Who are some of the best builders of custom big bore/dangerous game rifles? ia the Hannibal rifle by A-Square a good choice? $6,000.00 is about my limit to pay on a rifle. also i probably want a big caliber such as a .500 magnum or up. thanks very much for any help on this matter.

Pez, welcome to AR. Your wish to have a rifle in a caliber of 500 or greater eliminates most factory rifles, such as Winchester, Dakota, Sako, Remington, and others. The CZ 550 in it's "normal" model would end at 458 Lott; their Safari Custom is available in 505 Gibbs, but that model retails in the $2,500-$3,000 range. Wayne at AHR builds custom rifles based on the CZ 550 action, and would be your best bet. Go to www.hunting-rifles.com and take a look. Wayne's rifles are very well respected here on AR.

thanks very much for the info and welcoming me here. if i get AHR to build a rifle for me with the CZ 550 action do i have to supply the action to them or what?

No, Wayne takes care of the whole deal. You just specify what you want (caliber, LOP, wood grade, etc). Take a look on the link I sent and you'll see what I mean.

thanks very much for the link! i checked it out and like their work very much. compared to the few other custom rifle builders i've checked out i like AHR the best. i'm pretty sure AHR will be who i get to build my rifle now. thanks again.

I've had Wayne build me two rifles, and will have a third built by him in the future. Wayne builds a very nice and reliable rifle for a reasonable price, and his customer service and build times are excellent.

I had another recent build done that was three times the cost, and the options were priced at 300-400% over their retail value.

Time built was promised in 18 months, ran 14 months past that date to 2 years and 8 months. Had ordered two rifles and after poor service and broken promises, cancelled the other rifle. Having a custom rifle built should be an enjoyable process. This was an complete disapointment.

Found another builder Lon Paul, who builds a variety of rifle styles for a reasonable cost and has also great customer service and demeanor. www.lonpaulcustomguns.com

Having him build a Griffin and Howe style 505 Gibbs on a GMA action, and a sleek Rigby style 9.3X62 on an Argentine Mauser action.

Very nice work and builds with a Historical English or German look to them.

Both Wayne and Lon build great rifles and are great to deal with on a personal basis.

I'll also second Wayne at American Hunting Rifles. Affordable, reliable, and excellent quality. Have a 375 by him that I love; leaves for Africa with me today!

AHR - you can't get more DGR for your money anywhere else.

quote:

Originally posted by Sevens:
I'll also second Wayne at American Hunting Rifles. Affordable, reliable, and excellent quality. Have a 375 by him that I love; leaves for Africa with me today!

I've no doubt i'm getting a rifle from AHR now after visiting their website and contacting them. Hey, good luck on your African hunt!

AHR -- A great bunch of folks. They get the CZ into a fine rifle.

+1 for AHR! Don't have one but have seen and shot them. Great rifles!

get a rifle from ahr/wayne

i have 4 rifles from 458 lott to a 223 built by wayne

his work product pricing and time to deliver are excellent

now i need to hunt more and bang up the factory wood on my rifles so wayne can dress them up pretty with new stocks

but given current financials markets i don't think i will be going to africa anytime soon

I have 2 of Waynes 700 AHR's and 2 of his 600 Overkills and a 416 rigby. He is great to deal with and all of his rifles are shooters !!

quote:

Originally posted by bigdoggy700:
I have 2 of Waynes 700 AHR's and 2 of his 600 Overkills and a 416 rigby. He is great to deal with and all of his rifles are shooters !!

two 700s and two 600s! i hope i can say something similar myself someday. which do you like best of the 600 and 700 caliber cartrdiges? i'm saving money right now to get AHR to build me a rifle in .600 Overkill. then i plan on getting another big bore rifle built in one of the many cartridges i've been thinking over in my mind from .458 Lott and .470 Capstick to .577 Tyrannosaur and maybe even the .700 AHR. i've got big plans for my gun collection over the next few years. i plan on getting some smaller caliber custom rifles built also in .338 and .25 caliber etc.

i've put back about $2,700 so far for my 600 Overkill and hopefully will keep on being able to save the money at this rate. been thinking a lot more about the GMA action and would like to use one for my rifle and have been trying to compare the pluses and minuses of the GMA compared to a CZ 550. i think a 600 Ok built on the CZ takes around 4 months to build and i think i read on here that it takes about 9 months with the GMA. how much longer it takes me to get closer to having the money i guess will help me figure out more if i want to wait the extra time for the GMA action. i was thinking of maple for the stock but have changed my mind back to walnut for my first DGR and will use maple for a deer rifle that i'll get built sometime later. i'm still going with a 26'' barrel and muzzle brake. i want the rifle to weigh 14lbs or maybe 15lbs. i want gunkote on the metal. does it sound like i'm making good decisions and anything else i could get to make this rifle great without spending way more money?

Their work looks a bit flamboyant with that stainless steel but B&M Rifles and Cartridges

+1 for the B&M rifles, built by SSK Industries (J.D. Jones' outfit). Expecting mine - .458B&M - in a matter of a few weeks.

quote:

Originally posted by Pez:
i've put back about $2,700 so far for my 600 Overkill and hopefully will keep on being able to save the money at this rate. been thinking a lot more about the GMA action and would like to use one for my rifle and have been trying to compare the pluses and minuses of the GMA compared to a CZ 550. i think a 600 Ok built on the CZ takes around 4 months to build and i think i read on here that it takes about 9 months with the GMA. how much longer it takes me to get closer to having the money i guess will help me figure out more if i want to wait the extra time for the GMA action. i was thinking of maple for the stock but have changed my mind back to walnut for my first DGR and will use maple for a deer rifle that i'll get built sometime later. i'm still going with a 26'' barrel and muzzle brake. i want the rifle to weigh 14lbs or maybe 15lbs. i want gunkote on the metal. does it sound like i'm making good decisions and anything else i could get to make this rifle great without spending way more money?

To each their own but I have a hard time calling a 14-15 lb firearm a Hunting Rifle / Dangerous Game Rife. Remember you will carry that rifle.....

I would go much lighter and have no use for much more than a 458 but your choice....

quote:

Originally posted by jjs:

quote:

Originally posted by Pez:
i've put back about $2,700 so far for my 600 Overkill and hopefully will keep on being able to save the money at this rate. been thinking a lot more about the GMA action and would like to use one for my rifle and have been trying to compare the pluses and minuses of the GMA compared to a CZ 550. i think a 600 Ok built on the CZ takes around 4 months to build and i think i read on here that it takes about 9 months with the GMA. how much longer it takes me to get closer to having the money i guess will help me figure out more if i want to wait the extra time for the GMA action. i was thinking of maple for the stock but have changed my mind back to walnut for my first DGR and will use maple for a deer rifle that i'll get built sometime later. i'm still going with a 26'' barrel and muzzle brake. i want the rifle to weigh 14lbs or maybe 15lbs. i want gunkote on the metal. does it sound like i'm making good decisions and anything else i could get to make this rifle great without spending way more money?

To each their own but I have a hard time calling a 14-15 lb firearm a Hunting Rifle / Dangerous Game Rife. Remember you will carry that rifle.....

I would go much lighter and have no use for much more than a 458 but your choice....

i want it to be a DGR as in caliber but i'm getting just as a shooter and to have one of the strongest rifles i can get and don't plan on using it much for hunting except for maybe taking it hog hunting or just maybe black bear hunting a time or two. but i do want it to be like a hunting rifle instead of some kind of 50BMG as i don't like how big those rifles are or how they look and want something that looks very nice that i can shoot from the shoulder and i love nice wood. i want it to weigh around 14 or 15lbs with a muzzle brake so hopefully it won't be too bad to shoot and i can shoot it at least on somewhat of a regular basis. i definately want AHR to build it also and i'm thinking after this i'll probably want them to build another rifle or 2 for me. i've been thinking about the 700AHR but for now i'm pretty sure i want the 600OK first. then later i want a 25-06 or similar built on a maple stock. speaking of a .458 i would love to have a 458 Lott and maybe i'll even get one someday.