Is a custom rifle worth it

[kiwi hunter]

I would say it is worth it…




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I have to admit you have some exquisite rifles. No plastic fantastic.

 

[jeffpg]

I’m a 64 year old guy who has been blessed to have traveled and hunted hundreds of different animals all over the world. I love and collect weaponry of all kinds. I have about a dozen full blown custom rifles, a dozen semi-custom factory rifles and another 2-3 dozen mostly bone stock factory rifles. I easily have just as many shotguns and handguns as rifles. I often feel like I have more than I need and I’m sure that’s true, so I constantly work towards selling off some guns that I value the least as my priorities change. It’s a struggle letting some go but it’s also liberating to a degree and I still occasionally buy more guns that interest me. I enjoy shooting and hunting with my firearms but I also simply owning and caring for them. I have a couple of old $200 guns that shoot as well as most anyone needs one too under your typical hunting circumstances but the high end long range custom rifles really shine on that special once in a lifetime hunt with time, logistics, and other restrictions. You really do get what you pay for and it’s a whole different level of shooting confidence when you’re carrying the very best quality weapon for the job that you have trained with into the field.

IMO It’s obviously not for everyone but I think it’s worth it if you can afford it and if you’re a person who appreciates them. But I warn people that building a rifle exactly like you want it is extremely rewarding but also very addictive! I am not a wealthy man by any stretch and these guns are expensive! It’s hard to settle for less once you’ve tasted the best. I think you really have to carry and shoot the rifle of your dreams to be able to fully appreciate the experience of custom rifle builds.

Just my humble 2 cents worth.
Jeff

 

[Russell870]

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 extra money if you have the extra cash? Absolutely.

Agreed

 

[ImBillT]

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

While completely true, it’s hard to learn to shoot “custom rifle accuracy” by shooting a garbage gun loaded with garbage ammo.

Many of today’s higher end factory rifles and some companies that produce almost custom products have definitely narrowed the gap substantially. Even a lot of the lower end rifles are quite accurate these days, so my above statement doesn’t necessarily apply to most factory rifles.

 

[brockel]

While completely true, it’s hard to learn to shoot “custom rifle accuracy” by shooting a garbage gun loaded with garbage ammo.

Many of today’s higher end factory rifles and some companies that produce almost custom products have definitely narrowed the gap substantially. Even a lot of the lower end rifles are quite accurate these days, so my above statement doesn’t necessarily apply to most factory rifles.

Most would be better off buying a tikka 223 and a shit pot full of factory ammo and getting some trigger time vs building an expensive custom rifle and shooting it 10 times a year

 

[mtmuley]

Most would be better off buying a tikka 223 and a shit pot full of factory ammo and getting some trigger time vs building an expensive custom rifle and shooting it 10 times a year

Yep. I have a .222 Remington that got worked when my kids were young. I still love shooting the rifle. mtmuley

 

[ImBillT]

Most would be better off buying a tikka 223 and a shit pot full of factory ammo and getting some trigger time vs building an expensive custom rifle and shooting it 10 times a year

100% agree. Tikkas usually shoot very very well.

 

[41rem]

Most would be better off buying a tikka 223 and a shit pot full of factory ammo and getting some trigger time vs building an expensive custom rifle and shooting it 10 times a year

The Tikka 223 experience builder you speak of is kinda the young man's perspective.

Most Custom rifle guys have been there done it & are middle aged to older gents IMO

 

[brockel]

The Tikka 223 experience builder you speak of is kinda the young man's perspective.

Most Custom rifle guys have been there done it & are middle aged to older gents IMO

Most custom rifle builders are newer age people having to have the latest and greatest. Age has very little to do with shooting experience

 

[blacksheep]

Worth every dime. I had mine built during covid. I bought all of the parts that I wanted for my 7mm mag build. My gunsmith assembled it and it is exactly what I had imagined. It weighs 9lbs and is crazy accurate It shoots 1/2 to 3/4 MOA all day long. I have taken 2 bull elk with it one at 315 yds and the other at 20yds. If you want a custom rifle. Do it! Why buy a rifle that is not exactly what you want. New trigger, better stock ect.... Just build what you want. You will end up using it all the time and your other rifles will sit in the safe.

 

[mdhunter]

I have a couple custom rifles. I admit to using a guide if I have a great tag in my pocket and it’s OIL opportunity.

I have never missed with one of the rifles, but the thought has crossed my mind if I do he would be thinking “what a dipshit”, lol.

 

[Nuts]

Never had anything custom built for myself. My hunting partner of 36 years celebrated 1 very needed year of sobriety. I had 1 built for him. Pretty specific look as it needed to look exactly like a rifle I talked him into selling 35 years ago. Local gunsmith knocked it out of the park. And it can flat out shoot. Range and safe queen mostly. But money well spent.

 

[Boarmaster]

By the time I got enough experience , settled down, understood what I really wanted and could afford one I didn’t figure I would live long enough to get my monies worth out of it….
So I made due with a couple semi custom/ modified rifles that I couldnt be happier with. A Rem 700 XCR 2 in 270 in a Mc Millan Classic Edge w Timney trigger and a MRC X2 in 7mm08 that I had the factory chop the barrel back to 22 inches.
So for me a semi custom or modified rifle was the way to go and where Desire/ fit/performance and cost came together.

 

[JPelkhound]

I have a friend who has an incredible assortment of custom rifles. Most have wood stocks and are just beautiful. (He’s got more $$ in two guns than I’ll ever have in all mine including shotguns-they are that expensive)

When I visit he shows me the “latest and greatest” and it scares me to touch them, the intricate detail work in the wood and metal is amazing! The gunsmiths he uses are outstanding!!

I asked him one day, why so many? He said, because I can. (He does shoot and hunt with them so there that)

Moral of the story? If you got it and you want it, just do it.(he’s filthy rich but also just the most wonderful person so I don’t hate him…all that much. )

His wife is a gem as well. Great people.

If….and thats a big if…I had to pick just one gun (And I wanted to spend the $$-but I’m too cheap) it would probably be an Alterra rifle in 300 something or other and be done with it. (Spending 3-5k for good glass and have them put it together-using their ammo as well)

But that’s like $12-$14k all in…ouch!

 

[adoc65]

I had a 1976 Remington 700 BDL that was customized to a 6.5x.284. 24” Helix carbon wrapped bbl, trigger tech special with straight trigger, VX5. It weighs 7.1 pounds unloaded. It is a shooting machine.

 

[T.R.]

You can replace your stock with an affordable laminated unit from BOYD'S. TR

 

[bluegrassdan]

I guess it depends on what you're calling a custom rifle. I call a custom rifle one that's built from the assembled parts purchased separately. Since I am a rifle builder, that's 99% of anything that comes out of my shop. Is it worth it, I would say yes in the fact that you get what you want from the get go. Modifying a factory rifle always seems to be settling for most of what you want, but you will always wonder if this or that were different, would it be better? Same can be said for a full custom, although I suspect it happens a lot less often than with factory or modified factory rifles. Most decent rifles today can outshoot a lot of the people that purchase them, so if you are unhappy with what you have, you do have to ask "is it the rifle, or is it the trigger puller?"

 

[noharleyyet]

Most would be better off buying a tikka 223 and a shit pot full of factory ammo and getting some trigger time vs building an expensive custom rifle and shooting it 10 times a year

 

[SaskHunter]

I know quite a few dudes who think buying an expensive rifle will make them shoot better.

It doesn't.

 

[bluegrassdan]

I know quite a few dudes who think buying an expensive rifle will make them shoot better.

It doesn't.

I have to laugh, I see so many people at competitions that seem to think that they can buy first place. Always have the top of the line gear, total gearheads, but poor scores are always bad scope, bad barrel, need a better stock/chassis, new trigger, Garmin/Kestrel/ballistic App was wrong....never, I am not a top notch shooter, I need to learn to shoot better.