Custom Builds - How are You Building Them?

[Rum Man]

My Son in law has told me several times to get rid of all my Rifles and build the best of the best $$$ can buy .
That would just be so boring to me . I have a few lets say nice or custom actions and they dont shoot any better than my factory actions . Just my two cents guys dont get excited. I'm not starting a rant or ...just proved to my self in several large caliber's. Countless trips to the range and Mountains to shoot .

It's funny really when it's time to hit the timber looking for a critter ..the fancy rifles stay home, but what do I know really my furthest kill is only 1244 yards .

In the end we have lots of choices in components and that's why we all build different Rifles !

Rum Man

 

[338 dude]

We see a lot of members building custom rifles. A question we have is how are you getting your "Custom Builds" BUILT?

Are you purchasing all the components for the build? The stock, barrel, action, trigger, REAMER and then having a Gun Smith Chamber/Machine the barrel and you put together?

Are you having the GunSmith purchase all the components and build to your specifications?
OR a combination of you purchasing some components and the GunSmith have the Reamer and doing the chambering and machining?

Also how long is an acceptable time frame from when you discuss the build with the GunSmith to getting the finished rifle to you and ready to shoot?
This is a loaded question because depending if the GunSmith or you having the components on hand or having to order. Some Reamers can take 4 months and Barrels/Actions can take 6 months and up to a year to get from the manufacture.

If all the components are in stock/on hand, what is your time expectation of the GunSmith chambering/machining your Dream Build?

Some larger GunSmith Shops have Tens of Thousands $$$$ inventory on hand.

Thanks for all your input

EDIT 12:14 05/06/23
Do you ask for or get a comprehensive Written Contract on the work to be preformed, with components used. tolerances on components, finish time and also a warranty what it covers and for how long and most important COST of the finished project and COST over runs due to customer changes or changes in components for Cost Over Runs..
I see less and less contracts between even home owners and work being done on their homes. Contractors/builders do not want to have to be accountable if something that they did goes wrong.
We Coyote Shadow Tracker, LLC has a comprehensive Contract that we enter with each customer when we do any machining or work on their property. It covered both the "Customer" and the Legal Parties of the Business.
Don't get stuck with the rifle only shoots 4-5" MOA.

I've tried a couple others, but I have had great success with Greg Young and Southern precision rifle's. We discussed my goals fill out a build sheet either I supply components and Reamer or buy components that he has in stock usually takes around 90 days to complete and I've never been disappointed yet.

 

[338 dude]

If purchasing REAMERS for your build, what do you do with the Reamers after one use???

Keep them for the next rebarrel!

 

[Hydra6]

I think the market is changing with modern actions that accept prefits. With an action that takes prefits - Impact for example (or even Tikka) - you can order everything yourself and assemble in your garage. In the past, a gunsmith would have to massage everything and assemble - a mix of artistry and skill.

I will add - I am interested in a 65WRPM build. (Bought brass and dies first!). When I look at "customizing" an existing Tikka T3, I see $200 here and $150 there plus $600 for this and suddenly just buying a complete Weatherby Mark V looks attractive!

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

You do not guarantee precision, do you?

Nez
Yes 1/8 HOA (Hour of angle).

Kidding aside We do know companies that give 3/8 MOA with Match Grade Ammo.

 

[duramaxfxr2]

I just call the Smith and fet a game plan together..if I'm using a donor it's normally a pretty quick turnaround as long as it's not hunting season and the barrel is available..the current project is a full build..its been a yr or a little more..still waiting on a barrel from benchmark..we split the cost of reamers and gauges and the rest of the parts I try to buy through him of off of here

 

[Mark37082]

My Son in law has told me several times to get rid of all my Rifles and build the best of the best $$$ can buy .
That would just be so boring to me . I have a few lets say nice or custom actions and they dont shoot any better than my factory actions . Just my two cents guys dont get excited. I'm not starting a rant or ...just proved to my self in several large caliber's. Countless trips to the range and Mountains to shoot .

It's funny really when it's time to hit the timber looking for a critter ..the fancy rifles stay home, but what do I know really my furthest kill is only 1244 yards .

In the end we have lots of choices in components and that's why we all build different Rifles !

Rum Man

Only 1244 yards! That's not too shabby in my book. I love beautiful rifles, but agree it can be a little gut wrenching to subject them to a belly crawl while hunting.

 

[JAYgs8163]

Always buy my own components. Have gone Smith route but lately I've been doing my own builds using shouldered prefits.

 

[DakotaFire101]

As a gunsmith myself I am absolutely thrilled when a customer brings me all the components for their build and all I have to do is spin em together. I guarantee 1/2 moa with premium factory ammo and better with handloads. The pre fit market drives me crazy but only because I didn't think of it first. I love that people are starting to assemble their own precision builds and forming that deep connection to the weapon itself that drew me to start building rifles in the first place. When you drop the hammer on that trophy buck or bull with a rifle that you made, launching a bullet that you seated into the case that you precisely measured and filled with powder it's a very special feeling. I want folks to experience that feeling more than I want their money to build a gun.

 

[Mike Matteson]

Only 1244 yards! That's not too shabby in my book. I love beautiful rifles, but agree it can be a little gut wrenching to subject them to a belly crawl while hunting.

Wheb making my own stocks for my rifle. If not for hunting I make the stocks stand out. If it's for hunting I seal the stock then paint it a dull finish. Generally the action and barrel are matt blued.

 

[JuddL]

When I was using a gunsmith and not doing it myself I would get all the parts. I felt like I was in control and it would eliminate the waiting frustration because I know how focused I am on getting parts…it's somewhat an unknown for the customer. It's the big source of frustration and I could eliminate it.

If he had a reamer I wanted, I'd use his otherwise I'd buy one and keep it. It would typically take 4-8 weeks depending on how busy they were.

No contract just a handshake. I knew general price but rarely asked…it was who I wanted doing the work and why be cheap on the guy putting it all together? I always tried to be a good customer too, I didn't call, text or email unless it was something I needed…I knew when it was done he'd let me know. Phones, emails are a huge time waste for a gunsmith and I never wanted to be "that guy".

Since I am doing it myself, I go slow…I've got a 30 Nosler in flight that I started in January. It spent a month at the cerokote/laser guy and just got it back this week. I need to clean up the bedding and assemble everything and it's ready. I bet I have it complete by the end of the month.

I do it because I enjoy it and it is relaxing from the hustle and stress from the real j o b. Plus, pretty cool feeling when you kill something or shoot tiny with something you machined, bedded, made the ammo and tuned.

 

[brcfo_outdoors]

I always gather all the parts and assemble myself using pre-fits. I shoot factory ammo and don't have the time or interest to reload so a more limited caliber selection doesn't bother me personally. The barrels and calibers available on the market fit my philosophy of use and I am not extremely picky about how things are set up. Often times I have an idea of what kind of a build I want when I start it and then it slowly morphs into something similar but not quite as I had originally imagined depending on parts availability etc.

As someone with no friends in this hobby, I basically have to experiment and learn for myself what I like and don't, what works for me and what doesn't. Having unmodified and interchangeable components which I can swap out and sell while still retaining their value has a huge benefit. Pre-fits can be resold, self-timing brakes aren't specific to one barrel, mini-chassis or otherwise un-bedded stocks are more universal, and so forth. If and when I want to change things up, I am not breaking apart someone's fitted/bedded masterpiece, I am swapping components like an AR.

I think there will always be a place for gunsmiths for a multitude of reasons, but especially for those who want something completely custom and have a strict idea of what they want both in construction and caliber. For me it is not worth the time, cost, and reliance on others. To each their own, based on one's personal needs and requirements.

 

[Duffman]

I've been reading here for years but mostly lurking, occasionally trading. There is so much valuable info here, I consider it something of an apprenticeship of old.

I've built 2 fully custom rifles in my life. First was parts sourced by me, assembled by a smith. He built a wonderful rifle, but it is a finicky beast to say the least! I just built one with a pre-chambered barrel, way easier to get an accurate load, but not getting the velocity I expected. I just proved to myself I'm the common denominator! I'm passionate about rifles/loading/shooting/ hunting, but it's a lot to manage among an otherwise busy life!

Take home lessons for me: I'll never do another belted mag, and it's easier to load down a large for caliber case than try to wring fps out of a smaller case.

Thank you to everyone here who takes time out of their day to post info experiences etc. it is much appreciated!!!!!

 

[bamban]

Nez
Yes 1/8 HOA (Hour of angle).

Kidding aside We do know companies that give 3/8 MOA with Match Grade Ammo.

Back when I shot benchrest, no benchrest gunsmith would guarantee precision. The only guarantee is the rifle is built to the best practices.

There were some benchrest shooters who would have a handful or more barrels chambered with the same reamer and test them all, the one/s that would shoot screamer groups were kept and the rest were sold. Nothing wrong with one's sold off, they would still shoot to most people's standard.