In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

custom rifles

DaRoostaDaRoosta Member Posts: 270 ✭✭✭
edited February 2002 in General Discussion
I talked briefly with a friend (danlittle) and we were talking about custom rifles. Not military rifles but very accurate, very pretty bolt action guns. If I were to have one built from the ground up some time this year what action would you suggest to do so? By the way I'm a lefty so if I could get a lefty action that would be nice, on the other hand I grew up shooting right handed bolt guns so I'm kind of used to them. It would probably be in .300 Win Mag, or 7mm Weatherby Magnum. I wouldn't begin to tackle this project until the fall but that doesn't stop my mind from racing around thinking about it.

R/

Dave
th_bigclay.bmp
How different the world would be if we could consult the veteran instead of the politician. - Henry Miller
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • DaRoostaDaRoosta Member Posts: 270 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've been thinking about building a custom rifle, or maybe having it built...probably a 300 Win Mag. My question is if this is something that's worth while or a waste of time. It seems like you can find almost anything in current production rifles from the major manufacturers, but not exactly every feature I would like for the price, which is sort of the basis of my question.Thanks for the input.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sealyonsealyon Member Posts: 313 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Daroosta. You can buy almost any standard cal. you could think of from almost any manufaturer. Accuracy varies from maker to maker and from gun to gun but most are good to great. 9 times out of ten the gun will out perform the shooter. "But"!!! To build your own gives a lot of satisfaction and to have one built for you means you can get it just as you want it. Cost will probably suprise the **** out of you, if you haven't check it out. Free advice being worth what you pay for it, I would suggest buying a quality factory rifle (i.e. Rem, Sako, and so forth) unless you want to shoot a wildcat. That kind of limits you choice. If needed you can always trick out the factory gun at your leisure. Whatever you decide "enjoy yourself"......
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Pride of ownership means more to some than others. I have two custom rifles. The cost of one would have bought six or eight factory rifles but neither are for sale if I could find someone who would give me what I paid for them plus appreciation.It's a personal thing.Clouder..
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ditto whiteclouder, mine are not for sale either. Even at a profit. And NOOOOOO, a box gun will not outshoot or even compare to the custom stuff. If it is, of course, done by a COMPETENT gunsmith who does not B.S. when he doesn't know the answer. Here's a little test, how many factory guns do you see on the benchrest circuit? These are the guys who measure groups with the micrometer. If you want the most accuracy you can get, even if you aren't good enough to see the true potential of the rifle, then go custom. By the way, start saving now if you decide to go that route, you will need it!!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • OrphanedcowboyOrphanedcowboy Member Posts: 351 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have several "custom" guns, and I do agree with everyone, they are more expensive, but the satisfaction you get each and every time you shoot it, ot hold it, more than offsets the price, depending on what your planning, price can very from a few hundered dollars using your donor gun to several thousand dollars for a complete off the shelf custom, I am having a .450 marlin bolt gun built, using a model 70 300 wsm as a donor, adding barrel, fluting, removable break, stock, teflon coating, pillar and bedding, and labor runs the gun up into the $1700 dollar range, about what you'll will pay for the basic Winchester custom shop gun, but mine will not be a basic, it will be mine. It's like cars, we all don't drive a Kia, but we all get where we're going, just depends on how you want to get there
    Orphanedcowboy@msn.com www.texdeer.com www.Orphanedcowboy.com
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DaRoostaDaRoosta Member Posts: 270 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    So, what are we talking about price-wise? I figured it could be done for maybe a little over 1K. Is that a really low estimate? Is it more like double or triple that? I know it's going to depend heavily on the quality of products that go into it, but let's just say a middle-of-the-road hunting rifle. Maybe a Sako action, Lilja barrel, some sort of thumbhole stock, etc. I know the list goes on and on.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    daroosta:You will pay that for the stock. Think more on the lines of $2700-3500. Clouder...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • varmit huntervarmit hunter Member Posts: 1,674 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Roosta,I can get you a world class gun for $1200 or $5000 just depends on the name.I can promse you they will both shoot the same, And be bult your way.I have had both men do work for me, And can not tell a difference.
    A unarmed man is a subject.A armed man is a citizen.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DaRoostaDaRoosta Member Posts: 270 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I guess I'll stop dreaming for awhile. Who needs another gun anyway, right? Thanks for all the input. If I decide to proceed, I'm sure y'all will know about it because I'll be posting quite a bit for suggestions.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • usmc2498215usmc2498215 Member Posts: 82 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Customizing a rifle to your specs should simply be saved for that particular action, calibre, & slice of wood that will be handed down to your kids, your kids kids and so on. As far as getting your money back;forget it, remember you are satisfying your tastes, and noone elses....
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    $3000 is a good running estimate for the custom build if you buy the action (700 or 70) used and have it worked. Nice jewell trigger, mcmillian or H&S stock, hart/lilja/pacnor/etc barrel, mounts, and tactical glass.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WyomingSwedeWyomingSwede Member Posts: 402 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I will agree with clouder on this...my custom rifles fit me only and will stay with me. You'll never get back what you got in em. Same goes for cars, women, and guns.decided to bring this back since Salzo needs some topics. swede
    WyomingSwede
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.