Is a custom rifle worth it

[17remhunter]

In your opinion is having a custom rifle built worth the $$$$

 

[Pucky Freak]

In your opinion is replicating existing threads worth it?

 

[psinclair]

In your opinion is having a custom rifle built worth the $$$$

Every dime....

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Depends. I’ve spec’d a few that weren’t worth it at all but nearly all my rifles are customs these days. Mostly because exactly what I want isn’t typically available.

For hitting what you’re aiming at in hunting situations, it typically isn’t money well spent imo. For being satisfied with your rifle it can be money well spent.

 

[belshawelk]

Is a Corvette or Mercedes AMG worth it. For some. But it goes faster than your can drive anyways.

I have a custom rifle and it doesn't kill anything that my factory rifles kill. I like, its lights, shoots .26MOA and looks great. I bought it for a specific purpose and it fills it perfectly. I just always wanted one. Want not need

 

[Redmt]

Define "custom". It becomes a custom rifle as soon as it comes out of the box and you mount the scope of your choice. I have a couple of purpose built custom rifles. I have several "out of the box" Ruger Predators with a Boyds stock, a little trigger work that shoot just as accurately as I am able to shoot. I have a couple POS rifles that make things just as dead. Short answer is no but the customs are sure more appealing.

My most appealing custom is a #1 with stainless fluted barrel, laminate stock, Jared trigger, EGW scope mount with a Leupold Boone and Crockett scope. It's one of those dreaded 6.5 CMs that are a pretty accurate caliber to start with. It's no more accurate than an out of the box Predator.

 

[elkhuntinfool78]

I think it definitely depends on the person. It certainly isn't going to kill any better than a lot of factory rifles.

For me it's worth it as I get exactly what I want and I appreciate the workmanship of a great custom build

 

[17remhunter]

That was my issue. I wanted a 17 Remington. Couldn’t find one anywhere. Finally had TS Customs build me one. It was more than I ever expected. You get everything you want from weight to LOP to stock Twist. Contour. It shoots at least .25 and i have several 5 shot groups in the .1’s. Best to date is .159. From 25 gr to 30 gr. Was wondering what others thought. Accuracy was super important. Ive shot coyotes out to 467. Their usually giving you a narrow opening to a fatal shot. Plus when a big Nevada bobcat comes in you dont want a big exit hole. Exit holes do exist but most you have no exit. Before the flue panic Nevada coyotes were bringing $100 cats $400 up. Dosent take much and your rifle is paid for

 

[brockel]

Would depend on what your plans with the rifle are. And if you can even shoot custom rifle accuracy

 

[6mm Remington]

I found a Winchester Model 70 classic sporter with a nice walnut stock for sale that appeared to have not been fired much at all. It was chambered in 270 Winchester. I had my gunsmith do his work on the action and trigger, and he put on a 24" Shilen match barrel 1-9" in 280AI. It was pillar and glass bedded. I put a 4.5-14x40mm Leupold with the B&C reticle on it. I love that rifle and it shoots great. It was money very well spent.

 

[wytex]

Custom, maybe but I found a little higher dollar rifle is just fine accuracy wise and cost me hundreds less than custom.
Optics can play a big role in accuracy as well.

 

[brymoore]

From an investment standpoint, no. A factory rifle will be 85-95% of what you want in a rifle at a much more affordable price. Accuracy from the factory rifle will be very good. The resale price will be reasonable for the factory rifle.

A custom rifle will get you 99% of what you want, in any caliber you want, with excellent accuracy for an expensive price you will not be able to recoup in the used market.

Is a custom rifle worth the extra cost? Nope unless you have the cash flow to ignore the investment. Is a custom a better rifle than factory and worth the list money if you have the extra cash? Absolutely.

 

[Trail&ErrorAK]

I decided I wanted one rifle to do it all.
So i sold a couple of gns that I wasn't going to keep for the kids and I put that money into a 'semi-custom'. I wish I had done a few things different but I absolutely love this rifle and I use it for everything.
2023 took a Sheep at 300 yards.
2025 took a Bull Moose at 89 yards.
2023 took a Bull Caribou at 220 yards.

my gun was built on the Older Kimber Montana (gray stock) in a 280 Ackley. It has been absolutely fantastic and I have a ton of confidence in the gun.
But I probably could have gotten the same result from a $1200+ factory gun that I just tweaked a little and got threaded.

 

[Redraider7]

I bought one and am really happy with it. Not cheap at all though

 

[jimh406]

If you have the money and it gets built the way you want it ... maybe, but few custom guns are worth as much as you pay for them either. So plan carefully or lose a lot of money.

 

[HandgunHunter]

In the handgun world….I have found buying the higher end productions to be as equally good as a custom.

Rifles probably see a lot of the same overlap there. For hunting anyways.

Of course there is a difference if we are talking about specialized for competition.

 

[jeff_gibbons]

Is a Corvette or Mercedes AMG worth it. For some. But it goes faster than your can drive anyways.

I have a custom rifle and it doesn't kill anything that my factory rifles kill. I like, its lights, shoots .26MOA and looks great. I bought it for a specific purpose and it fills it perfectly. I just always wanted one. Want not need

Nailed it. Same boat.