I just picked up a new CZ 550 .375 H&H Magnum today. It feeds perfectly, has a factory-installed Decelerator pad, 3/4" factory test target, relatively plain stock (but checkering at least as good as my $11,000. Kreighoff), beautiful metal finish and great wood-to-metal fit .... just a great gun for $680. (tax & all). For $180. more, my local gunsmith will glass & pillar bed the gun. Now to my question, and I'm sincerely seeking input:
Why would anyone pay $3000. - $5000. to purchase a custom gun for use in the field ? What could one expect to receive in return for all that additional expense ? Thanks for your replies.

Frank,

As you know Frank, one would expect a three position safety, nicer finish, nicer wood and a better stock design on a high dollar custom.

But beyond that, as a mere mortal without the strong funding base we once enjoyed ... a .375 H&H or a .416 Rigby that shoots for that money is within reach. The fancy Dakota wasn't.

By the way Frank,

Going to play with loads at the Kanawha State Forest range on Friday at 2:30 with Rick. You're welcome to meet us there!

Good point, Frank. You are in the know like many others of us around here. Those other guys must be a bunch of sissies? I would rather hunt with a beater that functioned flawlessly. A tool that could be more easily replaced if the black hole swallowed it. I bet Finn Aagaard would approve of your line of thinking. Finn was honest and honorable. No pimping nor whoring. Now that I have spoken, there is little else to be said on this subject.

Frank and Rob:

Different point of view here. There comes a point with your hunting rifles that maybe you or(I) want MORE out of a rifle. Again I am speaking for just ME, my own opinion.

I can buy all the STOCK regular rifles I want, pay to have them shoot MOA, and I still have what everybody else has. Maybe I want my hunting tool to be different that the masses.

Or I can customize it my way. My custom stock will have a LOP that fits ME. My action will have the custom touches I want, 3 position safety, custom trigger and pull at exactly 3lbs. The 22 LPI will be cut to my specs, so will the cheek piece. I want a an ebony tip so be it. Special engraving great, that's what I want. Not what I have to settle for off the rack.

If I busted my ass all my life to be financially secure enough to order a custom rifle so be it.

Why buy by a Corvette when Mazda will get you to the same place or destination. Why buy a Harley when a Honda will putt around the same way. Why build a big house with a pool when you could just as easily live in a appartment.

Just for me, and believe me I am not filthy rich, probably all my next rifles will be custom to one extent or the other.

Hell it's the American way. There is nothing wrong in wanting the finer things in life, like a custom rifle....LOL

Sissie my ass.......

Regards.... Jim P

[ 04-25-2003, 19:16: Message edited by: PAHunter ]

The CZ550 is the best value on the rifle market today.

However, for a lot of folks, hunting is a seldom available oppurtunity and they would prefer to use a rifle that is 100% to their liking. Their is a culture among these hunters that dictates one to put on his finest clothes and choose the finest rifle (they can afford).

One can easily spend over $2000 modifying a CZ550 to meet ones standards for cartridge, stock and sights. If that is the case, building a rifle on a true 98 Mauser is often preferred.

I agree CZ's are the best value today and do just fine right out of the box. I enjoy customizing rifles as a hobby, however, and I plan to make some modest and low-cost changes to one of two 416 Rigby's I bought last week. Changes will include: polish out the obtrusive stampings on the receiver and give the overall metal a better finish, install a M-70 type safety, straighten the bolt handle and weld up the hole in the knob, add an ebony forend tip and steel grip cap, reshape, refinish and rechecker the factory stock (which has nice figure) and reblue. All this won't cost much, maybe another $400-$500, depending on how much I do myself.

[ 04-27-2003, 05:22: Message edited by: fla3006 ]

Frank,

What's the $11,000 Krieghoff for?

The Kriegoff is a K80, for skeet .....
also, I currently am working on three custom rifles - a Dan Beck .404 Jeffry, a .338-06 built on a Turkish action (by my local 'smith), and a .416 Rigby on a Boska action that I purchased partially completed. I just don't think any of these three rifles will out-perform the out-of-the-box CZ 550, but they MAY look a little better, and cost lots more.