To answer your original question, no you don't. A quality factory rifle, say a Tika, Begara, or CZ will give you the feedback you seek. However, a highend Anschutz, Walther, or40X will certainly outperform the others day in and day out, and a custom even more so. Should you decide you enjoy Smallbore competition there are different classes in Benchrest. In Smallbore F-Class it's whatever rifle makes weight. Most top shooters are using full custom. I compete in Club Level Rim Fire Benchrest, F-Class, and Benchrest Silhouette oyt ot 200 yards on the rams. My comprtition rifles are a CZ 457 MTR in Factory, a Walther KKM in Match Grade and F-Class, and an Anschutz in Silhouette. Still the single smallest group I ever shot at 100 yards was with a factory CZ 457 Varmint and RWS R-50, which is unobtainable for over a year. Finding and keeping ammunition your rifle shoots well is a constant struggle, at least for me. Finally don't forget a high quality scope is required to do justice to your set up. Nightforce and March are commonly used.
