Question about gunsmithing a custom benchrest rifle

[tominboise]

I am trying to budget to get a custom rifle put together, and just need a feel for the gunsmith charges to put together a rifle on a 2500X action, Shilen barrel, stock, and trigger. Is it $1000? $500? $3000?

Mostly so I know what a new one would cost against buying a used one, if one ever shows up.

 

[PWNolan]

Are you providing all the components?

 

[TheDream]

Just for a tangible number reference, there is a basically brand new rifle that was built by Gorham and given away at nationals for sale on RA. Basically all the components you described going for 4800$. Id say for brand new, depending on how you source the comps, you will be in the 5k ballpark.

 

[tominboise]

Are you providing all the components?

Maybe. Pricing an action, barrel, trigger, and stock from KSS is around $3200, plus shipping, tax, etc.

Just for a tangible number reference, there is a basically brand new rifle that was built by Gorham and given away at nationals for sale on RA. Basically all the components you described going for 4800$. Id say for brand new, depending on how you source the comps, you will be in the 5k ballpark.

I did see that rifle on RA, which started my looking around at pricing. I would like to find a good used rifle. Given that at best, I will shoot in two club matches per month and maybe the state and regional matches here in Idaho, I would like to have some equipment that gets me in the ballpark, without breaking the bank. I am unlikely to ever make it to a National event, but never say never, I suppose.

 

[TheDream]

For a solid used rifle with those comps, you are looking at 3-4k. Ive seen plenty pop up on the forums that are in that range. Just keep an eye out.

 

[BCR1]

I would think 1K+ for the smith work if you supply all the components and then a long wait if you go with a top shelf smith like Gorham.

 

[crm617]

So, I went through this same thing in December last year. You can have a gun built for $4K. But as stated above you will wait at least 6/7 months to have it built. I used Mark Penrod, send my action to him as a place holder. Once my stock came from Randy Owens, which is around 5/6 months to get it went right to Mark. Mark then built the gun. I bought the action and stock. Mark provided the match Shilen barrel, trigger, tuner and all the work. If you're thinking of going this route you need to act now. You'll be lucky to have the gun in May next year.
Also as stated above look here on the forum for one, they show up. Be ready to punch on it. I put mine on once I had the new gun. I had 3 guys wanting in with 30 mins. I sold it for $3200.00 same as what I paid for it. Randy Owens stock, Turbo 2500 action, Muller barrel and a Bix & Andy trigger. I wouldn't pay over $3500.00 for a really good used gun. At $4k you can have a new one. So you might be thinking why did I sell a gun that was basically what I had built for more money. Good question, I was in the same postion as you are now. I wanted the gun but did want the wait. So I got lucky found one here and bought it so I'd have something to shoot as I waited for the new gun. Which gave me time to see if I just might keep it and bail out of the new one. I knew if I didn't want Randy's stock I ordered he'd sell it in a day, he has no worries if you don't want it. Worst case was I'd have to sell the action. In the long term I just wanted the new gun. Is it better then the what I sold at another $800.00, probably not.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Building new machines is fun and very personally rewarding, built to your choice of components, etc. But buying a well-oiled running machine that you may be able to take for a test drive and may even ( if you are lucky ) come with a supply of fuel to feed it.....I have gone both routes and personally prefer option 2.......Best of luck & Happy Shooting.

Regards
Rick

 

[PWNolan]

Just for a tangible number reference, there is a basically brand new rifle that was built by Gorham and given away at nationals for sale on RA. Basically all the components you described going for 4800$. Id say for brand new, depending on how you source the comps, you will be in the 5k ballpark.

I saw that rifle on RA (and at ARA UL Nationals) and my thought was they were adding a premium to the price considering it's a special rifles

 

[Maggot]

Building new machines is fun and very personally rewarding, built to your choice of components, etc. But buying a well-oiled running machine that you may be able to take for a test drive and may even ( if you are lucky ) come with a supply of fuel to feed it.....I have gone both routes and personally prefer option 2.......Best of luck & Happy Shooting.

Regards
Rick

This. And you need do know clearly how much the accuracy means to you. A good factory rifle like a Christensen Arms Mesa Long Range, will do 90% or more of what a 4K rifle will do and for $1500 or so. Then youve got a good solid action and when ready improve on it.

 

[Quantuckian]

I am trying to budget to get a custom rifle put together, and just need a feel for the gunsmith charges to put together a rifle on a 2500X action, Shilen barrel, stock, and trigger. Is it $1000? $500? $3000?

Mostly so I know what a new one would cost against buying a used one, if one ever shows up.

My local gunsmith in Kerrville, Texas charged me $368 to completely assemble my custom rifle from high-end components about 3 years ago. The stock had been pre-inletted for my action, DBM, and barrel contour by McMillan. The smith did the rest, including threading, chambering, crowning, and bead-blasting the barrel, fitting the DBM, and pillar-bedding the action. He did a very good job, too. It shoots sub-1/2 MOA groups all day long with handloads.

 

[CharlieNC]

You can get a good builder to slug and fit the barrel and tuner for $500. The major variable is stock work, which is relatively expensive.

 

[TRSR8]

FWIW among the bigger potential mistakes a new(er) RFBR shooter will make is building something from the ground up, higher price, higher performance risk, lack of evaluation experience.
A much better value proposition is securing a decent, quality, rifle, ideally with a match history.
A major fallacy is that only bad guns get sold……..far from true.

 

[tominboise]

I think I am going to stand pat and shoot what I have for while, getting some practice in, and in the meantime keep an eye open for a decent custom.
I'm currently sitting 23rd in our state in Outdoor UL with two matches under my belt, which says more about the number of shooters in Idaho than it does about my shooting ability. I am shooting a match this weekend, where it will be ~40deg F and rain/snow mixed. Should be a great time.

I should probably just buy a factory class rifle, it'd be a lot cheaper.

 

[painter]

I am trying to budget to get a custom rifle put together, and just need a feel for the gunsmith charges to put together a rifle on a 2500X action, Shilen barrel, stock, and trigger. Is it $1000? $500? $3000?

Mostly so I know what a new one would cost against buying a used one, if one ever shows up.

Look at Benchrest Central there are a lot of good used rifles you can always have the barrel replaced later if needed.

 

[Hippy]

I have went this route be 4 as stated a new rile can take as much as a year . When buying a used rifle ALWAYS consider the price of having to replace the bbl.
If it was built by a top smith chances are he kept a record of the measurements and can do a bbl rather quickly

Good luck

Jim

 

[BCR1]

When buying a used rifle ALWAYS consider the price of having to replace the bbl.
Good luck

Jim

Is that because it doesn't shoot good or because it's worn out/damaged some how?

Bill

 

[VLNBYR]

My experience it is rare for a good blank done by one of the top smiths to not shoot well. It is even more rare to see one damaged.

 

[doclu60]

My experience it is rare for a good blank done by one of the top smiths to not shoot well. It is even more rare to see one damaged.

Exactly!! John's experience is the same as mine, and whether they know or accept it, MANY others as well. I have had barrels done by quite a few smiths. All of them have very good reputations and have done winning barrels, as well as barrels that kind of suck. A really great blank is going to turn into a really great barrel if done by the right person. A really crappy blank will still be a crappy barrel, no matter who does the work. Just like different lots of ammo. No way to 'massage' crappy out of either.

Scott

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

There are new rifle, used rifles and there are winning rifles. Spend your money according to your goals.
New = unproven
Used = shoot it
Winning = You can't really put a price on that but whatever the number is, it's liklihood of being a good rifle is higher than the other two regardless of who built it or the components used.