[monkeykevin]

Hey! I'm currently deciding if I should buy a .308 rifle or have one built from a neighbor. My purpose for a .308 is for target, hunting, and SHTF toy. I'll be doing my own reloading with the components I was given as a gift =P Single Stage rock chucker.

With a price tag of $2634.00 rifle alone am I better off building one with a neighbor who builds rifle for a buddy of his in the Seal team? (.338 Lapua) He tells me he builds them and I know he hunts a lot, can I trust someone and hope he has the talent that comparable to a company that BUILDS firearms?

http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/tactical/8400_advanced_tactical/82/
Kimber 8400 Advanced Tactical / .308 Win.
Calibers: .308 Win.
Features:

* Scope rail secured with HD 8-40 screws.
* Oversize bolt handle.
* Mil-spec Picatinny rail with 20-minutes of elevation.

Specifications: Approximate Weight: 9lbs. 13oz.
Overall Length (inches): 0.00
McMillian A-5 adjustable, desert camo
Stock: Material: Synthetic
Coverage: Panel
Stippled
Sling swivel studs
Front swivel stud only for bipod.
Recoil pad (black) thickness (inches): 1.0
Pacmayr Decelerator
Length of pull: 0.00
Drop at heel: 0.00 inches
Drop at comb: 0.00 inches
Barrel: Material: Steel
Contour: Bull
Length: 24.00 inches
Custom sporter contour
Finish:
Twist rate (right hand): 12
Grooves: 4
Match grade chamber
Action: Full length Mauser claw extractor
Material: Steel
Finish:
Front locking repeater
Mauser claw extractor
Magazine capacity: 5
Glass bedding
3-position Model 70-type safety
Trigger: Adjustable Trigger
Factory setting (pull) pounds: 3.0-3.5
Suggested
Retail Price:
$2634.00 8400 Advanced Tactical™ .300 Win. Mag.
$2634.00 8400 Advanced Tactical™ .308 Win.

[Olympus]

I'm a builder of sorts myself and I would always recommend having one built. If it's going to be a rifle that you're going to keep forever, spend the extra time and have it custom fitted for you. Having one built/building your own gives you a very very wide variety of choices to make your rifle unique. Buying a rifle from a factory guarantees that someone else out there has one exactly like yours.

Those Kimbers have a pretty big price tag so you need to be confident in your shooting abilities. Spending that kind of money on accuracy is a poor decision if you're not capable of that kind of accuracy as a shooter. If you're just going to be doing some friendly target shooting and not competitions, you could spend about $800 to $1000 less and still have an insanely accurate rifle, especially if you don't possess competition grade shooting skills.

[Deer Hunter]

For what it's going to be used for, you can get a comparable rifle for much less.

[Gaiudo]

look at CDNN's prices on the FN PBR and FN XP .308 bolt rifles... 699.00 and 799.00.... mine's a tack driver.

[skinewmexico]

You can get a rifle from GA Precision for less than that, and it will be twice the rifle that Kimber is. Or for half the money, you can buy all the Savage parts, and assemble it yourself, and probably have the same rifle, accuracy wise. And you can get a modern twist.

[Beagle-zebub]

Yeah, rebarreling a Savage is pretty darned easy. You could throw together a rifle with a high-class barrel, stock, and trigger in most any centerfire caliber, and for under $1,000.

[Claude Clay]

sounds like a project of desire. if $ is no object--go for it. add glass; perhaps $600--more likely $850. about 8 years ago a friend and i built 2 rem 700's in 308; stainless 26" fluted, blue printed with burris 8-32 glass. both play well at 1000 yards[ personal best is 3 rounds in 6"] $1750 than. late spring this year i turned down $2600. if you build it chances are better that you will keep it. out to 600 yards i load Sierra 2200 with 46 gr Varget. good luck.

[skinewmexico]

And if money is no object - AI-AW.

[the_right_reverend]

Savage target action $450 to $500
McGowen Barrel $275 to $350
Stock $300 to $700??
total $1025 to $1550


barrel Nut wrench and Head space guage $75

build a savage and have it your way :D