification) and long actions. A .300 Win. Mag, .300 PRC, etc. fit long-action magnum actions. Calibers like .270 Winchester and .30-06 are non-magnum options for long actions. Most bolt-action chassis and stock producers accommodate Remington-700-footprint actions, while some also accommodate Savage, Tikka, Sako, Kelbly and a handful of others.

Actions

While the caliber dictates the action footprint, it doesn’t necessarily dictate the action. Indeed, the Remington 700 footprint and Remington 700 actions still rank among the most popular; however, many demanding long-range shooters look for more than the tried-and-true, even battle-proven action. Retailers certainly should offer Remington 700 short actions (SA), long actions (LA) and the same in magnums, but they should also offer grade actions. A great mid- to top-range offering is Gunwerks’ GB8 action.

Some top-shelf actions definitely worth carrying include Falkor 7Even (SA) and 7Even+ (LA) actions, Kelbly Black Bear and Atlas action LA and SA actions, and Defiance SA, LA and proprietary intermediate actions. To be true, Defiance has built quite a reputation for world-class actions. Recently, I completed two projects, a .300 PRC and 6.5 PRC using Defiance Ruckus actions — again, one with the Foundation Revelation Stock at the hands of world-class Boring Rifles builder Karston Davis. Combined with the barrels and triggers, I easily achieved ¼-MOA results, and both rifles have performed well out to 1,800 to 2,000 yards. All said, the action you suggest should always complement your customer’s choice of stock, caliber and budget.

Defiance actions are based on Remington 700 (R-700) footprints and are offered in the popular long and short formats, as well as a proprietary intermediate length. Currently, Defiance offers Deviant, Deviant Elite, Rebel, anTi, anTi X, Tenacity and Ruckus actions. The Ruckus was my model of choice for both PRC projects, and their quality and performance cannot be overstated — I’m a fan. Their action sizes are: Medium (SA), XM (intermediate) and Long (LA). The Rebel includes XL with a .750 bolt face for large calibers like .338 Lapua.

Barrels

First and foremost, all barrels are NOT the same. As much as the stock/chassis and action, the barrel is purpose-driven. Terms like length, twist, weight, tapering (bull, palma, etc.), etc. are tossed around quite a bit, and for good reason — they matter. I’ll avoid the barrel manufacturer infighting here with respect to rifling, etc. here — a topic for another day — and stick to what I know has worked over the years.

Regardless of manufacturer, accuracy is the goal; however, some definitely perform better than others, and the competition remains a reputation and get-what-you-pay-for game. For larger production, it’s tough to beat the proven performance of world-renowned stainless-steel barrels from the likes of Bergara, Bartlein, Shilen, Pac-Nor or Criterion.

When it comes to lighter weight and precise accuracy, BSF carbon-fiber-jacketed barrels are well worth every single one of your customers’ pennies. They are currently found on Weatherby CarbonMark and Springfield Waypoint rifles — great testaments to the barrel manufacturer’s rock-solid reputation. Helix 6 barrels also offer world-class accuracy and should be considered as a stocked item, and Boring Rifles is now offering a top-tier, carbon-fiber, match barrel. My prototype testing produced sub-¼-MOA results using little more than a squeeze bag, bipod and good glass. Of course, there is no denying the accuracy and popularity of Proof carbon-fiber barrels. All of the aforementioned are well worth stocking and sure to give your customers considerable bang for their hard-earned bucks.

As a starting point in my own projects, I prefer 24-inch barrels for short actions like .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor and a longer 26-inch barrel for a short (or long) action magnum like the 6.5 PRC, as well as other .30-caliber LA magnums like the .300 Win. Mag. and .300 PRC. That is to say match-grade rifle barrels running 24 to 26 inches chambered in popular precision shooting calibers should be a great start for your inventory.

Bottom Metal

Bottom metal is the metal component, often including a magazine well and trigger guard, mounted underneath the rifle stock. Determining which bottom metal to stock means understanding basic differences. ADL bottom metal features a trigger guard and hidden magazine and is top-loaded through the action. A BDL action includes a spring-loaded magazine accessed through a hinged floorplate. DBM stands for “detachable box magazine” and is essentially composed of an open magazine well and trigger guard. The latter is the most popular among shooters looking for increased ammo capacity — PRS competitors are a great example. When it comes to bottom metal, one brand sticks out with quality and reliability more than most others: Hawkins. Consider offering Hawkins DBM and Oberndorf model bottom metals for Remington 700 short- and long-action projects to cover most of your customers’ projects. Keep in mind that most machined, tactical-style chassis and stocks do not require bottom metal.

Triggers

Triggers can quite subjective and, like other components, are purpose-driven. Considering carrying popular match triggers with reputations for light, crisp breaks — adjustable is even better. For more recent build projects, my preferred bolt-action triggers have been Timney’s HIT and Calvin Elite triggers. My latest HIT trigger is set at just 8 ounces, while my Calvin Elite is running at roughly 1.5 pounds. The Trigger Tech Diamond Trigger also is a top choice with demanding shooters. Along with Timney and Trigger Tech, Bix’N Andy’s TacSport PRO is worth considering for shelf space.

Scope Bases

The vast majority of precision shooters are employing 0-MOA or 20-MOA picatinny-style scope bases. Shooting at 1,000 yards or less, either scope base is fine. Shooters engaging targets between 1,000 and 2,000 yards should definitely employ a 20-MOA base. With Remington 700 actions as the most popular, the bare minimum scope bases a retailer should offer to premium rifle builders are 0-MOA and 20-MOA, Remington 700 short- and long-action configurations.

A Final Note on DIY Bolt-Action Rifle Builds

The most complicated part of any bolt-action building project is assembling the action and barrel. In assembling the barrel and action, headspace is absolutely vital. Improper headspacing can create bolt-cycling issues at best, and at worst, can be incredibly dangerous for the shooter. Definitely consider offering headspace gauges for confident, hardcore builders. At the same time, offering barrel and action assembly, along with professional headspacing, takes a huge weight off the shoulders of your DIY customers.