Mitch, the Sears JC Higgins model 50 is the FN action, which has a bolt safety (versus a slide safety like the FN supreme action). You can use the existing stock and change the barrel, or replace the stock as well. I have done this on several. Depending on what you ultimately want in a "custom" rifle, you may consider changing the safety to a three position safety like a Win M70, and also changing out the trigger. Safeties come from Dakota and Gentry, and also Ed Lapour. The Timney trigger is very nice, and the Jewell is even nicer. Personally, I prefer a quality fiberglass stock. Not a plastic stock like what comes on most rifles today, but a Brown Precision, McMillan or HiTech stock. What this means is that the $295 "action" quickly becomes a more expensive hunting rifle, but that is not all bad. I built a .280 Rem in 1992 with a pre-64 M70 action, Douglas barrel, Jewell trigger and a Brown Precision stock. It has take 4 rams, many elk and mule deer and countless coyotes and whitetails. In 1992, it cost less than $600 plus the M70 action to put this together. Today, the budget for your rifle with the Brown Precision stock, adding the 3 position safety, a new trigger, a quality barrel, bedding, matte bluing, etc. is likely $1200, but everything has gone up in price. With a proper barrel breakin, this will be a great hunting rifle. The FN from Sears has the 30.06 bolt face, and is a "long" action. thus, you would not want to do a .308 or any of the derivatives (243, 260, 7mm-08) but would be great for 257 roberts or 7x57, 25.06, 270, 280 AI or even 35 Whelen. Another option is the 6.5x55 Swede.
