• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Should I go with a custom rifle?

Check with Jim Borden, he certainly shares the top quality smith position.
A barreled action from Jim costs around $2k if you supply the trigger and barrel.

Jim’s actions are worth at least what they cost but the $2k budget is probably not going to buy a new custom.

David
 
All great ideas. I may consider a rebarrel and see what it will do before I dump a bunch of money into a new rifle. I would use my Savage for elk but it’s a little heavy and I’d like a caliber with a little more energy behind it.
 
Agreed. In math, we call this an overdetermined system.

I own a Tikka in .223 that shoots close to 1/2 MOA with Lapua factory ammo. I believe that it would be under 1/2 MOA with a good reload. The rifle weighs 7.6 lbs with scope. A quality custom built one will outperform it, but it's hard to beat a factory rifle for under $800 with buttery smooth bolt action and a fantastic trigger. Chances are that I won the accuracy lottery with this rifle, but it is possible to meet your goals without spending a fortune. If you are looking to shoot F-class, you will need a heavier barrel. I tried 20 rounds in 20 minutes with mine, and you could cook an egg on the barrel.
 
10.89# most recently completed rifle. Rem 700,Lilja sendero/varmint contour 22-250 21 1/2" threaded 5/8-24, HS police stock,EGW rail, Burris tactical rings, Sightron stac 4-20. Well under 2k, shoots factory Nosler VERY WELL. Going to use it in a 200 yard "deer rifle " club shoot Sunday, I think it will surprise the line.
 
Last edited:
I spent about $2200 on a "custom" rifle with some extensive searching of the webz for what I wanted at the price I wanted. I bought a barreled action R700 with a CBI remage and jewel trigger off here, found a complete rem 40xb stock on ebay, a scope base and rings on ebay, and a new in box but had been opened Sightron SIII 8-32x56 from here, dies and brass on here too.

I call it my rat rod rifle.

I firmly believe you can have a good rifle built around 10lbs or just under for your price point. The barrel nut system is a good way to go to save a significant amount of gunsmith costs, even if you do not do it yourself. Bugnuts or a PacNut look much better than the savage nut, imo.

Given a couple hours and some web searching I'm certain I can come up with a list of links to get you there.
 
I think you are on the right track with the Christensen for $2000. Check out the Ridgeline. I’m not sure if they have the 6.5 or 300 prc. Myself I would look at the 300 Wsm or 300 win mag and if you really need something more look at the 300 Ultra Mag. The 300 Ultra recoil is to much for me, I had a rem 700 bdl 8.5 loaded and it kill. The reason I recommend this rifle is the weight you are looking for. If you are shooting at steel more than hunting I would look at something else heavier.
Good luck with your rifle shopping.
Jason
 
I want to spend about $2K for a new hunting/target rifle and I'm trying to decide if it's worth spending more than that for a custom/high quality rifle. I want a 6.5PRC or 300PRC, not weigh more than 8lbs, and I would like somewhere near 1/2 MOA with factory ammo. I would be packing it around on Elk hunts and also target shooting. I'd love to be able to ring steel out to 1 or 2 thousand yards if possible as well as feel confident in taking an elk at 600/700 yards. I've looked at Tikka, Browning X-bolt, Christiansen Arms. All these rifles have great reputations but if I have the money (and the okay from the wife), is it worth spending the extra 1-2 thousand for a custom rifle. The rifle maker I know makes fantastic rifles and I have no doubt he does good work. And yes, I know the rifle doesn't make a good shot, but I do a lot of shooting and I feel like the limits of my current rifle (Savage Model 10) are slowing me down. Thoughts?
Just a suggestion. $500.00. I have a M18 .243 & it shoots sub .5 MOA. much less actually. Maybe worth a look, sir, put $ towards scope? It's not slick, but dam good.

https://www.eurooptic.com/Mauser-M18-65-PRC-22-Synthetic-5rd-Mag-Bolt-Action-Rifle-M18065P.aspx.
 
Last edited:
I have a bunch of Savage rifles some were done just for hunting and they all shoot 1/2 or close to it with hand loads. I also have a couple that I spent a lot of money on timed and trued, competition 2 oz triggers bench rest quality barrels and stocks and with meticulous loading they will keep .2-.3 groups and can compete against customs but in the end it would have been cheaper and easier to buy/build the custom.
Last winter I had an ABC barrel turned for a no nut Savage BR gun and it does shoot, at 100 it will keep 5 in the 10 ring of an IBS score target. This is the best barrel that I have tried to date and IMO there is no need to look further for a better barrel.
Save some money rebarrel (try nutless) you may squeeze a little more out of it, put your extra cash on good optics or some reloading gear.
 
In Engineering we just call it unrealistic.

Agreed. In math, we call this an overdetermined system.

In terms of a trip to Mexico for some recreation with the local wildlife {hookers} I've been called both!!!!

Don’t believe all you read. Unless it’s about the Creedmore.

Don't forget the Lapua brass!!! Creedmore + Lapua brass ='s "cannot miss" or 1/8" groups all day long if you do your part!!!!

Not knocking what the op wants, just having a little fun. I'd like to have all that too in a hunting rifle. More than anything, the "factory ammo" kills it....I reload and barrel actions/bed stocks, etc. and there is only one bullet I can even think about and it is not available in any factory ammo.
 
Last edited:
F8B7962E-4FE9-4FBB-B9BA-22B33C95E559.jpeg
All great ideas. I may consider a rebarrel and see what it will do before I dump a bunch of money into a new rifle. I would use my Savage for elk but it’s a little heavy and I’d like a caliber with a little more energy behind it.
Stick with your savage you can re-barrel it yourself with a prefit barrel and change calibers quite easily with the changeable bolthead and save a lot of money
 
Buy a hunting rifle and stick to reasonable distances for hunting. Elk are big, thick skinned animals and deserve to be put down humanly. There are only a select few hunters who should attempt a shot like that. The fact that you would suggest hunting at that distance shows me that you are not one of those few.

No serious hunter goes into the field with a target rifle and no serious paper puncher goes to the range with a hunting rifle.

Going to the range, where conditions are controlled and you are very comfortable at a rigid table, is not being in the field, where you are taking a shot while all sorts of things are working against you.

Buy two rifles, or stick with your passion which seems to be hunting.
 
I wouldn't go full custom in this case. Buy a Tikka and spend all your money on the scope. When you get to reloading, then you can start to leverage what a custom rifle has to offer.
At 2K, I don't think you could go full custom. Unless you were spinning the barrel and doing all the machining yourself, it's a tight budget for all custom.
 
Maybe think of a different Caliber. If shooting factory ammo for Hunting. Can you buy the PRC ammo in some podunk hardware store in the middle of no where when your ammo was lost by the airlines. .300 win mag?
 
I am in agreement with many of the points made in this thread already. Where inexperienced shooters get unrealistic expectations is most likely not coming from shooters who have qualified opinions. Trying to cross-purpose your rifle will most likely end in disappointment. Decide which application is your first priority and pick the best rifle that you can afford, wether a hunting or target rifle.
Not often recognized are H-S Precision hunting rifles because of their price point. If you watch the gun auction websites you can find slightly used rifles at your price point. Over the years, I have bought several that have not disappointed me. You may not find one in the calibers that you want, but probably one in a caliber that would be quite adequate. Those rifles leave the factory with a certificate of conformance proving the guaranteed precision specification. One of my H-S rifles is a 300 Win Mag. That is one ubiquitous hunting rifle caliber.
Listen to the experince based opinions given here. It will save you time and money.
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,545
Messages
2,198,155
Members
78,961
Latest member
Nicklm
Back
Top