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BUILDING A CUSTOM RIFLE: Order of Procedure of Major Steps
By Steven Dodd Hughes � 8/00

1. Decide on purpose, usage, caliber and sights.
2. Determine approx. weight, balance and handling qualities.
3. Choose action, barrel, stock blank and overall design.
4. Full-scale drawing and complete parts list for client�s approval.
5. File-up action, alter as needed.
6. Contour, install, fit and chamber barrel. Test fire, check chamber.
7. File-up all metal parts (buttplate, grip cap, sights etc.) pre-polish and prepare for inletting.
8. Layout stock blank for grain�flow, stability and character.
9. Layout stock dimensions, profile stock blank.
10. Inlet and install barreled action.
11. Inlet and install buttplate, grip cap, other stock furniture.
12. Rough shape stock contours.
13. Allow stock wood time to normalize.
14. Final shape stock contours.
15. Install sights, scope.
16. Sand stock.
17. Seal all wood surfaces.
18. Live fire sight-in and function test.
19. Seal, stain and fill all wood pores.
20. Checker.
21. Complete metal polish.
22. Reassemble and function test.
23. Disassemble for engraving.
24. Complete final stock finishing.
25. Metal finishing; bluing, case colors, etc.
26. Final assembly, test fire and sight-in.
27. Tune as needed, retest.
28. Photograph.
29. Deliver.

(There are reasons for the order of each step that one will discover after diverging from them.)