Why does it feel like everyone has too much money?

[Pro2A]

Not knocking down the custom builds, can afford any rifle I desire but the practical side of me keeps me grounded. I've hunted 40 years with a savage 110 and a 3X9 Bushnell scope in 30-06 and than had to finally retire the savage because of the stock and difficult to find a stock for that particular left hand rifle. Bought a Tikka T3 in 30-06 with a Sightron scope for hunting.

Ten years ago I was checking the zero at 200 yards for my new Tikka getting it ready for deer season, when this young man sets up next to me, taking out this beautiful rifle with a carbon barrel and it was not the manufacturer most people might think it is and a rifle scope more expensive than my spotting scope, a Nikon Fieldscope 25-75X82 with ED glass.

I shot than he did and compared group size. My group measured about .820 @ 200 and his measured about .628 at 200. When I asked how much his set up was he proudly stated $9000 "6 for the rifle and 3 for the scope". I proudly state $900, 5 for the rifle and 4 for the scope and rings.

For me one day I may consider a custom but for now the temperature in hell has not dipped below freezing. My days are numbered and after putting deer and elk on the table over a 55 year span of hunting I wonder how much more accuracy I could get out of a $6000 rifle

Love your "...9, 5 and 4...: tale. Thanks, for sharing. You are proud of what you have done with little. Probably have your own form of fetish which you squander upon which others would question. It's just not pricey builds. Some enjoy their 300m impacts with .22LR. Others at 2K with .416 Barrett. You get the pleasure of another man's pricey builds in the form of not being pricey. Admire you there!!!! Brings back pleasant memories of my Dad. He could do anything with nothing. You probably subscribe to the philosophy drilled into me by my Depression Era Dad......"How much income one pulls in is certainly an important part of the Life Comfort Equation. But, how much one keeps is the Bottom Line." To spend a $1000, one has to make at least $1500-$2000. Saving a $1000 is like making $1500-$2000.....and one gets the pleasure of shortchanging the Government. While traveling home to Denmark with a friend, learned their national pasttime is "beating the tax man." Rapidly, challenging baseball in America as ours.....especially with the Socialists commanding The Hill. But, for those that really, really figured out the Life Comfort Equation, spending whatever amount on whatever brings them pleasure is the reward they have earned. Their 9K is your 9C, just from different perspectives. Not everyone figures out the Life Comfort Equation to the same degree. Some are smarter, some work longer, some work harder...or more likely smarter.....some are luckier. Old adage.......I'd rather be lucky than good. But, I found the harder/smarter/longer I worked, the luckier I became. Taking delivery on that new build/toy is the AAAWWWWW that I earned and have chosen to enjoy........no trailers behind a hearse. My son and DIL are are semi-retired at 44, only working to keep his Doctor Certs and her Law License in place and fund his fetishes without touching their Life Comfort nest egg......really nice nest egg in place growing untouched. Personal choices. Money buys thingys, but not necessarily happiness. But, it certainly can stave off starvation......and boredom......and deliver one's preferred AAAAWWWWWWWWs. YMMV

 

[Pro2A]

I build, shoot and hunt for fun (and meat). I have found that if a gun does not shoot well with a floating barrel and tight screws, put a new good barrel on and make sure the stock is firm and solid. If you can distort the stock with your hand, it is trash. Shoot a lot: amazing how much better guns shoot if you are proficient.

The more one practices, the luckier one becomes.....

 

[LkeAF]

It is hunting season....maybe they are out in the field chasing game? I know when I am hunting, I don't answer my phone or call customers back.

^^^x2

 

[Hugnot]

If it does not require any kind of CNC machinery or a lathe I will do the work myself with an exception of stock duplication. JB Weld for stock repairs & bedding.

Out-side paid gunwork from October to December is not planned.

Rifle combo's that cost less than $1,000 and dime sized accurate or smaller are treasures. This means pawn shop visits & trading.

 

[Pro2A]

^^^x2

svgreg....like your "avatar" (is that the proper term???) sayings. Another for you to consider.

"Sadly, today, common sense is is very uncommon."

 

[Kelljp]

Not knocking down the custom builds, can afford any rifle I desire but the practical side of me keeps me grounded. I've hunted 40 years with a savage 110 and a 3X9 Bushnell scope in 30-06 and than had to finally retire the savage because of the stock and difficult to find a stock for that particular left hand rifle. Bought a Tikka T3 in 30-06 with a Sightron scope for hunting.

Ten years ago I was checking the zero at 200 yards for my new Tikka getting it ready for deer season, when this young man sets up next to me, taking out this beautiful rifle with a carbon barrel and it was not the manufacturer most people might think it is and a rifle scope more expensive than my spotting scope, a Nikon Fieldscope 25-75X82 with ED glass.

I shot than he did and compared group size. My group measured about .820 @ 200 and his measured about .628 at 200. When I asked how much his set up was he proudly stated $9000 "6 for the rifle and 3 for the scope". I proudly state $900, 5 for the rifle and 4 for the scope and rings.

For me one day I may consider a custom but for now the temperature in hell has not dipped below freezing. My days are numbered and after putting deer and elk on the table over a 55 year span of hunting I wonder how much more accuracy I could get out of a $6000 rifle

I agree, my 700 BDL 30-06 with a 1981 Redfield 3x9 scope has never let me down.
I finally have it to a younger upcoming hunter.
I love the custom rifles, but alot of it is for show. The good thing is the builders come with some great news rounds and info.
The thing to remember is the 30-30 almost made the whitetail extinct by 1950.

 

[D-mon]

Will the 6.5 creeemoor repeat that feat by 2050?

 

[one3]

Not knocking down the custom builds, can afford any rifle I desire but the practical side of me keeps me grounded. I've hunted 40 years with a savage 110 and a 3X9 Bushnell scope in 30-06 and than had to finally retire the savage because of the stock and difficult to find a stock for that particular left hand rifle. Bought a Tikka T3 in 30-06 with a Sightron scope for hunting.

Ten years ago I was checking the zero at 200 yards for my new Tikka getting it ready for deer season, when this young man sets up next to me, taking out this beautiful rifle with a carbon barrel and it was not the manufacturer most people might think it is and a rifle scope more expensive than my spotting scope, a Nikon Fieldscope 25-75X82 with ED glass.

I shot than he did and compared group size. My group measured about .820 @ 200 and his measured about .628 at 200. When I asked how much his set up was he proudly stated $9000 "6 for the rifle and 3 for the scope". I proudly state $900, 5 for the rifle and 4 for the scope and rings.

For me one day I may consider a custom but for now the temperature in hell has not dipped below freezing. My days are numbered and after putting deer and elk on the table over a 55 year span of hunting I wonder how much more accuracy I could get out of a $6000 rifle

Man, I, am with you 100%. To each his own, some time I think we live in a socity that has more money than brains. Once I was reading a article about this new rifle. The auther on and on about how great is was, then came the price. My 400 dollar rifle will shoot as good as that high dollar rifle. makes me wonder how people hunted and shot game years ago. They did it.

 

[imyourhuckleberry]

Man, I, am with you 100%. To each his own, some time I think we live in a socity that has more money than brains. Once I was reading a article about this new rifle. The auther on and on about how great is was, then came the price. My 400 dollar rifle will shoot as good as that high dollar rifle. makes me wonder how people hunted and shot game years ago. They did it.

I bought my first rifle in 30-06 in my early 20's the savage 110c in 30-06 and it was deadly accurate out of the box. I was with a couple of army buddies and my grandfather shooting milk jugs at 500 yards. When I bought my rifle it came with 3x9 Bushnell banner scope and had paid $200+ for the rifle and scope back in 82. When I mentioned it out loud that I wanted a custom rifle my grandfather replied that rifle already does what most people can't do with a custom. Nothing changes except the weight of your wallet...it gets lighter. In other words he was saying if you can't shoot with an inexpensive rifle paying thousands more won't change the fact that you have not acquired shooting skills.

 

[snox801]

As stated above give pierce engineering a call.
I have a few rifles built how you describe from them and they are amazing .
They always answer and I never wait for a response. I actually was frustrated like you and said heck I want an ultra light and gave them a shot. It's simply the best experience I've ever had with a rifle builder. They didn't know me from the next guy calling that could be wasting time they spent a ton of time over a few weeks talking about my build and doing so in a great mood.
They have built 4-5 in the past couple years now.

 

[imyourhuckleberry]

Love your "...9, 5 and 4...: tale. Thanks, for sharing. You are proud of what you have done with little. Probably have your own form of fetish which you squander upon which others would question. It's just not pricey builds. Some enjoy their 300m impacts with .22LR. Others at 2K with .416 Barrett. You get the pleasure of another man's pricey builds in the form of not being pricey. Admire you there!!!! Brings back pleasant memories of my Dad. He could do anything with nothing. You probably subscribe to the philosophy drilled into me by my Depression Era Dad......"How much income one pulls in is certainly an important part of the Life Comfort Equation. But, how much one keeps is the Bottom Line." To spend a $1000, one has to make at least $1500-$2000. Saving a $1000 is like making $1500-$2000.....and one gets the pleasure of shortchanging the Government. While traveling home to Denmark with a friend, learned their national pasttime is "beating the tax man." Rapidly, challenging baseball in America as ours.....especially with the Socialists commanding The Hill. But, for those that really, really figured out the Life Comfort Equation, spending whatever amount on whatever brings them pleasure is the reward they have earned. Their 9K is your 9C, just from different perspectives. Not everyone figures out the Life Comfort Equation to the same degree. Some are smarter, some work longer, some work harder...or more likely smarter.....some are luckier. Old adage.......I'd rather be lucky than good. But, I found the harder/smarter/longer I worked, the luckier I became. Taking delivery on that new build/toy is the AAAWWWWW that I earned and have chosen to enjoy........no trailers behind a hearse. My son and DIL are are semi-retired at 44, only working to keep his Doctor Certs and her Law License in place and fund his fetishes without touching their Life Comfort nest egg......really nice nest egg in place growing untouched. Personal choices. Money buys thingys, but not necessarily happiness. But, it certainly can stave off starvation......and boredom......and deliver one's preferred AAAAWWWWWWWWs. YMMV

Thank you for your kind words, and you are correct that I do have my fetishes when it comes to spending money. Those fetishes are Cognac and Single Malt scotch. When it comes to paying several hundred dollars for a bottle I don't mind. I am of the philosophy of I have $300 in my pocket and the bottle costs $310 it is too expensive. If I have $400 in my pocket and the bottle is $395 it is not expensive.

I retired at 56 from two careers one in the military and another from the medical field, retired young because I had to help with family emergency. My practical approach to what I do is what has kept me grounded and since I am not a competitor or professional shooter I stay within my constraints of my shooting abilities for what I do. I spent almost $3000 for a sharps rifle because I wanted it, and I understand that custom rifles have a niche and a role for its uses, after all rifles are just tools like a hammer and a saw, but man, some of those rifles are pieces of art I would not want to shoot because I am all thumbs.

 

[imyourhuckleberry]

I CAN afford, a $10,000 Dollar Guided Arizona Elk Hunt, too,.. BUT,.. Elk are just, good tasting, Meat to me ( now ! ).
Funny how my "Thinking" has changed,.. as I get Older and hopefully,.. Wiser.

I'm like you now. Ironically this is a long range hunting forum and now that I am older I don't want to shoot that far at game because I would just have to carry meat that much further . I'm seriously considering a guard protector on my truck so that I can hit deer on the side of the road, tag it, and put it in the truck, or buying a label printer and print label that says venison, or elk, on my steaks, and hoping that if I do get dementia it will make be believe I am eating deer and elk.

 

[cjl2010]

@Elk Hunter 338 is who I would have build my once in a lifetime rifle if cost and time didn't matter. Dude builds some phenomenal rifles.

 

[TBell]

Not knocking down the custom builds, can afford any rifle I desire but the practical side of me keeps me grounded. I've hunted 40 years with a savage 110 and a 3X9 Bushnell scope in 30-06 and than had to finally retire the savage because of the stock and difficult to find a stock for that particular left hand rifle. Bought a Tikka T3 in 30-06 with a Sightron scope for hunting.

Ten years ago I was checking the zero at 200 yards for my new Tikka getting it ready for deer season, when this young man sets up next to me, taking out this beautiful rifle with a carbon barrel and it was not the manufacturer most people might think it is and a rifle scope more expensive than my spotting scope, a Nikon Fieldscope 25-75X82 with ED glass.

I shot than he did and compared group size. My group measured about .820 @ 200 and his measured about .628 at 200. When I asked how much his set up was he proudly stated $9000 "6 for the rifle and 3 for the scope". I proudly state $900, 5 for the rifle and 4 for the scope and rings.

For me one day I may consider a custom but for now the temperature in hell has not dipped below freezing. My days are numbered and after putting deer and elk on the table over a 55 year span of hunting I wonder how much more accuracy I could get out of a $6000 rifle

I want a full turnkey custom hunting rifle built, titanium receiver, carbon barrel, threaded with full load development, custom hard case, using a new Swarovski Z6 I have as the optic. I am not expecting 2 weeks, 2 months or even 6-8 months turnaround, I know these guys are busy and it will take however long it takes. I want it built to between 7lbs and 8lbs with 4rds, mount, optic ready to hunt.

I can't get no one to call me back, act interested, give me a contact number so we can discuss details or even remotely discuss/answer questions in a timely manner. I am willing to pay cash up front and even drive to their shop, give them the optic and pay them cash, regardless of the distance from my house.

FTR: I have never inquired about a build with any of these shops I have contacted, but I have had several do significant work on existing rifles, over $500 in some cases and over $200 the majority of the time.

PS: I am a horrible long range shooter, let's say over 500yds, realistically I mean 300...., but I want a full on custom rifle when a sub $500 rig would probably better than I ever will.

So, why is it so **** hard to give away money?

I have seen rifles from those that I have contacted/inquired about begin at the low $4ks and go upwards of $7k without optics

Just **** frustrated, especially after I just wiped out my entire secret rat hole money to pay the hospital after being released.

Try these guys out if Colodrodo built a 300 wm 3/8" gun for sub $3000 without scope several years ago. Still shoots the same today.

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