Difference between Factory/Custom rifles

[ROW]

New guy question:
I have a Winchester model 70 7 MM Mag for target shooting at 500+ yards.
I have been told that that factory rifles can’t shoot that distance for target shooting.

So what is the difference between custom made and factory? Other than $4000

I am not trying to hit a 3 inch target at that range, if I could hit a stop sign target at that range I will call that a success. 6 inch at a 100 yards maybe.

 

[oneounceload]

custom guns typically involve a lot more handwork and precision fitting to get everything as perfect as possible. That takes time and time is money. That is not to say a factory rifle can't do as good a job -it can with the right person and load, just usually it is a case of "almost as good"

 

[Sam1911]

A factory rifle isn't likely to win bench-rest competitions, but some of the target and practical rifles sold by the various major manufacturers are doing very well for themselves these days.

Even many factory "hunting" rifles these days come with "Sub-MOA" guarantees. At 500 yds. 1 minute of angle covers a little tiny bit under 5-1/4."

Even a very average 2-m.o.a. rifle is technically capable of holding 10-1/2" at 500 yds.

So, for your stated goals, many factory rifles can indeed hold up their end of the deal. So the rifle may be the least important part of the question.

The second most important part of the equation will be a scope capable of helping you hold accurately.

The very most important aspect will be your own skill and practice at shooting accurately, that far.

A better rifle will be more accurate and thus more forgiving of the subtle errors you introduce. But with practice, your Win70 can certainly answer your needs.

 

[Zor]

If your mod 70 in 7mm mag behaves anything like my mod 70 in 300wsm then you'll have no problem with stop signs at 500 yds. The question is whether you and your optics are up to the task. Mine is absolutely bone stock with a minox 2-10x40 and is under an inch at 100 yds. I might bed the action and adjust the trigger. But that's a big might.

 

[ROW]

I am considering a Leupold VX-II 6-18x40mm as my scope.

 

[Sam1911]

I'd expect that scope to do just fine for you. Again, you can pay a lot more, but your goals should be within reach with your gear.

 

[CraigC]

The devil and your $4000 is in the details. Tighter tolerances, truer dimensions, hand-fitting, premium components, etc..

 

[USSR]

I am not trying to hit a 3 inch target at that range, if I could hit a stop sign target at that range I will call that a success. 6 inch at a 100 yards maybe.

With such low expectations, you will be well served by a factory rifle.

Don

 

[WNTFW]

ROW,
Run what you have at this time. I have seen some guys locally go straight to the custom rifles. They don't even know what they want or need yet. One even a rifle built for FClass TR and the caliber was not legal for the class.
I don't know your experience level. Your money would be better spent on putting rounds down range. If you don't have a .22 and even an air rifle that would be good buys. A simple handloading setup is a good investment. Even just more 7mm mag ammo would be good.

 

[ROW]

I am just learning as of now. I am also getting old “56” so as I learn more maybe I can shoot a smaller target. But I must be realistic I will never shoos as well as someone in there 30’s

 

[browningguy]

You can still shoot better than someone in their 30's, a lot of the guys winning BR matches are in their 50's and 60's. I'm pushing 60 pretty hard and still shoot as well or better than I did in my 20's. The difference now is speed.

I am shooting a 3 gun match this saturday and have absolutly no chance of winning or even placing high. The targets are big and they are set up for run and gun shooting, with my old knees there isn't much running any more so I am slow. But shooting a precision shoot I can still hold my own.

 

[CraigC]

Ain't nothin' about your age gonna keep you from outshootin' a cocky 30-something year old like me. Between youthful enthusiasm and old age & treachery, I'll put my money on the latter every time.

 

[sage5907]

row, what I've found about good shooting rifles is that a good rifle is a good rifle no matter who made it. I have had custom rifles and they all shot excellent but I have factory rifles that were just as good. A good barrel and a well designed stock is mandatory but after that the ability to shoot 500 yard groups comes down to the quality of the trigger, optics, ammunition and the skill of the shooter. The only thing you get with a custom rifle is that when you bring it home you can sell it for 60% of the purchase price. BW

 

[Smith357]

There are some factory rifles that can keep up with custom in both performance and price. One that comes to mind is one of the New Anschutz 1913 in metal stock they will shoot with any custom made $4000 dollar rifle but they themselves cost $4000.

From my perspective the reason to go with a Custom rifle is to get something you just cant find in a factory rifle like a AAA Figured Walnut stock with 22lpi hand checkering.

 

[beatledog7]

A great shooter with a $400 factory rifle gets into a 500-yd target match against a mediocre shooter with a $4000 custom rifle. They use the same batch of ammo.

Who would you bet on?

 

[taliv]

the problem with factory guns (aside from generally poor quality materials and workmanship) is that they are mostly set up for deer hunting. if you want to do something else, like shoot practical matches or benchrest matches or F-class matches or prairie dogs or hike & shoot or tactical/sniper stuff etc... you'll want to do a lot of work to them before they're helping you instead of hurting you.


sadly, most people are in a catch-22 that is they need to spend their $ on ammo and practice instead of on a $4000 rifle. but, their $400 rifle (and $100 scope) is inhibiting their training so that they can't tell when they miss, whether it's them or the rifle, so it takes a LOT more rounds to gain proficiency, and many of those rounds are frustrating so they will probably give up before gaining proficiency

 

[451 Detonics]

I agree with Smith 357, you will seldom find sticks like this and the fine line checkering on a $400 dollar rifle...



You also often are paying for the ultra deep bluing or engraving on a custom rifle. When it comes to accuracy I have seen (and owned) $600 Savages that would shoot as well as many customs...they just weren't as pretty.

 

[helotaxi]

You can spend money on pretty and you can spend money on a rifle that will shoot and makes no concessions to that goal. No wood. No waste of time or money on engraving. No deep blued finish. None of those help the rifle shoot any better or really make it any better suited to do anything other than hang on the wall.

I have Savages that shoot great, but they don't hold a candle to a custom built shooter. A friend of mine just bought a custom tactical rifle that is the Hammer of Thor. It isn't classically pretty with a composite stock and a baked on epoxy finish but that isn't where his money went.

 

[Kachok]

I used to say that the custom guns were worlds better in every way, but now there are some factory guns that will really blow your mind, Tikka Varmiter, heavy barrel Rem 700s, and several Savage rifles are fully capable of 1/4 MOA accuracy. Now you might very well find a custom setup that can beat them, but those are few and far between. Team Savage is well known for winning 1,000 yard matches with off the shelf factory rifles. I have owned six of them now and even their lightweight rifles have all been scarry accurate.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Since you already have the rifle, I'd stick with what you own.

As for the scope, how about getting a fixed power scope rather than a varriable? Less moving parts means less things to break. Less parts also can lead to savings in terms of cost. I've taken two rifle courses over the past few years. One of the instructors also taught their precision rifle class that went out to 1000 yards. He also was a former military sniper. His opinion was anything beyond 10x or 12x was unnecessary. Again, his opinion but I thought I'd pass it along.

I've got a 2.5X Leupold scope on my 30-30 and can hit 2'x2' steel at 400 yards routinely despite the supposed reputation for a rainbow trajectory out of a 30-30 (especially out of my "tiny" 16.75" barrel). I think you will be fine with your rifle and a 10X scope.

 

[LTR shooter]

The quality of a good aftermarket custom barrel is far beyond that of the typical mass produced factory barrel. A custom barrel would be the route I would go if I ever "customize" any of my rifles.

I have one of the "miracle" Savage rifles (12BVSS) and the bore is rough and fouls badly. To its credit it does shoot well when clean. But it is no .25 MOA aggregate rifle.

My 700LTR is the best shooter of all my rifles but I would still expect to see a noticeable improvement with the install of a match barrel.

 

[451 Detonics]

The rifle in my pic is both pretty and it will shoot, .5 inch groups are common with it now, use to do much better but a couple thousand rounds of 22 CHeetah have opened groups up some. Guns can be both pretty and still be shooters.

 

[LTR shooter]

The rifle in my pic is both pretty and it will shoot

I have to respectfully disagree! That rifle is simply gorgeous! Now that is a custom rifle anyone would love to own!

 

[WVRJ]

I have a couple of customs,and they do well in the shooting dept,but they weren't built to win a beauty contest.Today's quality factory rifles have closed the accuracy gap with customs.Probably due to improved machinery that can mass produce rifles within much tighter tolerances than was the norm a few years back.Optics,ammo and practice are important parts of shooting at 500 yards.As was already mentioned,a good shooter with a factory rifle that is average in the accuracy dept will win over a mediocre shooter with a tack driver every time.A factory rifle can also be improved with a minimal amount of money spent on it;stock bedding,barrel lapping/conditioning,trigger job and other work can greatly improve how a rifle shoots.Throw in good optics and work up a good handload and learn to dope the wind and read mirage,and 500 yards won't be so difficult.

 

[helotaxi]

But how much of the cost went to "beautiful"? How much better could it be if all that went into making it a barn burner? It is a beautiful rifle, no doubt.

99% of the rifles that people brag about shooting .5 MOA or claim are 1/4" rifles won't do it every time. The aggregate is what matters not the one or two good 3-shot groups out of ten. The good custom shooter will do it every time.