What does a custom build rig really get you???

[kwilm]

Happiness

 

[Stevenstl86]

Smaller groups at longer distances. Unless your shooting competitions or longer ranges I think it's pointless to have a custom rifle. $9000 for a custom rifle is laughable. You could almost build 2 custom guns with some of the best components available today.

My dad has a older factory 300 wm that's a very accurate with hand loads.

 

[Doublezranch]

I have customs built so I can spend more time eating popcorn and less time swearing at my rifle because it doesn't shoot to my expectations.

 

[Jeffrey Van Zandt]

Lately, I've been having a lot of self talks, about why I continue to have customs built for me versus buying a production rifle, and making minor corrections to it, such as new trigger, bed or float the barrel if needed, and maybe flipping it into a new stock.

These small changes that can make a production line rifle more accurate and comfortable to shoot and is a lot more cost effective than selling blood to fund a full build...In the end, what did we truly gain over a boxed rifle, if both shoot sub groups?

Here's the question...If rubber meeting the road is based on paper, steel, and fur accuracy. Then a box rifle that shoots "even-steven" MOA consistently over 10 rounds and sub MOA on 3 shot groups. What did a guy spending $4k gain, if his rifle does the same?

This question is coming from a guy who has over 15 custom builds. Aside, from pride of ownership and a certain level of confidence knowing that the parts pieced together, both internally and externally are some of the best made today...It doesn't change the fact that a guy who bought a production rifle, can hit the daily-lottery, and have an excellent shooting rig that can hang with a custom all day long.

Who's the smarter guy?

well for the most part now the game has some what changed as well as the wait time with the new actions out there that can be mated up with a custom shoulder fit barrel a person with only a torque wrench and a go/no gauge set can put together a custom rifle that will shot sub MOA groups in a full array of Cals. just add what stock or chassis you want a custom trigger that you want scope and you can now be at the range in under 2 days after your parts get in to you. also that one rifle can be set up for multiple Cals with just a bolt head switch and 20 min barrel change so now you can also have a switch barrel rifle with carbon fiber barrels or match S.S. barrels. And a big up side to this typ of custom shoulder fit system is when the barrel is shot out just get a new one and you are ready to go again

 

[JAYgs8163]

If you take your time and do your research it gets you exactly what you want.

 

[J E Custom]

This has always been a huge deterrent for me - I buy and sell rifles all the time. Its so much tougher to churn them when you are dealing in customs. Cents on the dollar if you want to move one.

This I do agree with, And it will always be that way because there are other differences that Make the custom rifle desirable to some. It is one of a kind and exactly what the purchaser wants. If you try to buy a used custom, the reason it is harder to sell is, first it has been fired and unless you actually shoot the rifle you don't know for sure the reason the person is selling it. Is it shot out are just not accurate?

The other downside to selling a used custom besides not being exactly what the buyer wants. He can spend 1/2 the amount and buy a factory rifle and hope it shoots.

Custom Rifles are like Hot Rods, You will never be able to sell them for what you have in them. Most people buy or build custom rifles and keep them with no intention of ever selling them. so the ones that are sold won't appeal to these folks.

I would love to see the day that factory rifles would be equal to custom rifles, but given the quality difference of components, if factories were to use the same quality components they would end up costing the same as a custom.

J E CUSTOM

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I have customs built so I can spend more time eating popcorn and less time swearing at my rifle because it doesn't shoot to my expectations.

View attachment 167263

What you custom guys never want to talk about is the $4000 gun that doesnt meet expectations

 

[Toolhand]

Lot a great shooting factory rifles. I have 4 customs and one of my first factory rifles a Remington 700 sendero that I put in a manners stock is one of the most accurate I own. Custom gets u choice of exactly how u want the rifle to look and feel plus a high degree of confidence in the accuracy of the rifle. Factory can be a crap shoot but if u are willing to give up a little and wheel and deal if a factory rifle doesn't meet the standards you are looking for then you will find one accuracy wise that does.

 

[Clark]

If you buy more than 10 out of state tags you are probably going to hunt with a custom rifle. That does not mean a $1k off the shelf Kimber 84L will not shoot just as well in your hands.

What is DOES mean, is you have all kinds of disposable income.

 

[Doublezranch]

What you custom guys never want to talk about is the $4000 gun that doesnt meet expectations

I would certainly talk about it if it were true. Is it possible, absolutely. Have I had one, nope. I don't buy and sell rifles. I build custom rifles because I get what I want the first time and willing to spend the money for it. I could choose to buy every 6.5 that comes to market, but I don't. I have calibers that I designed and cannot buy off the shelf. They have all shot extremely well. There is also a sentimental value that goes into it.

 

[MOOSE39465]

I have mixed reviews about getting a custom rifle built. I bought a Sendero SFll a few years back. The rifle shot very well bone stock. I thought I needed a semi custom so I dumped a few grand in it only to get same accuracy results as the factory rifle. From here on out I will just buy factory rifles and improve them if needed. Some of these custom rifles prices I see are silly.

 

[Greyfox]

IMO, a custom rifle(shotgun,, handgun) can give you optimization. Early on in my shooting life, most of my customs(semi-customs) were acquired following a fairly extended period of time with a factory offering, or, in a few cases, a previously owned custom rifle. I may have made minor changes such as the trigger, bedding, stock, etc. Given the rifle was capable of getting the job done, after a period of time spent using it for its intended purpose, I would assess what I liked most, what I liked least, and figure out if a custom could enhance the the overall performance, ergonomics, or even aesthetics, enhancing success. This didn't always result in the need for a custom. In the cases where I did a decent job at this and decided a custom was the way to go, I found the money was well spent, and the rifle a true keeper. As time went on, I found there were applications where I learned to know what I wanted and if necessary, could think "custom" from the start. In other cases, a factory rifle, given it met certain requirements, would suffice for a particular application, or, like more recently, when getting into a PRS, I reverted back to my original approach and bought a Ruger PR. After using it for about a season, I ultimately upgraded to a custom once I figured out the game, gained experience, and observed other shooters, It has made a meaningful difference in my results. Going custom was well worth the time and money!

 

[BigJohnH]

To answer the original question, it depends on a few things. 1) What do you want out of the build? 2) How much precision you can afford to have put into it? 3) Who you have do the build? 4) Lastly how well you can you shoot?

 

[Canhunter35]

What does a custom rig really get you?

my answer: whatever you want, that's why it's a 'custom' rig