Custom rifle or not?

[urbanrifleman]

If I were going to shoot PRS, and I were starting from scratch, and I had a $3000 budget. I would spend $1000 on a rifle and $2000 on a scope. But the answer most people would give is spend $6000!!!

You can, but I really doubt it it will effect your scores. PRS isn't benchrest, it is more like sniper shooting. Going all gaga over an action being smoother or shooting a .25 moa better has little effect. The best sniper shooter we had in our club shot a Savage in a Choate stock.

I bought a Ruger VT once I shot it for 3 years, totally used up the barrel and sold it for what I paid for it ($450). I killed 300 plus Ghogs with that VT.

I see custom actions going on here and guys losing their ASSES on what they paid it. Resale? On a build? I don't see anyone flipping those upward. I saw a Panda BR rifle the other for less than you can buy an action. The market is flooded with them.

 

[urbanrifleman]

One of my customers shoots PRS very seriously and he uses a bone stock Ruger Precision Rifle. You can get a 6 Creedmore for like $750. Get you a used Nightforce Nxs from the classifieds and you have your first season on lock. Maybe after the first season you will know what you want to build or you will have completely lost interest and want to shoot f class.

You can sell it for 90 percent of what you bought it for after the barrel is used up or just let your girlfriend shoot it.

Better than spending five grand on a custom build and have to flip it for a loss. You will NEVER get your money back on a build. It's a lost leader. We all lose money. Gunsmiths are not cheap. Just being honest.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I shoot trap. I shot my first year at the club with my Academy Sports over under I bought on sale. I learned to shoot and the next year I bought my CZ trap gun and love it. I spent $1200 on clearance sale.

I shoot next to guys that spent more on their shotgun than I spent on my Nissan Titan 4x4 pickup truck... Those guys start at ten grand and go up. And I mean up... It's ridiculous like 20 grand !

I shoot right next to them. Beating a lot of them.

 

[onelastshot]

The problem is once you go custom there's no going back. Nothing short of a complete custom will suffice. Just spoke with my gunsmith this morning, he's putting a new scope on my 270WSM and adjusting the bolt, getting the rifle ready for Africa.

You develop relationships over time and receive that one on one service that can't be compromised. When it's time to rebarel we'll discuss cartridge possibilities and other modifications. Owning a custom built rifle develops a completely different type of relationship.

 

[Evan]

If I were going to shoot PRS, and I were starting from scratch, and I had a $3000 budget. I would spend $1000 on a rifle and $2000 on a scope. But the answer most people would give is spend $6000!!!

You can, but I really doubt it it will effect your scores. PRS isn't benchrest, it is more like sniper shooting. Going all gaga over an action being smoother or shooting a .25 moa better has little effect. The best sniper shooter we had in our club shot a Savage in a Choate stock.

I bought a Ruger VT once I shot it for 3 years, totally used up the barrel and sold it for what I paid for it ($450). I killed 300 plus Ghogs with that VT.

Agreed. If the rifle shoots 0.5MOA consistently from the bench, then a missed target in PRS is due to your skillset, not the rifle.

I've said this before: most folks can afford nicer equipment and will buy better stuff in an attempt to improve their scores. Most folk have more money than time, so that SEEMS like a reasonable option to them compared to spending a ton of time an ammunition. Problem is that most times they find themselves in the same boat still, especially in PRS, where your skills are more important to the scores than the performance of the gear, and they get angry about it, cause they expected to buy a result. That's what I want to convey clearly: a custom rifle won't buy you a better score, so if you get one, make sure it's for your own satisfaction, not a better score.

 

[rookie7]

Buy a custom cause you want a nicer experience while shooting, or because you want to treat yourself.

This right here is it - because I want a nicer experience. Same reason why I have a $500 scope on my daughter's deer hunting rifle that was $360. Same reason why I have an $800 scope on a $300 22lr.

I will never know if a custom action is for me, or what I want - unless I buy one.

The common denominator here from you folks is they are "better" than factory. Accuracy is dependent on the me, my handloads, and the barrel.

 

[Evan]

This right here is it - because I want a nicer experience. Same reason why I have a $500 scope on my daughter's deer hunting rifle that was $360. Same reason why I have an $800 scope on a $300 22lr.

I will never know if a custom action is for me, or what I want - unless I buy one.

The common denominator here from you folks is they are "better" than factory. Accuracy is dependent on the me, my handloads, and the barrel.

Yup!

I would strongly recommend a Borden action, and while you're there, might as well let Jim build it for yah. I can't recommend him or his rifles highly enough!