Recommendations on good firearms to mod

Looking to inexpensively expand my arsenal with an eye towards mods. Hotrodding guns is a little more wallet friendly than the cars and the roi is a little better. Right now I have a mosin, cz75, ruger mark III and marlin 60. They are all a little different than when they left the factory and are far more accurate than me. My first thoughts were an absolute bottom dollar ar15 or a police trade in wheelgun. Open to ideas and suggestions and my goal is sub $400 initial buy in. Also if anybody has good experience with the really cheap pistols out there please share.

uhhhhhh, 10/22 is a no brainer. They're fairly accurate right out of the box and the aftermarket is gigantic. I have about $160 in mine, all in. No finding ammo for it, well that'a a different discussion...

Yeah, 10/22 for sure. Cheap 1911 if you're into hand-fitting parts. Remington 870 or Mossberg 500/590. AR15, as you say. Remington 700. Marlin/Winchester 1894 or 336.

Will wrote: Yeah, 10/22 for sure. Cheap 1911 if you're into hand-fitting parts. Remington 870 or Mossberg 500/590. AR15, as you say. Remington 700. Marlin/Winchester 1894 or 336.

This man said all the the things I was gonna say.

I came here to say 10/22. I may have a good gunsmithing book somewhere in the archives if you can use it.

98 Mauser. You can still get Yugo's for about two bills, give or take, if you look. Or a 98 Turk. There's 100 years of Mod experience out there for them.

Sportsman's Guide has 1911 DIY 80% frames if you want a project. And 80% AR15 receivers too, for that matter. AR's are like Lego's, but they're gonna blow that 400 budget. Mausers take more y0 mad tite skillz.

Here's my Spanish 93 Mauser project: http://www.sporterizing.com/index.php?showtopic=10935

I probably have four bills in it, plus tools, moulds, ammo, etc.

I like the Mauser doc. I played with one like yours when I was in high school. Lots of fun. Good cartridge.

10/22 if you can find food for it.

10/22 is the obvious answer and for good reason. Ultimately I already have a .22 semi and would like something different. Thanks for the lever action recommendations, one in .38/.357 would be an awesome package.

Can you get a pre 64 Winchester lever gun for under $400? I feel like one in that price range would end up more of restoration than modification project.

10/22 or an AR derivative.

Put me down for an AR derivative.

If not an 80% receiver, then a stripped receiver. That should get you started for under $200. Guts to finish the lower should run you about $120 plus the cost of grip and buttplate.

Bonus points for AR-10.

If you wanted to do the whole thing for $400 I think you can get close with an AK receiver flat. Build up from there. With this one you need to watch the ATF (TTB now?) rules concerning the requirements for a certain number of US manufactured parts.

Otherwise a Ruger 10/22 would be a lot of fun. I've always wanted to do a "Thompson Kit"

Just like vehicles, when mulling new firearms I always research aftermarket parts... cuz ya know you're gonna mod it.

10/22 aftermarket is huge and is the perfect example.

I think you should decide what you consider "modding". Bolt on? Change calibers? Welding? Machining out a 80%? Finish a stock or make one from a tree? Then, what do you want? The Mosin is a good candidate for modding as well. There are custom stocks, bolts, scope mounts, etc. There was an article in SGN on modding up a Mosin that finished up with a very nice looking rifle, with the mag shortened so it wasn't butt-ugly anymore, etc. Making an AK from a flat is an adventure. Are you good with hand tools (file, dremmel type moto-tool, grinders, torches, hammers, punches, shop presses)? For straight bolt on stuff, the AR platform is pretty easy. As I said, it's the Lego's of gun building. For just modding, both the AR and AK are OK, with more "stuff" for the AR, but plenty of AK stuff out there too.

You could buy a shovel instead: http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/179192-DIY-Shovel-AK-photo-tsunami-warning!

If you're considering 80% lowers for an AR Variant, this is what you want:
http://billet80.com/index.php?route=common/home

Ruger 10/22, or any of the Remington or Mossberg pump shotguns, and their clones.

AK variants, there's fold up receiver kits available for purchase, and jigs available to borrow on a few forums.

Bolt guns, Winchester 70, Remington 700, etc.

SKS

Mini 14

1911

22/45

Buckmark

In reply to Dr. Hess:

Now a days when people say "modding" in the firearms community, they mean hanging a bunch of useless E36 M3 off of picitany rails....gotta be tacticool yo. I'm all for them doing that, just means they'll be slower and easier to pick off when law & order goes to E36 M3.

Bipod if you're shooting prone, sights/scope, suppressor, that's about all you should EVER add to a firearm. Machining, Wildcat calibers, sporterizing, etc are traditionally not considered "modding" anymore.

Oh, bonus points if someone can find a BAR 20rd magazine conversion for a Remington 700. I already have a detachable 5rd magazine, but want MORE!!!!

yamaha wrote: Oh, bonus points if someone can find a BAR 20rd magazine conversion for a Remington 700. I already have a detachable 5rd magazine, but want MORE!!!!

It would be far easier to mod the rifle to take AICS mags than BAR mags and I believe the mags will be cheaper.

Two top "Lego" guns out there are the River 10/22 and the AR. Problem with the 10/22 right now is feeding it. Ammo is still scarce and what good is a gun that you can't shoot? The AR you can build an initial carbine for about your $400 budget if you choose your parts carefully. I just finished a 300 Blackout for I think a hair under $500 not including the optic (it was a Christmas present). The trick will be hunt sales and clearence. Get blem upper and lower stripped receivers if you are luck you pay $70-80 for the set. Hunt your barrel carefully I paid I think $75 for a CMMG on clearance for the 300. PSA has Blackhawk Knoxx stocks for $7.99 right now, get yourself a buffer tube spring and buffer for about another $30. LPK around $65-70. Complete bolt carrier anywhere from $70 on up. Various upper parts $10-15. Charging handle $12. Gas block/front sight $10 on up depending on style and construction. Gas tube $5 or so depending on length needed. Muzzle device $8 for a standard cage. Free float handguard with quad rail $30 on up depending on length.

The above is just quick sourcing all of the parts using eBay, amazon, midway USA, brownells, PSA and a couple other sites I know. A good barrel is really what will cost you if you cant find a deal on one. Might see if you can get a low round count take off from someone. That is how I got a nice M4 profile Bushmaster barrel for another build.

In the next couple months I will be revamping my site and adding a trading post so that people can do ads for parts they want or are selling as well.

Here is the Blackout I finished over the weekend. That isn't the scope that is going on it that is just a red dot I have laying around that seems to end up on every build before I put the final optics or sight system on.

Palmetto State Armory has some great daily/weekly deals on AR stuff.

Here's "everything" you need but the lower receiver, magazine, and bullets, for $360: PTAC 16" Mid-Length 5.56

It's 1:7 and doesn't appear to have a chrome lined barrel, but still a good starter. Blemished and/or polymer lowers can be had for $50-$80, a P-mag is $15, and .223/5.56 is a round that's actually readily available at the moment.

I think the best "Mod" for the AR platform Picatinny rail is the 2 cup coffemaker. Put it up by the flashlight so you can make coffee in the dark. It's win-win.

In reply to rebelgtp:

Unless something has changed, I cannot get a AICS magazine for 30-06.

Here's the last one I built:

I have a different scope on it now. More like this one: http://www.valdada.com/4-28x50-40mm-recon-tactical-ffp-mil-mil-xtreme-x1-illum-reticle but without the illuminated reticle.

In reply to bigdaddylee82:

E36 M3, we had a group buy years ago for $50 cnc machined lowers.....I bought 4 of them.

I still hate the AR chassis with a passion, but you can sometimes make $$$$$ building them. I sold 3 of the 4, and ended up giving the 4th to a friend for his wedding present. I still made $4-500 off them.

In reply to Dr Hess:

That's actually a nicely built rifle. I prefer not having rails up front. Also, nice target stock.