Custom hunting rifle build

[horsey300]

So the bosslady and I started discussing a custom build, looking at actions and barrels etc, and while it is still down the road aways for now, I pondered on something over my coffee this morning: build on a cartridge we already love or build on something new and roll the dice? My thoughts on a new cartridge involve first buying a production rifle in that chambering before the custom build (this purpose is obviously twofold ). I'm curious how others approach custom rifles. Do you just go all in on something new like a 280 you've never had but always wanted or build a 260 to supplement your production rifle that you traded for years ago and love to pieces?

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm in the middle of obtaining parts for a custom rifle. I elected to get a Savage Target Action for the basis because I can install the barrel myself and I have been happy with my other Savage Model 12. I'm waiting on the barrel and stock.

I elected to get a new cartridge that I do not currently load/shoot to add to the experience. I had considered having the rifle chambered in something I already loaded. But, I figured I'd have special loads tailored for the new rifle that were different than the stuff I currently load so why not play with something new.

I'd select the cartridge on what you plan to do with the rifle.

Have fun.

 

[taliv]

start with picking the bullet you want to shoot. then figure out how fast you want it to go. then figure all your constraints, like weight, length, size, mag limits, etc.

 

[CraigC]

What is the purpose for this rifle? Is it going to be more traditional blued/walnut or modern stainless/synthetic?

I've never had a custom rifle built but I've done several revolvers. A cartridge you already shoot or a new one, either is perfectly viable, just depends on what you want. You might want to stay with a mainstream cartridge you're familiar with or you might want to take the opportunity to try something you can't just run out and buy. I've done both. We all have both practical and romantic reasons for choosing cartridges and the detail touches that go into a custom gun.

 

[jmr40]

I like the idea of multiple rifles set up differently, but in the same caliber. In reality the differences between most of the common calibers is pretty small and by selecting different bullets it is possible to achieve very different goals. Same with the rifles, you can have a 260/308/280/7/08, or any of several others set up as a short barreled lightweight woods gun with a smaller 2-7X scope. And in the same caliber have a heavy, long barreled target gun. And even a 3rd rifle somewhere in between as an all around rifle.

 

[Casefull]

I have a custom rifle and it is a great rifle, rem action with lightweight stock. I personally believe now that most of the time you can buy as good or better rifle from manufacturer for far less than a custom. I you just want one or the uniqueness of one then that is a different story. I have a 375h&h in a remington 700 mountain rifle from the remington custom shop( this was 30 years ago BTW). It was half the price of the rifle I had built and overall better gun. I hunt with several different kimber light weight rifles that beat the gunsmiths at their own game. I wish that were not so but in my experience it is.

 

[Varminterror]

start with picking the bullet you want to shoot. then figure out how fast you want it to go. then figure all your constraints, like weight, length, size, mag limits, etc.

^This.

Your application dictates the bullet you need and the velocity you need to push it. That'll tell you the barrel length, cartridge, and twist you need. Those will tell you the action length you need. Pick a stock which matches your body and your application, same with the optic, and start earning those credit card points and watching your mailbox.

Personally, I just buy/build the new thing. Here's your worst case - you end up with a rifle you love in a cartridge you hate, you sell the barrel for 50cents on the dollar and buy a new one in a cartridge you know and love. Chalk up the lost $250ish barrel cost to entertainment value and learning experience. Being dissatisfied with a factory model doesn't make any sense to me. Even easier and cheaper if you use a Savage action, or design a Remington around a "remage" barrel system.

A guy could convince me to buy a used rifle in the cartridge I want to try it out, but more often than not, I just buy a new barrel and screw it onto one of my current actions to try something out. If I like it, I build a new rifle and swap the tubes over.

 

[Varminterror]

I have a custom rifle and it is a great rifle, rem action with lightweight stock. I personally believe now that most of the time you can buy as good or better rifle from manufacturer for far less than a custom.

You must have gotten hosed by a smith not worth the title. If factory models were as good or better for less price, you'd never see another custom rifle on a competitive firing line - ever. Aesthetics don't win matches, performance does, so if a $1000 Sendero really could outshoot a $2500 Lilja barreled Panda, custom builders would have gone out of business a long time ago.

 

[CraigC]

You must have gotten hosed by a smith not worth the title. If factory models were as good or better for less price, you'd never see another custom rifle on a competitive firing line - ever. Aesthetics don't win matches, performance does, so if a $1000 Sendero really could outshoot a $2500 Lilja barreled Panda, custom builders would have gone out of business a long time ago.

I have to agree.

And add that accuracy isn't the only thing you're getting with a custom rifle. People always seem to think so but it might not even be a significant factor.

 

[z7]

as is stated earlier, it all depends on your purpose. I just had a custom barreled action put together. I went 308 win because I wanted a multi purpose rifle. I might have an opportunity to hunt elk in Kentucky so a 300yd elk rifle was desired. I also plan to hunt whitetails and maybe a few wild pigs. I will shoot 99% of the rounds out of the barrel in a target shooting mode, so a good rifle to get prone behind and attempt to shoot steel or tiny groups was desired. I also wanted something unique. so I went with a Mausingfield short action and Rem Varmint contour barrel (LongRifles inc put it together in two weeks from first call to FFL transfer) it is heavy with a scope, but the rifle is teaching my how to really shoot. I have always shot and would consider myself a proficient shooter, but this thing is accurate enough that I know when I screwed it up vs the rifle threw a shot. in the first 100 rds my largest 5 shot group is 1.5" and i screwed up two of them. my best was 5 shots .6"

it is a rifle I will gladly shoot and pack into the field for years to come, and after i have spent a few thousand dollars ruining the barrel (4-5k rds later) I can always change the caliber. the action also takes savage barrels and I can swap bolt heads without issue, so I can have a switch barrel short magnum of my choice for $800 on the same action, or any 308 bolt face caliber for the price of a barrel. I could not be happier, in fact I am heading to the range next week to try some SMK's and Varget through it

 

[Casefull]

I did not get hosed by anybody. I just do not agree. Sometimes folks have to justify the money they spent. I like value.

 

[CraigC]

Sorry but if a custom rifle is no better than a factory rifle, something is wrong.

 

[LoonWulf]

A custom rifle SHOULD give you an assurance of operation, performance, and the options you want. If your cool with polishing your own action, working on your trigger, swapping guns and or barrels till u reach your accuracy and barrel length requirements, rechambering if the round u want isnt a factory option, modifying your stock to fit exactly as you like and reducing or adding any weight you may want....than well you now have a production rifle that's as "good" as a custom built gun.

I have a Remington 700 Adl on which I've had the action trued, a low cost custom barrel (ershaw) installed in 6x47rem, polished the action, installed a cheap "custom" boyds stock which I've fitted to myself, and installed and tuned an xmark pro trigger.
end result is I have a very nice semi custom rifle that cost about 1k in parts and pro work, and at least 5 hours of my own time....prolly could a got a decent full custom gun for another 500-1000 bucks and I'd have someone to %&+\# at if there was a problem lol.

Other than that, I think pick a PRIMARY task for the rifle, then what ELSE it could be used for. From there as stated chose a bullet and speed, then assess if its acceptable for both or if a compromise is being made if its acceptable.

 

[MCMXI]

You must have gotten hosed by a smith not worth the title. If factory models were as good or better for less price, you'd never see another custom rifle on a competitive firing line - ever. Aesthetics don't win matches, performance does, so if a $1000 Sendero really could outshoot a $2500 Lilja barreled Panda, custom builders would have gone out of business a long time ago.

You're talking about "match" rifles rather than hunting rifles where a consistent 1/2 moa rifle is obviously preferable over a 3/4 moa rifle. However, the bar for hunting rifles is much lower if you're talking deer or elk or similar. I agree with Casefull that there are many good factory options for hunting rifles that perform so well that a custom rifle just isn't worth the extra cost. I have two Kimber rifles and my girlfriend has one that I bought for her. All three rifles will consistently shoot 5 rounds in less than 2 minutes into sub 0.7" groups at 100 yards, all three have no significant shift in POA/POI with a cold clean bore, all three have factory carbon fiber stocks nicer than most aftermarket stocks, all three feed and eject perfectly, the 84M with scope weighs 6.5 lb, all three have excellent adjustable factory single stage triggers and all three cost much less than a custom rifle. The 84M can be had for just over $1,000 and you'll be hard pressed to find a better hunting rifle at any price.

As for match/tactical rifles, I'd rather buy a factory AI over any custom rifle available today. Heck, I've shot a few AI AE rifles and they'll out shoot and out perform many custom rifles costing thousands more. I have an AI AW and two AI AWM rifles and groups in the .3s are the norm rather than the exception so "factory" isn't necessarily a dirty word.

 

[swampcrawler]

Like others have said, and somewhat obviously, identify the desired roll of the rifle. (Big game, varmint, bench, etc), figure out what bullet or bullets at what speed or speeds are suitable for the task, and work from there.

I'd also take into consideration your own temperament for lack of a better word. If you're a tinkerer like many of us and truly enjoy load developement and tuning this or that, then I think I would opt for something new and exciting.

If you're more of a practical, person who is more interested in the results than the process, then sticking with the tried and true is a good bet.

 

[horsey300]

OK folks, first off, thanks for the input, I really appreciate it. I understand the points made about value, but (especially in my wife's case) there's the allure of something built specifically for YOU. My wife's build fits well with a savage lady hunter stock (it accommodates her long thin neck and arms well) her current stock is a youth model with spacers I believe lop is under 13" but more than 12.5". We both strongly desire a win 70 Mauser type action. Ideally the barrel is between pencil and bull with a recessed crown. The trigger needs to be able to take weather and still fire consistently at 2-3 lbs with dust and snow and rain. The calibers would be between .243-.260-.280-7-08-.308. The ultimate goal is elk and deer but we use our rifles year around for varmints, predators, and target practice, hundreds of rounds per year so something that fits like a glove leads to easier and more frequent trigger time than something that makes her neck and/or arms wobbly after 10-15 rds. So thus paying the extra money does outweigh the "value" of a 1000 Kimber. We're liking Montana rifle company right now, but need to address the stock fit issue. We have the strap type comb riser on her .243 but that just doesn't "do it" you know?

 

[Sheepdog1968]

As for caliber, at this point I'd likely pick one I already really love and have great confidence in than invest the time and energy to try something new. Mostly a time thing to really sort it out. Get what you like, want if you can afford it. The most economical choice doesn't need to always the driver on what we choose.

 

[MCMXI]

Getting a stock adjusted so that it fits the shooter properly with an optimal cheek weld will definitely resullt in a better shooting experience and more success on paper, steel or an animal. Out of interest, what do you expect to pay for a custom hunting rifle? D'Arcy Echols charges $15,000 for his Legend rifles, and high end production rifles such as those from Proof Research, Dakota Arms, Christensen Arms, Kimber and others are in the $2,000 to $8,000 price range.

 

[Varminterror]

Montana, Kimber, Christensen, AI, Dakota, McMillan... Hardly your average "factory rifles." Sure ain't your grand daddy's 700, 70, or 77...

I've built hunting rifles with Shilen and Broughton barrels on Stiller Predator actions and hand selected walnut blanks cut by Macon, my 84 isn't as clean, nor as accurate. Built hunting rifles on trued and sleeved 700's, Mauser's, and 70's, and currently working on a pair of DGR 77's, often what I prefer doesn't exist in nature, or can't be bought as accurate as what I want.

 

[CraigC]

So according to some here, I could have just bought a S&W .500Mag instead of going the custom route. It does the same thing, right?

 

[MCMXI]

often what I prefer doesn't exist in nature, or can't be bought as accurate as what I want.

Then you have no choice but to build a custom rifle. In addition to the myriad factory barreled rifles I own or have owned, I've had custom rifles built with Krieger barrels and currently have rifles with barrels from Bartlein, Lothar Walther, Criterion, McGowen, Bergara and a few others. Building a rifle that shoots well isn't particularly difficult.

 

[MCMXI]

So according to some here, I could have just bought a S&W .500Mag instead of going the custom route. It does the same thing, right?

I like nice things as much as the next person and that revolver is a beautiful example, but someone who buys a bone stock revolver could be equally happy with theirs as you are with yours.

 

[horsey300]

Getting a stock adjusted so that it fits the shooter properly with an optimal cheek weld will definitely resullt in a better shooting experience and more success on paper, steel or an animal. Out of interest, what do you expect to pay for a custom hunting rifle? D'Arcy Echols charges $15,000 for his Legend rifles, and high end production rifles such as those from Proof Research, Dakota Arms, Christensen Arms, Kimber and others are in the $2,000 to $8,000 price range.

Well, we're still looking, but (and I'm not sure if I'll get shot with this gun after she looks up the price tag) I'm prepared to spend the money on an Artemis from Kilimanjaro if I can't find something that suits her as well. Shoulda seen her face at the "ooooooooooo I LIKE that one!" Without any of the add on options they start at 14,500. I know she would prefer not to spend that kind of money on firearms in one go, but if we save up, I think it would be worth the initial investment. Our daughters need something to look forward to in our wills after all hahaha!!

 

[Casefull]

Some people want a firearm others want a piece of art made to look like a firearm. If spending a lot of money to get something pretty floats your boat then I say get it. I think you have received lots of good thoughts on your question. Make that woman happy for a while. lol

 

[horsey300]

We're still exploring options, wasn't joking about getting shot with that thing if she found out the price! She does have the fiery hair....I looked at Boyd's stocks and didn't see one to match the shape of the Camilla/lady hunter/Artemis. She would be quite alright with something in that lineup but the trick is the crf action in that stock. We'll get there eventually, local gunsmiths are Ummmmm "lacking" in supply and/or talent and I'm really not sure I could do the work myself without messing something up.