Inside MDT - MDT Mention - Guns and Guitars $50 Precision Rifle Build

The Guns and Guitars YouTube channel, owned by Dan Thompson, has some great content related to, you guessed it, guns and guitars! Besides guns and guitars, Dan also reviews knives, flashlights, optics, and a plethora of audio equipment. Dan's Channel features budget-minded gear reviews or guides that walk you through upgrading or building quality gear and equipment.

Several years ago, Dan found a Ruger American Rifle chambered in .308 Winchester at a garage sale for $50! Why was it so cheap?

• The rifle was missing an action screw.
• The bolt carrier group was marred by the original owner, who tried their hand at spiral bolt fluting.
• The bolt needed some welds after the fluting went awry and could be wiggled out of the action.
• A Torx screw had a fragment of the Torx driver.
• Barreled action was subjected to a bad Cerakote job.

Ultimately how did Dan turn this beat-up little rifle into a sub-moa shooter? He details the rifle, upgrades, and build in this video.

After Dan adjusted the trigger, spray painted the barreled action, and polished the bolt assembly, he mated it to an MDT ORYX Rifle Chassis and attached a carbon fiber bipod and Bushnell rifle scope. Dan shot some hasty groups with factory ammunition and actually got some decent groups.

• PPU Rangemaster 145 Grain - .62 MOA
• Federal Premium Gold Medal Match 168 Grain - .62 MOA
• Federal Premium Gold Medal Match 175 Grain - .87 MOA
• Winchester M80 149 Grain - 1.87 MOA
• Federal Power Shok 150 Grain - 1.5 MOA
• Winchester Super X 150 Grain - 2.25 MOA

The Ruger American was sub-moa with factory ammunition.

When Dan started this project, his goal was to build a rifle to shoot out to 500 yards, which in its current state, when paired with factory ammunition, should be pretty straightforward. He plans to work up some loads for ringing steel at 1,000 yards. Dan also intends to review the Oryx Chassis, which we will highlight in a future article. More to follow but in the meantime, stay on the lookout for a beat-up bolt gun at a garage sale; you might have your next project!

The MDT ORYX Chassis Systems is a straightforward, highly capable chassis system.

WANT TO BUILD DAN'S RIFLE? HERE IS A BUILD GUIDE.

• Ruger American Predator .308 Winchester
• MDT ORYX Chassis System
• Bushnell Match Pro Riflescope
• Wesbaun Ruger 1.5-2 lb trigger spring kit
• CVlife Carbon Fiber bipod (If you can afford it, get a carbon fiber MDT GRND-POD!)

BUILD RESOURCES FROM MDT

• Upgrading the Bergara B14
• Building a Custom Bergara B14 for Competition
• Building a 308 Tikka Rifle
• Building A Training Rifle - Part1 and Part 2
• Building a General Purpose 300 Win Mag Rifle
• Building a 6mm GT for Competition
• Re-building a 308 Winchester from a Remington 700 SPS Tactical Part 1 and Part 2

Check out the Guns and Guitars YouTube Channel. More information about the MDT ORYX Chassis System can be found here!