Does anyone have any experiance or comments about the Winchester Custom Shop? How about American Hunting Rifles? I wish to purchase a new DG rifle and have narrowed my choices down to these two companies. Either a Custom Safari Express from Winchester Custom Shop or a CZ550 DGR from American Hunting Rifles. Any input would be surly appreciated.

look at the prices...

I don't recall a single member having a winchester custom shop.. but zeveral have/had ahr

jeffe

Winchester-$3050.00 AHR-$3500.00

not an apples to apples comparision...



the same level of gun is 3k, at each side, ihtink (checked)





the winchester DGR is 4572, and it tops out at 458 lott (i am certain you could get it in 470 for that price) and AHR tops out at 3500...



http://www.winchester-guns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.asp?cat_id=535&type_id=912&cat=013C



only when you really step into the .500+ rounds are you obliged to hit 3500



in all reality, if you want a 470 capstick, buy a current winchester 375, send it to pacnor for rebarreling and have the sights carried over, blued, and done...



this will set you back bout 850 for the win, and ~500 for the barrel work.. that's 1350 total....



jeffe

Jeffeosso

Winchester do make a 470 Chapstick

http://www.winchester-guns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.asp?cat_id=535&type_id=911&cat=013C

Price $3043

Cheers,

Andr�

Andre'
One could get a 375 super, rebarrel and restock for about 1/2 that...


jeffe

Jeffe,What do you think of the CZ action compared to the M70? Going your route would be cheaper.Although on either rifle I would choose to restock it also.

Capstick,
i find them to be about equal, at the SAME price.. for instance, you can buy a cz in 375 for 620 form gunbroker... 200 more, and you have a model 70 safety...

if you are asking which would I prefer, I would have to ask for what caliber?

HH mag based rounds, I am indefferent

416rigby, 460 weatherby or big stuff, the CZ.. it can handle them better.. it's a far larger action

if a 470 capstick is on your mind, either, starting with a 375, will wind up costing the same for the same features (3pos safety for instance)

i do think that you can build just about anything, if you part of hte work yourself, for 1/2 to 2/3 the price of the winchester...

btw, it is my understanding that win custom shop does NOT do custom stock work.. it's just chioce of wood on their pattern

jeffe

American Hunting Rifles all the way! Their rifles are far better than Winchester's. Listen to jeffeosso, too, he really knows his stuff.

I had the Winchester Custon Shop make me up a Capstick in 1999. It is the Custom African Express. They built it to my measurements, hand assembled and tuned the action and made the modifications I requested. The stock number was 535-912145. It is no longer listed in the catalog. I have scanned a couple of photos of my rifle can send them to you if you want a look.
It took about 10 months from order to delivery. The work is outstanding and fit and function are perfect. Nothing but good remarks from me on service and value for the proce spent.

Buckeyeshooter,Post your pictures so everybody can check them out.I have Winchester's new catalog and it shows the Custom Safari Express chambered in 470 Capstick.How does your rifle feel to you when you squeeze the trigger?Have you taken any game with it?How many rounds can you shoot through it in one session at the range?

If you go to the various gun auctions you will often find a dangerous game rifle listed, made by a true custom gun maker and the purchase price could be about the same as the Winchester. Even if was a little more, it would be a true custom rifle. Sterling Davenport is one fine custom gun maker that will make you a fine custom rifle in the caliber of your choice for around $3800,00. I have 4 or 5 of his rifles and they are very fine and functional weapons.

You have probably seen these already, but there is a Winchester .470 Capstick listed on GunsAmerica for $2099 and one on AuctionArms with a starting bid of $2500. Both are said to be from the Winchester Custom Shop. I do not know the sellers and have not seen the guns, so caveat emptor.

The links are:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976353946.htm

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=5678537

Hi Capstick:

That one from Auction Arms is a beauty, I love the Rhino on the bottom.

I have a full blown custom in 458 Lott from AHR, and so does Mrlexma and a few others on this board. IMHO the Winchester custom is very nice, but not in the same league as a custom AHR. By the way the AHR custom rifles come with a custom trigger and Winchester style safety if you want.

If you want more info drop me an email..

Reagrds... Jim P.

What is it you want to know? You can email me

I would be happy to posts some photos, but not really positive on how to do it here???
I have used the .470 a bit on black bear and deer. Using handgun bullets designed for the 480 Ruger. I am looking forward to using it on buffalo. With full power loads (500 or 600 grain bullets) it recoils about the same as a .458. I am not too recoil sensitive and usually fire 20 rounds or so from it at a time-- generally in a t-shirt. The stock is a perfect fit for me and I think it helps. It is lighter than my Ruger mk1 .458 at 9 1/2 pounds, the Ruger weighs 11.

Capstick,
I got the .470 Capstick African Express photos posted on http://www.marlinowners.com. Go to the gallery section and ceck items 7/54 to 10/54.

I have a Win. Mod 70, .416 Rem Mag. in Custom Safari Express, beautiful rifle. Very good wood and has floor plate and trigger guard engraving. Shoots 3/4" groups at 100 yds out of the box. Cost approximately $2600 from my dealer, but he did give me a good price. Have been very pleased and am taking it to Zim in June.

CFA

I have hunted Colorado and Alaska with a Winchester Custom Shop .358 STA for several years now. A beautiful rifle, Stainless with Red Walnut. It shoots like a dream when I do my part and I have taken various heads of game with it including Elk, Caribou, and Deer and plan to take it to Africa this September. The Custom Shop produced 58 of these rifles for A-Square some year ago, I got on of the last remaining through GunsAmerica at what I consider a real bargain. I adjusted the trigger, put on a brake and recoil pad, and fitted a 4.5 X 14 Leupold Vari X III scope on it. I am very pleased with the rifle and chambering, it will blast 225 grain bullets at 3200 fps and 270 grain bullets at 2850 fps, in a ragged hole when I am on. Good shooting.

CAPSTICK,

Listen the these guys about going with a AHR rifle. They are the tits. The Winchesters are crap, particularly the triggers, when compared to an AHR custom.

I also shoot a Winchester Custom Safari .416 Remington Magnum and have had excellent results with it. I've taken everything fom impala to sable, mountain reedbuck to buffalo with it and have had no problems. It also has a fantastic piece of black walnut on it and the fit and finish are what you would expect on a custom shop gun. I also agree with ib404 above regarding Sterling Davenport's custom rifles. I have a .416 Rigby he built and it is making it's maiden voyage to the "dark continent" for elephant in July. Sterling is a super individual. He doesn't make many and he makes them right! They are a functional piece of art IMO.

What do you think this one is worth???
www.gunbroker.com pull up item #17907481
Maddog
PS Hi Jeffe...

Hey Maddog..
i bet the reserve is 2500 on that one... and too much!!


jeffe

Sorry, Maddog. Haven't been on the site for a while. When I hit your link, the Winchester didn't come up. Did a search on the Gunbroker site and did see an unfired custom Winchester .416 in stainless and wood for $1,500. I bought one of these awhile back for around $2,000 and see them on the Champlain site for $3,000! Never bought off Gunbroker so I don't know if you could get it for that but if you could it's a good buy IMO.

Having recently ordered a .500 from AHR, i can recommend them highly.It has been a pleasure to work with MR. Plummer in the process.

Listen to jeffeosso and Bob Muelle. These guys know what they are talking about!