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Custom Rifle Prices

300_whisper

Gents, I’ve been looking at custom rifles for PRS. I was thinking of a 6CM as high end as I could get with the best parts. I was looking at all the big name custom rifle builders. I’ve noticed that the prices have gone up significantly in the past couple of years. Like $3-3.5k rifles are now $4.5-6k. Some are in the $8-10k range, but to be fair they always had prices higher than their competitors. Is it due to inflation? Increased popularity of LRS? Combo of both? Or does one competitor raise prices, so others follow suit?

This isn’t a complaint. I’m all for capitalism and the best products people can offer. It’s just something I’ve noticed across the board with all these specialized rifles.
 
Supply and demand. There are a lot of people who want a "big name" on their rifle, and I've never understood paying large $$ for a rifle that is assembled by someone.

I've never quite understood the $$ some people pay. If you are buying a stock from McM, Manners or a Chassis, and a custom action, the smith is doing a chamber, crown, and bedding job? That's $500 to $600 from a good guy who's not cheap?
$1200 action
$350 barrel
$850 stock
$225 trigger
$350 bottom metal
$50 rail

That's $3600.

Now if a guy is doing finishes on a wood stock, then that's a whole different level of effort, but to assemble a rifle from off the shelf parts if you pay more than that you're paying for a cool roll mark on your barrel. That's my free opinion from the internet, and why none of my rifles have fancy roll marks, and don't get me started on 1911s. :eek: :D
 
Thanks for the replies gents. I was also looking at the Howa KRG, seekins Havak, and Bergara HMR and pro series. Seems like you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck with all those rifles. Also, the GEN2 5Rs, but I already own one of those :D

Don’t get me wrong though. I like a high end custom just as much as the next guy. Just have to see where my pain threshold is for prices.
 
If you build a rifle to fill a specific niche, F-Open, F-T/R, Heavy BR, Light BR or certain PRS matches, you will NEED a riflesmith that KNOWS the "rules" of each discipline and will build a rifle to fit inside those rules! It does NO GOOD to build an awesome rifle capable of 1/4M.O.A. if it is disqualified for being OUTSIDE of those parameters! Know exactly what you are building a rifle for and then hunt down a GREAT riflesmith who knows how to build a rifle INSIDE the rules governing that specific discipline! Once you find a list of them, then get first hand opinions on his work>>>>then let that person tell you how much it is to build the perfect rifle>>>and you can decide if you want or can afford that route!
 
For PRS and probably anything except bench rest, a $300 prefit barrel from CBI will shoot as well as anything else. You can screw it onto a custom $950-$1200 action plus $150 trigger. Drop into a KRG Bravo including bottom metal for $450, or spend more if you want; I can tell you it is as ergonomic and shoots as well as a M*** stock. But stocks are a highly personal item to suit your style and needs. Easily meet a $2000 budget.
 
B Nettesheim said:
The machines required to assemble a rifle are a bit spendy, then add on tooling, measuring instruments, the building, the list can go on forever. Plus the cost of the knowledgeable individual putting it together is hard to put a price on.
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Theres way better gunsmiths that charge half the price. They have the same machines plus many times more tooling since theyve been doing it for 20+yrs instead of 2. As my buddy alan hall said about a nameless rifle builder- jesus cant build a custom rifle on a remington and make it cost $6000. You can insert any action made today (prs flavor of the month) and change the number to $8000 and it still applies.
 
Prices on used full on custom builds are WAY down. If you can find the Chassis/Stock you want, I think your way ahead. I'm hanging on to mine for that reason. Look over on
"Typers Hide" for some smokin deals. Alot of guys have to have the latest, shiny new to compete with. Ain't nothin wrong with last months Action, stock, or trigger. Scopes are the same. The latest offerings come out after Shot and every one dumps theirs. Real good time to be a buyer imo.
 
moondog said:
Prices on used full on custom builds are WAY down. If you can find the Chassis/Stock you want, I think your way ahead. I'm hanging on to mine for that reason. Look over on
"Typers Hide" for some smokin deals. Alot of guys have to have the latest, shiny new to compete with. Ain't nothin wrong with last months Action, stock, or trigger. Scopes are the same. The latest offerings come out after Shot and every one dumps theirs. Real good time to be a buyer imo.
Click to expand...

I usually stay away from snipers hide. I don’t want to catch cancer. That’s solid advice though. Thanks for the comment.
 
Most of the smiths that i see building awesome rifles are in the 4-5 range. It depends on if load work up is included or not. Rbros builds a solid PRS rifle. He competes along with his brother. His PRS rifles is $3,700.
 
The price will shrink dramatically if you find a gunsmith to build your rifle and not a shop with a cool name. As XTR showed, the parts sure don't add up to the asking prices you see from the shops. Many of the top gunsmiths charge less than 1000 bucks to put together a pile of parts you source for them. Deal gets better the more work you do yourself.
 
moondog said:
Nothing wrong with shopping at "Walmart"
Just come back here for solid advice on everything else. I usually spend 30 seconds a day over there. That's as long as I can hold my breath.
Click to expand...
Why bother if you are going to bitch about it ?
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. It was more curiosity than anything. Like I said, no complaints, quality products deserve quality prices. Just saw about a 20-25% jump in prices in the past 6 years. I appreciate everyone’s response, advice, and reasoning.
 
not being an FFL holder,i don't have the detailed info
consider the increased insurance and liscencing cost for gunsmiths over the last few years
money for those has to come from somewhere. very thankfull I can do all my own work
 
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If you are looking to build a rifle for PRS, here is a winning combination:
Impact Precision Action
Foundation Stock
Trigger Tech Diamond Trigger
Bartlein Barrel
Bottom metal and brake/supressor (your choice)
 
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