Factory rifle vs custom build

[Web1350]

Just to throw another hat into the ring. Check out Shaw Precision Guns in Bridgeville, PA. They have many calibers, up to and including .458 Lott. The prices don't appear to be crazy, either. You can build your own, or practice building, on their website giving the final price, etc.

 

[Lefty G-gear]

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

Start with a factory rifle, and if not satisfied, customize it with free-floating the barrel - trigger job.

Maybe new stock. Maybe new barrel.

Factory stock rifles can be AMAZINGLY accurate.

 

[Huntz]

There really is not a spit with of difference between a 300PRC and a 300 Win Mag besides barrel twist.The 300 Win Mag will have readily available ammo and will be cheaper than PRC.A 200 grain Partition should take care of biz with a Grizz.At bear distance having a 1/2 minute groups means nothing. Controlled round feed is much ado about nothing.If I was you,I would buy a stainless Tikka in 300 Win mag and put your money in a straight 6 power S&B with a German#4 reticle.It will be more then enough for Deer ,Big Bear,Moose and Caribou.If you have extra money too spend,put the rig into a McMillan stock of your choice.JMHO,Huntz

 

[Lefty G-gear]

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

8 New .300 PRC Rifles

8 New .300 PRC Rifles - Petersen's Hunting

Since America's snipers got magnum payloads and flat-shooting accuracy with the Hornady .300 PRC, gunmakers are aiming to please big-game hunters and target shooters with several new rifle models.

www.petersenshunting.com

 

[softtail103]

I went with a Fierce Carbon Titanium in 300 PRC. Came with a factory target showing under .5 moa and the ammo to use for it. I then sent them my Mark 5HD 5-25 and had them do a long range package. Custom turrets for the round it shoots best. I have confirmed the turret out to 1400 yard. All in with scope, Atlas bipod , full mag and Thunder beast Ultra 7. 10.36#'s. I also use the scope as my spotting scope during my hunts.

 

[JC in Calif]

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

I would go custom. You should give Mike Bryant a call and discuss your needs with him. He has built several rifles for me, all have been excellent.

Bryant Custom Rifles | World Record Precision Rifles and Gunsmithing

Mike Byrant - building and gunsmithing precision rifles, benchrest rifles, varmint rifles, hunting and tactical rifles for over 37 years.

bryantcustom.com

been

 

[OnTargetAdventure]

I went through the same decision making process a couple years ago and went semi-custom first and then ended up going custom from Wolf Precision in PA. The semi-custom rifle shot well but the custom outshoots it hands down. The custom will take quality factory ammo and is under 1 MOA all day. With reloads I consistently get .3 and sometimes a bit better. With the custom you can pick your parts and look of the rifle. I would say to try the fit of some good stocks or chassis. After getting the custom from Wolf I wish I had done it sooner. It would have saved me time and money in the long run. Good luck.

 

[Lefty G-gear]

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

WHAT ABOUT THE AMMO?

300 PRC ($6.00/rd.) Yipe!

.300 PRC Ammo

In-stock best prices for 300 PRC Ammo | Cheap 300 PRC Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

300 WINCHESTER MAG ($2.25/rd.)

.300 Win Mag Ammo

In-stock best prices for 300 Win Mag Ammo | Best 300 Win Mag Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

 

[sodakota]

I believe there is no advantage to controlled round feed rifles.

If you plan on shooting over 400 yards a custom might do you better than a factory rifle. But in most hunting situations, I believe, it is money wasted on custom, unless you just want something different. You do not need sub-minute of angle rifle/load combination for almost anything but long range.

I have some controlled round feed rifles. I don't hate them, but I would like to actually hear from someone who actually has had an issue with push feed rifles. In my opinion the issue is wives' tale.

I also have custom rifles. The one I like the most maybe be odd due to the above statements. It is a 375 Whelen AI on a Mauser action. (Good luck in finding ammo for that.)

If I were in your situation I'd look at Ruger's 375 Ruger (I know a controlled round feeding rifle). Or maybe a Remington 338 Win Mag - in bear country, I'd be feeding it heavy bullets and probably high grade bullets such as premium Nosler Partitions. A 35 Whelen or a 350 Rem Mag would work well too.

If you plan on shooting long range and want a "bear" rifle, I'd recommend a 300 WBY. You can get them reasonably priced in SS and a weather proof synthetic stock. I would further recommend something like 200 grain Nosler partitions. My factory 300 WBY rifles both shoot approximately .75 MOA with 200 grain partitions and they are both standard factory rifles.

 

[Ranger Rick]

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.

I'm also a Tikka fan with three Tikka rifles. They are a Best Buy, have a smooth action and shoot well. But I would not use one in an Alaskan caliber. Tikkas are a light rifle and kick like a sledgehammer.
Many factory rifles shoot MOA or better with factory ammo. Ruger, Winchester, Savage, etc.
I worked at C's and I always recommended shooting the caliber you want in different rifle models if possible. If you can't shoot a friend's or a helpful guy's rifle at a range, at least examine different models. Even if money doesn't matter, you should not order a custom rifle sight unseen.

 

[Lefty G-gear]

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

Another thought: .338 Winchester Mag.
Ammo available EVERYWHERE.
My friend has a .338 WM made by Mossberg, and it shoots half-inch groups.
It has a cheap plastic stock, and could use a heavier Boyds wood laminate stock.
But if you want a more pricy rifle, get a stainless TIKKA T3X.
Then put in in a Boyds wood laminate stock.

Tikka T3x LITE SS 338WIN MAG 24.3" 3RD N/S

www.wolverinesupplies.com

Internet PHOTO: TIKKA T3x bolt. I like the bolt face and extractor. - Better than most.


PHOTOS: My Mossberg 6.5 PRC (Strata Cerakote finish) in a Boyds wood (Forest Camo) laminate stock, Pachmayr Decelerator pad.
Nikon M-Tactical 3-12x42mm, Side-Focus, MK1-MOA reticle, Leupold 30mm rings.
Mossberg has a good extractor too - better than Remington 700.
Bought it all before the 'Plandemic' and 'Elect-Shun'

 

[Droppndrakes]

I shot factory rifles all my life and a factory rifle can shoot very accurately. I had John Beanland build me a custom 7mm and I handpicked every part including a drive down to Manners to pick a stock. Very fun experience and the gun fits me perfectly. I am much more confident with that rifle then any before it. I did a Sammi spec chamber with a brand new reamer I purchased because I shoot factory ammo, and it shoots excellent groups with everything I've tried.

 

[COBrad]

There's bunches of good rifles out there that will serve you well. If sub-moa accuracy is a must I would go custom or Cooper, based on personal experience. I'm thinking more of ammo availability in AK. Last time I was up there and poking around some towns and bush villages, outside of Anchorage ammo selection was pretty limited. If it were me I'd be looking at a long established cartridge in the .300 to .375 range.

 

[Rich Coyle]

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.

My experience with push feed has been terible. If I'm going after dangerous game push feed all the way for me.

.416 Remington is a push feed. Weatherbys are push feed.