Are custom rifles going to be a thing of the past?

[trophy8]

It's not just the accuracy. It's the fact of knowing the countless years you've waited for a tag, hunt, trip etc aren't going to be wasted by a budget gun failing. Don't take that as me saying they are junk. But they are built on a budget where as a custom is usually built with the best of the best components and can take a lot more abuse and handle it. You only get one shot most times. I've had rifles and optics fail in the middle of a hunt and ruin my hunt. I try to prevent that as much as I can. But anything mechanical can fail regardless of the quality.

Also, factor in that rifle may be accurate at 100. That doesn't always equal precision at longer ranges. The true custom rifles shine at distance.

Reliability.
Long range capability.
Ease of cleaning.
Fit and finish.
You can have a smith chamber that gun to a specific bullet and length you choose to run the loaded case at.
Personalized to a T.
Keepsake to pass down that means more than a store bought rifle to some.
Then there's the fact that some take a lot of pride in owning a custom rifle and showing it off.


I don't think custom guns are going anywhere. Ever. Everything has its place.

[kc5rkg]

Why does my wife want a Louis Vuitton purse when a $20 Walmart special serves the purpose?

[ColinR]

Why does my wife want a Louis Vuitton purse when a $20 Walmart special serves the purpose?

DUDE! Your a GENIUS!!!! I just might be back in the game on the TBH special thread!!!!!

[RR 314]

I believe more people than ever are buying custom/semi-custom rifles. In my circle of hunting friends I can count on one hand the guys using production bolt actions as their go to hunting rifles. There are seemingly more capable and accessible gunsmiths these days and once you become accustomed to genuine quality it is difficult to go back to production rifles even if they perform acceptably.

[Saltyag15]

I don't spend all day drooling over Ruger American Rifles

[flyinstroke]

Why does my wife want a Louis Vuitton purse when a $20 Walmart special serves the purpose?

I think you just opened a new door for many of us drooling over the custom rifles!

Thank you for that.

[2B4Him]

I see your point but in my mind a rifle has a more specialized purpose , to deliver projectiles to a precise location. I’m just scratching my head wondering what a Surgeon action, Bartlein barrel, and Manners stock is REALLY getting us when it come to putting rounds on target.

I don't have and have never had a custom rifle. The Winchester Model 70 I bought 39 years ago kills things as dead as can be.
If hunting is the primary purpose of using your rifle, I can agree with your points. However, for those who enjoy target shooting and spend lots of time at the range, I can certainly see where little 'customizations' can make a lot of difference in your shooting enjoyment.

[Balcones_Walker]

The more I customize cheap rifles to be the perfect tools for specific tasks, the more I appreciate the value of full customs.

Those upgraded triggers, stocks, bolts, actions, and barrels all add value, and they get expensive fast.

We all know there is a lot more to a successful hunt than a rifle's accuracy. Crisp triggers, balanced stocks, smooth cycling actions, cheek weld and manageable weight all make a difference for making a perfect shot in the heat of the moment.

[Mike D]

Isn’t accuracy the only thing that really matters ? Just like taste is the only thing that matters on the burger?


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Not for me. A factory rifle cannot offer the customization options that a factory rifle can. It’s fine if it will shoot good groups. However if you need a longer or shorter LOP, you need a certain twist rate to shoot a certain Bullet, you want a trigger that will cleanly and SAFELY break at 1# or less, etc.

There will always be a market for custom rifles.

It’s still a very good thing that factory built rifles and ammunition are coming out that are that accurate and at a great price point.


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[SwampBuck]

Need vs want.

More often than not, want is a much bigger factor than need.

[RifleBowPistol]

I don't think custom rifles are becoming a thing of the past. Every barrel company I called about getting a barrel from, told me 7 months to either get a barrel or get a barrel chambered.