Semi custom vs factory

Ryan Pierce built me a 28 Noler on a Kelby Atlas, and I shoot it very little as that cartridge is a notorious barrel burner, but it is lights out to 1000 yards, haven't shot it past that. It's my hunting rifle, and that's what I do with it. Custom rifles are amazing when they are built by the right person, that being said, I just bought a Bergara B14 Wilderness Sierra in 7MM PRC, and eight rounds in I am impressed. I'm left-handed so options are limited in cartridge unless I go custom, but for $1000 it's going to be hard to beat this setup. Factory trigger is a crisp 2 pounds, the owners manual says 2.2, but my trigger scale says 2. I shoot suppressed and it's already threaded, very little recoil with some Federal factory ammo I picked up for break in and get me a little more brass on hand. I wasn't expecting something to shoot past 500, but after the first 8 rounds I'm not so certain, this thing shoots well. I know it's early, but I have two more Bergara's in the safe and both of them shoot fantastic after hundreds of rounds. Tikka's are great rifles, not sure of their triggers out of the box, almost anything can be adjusted or a better trigger found, but this rifle out of the box is impressive so far. Nice stock, nice fit, great trigger, and during break in it just keeps putting bullets in the same spot. One thing to look at and talk to a good gunsmith about is barreling. Some factory actions are not an easy task to rebarrel, and really good custom builders around here won't touch some of them. The 700 will require work getting it ready, but almost anyone that's a good gunsmith can rebarrel a 700 clone or Remington action, but others not so much.

Idaho Lefty said:

WHEN, the Winds are Howling and Snow / Rain's, Falling you WON'T want to, take an UN-weildy, Heavy Rifle, into the Dark Timber ***,..
*** WHERE, the Elk,. WILL,.. Be when, the Weather,. Gets, Ugly.

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And if you've never hunted the Dark Timber you WILL be in for an experience. Springfield 2020 Boundary. 300 Win Mag.

Idaho Lefty said:

And at, 8 Pounds "All Up" they are, easy to Carry, back to the Truck with, 65-75 Pounds of, Quartered, Elk Meat,.. in your Pack !

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The first of probably four trips.

Some pretty solid advice so far, in my opinion. I like the custom/semi-custom option for these "older" cartridges that the SAAMI chambers/throating aren't always set up to run the longer, heavier bullets farther out (if you're reloading). I have to seat the Barnes 175 LRX in my factory 300WSM barrel way down into the case.
I'd agree with not using a factory 700 and building off that unless you already have it. It sounds like you have some time, and with Black Friday and everything coming up, keep an eye out for good deals/sales. You can really take the sting out of the custom build price tag by waiting on some sales. Get on the email lists of all these sites (not just the big box sites) and you'll save a lot of money. I bought the Proof carbon barrel blank for my wife's 300WSM for about $550(shipped), which I thought was pretty good.
I built her rifle off a Tikka 300WSM that I bought for around $550. Put a lighter trigger spring in it, longer bolt stop, and a Hells Canyon magazine and sent it off to the gunsmith (West Elk Precision) for chambering. I paid full price for the McMillan stock and that's because I went with a short length of pull for her but if a standard LOP will work for you, you can find a good deal on a high end stock fairly easy too. Her rifle ended up around 8.5# with scope but without bipod.
These are our two 300WSMs. Mine is the tan stock (McMillan Hunter) and my wife's—built on the Tikka—is the green (McMillan Game Warden). My groups with the Savage literally were cut in half when I switched the factory wood stock with the McMillan. I'd like to rebarrel the Savage but it shoots so good with the factory barrel, I have a hard time convincing myself. Holds ~.5 - .75 MOA out to 600 yards with handloads.

Probably should wait a few years for a custom until you have hunted and killed elk and have a good understanding of what you want to carry around while hunting. Just get one of those guns that include the scope in suitable caliber, find good ammo it likes and go hunt. Then you can decide if you want or need to shoot longer range or want a lighter rifle, start looking at custom stuff. People getting customs have specific desires in a rifle or they are feeding their ego.

jstreater69 said:

I should also add that i'm a younger man in the best shape of my life (21) so a heavier-better shooting rifle might be advantageous for me currently

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How much better is better? In other words, what do you require as your minimum accuracy standard? Also, anything under 9 pounds, scoped/loaded/slung, should be able to meet most accuracy demands.

There are good factory rifles or some semi-custom builds that can shoot pretty darn good….."without breaking the bank"!

Not knowing your financial status, perhaps your extra could be better spent on quality hunting equipment…….boots, bags, binoculars, rangefinders, packframes, ect, ect!

Just the opinion of an "old fart" that wasn't born with "a silver spoon" placed in a less than desirable location! memtb

WoodTRD said:

Another vote for the Seekins ph2 or element. I'd end up having double the money in a ultralight custom build that my 7prc element cost, and likely not shoot much/any better. If you don't mind the weight and don't plan to run a can I'd lean towards the ph2.

Have you given any thought to glass?

VORTEX RAZOR 3-15x42 HSR5i MRA ★ The Sporting Shoppe ★ Richmond, Rhode Island

One scope to rule them all. From dark-timber whitetails, to executing precision long-range shots on an open-country mule deer, and everything in between – there’s the lightweight, second focal plane Razor HD LHT. Stunning, High Definition optical system delivers a crystal-clear sight picture...

thesportingshoppe.com

By far the best deal I've seen on an awesome hunting scope. The 4.5-22 ffp is great too if you'd rather FFP, but I haven't caught it at nearly as good of a price yet.

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That's a helluva price for that scope. I'm trying to keep myself from ordering one. It is payday though… haha!

Shankedit said:

That's a helluva price for that scope. I'm trying to keep myself from ordering one. It is payday though… haha!

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I'm amazed they still have some, I wasnt planning on springing for another LHT yet...but couldn't pass that up when I'm currently wrapping up my 2nd 84hr week in a row

I went with the mil version, supposed to be here Monday! I've got the same scope with the g4i reticle on my 7prc, and the 4.5-22 ffp on a 20" do all 6arc bolt gun and love em. Robbed the G4i off my 18" lr308 for the PRC and replaced it with an athlon helos gen2 2-12...but now I'm not sure how it will end up. The LHT on the way will probably end up on the most accurate out of the .308 (criterion) or a 14.5" 6arc (CLE Douglas) AR I'm currently building, and the helos on the other. Small and large frame all arounders. My money is on the 6arc but gotta get some time off work to put it together and through the wringer!

The real justification for a custom is you simply want one because factory rifles are so dang accurate these days.

I would buy a Tikka T3 Superlite in 7mm-08, have it rechambered to 284 win, change out the bolt stop and by the standard length magazine and you have a sweet rifle.

Long action/magazine and fast twist to stabilize VLD bullets. Non-belted magnum because headspacing on the belt causes issues and the belt wastes diameter. Stainless BBL at least 26" or better 28" to burn all the powder in a big case. No brake to keep the muzzle blast down. Medium contour BBL. Glass stock to avoid warping in the weather. Scope with over 50mm objective for those early/late shots, with lots of elevation adjustment.

I like a lot of the suggestions given so far. lot of options and personal preferences.
I agree that a custom rifle will not hold it's value as most people that spend that much are just going to have one built for themselves.
For me I like straight comb stocks with a 24" barrel length.
I hate fighting with long barrels in thick woods and getting in and out of vehicle's with them.
I also like my hunting rifles to weigh 7 lbs with scope +or - 1 pound minus would be better.
With the lighter weight of the rifle I like the 270 wsm,30-06 range of recoil level.
I also agree that spending money on the actual hunt is going to be more rewarding than how much money you have in the rifle. Having helped others hunt elk from out of state they generally don't feel to good hiking with 60 lbs of gear minus the rifle at around 7000+ feet in elevation. Most of them tell me their feet feel like lead the first 3 day's and 1 from California just gave up after the 2 day.
Good luck on your choice and hunting adventures.

I have a question: are you a reloader or are you planning to just shoot factory ammo?
I agree with not doing a custom on a 700 action or even buying a clone unless you really want to build it yourself.
If you want a gun that'll shoot factory ammo really well, look at the gunwerks workman.
I don't have a Seekin's and never shot one, but have owned, and still have many browning x bolts, and they shoot. The 60-degree bolt is something I really love about them as well.
I also own several Tikka's, and they also shoot very well. I currently have a 7 PRC that I put a Preferred Barrel Blank (PB) barrel on, using the long action and mag and it shoots better than I can shoot it (verified by my son and brother shooting it). I have about $2800 into the gun. I have ordered another barrel from PB's in 300WSM to spin on another Tikka Action I have because I love a 30 Cal when it comes to elk and moose, both of which I've shot a fair number of over the years. The Tikka also has a short bolt lift, and their actions are very smooth - you should go into your local gun store and try a few bolt cycles in guns you're thinking about.
Whatever you decide on, don't scrimp on the glass! This will make or break you in the field regardless of dark timber or far open spaces, of dawn/dust which is when your chances of seeing the big bull are the greatest.
Let us know what you decide to go with!
Good luck.

That sounds like an exciting project! When it comes to choosing between a factory rifle and building off a 700 action, both have their pros and cons. Factory rifles are generally more convenient and can be quite accurate out of the box. Brands like Tikka, Savage, and Remington offer models in 300WM, WSM, and RUM that are known for their reliability and performance. They also come with warranties and customer support, which can be reassuring. On the other hand, building off a 700 action allows for more customization. You can select each component to match your exact preferences, from the barrel and stock to the trigger and optics. This route can result in a highly accurate rifle tailored to your needs, but it can also be more time-consuming and potentially more expensive depending on the components you choose. For a hunting rifle that you'll be carrying over long distances, weight is definitely a consideration. Look for lightweight stocks and consider fluted barrels to reduce weight without sacrificing performance. In terms of budget, factory rifles can range from $500 to $1500, while a custom build can easily exceed $2000 depending on the components. If you're looking for a good shooter that's not too heavy, you might start by checking out factory options first. You can always upgrade components later if needed.

I'll be a lone dissenter here and plug for the Remington 700. I built a gun a few years ago just for the occasions when I might get to hunt elk.

I started with a Remington 700 LH stainless gun that started life as a LSS model. I later had the gun customized by Jon Beanland. It's a really accurate rifle, and I have shot it out to 1,100 yards on steel.

I have no regrets on using the Rem 700 action. The gun is all I envisioned and has met my expectations.

I will also say that I have had four Remington 700's that have shot extremely well out of the box as factory rifles. They don't always need "help" to shoot good. Some of my other Rem 700's are trued up.


Specs:
Rem 700 LH action trued with mini M16 extractor
External bolt stop/release
Aftermarket recoil lug
Krieger Lt Palma 27" 5R barrel 1:10" twist
Karl Kampfeld 3 port brake
B&C Alaskan Medalist Stock
Jewel trigger
20 MOA picatinny base
Titanium cerakote

I chose to go with the 300 RUM.

At the end of the day, it's your money and your gun. Build/buy what you want.