What goes into "building" a custom rifle?

[ColinR]

I have a neighbor that is getting his FFL and is planning to start building AR's and yesterday he said he was going to start building custom bolt action rifles out of his house. When I asked about his lathe he said he would not need one. He is ordering all the parts and just assembling them. Can't remember the name of the action he was going to use but said he would just order the action, then get whatever barrel the customer wants such as heart, Krieger, brux, ect then get a stock, and trigger and put it together. Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the action had to be trued to the barrel and lathe work is needed? No?

[Slick8]

The action doesn't have to be trued but it's the preferred way to go unless buying a custom.

He's likely going to use savage or Remington actions and a barrel nut, commonly referred to as a remage if used on a Remington action. The savage while it doesn't have near the aftermarket options available to it is tailor made for the garage man as you can swap bolt heads easily and is likely better than a Remington out of the box if not truing.

Many of the barrel makers will sell you a threaded, cut and chambered barrel for this purpose. Shilen has been doing it for years.

[yotethumper]

What slick said, sounds like he is just building rifles with savage actions and dropping in factory barrels cut for the savage action.

I don't know why anyone would buy one though they're pretty easy to do by yourself. Essentially, if he can do it in his garage why wouldn't most of his clientele?

And if I am going to buy a custom rifle you better bet its going to be on a trued action.

The AR market right now is saturated as well.

If he is just doing it for fun by all means go for it, low start up cost. If he is trying to support himself off it I would be cautious.

[ColinR]

Gotcha, I didn't even think about savage actions. I know that's not the action he said but i'm sure there are some action makers out there that are replicating them. That is probably what he is doing. And no just trying to supplement his income a little and have a hobby.

[Slick8]

To be clear, it doesn't matter if he's building from a Savage or Remington, he'll almost certainly be using a custom barrel. That alone will make a better rifle than most any factory offering.

Once you buy all the parts, you'll be well north of 1k not including labor.

If I was looking for a DIY build on the budget side, I'd look at sending an action to Pacnor. Then install a trigger and bed in the stock of my choice.

[Cajun Blake]

ask your neighbor these 3 questions:

- what type of accuracy will he guarantee for his custom built rifle with factory ammo ? … 1/2" MOA , 1" MOA, etc...

- does he plan on pillar and glass bedding the barreled-action to the stock ?

- will he be using the factory supplied stock, or using an aftermarket stock ?

I hope your friend has a big time insurance policy (LLC), and he is up to date on ATF laws regarding manufacturing custom rifles and the taxes he will have to pay. Selling rifles out of your home is a big "NO NO" as he will need a business with legitimate store front.

20 years ago this would not have been a problem. However, Big Brother doesn't play that game anymore, especially with all the strict laws and hoops that business owners have to jump through.

Not trying to be a pessimist or ruin this guys dream, just stating the facts and being a realist since he plans to assemble rifles and sell to friends and the public

[ColinR]

ask your neighbor these 3 questions:

- what type of accuracy will he guarantee for his custom built rifle with factory ammo ? … 1/2" MOA , 1" MOA, etc...

- does he plan on pillar and glass bedding the barreled-action to the stock ?

- will he be using the factory supplied stock, or using an aftermarket stock ?

I hope your friend has a big time insurance policy (LLC), and he is up to date on ATF laws regarding manufacturing custom rifles and the taxes he will have to pay. Selling rifles out of your home is a big "NO NO" as he will need a business with legitimate store front.

20 years ago this would not have been a problem. However, Big Brother doesn't play that game anymore, especially with all the strict laws and hoops that business owners have to jump through.

Not trying to be a pessimist or ruin this guys dream, just stating the facts and being a realist since he plans to assemble rifles and sell to friends and the public

Thanks for the info Blake. Honestly I haven't really talked to him much about it but will definitely let him know about all the things you mentioned here. I have a feeling he is good to go as the ATF is coming Monday to inspect his house where his ffl is listed. Not sure if that would be the same inspection for putting together gun parts to assemble a rifle. I'm just glad he is getting that part done so when my APR rifle is ready I can have it sent to him!

[Artos]

If he isn’t applying for an 07 license & tries to build without that classification he’s gonna have issues.

ATF will not issue the lic unless he complies with all local state & fed requirements...lots of 01 / 03 dealers were slapping together parts & ended up with headaches because its concidered the 07 mfg that’s needed