At what point does custom pay off?

[Jluck]

A 30" tube with a break will be crazy long FYI.

 

[mrb1982]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. But if I am gonna go 28 or 30, is two inches really a big deal? ?? Not sure

 

[Korhil78]

I went with 26" with my 338 Lapua. 28" would be the max that I would go. I am happy with the 26" barrel.

 

[mrb1982]

I am thinking of I am gonna go custom I may as well get all the performance gain I can I guess. I am starting to lean towards 28 with some 215 hybrid bullets would be impressive. Hmmmmmmm lots to think about and lots of time to decide.

Anybody with any comment on my preferences for stocks? Meaning synthetic vs laminate?

 

[Korhil78]

I went synthetic because I hunt with mine. I don't want to be worried out in the field about banging my stock up and making it look bad.

And as for the performance, you might get around 60 fps more out of those 2 inches at best and based on some studies you may get a lot less than 60 fps.

Some interesting reading here and something to think about:

http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/bullets_ballastics/long_barrel_velocity.htm

 

[J E Custom]

Anybody with any comment on my preferences for stocks? Meaning synthetic vs laminate?[/QUOTE]


Personally, I prefer the laminate.

I have owned many different type of stocks and decided to replace all of my synthetic stocks
with laminates or exotic wood. There were many reasons and I have been very happy with the decision.

The Exotic wood = Besides being beautiful, they have nice feel and are one of a kind (No two pieces of wood have the same Character). The down side is the concern about damaging such beautiful wood while hunting.

Laminates = These are hard working stocks with the feel and looks of wood plus the balance.
They are also very stable in changing weather and very durable. One of the main reasons I chose to use Laminates on My Long range rifles is there ability to dampen rifle harmonics. without exception all of the rifles that were changed from synthetic to Laminates saw an increase in accuracy. both type of stocks were pillar bedded and the same loads were used so it was an apples to apples
comparison and took place over several years. I kept expecting a rifle not to improve but that never happened.

Most successful bench rest and long range match rifles use laminates and this is what got me to thinking about changing. (The pursuit of accuracy has influenced me and lead me in many
directions over the years.

I Don't like the balance of the synthetic's, the noise when carrying them in the brush and in general
the feel and looks. (JUST ME)

J E CUSTOM

 

[mrb1982]

Interesting. Might just stop at 28".I notice Shawn puts a 30"on his canyon rifles so it makes me believe thete would be a descent advantage to it as he is a pretty experienced guy.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

...
I Don't like the balance of the synthetic's, the noise when carrying them in the brush and in general
the feel and looks. (JUST ME)

J E CUSTOM

No it's not just you. Injection molded are swapped out ASAP.

 

[mrb1982]

That is a pretty convincing post am the laminates. Most of the time I try to be a practical guy about this stuff, but man are they pretty too lol but accuracy is what iam really after so this is a double win.

 

[mrb1982]

If I we're to order a barrel blank and I want it finished at 28", do I need to buy it longer or do you purchase it at the length you want it finished at. I know, that is a pretty rookie question when it comes to a build

 

[silvertip-co]

Having been a gun dealer in the mid 1970s and been on gunbroker for 16 yrs or so my own observation is that most custom guns hit the market after only 3 yrs of ownership. The new is gone, the status is gone, and loading your own custom ammo becomes mundane. Actually with todays CAD and CAM manufacturing processes its become harder and harder for custom gunmakers to rise to the level current factory manufacturing standards and levels of investment in same.

Oh sure its nice to have a custom gun, but do you really want to drag a 5000.00 rifle thru the woods and mountains( assuming you even walk )? I plan on buying a custom Weatherby in 24 months when I retire, purely as a gift to myself for 46yrs of hard work and putting up with inanane corp bs, but I have no plans to shoot it or beat it around in the mtns. Purely a 'by God I've earned it' thing, and maybe a closet queen to brag on.

I watch all the LRH shooting shows in the outdoor channels and often think 'hmm with a good Leupold scope I could do that too' as not many guns will outshoot my .270 Wby Mag.

All in all it's to each his own. Good luck in the decision making process.

 

[Dgd6mm]

On all these pages this is the best post. I do not believe I could add anything that everyone else has already stated.

At what point do you RISK the shot or your hunt for an exceptional animal is the answer?

Yes, with some work and money, many factory guns can be made to shoot sub MOA and many around .5 MOA with careful load work up and good bench techniques. I have seen a 5R in 308 shoot in a 1000 yard Factory class that shot groups that beat 90% of the customs THAT DAY for regular BR guns.

I am a big proponent of the custom route after spending a lot of money converting 700s over too many years. The 700 has one huge flaw in the magnums that has bit me twice on hunts and that is the riveted extractor broke and I basically had a single shot. I had to carry and use a cleaning rod to remove the cases. Was it just the twists of that gun or what, but I will not go that route again. Switched to a PTG bolt and I would trust it anywhere now but it is not as smooth as my customs.

When it is all over with a "fully reworked" 700 will cost as much as a custom and be worth half and be half as smooth and reliable. Yet you can add a good trigger, bedding, lug work at least and stand a 50/50 or more chance of having a good shooter for most people.

Got to admit, for a cost conscious hunter that wants as close to custom as he can get, the Savages are a pretty easy way to go. Pre fit match grade barrels, decent triggers, and changeable bolt heads certainly allow many options with rifles that are very consistent shooters as the norm to start with.

I have and have had numerous sendoros that will more than work with bedding, trigger, lugs etc without full action jobs. Just will not trust the Remington magnum bolts anymore though for serious hunting guns without changing to a PTG bolt and M16 extractor.

If money is not the object, obviously go with the custom and never look back. The smoothness, and reliability are a huge factor when it comes time to pull the trigger. However, If you are shooting 500 and under, you can tweak numerous factory guns to get you there. I just shot two deer Tuesday with a 6 lb worked over Model 600 Mohawk in 7-08 factory mountain rifle barrel on it and with Edge stock that shoots 3/4 to 1" with my old standard load of H414 and 120 Btips and that is plenty for what it is designed for.

As for the numerous "internet magical 1/4 MOA" guns, the shooters at BR central have had a standing offer of $500 to anyone that can bring one to a BR match and shoot 5 consecutive 5 shot groups of .250. Last I knew, no one had ever collected that $500 yet. I have watched friends change guns and barrels like women's dresses to find that exceptional good shooter for factory class guns in matches.

We have all shot an occasional wonder group, but that does not make it the norm.

 

[longrangehunterII]

If I we're to order a barrel blank and I want it finished at 28", do I need to buy it longer or do you purchase it at the length you want it finished at. I know, that is a pretty rookie question when it comes to a build

The answer is yes. I wouldn't want anything over 28" for hunting. I have a Sako TRG-42 w/a break and/or a suppressor. With the suppressor it's so long hiking through the woods can become difficult.
Another thing is shorter barrels are actually stiffer.... meaning the barrel harmonics will be less on a shorter barrel vs. a longer one lightbulb. Which will leave you having a very heavy barrel the longer you go and the gun will feel barrel heavy depending on the taper you use and length, plus the muzzle break. The TRG's don't use a heavy contour, in fact they are pretty average size for a barrel being 27 1/4" long.
Depending on the cartridge you use, and what it's used for, 28"+ a Break is really long for a hunting rifle.

 

[mrb1982]

Cool. I will go 28 with a brake in sendero contour no flutes. That should be about prefect. The gun I am using for the build is currently a 300rum. Probably gonna stay with that. I am thinking laminate stock.

Do you guys have any ideas what cost would roughly be for a laminate stock pillar bedded ends up being? I would probably have an adjustable cheek piece installed in it too