Custom rifle or not?

[Ccrider]

Buy a used custom and you will see the differences.

 

[357Mag]

Rookie -

Howdy !

How it went for me....

I was talked off of using a sleeved XP-100 as the basis for a custom varmint rifle, by Fred Sinclair.

He convinced me to go w/ a custom bench grade action....
a Wichita WBR 1375 single shot.

Fred was really right in his recommendation. I never regretted it, and never looked back.

The Wichita, thus far..... has seen 4 different barrels/chambering on it, 4 different stock arrangements, and 3 different triggers.

My point:
Your circumstances might be such that the custom action endures, and serves as the basis for multiple future re-barrels/ builds.

That’s how it went for me.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[JackT]

I would say a custom too, but remember it starts with a design basis as too what you may want to achieve for a given rifle. First custom was designed as a great accurarcy (1/4 MOA) hunting rifle in mid weight range (6.5 x 47 L) second custom designed as a lighter weight hunting rifle (1/2 MOA) with high barrel life (7mm br) third custom designed for longer range hunting (1/4 MOA) with a 6x47L.

Do not pass up quality factory rifles, got a beautiful SAKO in 308WIN with a heavy barrel that shoots 1/3 MOA; gave to my son as a gift, will likely replace it with another SAKO. I keep buying better and better scopes , and happy with rifles that make my reloads look good.

Shop hard on custom components and learn to do the bedding and stock finishing your self and come in less than $2k before the scope.

Save more than you need, shop hard, and then enjoy the journey.

 

[Evan]

Factory, and especially "fixed" factory actions and rifles will shoot every bit as well as a full custom. The full custom just feels so much better doing it, particularly when your smith knows how to time it all to perfection.

I'll liken this to cars. A Mustang might be a nice car that has all the same features and performance of an Aston Martin, but it is not the same experience from behind the wheel.

 

[Bc'z]

My suggestion is first measure the depth of your pockets.
Trust me when I tell you the rabbit hole is deep, real deep!
Now look on the guns and actions board and wait and find a quality used custom if that's the route you decide to go.
Me imma poor boy and I like my Remington.
Alot of the custom actions are based off of Remington footprint, just tighter tolerances.

This topic was discussed about a month ago,
and some of the best Smith's here even admitted tuning custom actions as nothing is ever perfect. Least ways until they are done with them.

 

[Evan]

This topic was discussed about a month ago,
and some of the best Smith's here even admitted tuning custom actions as nothing is ever perfect. Least ways until they are done with them.

Yeah, that's a bit of a misconception people have. Customs aren't turnkey, not if you want the best out of them at least. All actions will need to be tuned and timed.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

My thought is find that custom rifle that you like, and then find it’s builder. Talk to that gunsmith and get him to write you an estimate for the build. If he can get the parts and charge you the same price as your cost, let him order them. He may make ten to twenty percent at his dealer cost,but he deserves it for his knowledge, tools, and PR time.

 

[jackson1]

Rookie7, I have my feet in both worlds (factory and custom rifles), I suspect that I am similar to most the other people here. That said, I spent many happy years of my life shooting factory rifles. More to the point, attempting to make them better. Along with improving my handloading techniques, I think I have learned plenty, but more importantly had a lot of fun. Fun being the operative word here, that is what it is all about any way. At this time, you are only competing against your self and striving for self improvement. I don't know you or your pocket book personally, but that is the ultimate guide. Don't let it stand in your way of enjoyment. For me, I spend many happy hours at m loading bench, having close to as much fun, maybe enjoyment would be a better word as shooting. Don't know age, but if you are young just see where life takes you. In the end you only have to please your self.

 

[dcali]

If you’re asking this question, you already know the answer. Jump in. The water is fine. (And expensive).

 

[JFrank]

Plan ahead or by the time you get your build complete it might be obsolete !

Just a thought
J

 

[Nature Boy]

As other have stated, pick a good smith and then make sure to listen to him. There are a lot of directions I might have taken that would have been dead ends had I not listened to mine.

Think of the additional money spent as insurance against regrets and disappointments

 

[lb-ft]

Have a look at the Seekins HAVAK rifles too. I think they could be classified as a production custom or similar.

 

[F Class John]

Worst thing I ever did was spend nearly $8k on over the counter rifles and the gunsmithing to make them shoot better (but never great) before I spent $3000 on a custom gun and was shooting lights out. Best part is I can get nearly all that $3k back out of it if need be. It’s a leap of faith to get your first custom rifle but I don’t know anybody who has one and regrets it.

My comments are applicable to F-Class. Other disciplines can certain vary in response.

 

[Forum Boss]

I had a factory Savage in .260 Rem. With the factory Tupperware stock it shot about 1.3" groups at 100 yards.

Upgrade Phase 1: Replaced trigger with aftermarket, set at just under 2 lbs. Now it's grouping closer to 1 MOA.

Phase 2: Replaced factory stock with laminated stock with wider fore-end and a rear section that worked better in a bag. Stock was then professionally bedded. Gun shot 7s and 8s for five shots -- but I tried 6 different powders and numerous bullets and it still delivered split groups. Very frustrating (three touching but 1 or 2 out).

Phase 3: Replace barrel with Pre-Fit PacNor chambered in 6mmBR Norma. New Lapua brass with Scenar 105s. First measured group out of gun was a 0.168" for four shots (this was shots #16-19 through barrel). Since then it has delivered pretty consistent groups in the mid-twos, with a wide variety of bullets and powders.

The three Bs: Bullets, Barrel, Brass.

In response to your question -- you need to ask what kind of shooting you'll be doing. If 90% is from the bench, then I'd buy a used 17-pound benchrest rig, budget for a new barrel (and good front rest), and have fun.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Honestly a custom rig is not required to shoot PRS. At all... You can buy one because you WANT one, but you don't NEED one.

Spend your money on glass first. A good Nightforce on a Tikka will out shoot a custom with a cheap scope. By a lot... In my opinion you can't hit what you can't see, and when you are dialing up for dopes it has to work and repeat and not break.

 

[Evan]

Honestly a custom rig is not required to shoot PRS. At all... You can buy one because you WANT one, but you don't NEED one.

Spend your money on glass first. A good Nightforce on a Tikka will out shoot a custom with a cheap scope. By a lot... In my opinion.

So true. PRS targets are generally "large" and the whole series is based upon operator skill, not equipment. Buying a PRS custom doesn't make much sense to me if your goal is to improve scores. If you've got a gun that shoots 0.5MOA consistently, then your rifle is not the limiting factor. If it shoots 1MOA, then it has the raw accuracy to outshoot most folk's capabilities in a match environment. Benchrest, unfortunately, is a bit different.

That said, I would never recommend someone buy a custom to shoot better. You'll be disappointed if that's the goal. Your custom might not print better groups or perform any better in PRS competitions. Buy a custom cause you want a nicer experience while shooting, or because you want to treat yourself.

 

[Milo 2.0]

So true. PRS targets are generally "large" and the whole series is based upon operator skill, not equipment. Buying a PRS custom doesn't make much sense to me if your goal is to improve scores. If you've got a gun that shoots 0.5MOA consistently, then your rifle is not the limiting factor. If it shoots 1MOA, then it has the raw accuracy to outshoot most folk's capabilities in a match environment. Benchrest, unfortunately, is a bit different.

That said, I would never recommend someone buy a custom to shoot better. You'll be disappointed if that's the goal. Your custom might not print better groups or perform any better in PRS competitions. Buy a custom cause you want a nicer experience while shooting, or because you want to treat yourself.

Not arguing with you, but I've seen guys finally shoot their first custom with a finely tuned load, and their group size shrunk so much close and at distance, that now it became, can I hit that target, to I am going to hit it.
The confidence level increased by 300%, and there is a lot to say for that. Now any misses, it is on you, not your gear.
And it makes you a better shooter.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The very higher end factory guns seem to hold their value pretty well and are very nice, like the Coopers and Dakotas, etc, but I agree with most of the others, that once you get to that price point, custom is the best and the way to go.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Honestly a custom rig is not required to shoot PRS. At all... You can buy one because you WANT one, but you don't NEED one.

Spend your money on glass first. A good Nightforce on a Tikka will out shoot a custom with a cheap scope. By a lot... In my opinion you can't hit what you can't see, and when you are dialing up for dopes it has to work and repeat and not break.

Tikka makes an exceptionally good budget factory rifle but to the same point others have made, they need a better stock. Price a Manners or a McMillan!

 

[nmkid]

All my shooting life I have used Remington or Savage actions for my builds. My last build was on a 25+- year old 700. I had all the "good" stuff done to that action. She turned out very nice and cycles very smooth. Then, a couple of weeks ago there was a young fellow shooting a complete custom and he offered me the opportunity to shoot it 5 times. The first time I cycled the bolt, it felt like it was suspended in air or something. Dang, it was so smooth. So, here I sit getting ready to start possibly my last build and I am going to get a custom action, at last.