Eight years ago I went in search of building my first true custom rifle. A few years before that I had purchased a LH Tikka T3 in .243 win. The rifle was nothing short of spectacular. Though there were a couple of items that always nagged at me, but to be honest never effected the performance. The stock wasn't the greatest fit, the aluminium recoil block always seemed like the weakest link of the rifle and I didn't care much for the plastic bolt shroud. What I loved about the rifle was the slicker than snot bolt gliding through the action when you operated it. Not to mention I could never feel the bolt pick up a round from the magazine when I worked the bolt. I was able to get the trigger set to a crisp no creep two pounds.

I tried just about every custom action on the market and to be honest none were as smooth as the Tikka. I called Chad DIxon at LongRifles Inc and discussed using the Tikka action for the build. He said it would be his first and liked my ideas for changes to the action.

Mill off the recess on then end of the receiver and make it flat.
Design an octagon Remington style recoil lug that match the outer contour of the receiver
Replace the plastic bolt shroud with an aluminium bolt shroud
Picatinny rail mount on top of the receiver
McMillan Hunter stock painted in LRI camo pattern
Replace the bolt handle
Flute the bolt handle
KP 22" SS Match barrel chambered in .243 win
I added Warne Quick Detachable rings and Leupold VX6 1-6 scope
I stayed with the stock floor plate and detachable magazines as I didn't care for the AIC style magazine and floor plate.
Cerekote Dark Earth

The rifle would shoot 3-shot groups in the 3's and 4's.

After eight years I got the itch for a 6.5 Creedmoor and decided to the have the rifle rebarreled. I sent Chad the rifle and in a month he turned it around and sent it back.
22" KP SS 1:8 Match barrel
LRI's Cathedral Muzzle Brake
Cerekote Dark Earth
This time I added a Leupold VX5 2-10 Fire dot duplex reticle

I did run out to the range and got it on paper, however I have to leave for a business trip. I'll have a range report next week.

Very nice.

The 6.5 will be a nice upgrade from the 243 if you're planning to shoot long. Really nice setup.

I love rifles with the bolt handle on that side. Nice rig.

Love everything about the rifle. The stock camo is awesome.

Jeff the fluted bolt looks great. Did you notice any loss in smoothness cycling the bolt after it was fluted? Also do the flutes scare your brass at all? Straight flutes definitely will but spiral should be less if any at all.

Even with Cerekote that bolt slides like its in goose snot when I cycle it. I still can't feel it pick up a round out of the magazine. I checked the brass and I don't see any scares or anything out of the ordinary on the brass.

It's just a well built rifle all the way around.