My frustration with the word "custom".

[Deleted member 115360]

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That's custom right there. I've never seen a more perfect example of what "custom" really means. Now, you couldn't expect very many rifles built that way, but they essentially handmade every single part. I'd like to build one with that much detail someday. Thanks for sharing that..

 

[Bobcape]

"Build" is the one that I laugh at sometimes! As in "Here's a picture of my latest build." When asked for details, the response is - "It's a Savage in 6.5 CM that I mounted a Vortex scope on. They have a lifetime warranty you know. I also painted the stock and mounted a bipod up front. I can shoot silver dollars at a 1,000 yards all day long!"

Whatever floats your boat.

Bob

 

[Hard rock]

I've grown a"custom" to the term! memtb

This is custom my dad would take a 98 mauser action forge the bolt pear shape the bolt nob polish to a mirror finish grind the stripper clip hump off the action drill and tap the action sreamline the trigger guard barrell the action take a piece of highly figured walnut build and finish the stock with 24 lines to the in of no border checkering and believe me those builds are not frankenbuilds he was a true craftsman loved his work and taught me a lot about custom gun making a lot more than what I said went in those custom rifles

 

[ndking1126]

To a degree you make a fair point. Technically, the b&c stock was picked by the user and it made the rifle no longer be stock OEM. But there is definitely a degree of purposefully overselling an item to make a few extra bucks sometimes.

For me, I call my Savages semi custom. I switch out the stock, barrel and sometimes trigger. I guess full custom to me means every part has been touched or replaced and a gun smith accurized it (like truing the action).

Its "buyer beware!" and do your research before putting down cash. Semantics shouldn't keep you from a fair deal on the hardware you want.

 

[msmith57]

I'd like to know if the rest of you roll your eyes at all of the "custom" guns on the auction sites, as well as the classified ads on forums like this one.

If you bought a bunch of readily available AR parts and threw them together in your basement, I might buy them, but if you call it "custom" and attempt to market it as a custom rifle, not only will I refuse to even think about buying it, but I will make assumptions about your character, your lineage, and I will assume that you beat puppies to death with bags of kittens.

I've seen instances where guys have rattle canned a stock in some poor attempt to create a camouflage pattern, and they call it "custom". Buy a $300 Bell and Carlson stock, change out two action screws, and now they think it is "custom", and it drives me nuts.. Is it just me?

well I put a scope on my gun so now it's custom because it didn't come from the FACTORY that way. But you are 100% correct with your statement. I too get frustrated with these things as well as the ones looking for that PERFECT gun that will let them hit the target every time without having to learn to shoot straight. like the Magic pill to lose weight without having to diet or exercise. good luck

 

[Korhil78]

It's simple really.

Custom:
Custom action: Defiance, Stiller, Terminus etc
Custom barrel: Brux, Hart, Proof etc
Custom stock: Mcmillan, Manners etc
Custom trigger: Jewell, Timmney, Diamond Tech etc

Put together by a gunsmith or yourself with lathe etc

Semi Custom: any one piece of the build that was factory made. Trigger can be forgiven here as you can easily switch it out.

 

[SavageHunter11]

I'd like to know if the rest of you roll your eyes at all of the "custom" guns on the auction sites, as well as the classified ads on forums like this one.

If you bought a bunch of readily available AR parts and threw them together in your basement, I might buy them, but if you call it "custom" and attempt to market it as a custom rifle, not only will I refuse to even think about buying it, but I will make assumptions about your character, your lineage, and I will assume that you beat puppies to death with bags of kittens.

I've seen instances where guys have rattle canned a stock in some poor attempt to create a camouflage pattern, and they call it "custom". Buy a $300 Bell and Carlson stock, change out two action screws, and now they think it is "custom", and it drives me nuts.. Is it just me?

I like the term assem-built (assemble + built) for all those "custom" rifles on the market. I had a 280AI rifle built that is could definitely be considered "Custom" and I still hate using that term because of how meaningless its become.

 

[.300 Dakota]

I'd like to know if the rest of you roll your eyes at all of the "custom" guns on the auction sites, as well as the classified ads on forums like this one.

If you bought a bunch of readily available AR parts and threw them together in your basement, I might buy them, but if you call it "custom" and attempt to market it as a custom rifle, not only will I refuse to even think about buying it, but I will make assumptions about your character, your lineage, and I will assume that you beat puppies to death with bags of kittens.

I've seen instances where guys have rattle canned a stock in some poor attempt to create a camouflage pattern, and they call it "custom". Buy a $300 Bell and Carlson stock, change out two action screws, and now they think it is "custom", and it drives me nuts.. Is it just me?

Whether stuck together with chewing gum or have a finely hand-carved and crafted proven tack driver, by definition, if it is composed of parts not available through proprietary offerings or assembled in a manner not available for regular purchase - and if one man's (or a group of men) idea of something advantageous, pragmatic, or just different - that qualifies it as custom. A spray painted stock and a finely Cerakoted stock with an elaborate pattern are both custom. It was changed or modified from it's original design and/or purpose.

I throw together some d××n fine shooting rifles with assembled parts in my attic, and I'll put any of them up against your definition of a custom rifle any day of the week on the firing line. I can drill stocks to shave weight, I can modify headspace, I can add or detract weight from various places to create balance, I can modify trigger pull, and do other things that are most definitely custom.

And for the record, my puppies and kittens are all fat and healthy and mob me every time I walk in the door.

It's the elitist attitude that dissed on another man's work that gets me going as much as it is the word custom for perhaps for others. Just because I didn't spend $14,000 on it doesn't mean it's not a shootingþkilling machine.

 

[Deleted member 115360]

"Build" is the one that I laugh at sometimes! As in "Here's a picture of my latest build." When asked for details, the response is - "It's a Savage in 6.5 CM that I mounted a Vortex scope on. They have a lifetime warranty you know. I also painted the stock and mounted a bipod up front. I can shoot silver dollars at a 1,000 yards all day long!"

Whatever floats your boat.

Bob

I always think it's hilarious that every rifle that everyone owns is a half minute gun. In my experience most people can't get a rifle to consistently shoot 1 moa. I spent 12 years in the Army and a lifetime of shooting with other people, and honest sub moa shooters are a rare group. I've seen all these people at the ranges taking pictures of that one .8 group that they shot, and ignoring the other 30 groups that had "a flier" or 3. This is especially true if you find someone with intense brand loyalty.

"Every Savage I've ever had can shoot a half minute".

Sure buddy, sure.

 

[Jon Bischof]

When my son was little, he enjoyed building his own creation out of Legos rather than constructing it as it was pictured on the box. That is some of the appeal of putting your own rifle together. It is different.
Sometimes that is where the difference ends, unless the component parts and fitting are better than the original.
Some folks know how to make it shoot better and some are just rearranging Legos

 

[epoletna]

I have a Winchester Model 94 that was built by Winchester in 1922. I had to replace a broken firing pin in it, so I suppose it is custom. Hmmm.

 

[luvs2hunt62]

who cares?? aren't there better ways to spend our time and energy? I f you don't like someone's definition of a product he's selling, don't buy it. grousing about it won't change anything except your attitude, which will influence how you look at the rest of your day.

 

[JAYgs8163]

So if Remington, Winchester, and say Bergara build and hand assemble a rifle in their custom shop is this then a custom rifle, semi-custom rifle? Most of these have actions that have been worked over, better barrel lugs, better barrels, better triggers (after market) and bedded barreled actions. Or, does a independent smith doing the same thing then make it "custom"? I've got a Remington 700 Action on my 300 PRC. Sent to LRI and had it completely gone through. M16 extractor and dual ejection plungers added, bolt fluted, scope mount screws opened up, squared and trued the action, LRI lug pinned. I consider this a Custom Remington action but if Remington did it what's it considered?
Not to mention the other items I personally did to it. Bedded the barreled action, cerakoted all metals, Proof Barrel and Grayboe stock, 20 MOA rail bedded square to action. I consider this a Custom rifle. All that matters to me is what I have and not what people think I have.

 

[BrentM]

So anyone with a rem 700 that has been timed, trued, and polished just has a Remington 700. No matter they did, it's a Remington oem action and not cut in a small shop. Got it