Gunsmithing question - 5.45 bolt-gun

[Dingo]

Yes, I know the majority of the surplus out there isn't quite accurate enough to justify a bolt-action iteration, when there's plenty of .223's available. However... I am a devoted 5.45 fanboy, and am curious about the following:

I'm aware that CMP Armory did a short run of custom re-worked Savage Axis .223's cut down, threaded, and chambered in 5.45. And I'm a fan of the Axis line anyway, so that would work. How expensive/difficult/time consuming would it be for a smith to work up something similar? They were selling for around $500 at the time, would the cost be anywhere near comparable? I have enough ammo stockpiled for my AK74 (and intend to continue to amass more :-) ), that it would be nice to have some cross-compatibility. Going to end up with a 5.45 AR shortly, so I'd be able to share my stash across three platforms.

[Dingo]

Oops. Been on this site a while, and never realized there was a gunsmithing-specific forum. Feel free to transplant...

[zteknik]

I think it would be possible to get a 5.45 blank,they were out there for the barreless 74 kits a while ago,and turn one out to fit a bolt gun platform.
You could use a .556 gun as a donor as to the similarities of the caliber.You would have to tweak the mags and the feedramp accordingly but I think it can be done fairly inexpensively.

[USNrigger]

Id start with a 223 base rifle and change barrel out.

Bolt face would need to be opened up a hair, COL is about the same and probably wouldnt need much tweaking as far as feeding goes
Barrel if you can find a good blank, could be turned down pretty easy. i would still thing if your going to have Smithy open up the bolt and re-barrel youre going to be 500 mark if not more. But you could do it in a Remy 700 or a normal savage action if you wanted as well vs the Axis.

Might check Walther-Lothar for a barrel blank.

-Im also pretty sure back in the 70's 80's parker hale may have had a bolt chambered in 5.45mm