Factory rifle vs custom build

[ramcglohn]

Hello, I am looking at purchasing a 300 prc. I live in AK so want a larger caliber in case I run into a bear. I am wanting to get advice. Should get a custom gun from a place like R bros or get a stock gun from Fierce or Christensen Arms. Full disclosure I do not reload. Someday I may but at this point in my life with working full time, kids and fishing I just don't have time. If I am shooting factory ammo does custom vs higher end factory rifle make a difference?

If I do go custom other than R bros any recommendations.
Thanks for your help
Ryan

 

[FEENIX]

Hello, I am looking at purchasing a 300 prc. I live in AK so want a larger caliber in case I run into a bear. I am wanting to get advice. Should get a custom gun from a place like R bros or get a stock gun from Fierce or Christensen Arms. Full disclosure I do not reload. Someday I may but at this point in my life with working full time, kids and fishing I just don't have time. If I am shooting factory ammo does custom vs higher end factory rifle make a difference?

If I do go custom other than R bros any recommendations.
Thanks for your help
Ryan

If budget allows, go with a full custom build because you have a say on what components go with a build. There are reputable gun builders, and RBros is one of them.

 

[ndking1126]

Rebarrel a Savage or go Remage.. best of both worlds. I have found that even with factory ammo match barrels are much more consistent. Reloading is required to take full advantage, but I've still seen significant improvement going to match barrels.

Factory rifles can be very accurate, but it's a bit of a lottery. It may shoot .5moa, it may shoot 1.5 moa. You're stuck with whatever you get unless you start replacing parts.

 

[dan25]

I would start with a Tikka T3 Roughtech in the caliber you like. I've never known one not to shoot sub moa; most 1/2 moa. For some reason if it doesn't shoot, you can get a pre-fit barrel from Proof Research with minimal if any gunsmithing. Most don't require any truing or bolt face squaring. I doubt you will need to do anything to it though.

 

[Coldfinger]

Hello, I am looking at purchasing a 300 prc. I live in AK so want a larger caliber in case I run into a bear. I am wanting to get advice. Should get a custom gun from a place like R bros or get a stock gun from Fierce or Christensen Arms. Full disclosure I do not reload. Someday I may but at this point in my life with working full time, kids and fishing I just don't have time. If I am shooting factory ammo does custom vs higher end factory rifle make a difference?

If I do go custom other than R bros any recommendations.
Thanks for your help
Ryan

Full custom all the way!!! Purchase the parts as budget allows then have a trusted gunsmith turn your dream into reality!!!

 

[Barrelnut]

Since you are talking about a possible Alaska bear encounter. A controlled round feed action is something to seriously consider. A controlled round feed action keeps the bold head in control of the cartridge from the time the cartridge comes out of the magazine through firing and ejection. This makes the action a better choice in a high stress or possibly dangerous encounter. In a high stress situation, with a standard push/feed action, it is possible to do a thing called a "short stroke" with the bolt when pulling the bolt back to push another round into the chamber. This can cause a jam! A controlled round feed action makes this much less likely. There is a custom action company called Big Horn Arms that makes a very nice custom action that incorporates a controlled round feed.
You can also install a prefit barrel on this action yourself! Gets you into a custom action and match grade barrel a cost effective price. You can also just have a smith build the rifle for you with the action. Here's a youtube vid on the action from a Shot Show.

 

[hoeram]

Hello, I am looking at purchasing a 300 prc. I live in AK so want a larger caliber in case I run into a bear. I am wanting to get advice. Should get a custom gun from a place like R bros or get a stock gun from Fierce or Christensen Arms. Full disclosure I do not reload. Someday I may but at this point in my life with working full time, kids and fishing I just don't have time. If I am shooting factory ammo does custom vs higher end factory rifle make a difference?

If I do go custom other than R bros any recommendations.
Thanks for your help
Ryan

Beanland custom rifles ( John Beanland) in Oklahoma.

 

[Coldfinger]

I've utilized the skilled hands of Lane Precision Rifles, Total Precision Rifleworks and Oregunsmithing with stellar results!!

 

[B-LOT Banga]

Something to consider with a 300 PRC, with a only factory ammo option you might want to find a bunch of factory ammo first. It's hard enough for reloaders to find anything PRC related and to find PRC factory ammo is extremely difficult. If your budget allows then I would go with a full custom that suits your needs. Nothing worse then spending $5K plus for your 1200 yd dream rifle only to have it weigh a ton and shoot it 300 yds max. Good luck

 

[ramcglohn]

Something to consider with a 300 PRC, with a only factory ammo option you might want to find a bunch of factory ammo first. It's hard enough for reloaders to find anything PRC related and to find PRC factory ammo is extremely difficult. If your budget allows then I would go with a full custom that suits your needs. Nothing worse then spending $5K plus for your 1200 yd dream rifle only to have it weigh a ton and shoot it 300 yds max. Good luck

Yeah I have been on the ammo hunt like the rest of the USA and I don't even have that caliber yet. I think I am going to go custom only problem is they are 8 months out on parts.

 

[ramcglohn]

I've utilized the skilled hands of Lane Precision Rifles, Total Precision Rifleworks and Oregunsmithing with stellar results!!

Awesome I will look into these companies.

 

[ramcglohn]

Since you are talking about a possible Alaska bear encounter. A controlled round feed action is something to seriously consider. A controlled round feed action keeps the bold head in control of the cartridge from the time the cartridge comes out of the magazine through firing and ejection. This makes the action a better choice in a high stress or possibly dangerous encounter. In a high stress situation, with a standard push/feed action, it is possible to do a thing called a "short stroke" with the bolt when pulling the bolt back to push another round into the chamber. This can cause a jam! A controlled round feed action makes this much less likely. There is a custom action company called Big Horn Arms that makes a very nice custom action that incorporates a controlled round feed.
You can also install a prefit barrel on this action yourself! Gets you into a custom action and match grade barrel a cost effective price. You can also just have a smith build the rifle for you with the action. Here's a youtube vid on the action from a Shot Show.

I am definitely going to look into this. Thanks

 

[ramcglohn]

If budget allows, go with a full custom build because you have a say on what components go with a build. There are reputable gun builders, and RBros is one of them.

I am leaning towards custom build. Only issue is timing. Last builder I spoke to estimated December timeframe due to components.

 

[Recon$$]

I think you can't go wrong with seekins, high end CA or fierce. The only major difference will be the components. Hopefully a top end custom can squeeze a little more accuracy out but the problem is these top end out of the box rifles are darn good for the money and they shoot.