Is it worth it

[kisfish]

I am thinking about a custom rifle built off a rem 700 action I have. I have really enjoyed getting into shooting super tight groups over the last few years and wanting to start shooting long range. My dilemma is build one custom or purchase three other nice guns that are all stock that will shoot pretty well. Looking to hear from guys who have shelled the money on customs and would they do it again.  Thanks Ken

[jasnt]

Once you go custom everything else is just meh.  I’ve had plenty of factory rifles that shot well but there is always something I don’t like about them.  Don’t  necessarily have to go full custom.  Quality barrel and trigger goes along way but a properly fitting stock with a good bed job is great.   Jme

[hogslayer]

If you add up the cost of getting a new bolt, having the action trued. New bottom metal.  It can make sense to just get a custom action.  Sometimes the factory 700 actions need to get machined out to fit longer internal box mags to fit bullets. But yes I have custom rifles and love them all.   Make sure you go with a gun company.

[b23]

A semi custom or full custom, built by a good gunsmith, is nearly always guaranteed to shoot very well.  Most will come with 1/2 MOA guarantees and generally shoot that well or better.  Sometimes, off the shelf factory guns shoot very well too, but they can be very hit or miss and it's kind of a luck of the draw, whether you get one that shoots really well.  There is just no comparison between the quality of a custom barrel chambered with a custom reamer and a barrel chambered by the factory.  Everything about a custom barrel is better.  That's not to say a hack gunsmith can't ruin a custom barrel, but if you use a good gunsmith your chances are very slim they'll hack the job up.

As for which is better, semi custom or full custom, I have both and my Rem 700 semi customs shoot just as good as my full customs.

[Stein]

I don't have a custom rifle, but I wouldn't think about three factory rifles - if you have one that shoots I'm not sure what three would get you.

[BULLBLASTER]

I’d take one custom over 3 factory rifles any day of the week

[jrebel]

I don't have a truely custom rifle....but I have 3 semi custom that all shoot great.  I agree with jant....once you make the leap to semi custom or custom.....the factory rifles are bleh.  My once favorite .270 now only gets shot at the range.  I will likely put it in a new MDT stock and make it semi custum so I want to shoot it again. 

I would also add the same sentiment goes for good glass.   

[yorketransport]

My answer really depends on what you're shooting now, what you want the new gun to be capable of and will this be a "one gun to rule them all" project or would it be a specialized project?

For the most part, I don't recommend that anyone builds a custom gun in a SAAMI spec chambering like a 308, 6.5 Creedmoor etc.. There are so many exceptionally accurate factory guns in the really common calibers that it seems like a bit of a waste to build a $3000 custom gun when you can by some very high quality factory guns for under $2000.

Are you looking for BR level accuracy, or is "settling" for .5 MOA acceptable? Out of 14 custom/semi-custom guns I've had, they've all been out shot by a couple of the Savages I've assemble on the floor of my garage. Some of the customs have been very close and shoot consistent groups in the .3 MOA range, but none of them have cracked the .25 MOA threshold that 4 of my franken-guns have done easily.

Are you looking for pure performance or are aesthetics and feel part of what you're looking for? A well tuned factory action can be very nice but it will never be as smooth as a premium custom action. I've never had a gun shoot better just because it was built on a $1400 action that cycled smoother. If you're getting into fast paced competitions like PRS then I can see where having a smooth action would be a benefit. If you're just hunting or doing some LR plinking it really won't make a practical difference.

What's your realistic budget for the build (just the rifle)? You can build off your Remington action and it will probably cost you around $1000 on the low end if you use a modestly priced stock, good trigger, an average SS barrel and have a good local smith put it together for you. Start adding in carbon fiber barrels, high end stocks and triggers and a big name smith and you'll hit $3000 pretty quick even if you use your Rem action.

Another good option is to browse the classified section of sites like Long Range Hunting or Accurate Shooter and find a good deal on a used custom/semi-custom gun. You can easily save $1000 by buying a lightly used custom.

[Karl Blanchard]

York speaks truth......on that not i'll make you a smoking deal on a semi custom tikka with a brand new 24" tube chambered in 6.5 creedmoor, sitting in a McMillan gamewarden

[kisfish]

I have a  savage ba stealth in 6.5 that got me started on this kick. Very nice glass on it to boot. I have been talking to a builder and roughly 2300 in just the build. I am looking for performance over looks. Building it to hunt and plink and push my limits. A competition gun is not what I an going for. I already have good glass just sitting in the reloading cabinets needing a gun to sit on. I  was thinking 300 win mag because I have tons of brass, comp dies, bullets, powders ect but open to other calibers . I  thought about a 264 win mag. Mainly going to be used for elk.

[Mulie87]

A lot of good advice on here. I built my first custom rifle off of a Rem 700 barreled action in 300RUM I bought on this site, (thanks yorktransporter.) it’s the most accurate rifle I’ve every owed, but all said and done it cost 3k. Like others have said, what do you want it to do? I shoot long range and my custom does that. You won’t be disappointed if you build a custom.

[Bofire]

I had two customs, still have one, the other was a pain, the accuracy was there but the chamber was so tight I had to have custom resize dies and no other loads worked. depends on what you want
Carl

[2MANY]

If you have the skill to build one then do it.
If not order one.

Factory guns are built for corporate profit and group like a shotgun's pattern.

[birddogdad]

My answer really depends on what you're shooting now, what you want the new gun to be capable of and will this be a "one gun to rule them all" project or would it be a specialized project?

For the most part, I don't recommend that anyone builds a custom gun in a SAAMI spec chambering like a 308, 6.5 Creedmoor etc.. There are so many exceptionally accurate factory guns in the really common calibers that it seems like a bit of a waste to build a $3000 custom gun when you can by some very high quality factory guns for under $2000.

Are you looking for BR level accuracy, or is "settling" for .5 MOA acceptable? Out of 14 custom/semi-custom guns I've had, they've all been out shot by a couple of the Savages I've assemble on the floor of my garage. Some of the customs have been very close and shoot consistent groups in the .3 MOA range, but none of them have cracked the .25 MOA threshold that 4 of my franken-guns have done easily.

Are you looking for pure performance or are aesthetics and feel part of what you're looking for? A well tuned factory action can be very nice but it will never be as smooth as a premium custom action. I've never had a gun shoot better just because it was built on a $1400 action that cycled smoother. If you're getting into fast paced competitions like PRS then I can see where having a smooth action would be a benefit. If you're just hunting or doing some LR plinking it really won't make a practical difference.

What's your realistic budget for the build (just the rifle)? You can build off your Remington action and it will probably cost you around $1000 on the low end if you use a modestly priced stock, good trigger, an average SS barrel and have a good local smith put it together for you. Start adding in carbon fiber barrels, high end stocks and triggers and a big name smith and you'll hit $3000 pretty quick even if you use your Rem action.

Another good option is to browse the classified section of sites like Long Range Hunting or Accurate Shooter and find a good deal on a used custom/semi-custom gun. You can easily save $1000 by buying a lightly used custom.

I will add you only live once and those with the best toys win !!! not that you can buy the ability to shoot like a sniper, but custom stuff is wonderful to use

[huntandjeep]

I have a Kampfeld reworked 700 , a Cooper and a full blown custom . They all shoot the same accuracy wise , but all fill a different role. The Kampfeld is a 223 I had put together because I wanted a chassis gun , and something my 10 year old could shoot . The Cooper is my deer rifle and the custom my elk rifle . Do I regreat building the custom or having Carl build the 700 , no . Would I do it again ? It would be hard with all the options out now , Bergara , Kimber , Christiansen .

[yorketransport]

I have a  savage ba stealth in 6.5 that got me started on this kick. Very nice glass on it to boot. I have been talking to a builder and roughly 2300 in just the build. I am looking for performance over looks. Building it to hunt and plink and push my limits. A competition gun is not what I an going for. I already have good glass just sitting in the reloading cabinets needing a gun to sit on. I  was thinking 300 win mag because I have tons of brass, comp dies, bullets, powders ect but open to other calibers . I  thought about a 264 win mag. Mainly going to be used for elk.

Is that $2300 built off of your action?

Consider looking at a barrel maker like PacNor or Benchmark to handle your re-barrel work. PacNor charges $300 to thread and chamber a barrel as well as true up the action. It's another $150 to have a muzzle brake timed and installed. So you could have a barrel threaded and chambered with a brake installed for about $750 including the barrel (assuming you spent about $150 on the brake). Benchmark does good work, but I've never seen them deliver anything on time so I don't recommend their smithing services.

Now find a stock and trigger you like. You can find good triggers for $200 or less, even better if you're willing to pick up a used trigger. The stock could cost anywhere from $400-1200 depending on what you like. I've found that I really like the HS precision stocks used on factory Sendero rifles. Second up for me are the McMillan Game Hunter or Game Warden stocks which will run around $700 depending on how it's set up. Bedding a rifle is incredibly easy and I don't see any reason to pay some of the ridiculous rates that smith's charge. Add a couple extra bucks for the bottom metal of your choice and you can call it $1000 total for a stock/bottom metal.

$2300 doesn't sound terrible, but I'm confident you could get a comparable gun built for at least 10% less without making any compromises on quality.

[Crunchy]

Benchmark was very quick with mine as in delivered when quoted or a bit sooner.  Barrel, trued action, brake install, cerakote was around 1k i think.  I went with an AG composite stock, triggertech trigger, hs precesion bottom metal.  Adds up quick.

[smdave]

I have a  savage ba stealth in 6.5 that got me started on this kick. Very nice glass on it to boot. I have been talking to a builder and roughly 2300 in just the build. I am looking for performance over looks. Building it to hunt and plink and push my limits. A competition gun is not what I an going for. I already have good glass just sitting in the reloading cabinets needing a gun to sit on. I  was thinking 300 win mag because I have tons of brass, comp dies, bullets, powders ect but open to other calibers . I  thought about a 264 win mag. Mainly going to be used for elk.

Is that $2300 built off of your action?

Consider looking at a barrel maker like PacNor or Benchmark to handle your re-barrel work. PacNor charges $300 to thread and chamber a barrel as well as true up the action. It's another $150 to have a muzzle brake timed and installed. So you could have a barrel threaded and chambered with a brake installed for about $750 including the barrel (assuming you spent about $150 on the brake). Benchmark does good work, but I've never seen them deliver anything on time so I don't recommend their smithing services.

Now find a stock and trigger you like. You can find good triggers for $200 or less, even better if you're willing to pick up a used trigger. The stock could cost anywhere from $400-1200 depending on what you like. I've found that I really like the HS precision stocks used on factory Sendero rifles. Second up for me are the McMillan Game Hunter or Game Warden stocks which will run around $700 depending on how it's set up. Bedding a rifle is incredibly easy and I don't see any reason to pay some of the ridiculous rates that smith's charge. Add a couple extra bucks for the bottom metal of your choice and you can call it $1000 total for a stock/bottom metal.

$2300 doesn't sound terrible, but I'm confident you could get a comparable gun built for at least 10% less without making any compromises on quality.

Benchmark has been great for me. I have had two brakes installed one they said 2 weeks and it was done in 3 days. The other was as promised 2 weeks.

[yorketransport]

Maybe Benchmark has gotten better since my last experience with them. One project took 13 months on a quoted 8 month turn around and the other took 11 months on a 6 month quote. The first one came back with the wrong chambering cut, even though I sent them the reamer and go gauge They thought that I sent them the wrong headspace gauge since it was marked 375 Ruger, so they use a 338 RCM gauge. That barrel (my 338/375 Ruger Striker) still has the wrong chambering etched on the side (338 RCM). The gun still shoots great to this day so I let it slide. The 6mm BR pistol was a Benchmark build too. I got that one back and it had a zero (.000") feebore because they forgot to run the throating reamer in there. The problem was that the barrel was Nitrided (by their vendor) before they realized their mistake. So the barrel is completely Nitrided, except for the throat which had to be cut afterwards. I still love Benchmark's barrels, but I buy them off the shelf from an outside vendor instead of dealing with "misrepresented" lead times. Ever since then, once any vendor fails to meet an agreed upon commit date I add them to the "no fly" list. No excuses, no apologies; don't be sorry, just be better.

[smdave]

Maybe Benchmark has gotten better since my last experience with them. One project took 13 months on a quoted 8 month turn around and the other took 11 months on a 6 month quote. The first one came back with the wrong chambering cut, even though I sent them the reamer and go gauge They thought that I sent them the wrong headspace gauge since it was marked 375 Ruger, so they use a 338 RCM gauge. That barrel (my 338/375 Ruger Striker) still has the wrong chambering etched on the side (338 RCM). The gun still shoots great to this day so I let it slide. The 6mm BR pistol was a Benchmark build too. I got that one back and it had a zero (.000") feebore because they forgot to run the throating reamer in there. The problem was that the barrel was Nitrided (by their vendor) before they realized their mistake. So the barrel is completely Nitrided, except for the throat which had to be cut afterwards. I still love Benchmark's barrels, but I buy them off the shelf from an outside vendor instead of dealing with "misrepresented" lead times. Ever since then, once any vendor fails to meet an agreed upon commit date I add them to the "no fly" list. No excuses, no apologies; don't be sorry, just be better.

I would be a little upset also.

[kisfish]

Yes 2300 is built off my action. I am going to pull the trigger on the build.. Just need to box it up,and send it off. I will keep you posted on the progeress and results

[gadwall]

Once you go custom everything else is just meh.  I’ve had plenty of factory rifles that shot well but there is always something I don’t like about them.  Don’t  necessarily have to go full custom.  Quality barrel and trigger goes along way but a properly fitting stock with a good bed job is great.   Jme

 

I have 2 rifles that shoot sub 1/2 MOA, one in a .260 Rem on a 700 action and a M70 Classic Laredo LRH in 7mm Rem Mag.  Both are out of the box with trigger jobs and superior action bedding jobs.  Have around 2K into the pair and love them both.