I would love to have a custom built rifle. Yet, I am unsure how I should start. Is it best to start with an action and have a smith do everything else? Or, should I buy the action, barrel, trigger, and stock and then send the components to a smith?

BTW the rifle must certainly be a .30 and accuracy is my main goal...not bench shooting, but the most accurate sporter I can afford to have built.

Thanks in advance.

If you buy the action and have the rifle built around it, you will not have to pay the excise tax on the rifle and it can be pricey depending on the final cost.

Buying the components can be dicey. You will often pay full retail and many metalsmiths factor in the markup on parts as part of their profit. If you had your house painted and told the painter you were going to buy your own paint, you can expect that the labor cost would reflect your decision. Often if a wood stock is involved, the customer will pick out their own blank or use the expertise of the builder to assist him in doing it. That is normal and accepted practice, with some stockmakers. Others will not work on wood from sources other than themselves but those people are rare.

Born To Hunt:

I've been down this road a few times. I think the most important decision to make is as to who builds the rifle. Spend some time reseaching various gunbuilders. Find one whose work you like. Spend time talking with the man. If you develop a good rapport with him then let him suggest how he wants to handle the job. My advice would be to find someone who builds winning benchrest rifles along with hunting guns.

knobmtn

This is the kind of accuracy that knobmtn is talking about!

I've also thought about having a custom rifle built. I'm undecided whether to use a Remington action and having it blueprinted or going with a custom action (Stolle, Nesika bay, etc.) I would buy the action separately as this would save on the excise tax, which was 10% of the final price of the rifle 2 yrs ago when I had a BR rifle built. What are some opinions on using a custom action for a hunting rifle?

I helps if you have a clear idea about how much you're willing to spend, and what sort of rifle you'd like to have built for what kind of use.

A custom rifle needs to please its owner better than a factory rifle does or can, and it needs to be built from better materials, be better-finished, and perform better than a stock factory rifle or else it's a waste of resource and effort.

In general, I feel as though my best custom rifle money has been spent on guns that are built for serious use, and chambered for standard factory cartridges and that can take in a wide variety of hunting.

I have a set of matched custom rifles built on Model 70 actions in .270 Win., .300 Win. Mag., .338 Win. Mag., .375 H&H, and .416 Rem. Mag. that comprise my hunting battery, and I swear by each of those specific rifles. These guns were money well-spent, but it took me a lot of false starts and disappointments -- twenty years worth -- to get that battery put together. Of these specific rifles, I use the .300 Win. Mag. the most......

AD

These guns were money well-spent, but it took me a lot of false starts and disappointments -- twenty years worth --

No truer words were spoken.

I think one of the biggest mistakes is using what you might have available at the time.

A common example on these forums is someone who wants a 375 but they have a Model 70 in 300 Win or a Mauser in 30/06 and so the 375 Taylor (338/375) becomes an easy option.

One thing which I find interesting in my own case and I think this would apply to others is that I am 56 and the basic concepts for me are no different to when I was in my 20s. But like Allen Day said it has taken me over 20 years to realise that the best, easiest and ultimately bests solution comes from getting what you want. If it takes longer due to dollars then so be it.

There is a poster on this forum called John s who i regulary speak to by email and phone and we have just be discussing rilfes. I know John won't mind me saying this but he has quite a few custom rifles of which some are D'Arcy Echols rilfes. He has a couple of other gus on the go with D'Arcy and he would like his gun safe to ve exclusive Echols rilfes. Now that will be because some of his other stuff, while very nice was not what he really what he wanted and will have come about because of convenience at the time etc.

So my advice is that you have your general concepts, that could be calibre type as in big bore Vs small bore, factory custom Vs gunsmith custom....in other words the overall concept that is a product of your personality....then work on getting what you want rather than sidetracking because of something that happens to be available.

Mike

I've been down this route before and if I were to do it again, I would go for a custom action instead of trueing a remington. By the time you pay for the remmy action and have it trued, you're only a couple hundred bucks away from a nice custom action. Also, Stiller is coming out with a nice action called the Predator this spring for $600. It is benchrest quality and has a Remington foot print.

Chic, I've been shopping around for two new stocks for two rifles that I'm bulding. I ran accross your web page and saw your work. All I can say is "Wow!". I wish I had the kind of money needed to hire you to make a stock for me. As it is, I ordered one stock from Richard's Microfit and one from Gatewood. I will finish them myself and have Sherry do the checkering.

Regards,
Kory

quote:

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Is it best to start with an action and have a smith do everything else? Or, should I buy the action, barrel, trigger, and stock and then send the components to a smith?

---

Here's how to do it.....find a gunmaker that does the quality of work you like. Get a wheelbarrow and fill it with money and roll it in to him and very specifically explain what it is you want. Then walk away for a year and come back.

Here's the things that are killers.....Not being specific about what you want and expect, not having these expectations in writing, not agreeing on a delivery date, not agreeing on the price.

Quality of workmanship is extremely difficult to quantify so you must know his standards and trust in his character to deliver those standards.

The price should be secondary.....the worst money spent will be in not getting what you want.....better to spend too much than too little.....if cost is an issue I'd say that you're not truly ready for a custom rifle.

All very good advice. As I have not had one completed by a good smith but have two in the works right now, and have had some work done on a few rifles by the local shop take my advice from that level of experience.

An enlightening thing worth the money since you are looking to spend so much is to buy the book the custom gunmakers guild puts out, www.acgg.org, on realizing your dream or some title like that. it will give you many many details of what to expect and how to go about it and has worksheets you can use in having it built.

D'Arcy's name has been recommended a couple of times here, I have never heard a bad thing about him and MANY MANY good things. if you get somebody like that to do it and make clear what you want you can't go wrong.

Red

Born to Hunt, You will have many choices to make, I am in the process of doing a custom project at the moment and choose to use two very respected AR members to start the project.
I choose Mark Stratton to do the "screw ball" idea of mine, reverse Octagon barrel with a flat running full length of the top of the barrel. I can't say enough for the way Mark has responded to my silly questions.
The other AR member doing the engraving will be Roger Kehr/Scrollcutter and this fellow is tops in my book, we haven't totally agreed as to what all will be done but there is no doubt i my mind that it will be first rate.
These are just two of a fine bunch of craftsmen on this board, good luck with your project.

like most people on this board most of my wood stocked custom rifles ended up being what i asked for not what i wanted. if you want a wood stock custom rifle i would buy a $2,500-3000 used rifle in a common calaber and use it as your primary rifle for a year or 2 then build your 1st custom rifle. if you are going synetic get Jonh Lewis to build a std model and chane out stocks until you hit out on what you really like..

I have been down this road myself. You can do it many many ways but in the end it really comes down to what you want. The worst money spent on a custom rifle is spending it on a compromise. Ultimately you will end up redoing it. You need a budget as your guidline but you must also have a firm idea of what you feel you truely must have or want and what would be nice to have if the budget allows. On the other hand you can not skimp on budget either. One of the pieces of advice given me years ago was decide on you budget and then double it. Many smiths are very definate opinions on what materials they will or will not work with. Research your smith and start talking options with him. It is critical that both of you truely understand what you want and expect ( weight, ballance, use, barrel length, etc). And yes, you need to be prepared to waite a year or more. Patience and understanding are important. Things may arrise that can effect delivery time.

Good advice.

I can tell you what I want. I can't tell you if I can afford it yet...

I like the 300 Rem SAUM caliber. I own a factory Remington Model 7 in this caliber. However, I believe it to be doomed and I think the 300 WSM will finally put the Rem out of business. So, I'd probably opt for the 300 WSM.

I like laminated wood. I'm not into fancy checkering or gloss.

I want the rifle to weigh less than 8 lbs.

I want .5" groups at 100 yards with handloads.

I would have to discuss barrel length with an expert. I want all the velocity I can have yet, I'm not willing to carry an awkward, inaccurate rifle for the sake of velocity.

I will most likely buy an action. I have been seriously considering Stolle. Thoughts?

I don't know what to say about price. I would rather wait and get what I want instead of "settling". Yet, I have no idea how much I should expect to pay. I don't even know of a smith in my area. So, I will have to try and find someone. Ihave considered giving Robert "Bob" White a call. I hope that this one rifle will be all I ever want to carry. Yeah right!!!!

more info please

Help us help you.

How much are you willing to spend on a rifle, and what sort of use do you want to put it to?

AD

Allen,

Not being smart, but I tried to address that in my previous post. I only posted the need more info to bring the topic back up. Here is one other thing I didn't add: it will be primarily a white -tail and elk rifle. I chose the 300 WSM for reasons explained in the previous post and I believe it to be adeguate for both animals.

However, my main goal is accuracy. I want one hunting rifle that is ultra accurate.

I would say at this point, $2,500-3,000 is all I would be willing to spend on a rifle. If what I want costs more, I will wait. Like I said, I want one ultra accurate rifle. I'll burn up powder with something else.

How about one of Ed Brown's custom rifles?

They are offered in the WSM cartridges, have a good reputation in all respects, and while they might slightly exceed your budget, they are close to your requirements as far as cost is concerned.

www.edbrown.com

AD

I am not trying to be smart here either but what is the point of "an ultra accurate rifle" for whitetail and elk hunting. Virtually any rifle will shot better then the guy pulling the trigger when it comes to actual shooting in the field.

Howard, I agree with you. There's a whole lot more to a great rifle than accuracy off the bench........

AD

quote:

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However, my main goal is accuracy. I want one hunting rifle that is ultra accurate.

---

FWIW friend.....there's a rifle just for you at the Savage company and I'm being very serious. From what I've read here you're not likely going to be happy with a $2,500 rifle from anyone.....it won't be 5 times more accurate than almost any factory rifle.

In fact a $2,500 custom rifle is pretty bottom barrel and a truly fine custom can run far in excess of double that. Custom rifles are about fine arts.....you're looking for pure accuracy.....I don'tee a match here anywhere.

Born To Hunt,

I'm not a hunter, I'm a paper puncher so the following questions really are being asked out of ignorance. What kind of accuracy are you looking for (1/2 MOA, 1/4 MOA)? And why is this accuracy needed for hunting? Again, I'm not questioning your choice, but I'm trying to understand. I was always told that for Big Game hunting, a 1 MOA rifle will do the trick. Even at 500 yards, we're talking about 5" on an animal with an 8" kill zone.

Regards,
Kory

BTH
It sounds like you want a rifle for go, not a rifle for show. If you can live with out gold inlays and a $4000 showpiece stock, I can turn you on to a decent gunsmith (or 2). There are a few members of this board that are more than pleased with the craftsmanship of these gentlemen (and there labor rate is in line with blue collar wage earners can afford).

Is it me, or is the price of a custom rifle becoming totally outrageous? Maybe i am totally ignorant about this but here is my rough approximation for the math of a hypothetical project.

Lets say the customer supplies the action from a gun he already had. Spends 500+ on a fiberglass stock, 500+ on a barrel, and another 500 on scope or whatever. Lets say the gun total for the custom gun is $3500, take off the $1500 spent on the major items. Is the labor really worth $2000? Does it really take 2 grand to make a half minute gun, whether competition or hunting? 2000/$50 per hour, labor is 40 hours. It takes a whole week, working non stop 8 hour days to build one rifle? Seems a little ridiculous to me.
And this was an estimated cost of 3500, most are 4000, 5000 and then god knows how much!

Like i say i am pretty ignorant when it comes to gunsmithing, so maybe i am way off the wall here.

My gunsmith can built an excellenrt rifle for about $2500 to $2800. The biggest variable being the stock and how much work needs to be done to fit the action and barrel.

Kory

Cost range from low to moderate; note I am sure you can spend more or less if you look.

new trued action: 500-900
new custom barrel: 300-500
Custom fitted mcmillan stock: 350-550
Custom fitted wood stock: 1500-whatever you want
gunsmith charges for bedding, aligning, chambering and crowning: 150-350
bluing, mp3 or parkerize, etc: 200-600
bases and rings: 100
scope: 500-1000

first box of factory ammo: 15.00

Feeling of pride when shooting your first animal with your custom rifle and handloaded bullets: priceless

Return if you decide to sell your custom rifle: about 50% of cost at best.

quote:

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Originally posted by 257 Roberts:
It takes a whole week, working non stop 8 hour days to build one rifle? Seems a little ridiculous to me.

---

I have been making my own stocks, and numerous ones for friends and relatives for over 30 years.

I can't inlet, shape, finish, and checker a stock to my satisfaction in 40 hours.

My work isn't junk, but it's no where near the quality of the very best in this business. I've seen the best, and spent a week with one of the very best at the time.

Without sounding condescending in any way, I would encourage anyone that questions the premise to try it themselves.

GV

Born to Hunt, I think Allen Day gave you a good option there with an Ed Brown, they flat shoot! Having said that I'll throw another option in the pot and that is an HS Precision. I've had both and although I had a little customer service PITA with HS, I still don't hesitate to recommend a rifle from them. They are priced pretty close to what you're talking about, and available in the WSM. The two I have shot sub MOA right out of the box with Winchester factory ammo. After tweaking in the right loads both my Ed Brown and HS's shoot little bitty groups at 100 yards. Check out the HS Precision web site, I will recommend them 'Tefloning' your rings along with the rifle--looks sweeeeeet!

Good Luck --Don.

quote:

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Originally posted by 257 Roberts:
Is it me, or is the price of a custom rifle becoming totally outrageous? Maybe i am totally ignorant about this but here is my rough approximation for the math of a hypothetical project.

Lets say the customer supplies the action from a gun he already had. Spends 500+ on a fiberglass stock, 500+ on a barrel, and another 500 on scope or whatever. Lets say the gun total for the custom gun is $3500, take off the $1500 spent on the major items. Is the labor really worth $2000? Does it really take 2 grand to make a half minute gun, whether competition or hunting? 2000/$50 per hour, labor is 40 hours. It takes a whole week, working non stop 8 hour days to build one rifle? Seems a little ridiculous to me.
And this was an estimated cost of 3500, most are 4000, 5000 and then god knows how much!

Like i say i am pretty ignorant when it comes to gunsmithing, so maybe i am way off the wall here.

---

Hello 257 Roberts. Yes you are way off on your time needed to turn out a true custom rifle.

Total time has to be factored into the equation. Not only does it take much more time to build the actual rifle then your guess, I am talking rifle in hands time, but there is the time spent with the customer, the time on the phone with the customer, ordering parts, trips to the post office, taxes etc. Many of these things are hidden in the price of the project but they are still very real costs.

Plus 50/hr is not that much money after you factor in shop costs, supplies, equipment, taxes and all other overhead. If a person can charge actual shop time at 50/hr I can flat guarantee you that actual income to the smith is under 20/hr and he must pay his FICA and income tax out of that.

I am not trying to be argumentative here but I know for a fact that the large majority of custom gun builders do it out of love and have a very moderate standard of living.

FWIW I'm about done with my very first big bore.....a .404 Jeffery on A Montana 1999 action. The action, barrel, stock blank, rental of chambering reamer, set of dies, barrel band, sling swivel bases, quarter rib, london sight, banded front sight, recoil pad, ebony for the grip cap and forend tip brass and 50 bullets, bluing and misc (sandpaper, tongue oil, etc) is $2,600.......and there's not a nickel of labor in it at all....it's all my labor. I consider this a $6,000 rifle.....

If it was up for auction I'd be lucky to recoup the $2,600 I have in it.

Custom guns aren't for everyone....

quote:

---

Originally posted by 257 Roberts:
Is it me, or is the price of a custom rifle becoming totally outrageous? Maybe i am totally ignorant about this but here is my rough approximation for the math of a hypothetical project.

Lets say the customer supplies the action from a gun he already had. Spends 500+ on a fiberglass stock, 500+ on a barrel, and another 500 on scope or whatever. Lets say the gun total for the custom gun is $3500, take off the $1500 spent on the major items. Is the labor really worth $2000? Does it really take 2 grand to make a half minute gun, whether competition or hunting? 2000/$50 per hour, labor is 40 hours. It takes a whole week, working non stop 8 hour days to build one rifle? Seems a little ridiculous to me.
And this was an estimated cost of 3500, most are 4000, 5000 and then god knows how much!

Like i say i am pretty ignorant when it comes to gunsmithing, so maybe i am way off the wall here.

---

LMFAO!!!

one whole week?

If i DIDN'T do ANYTHING else for about 3 weeks, I could go, start to finsh...

let's piece this one out just a little...

2 hours to thread and chamber a barrel... that's tuning out all runout, and taking my time... as these are going to be with me the WHOLE life of the gun

(cheapo way)
cut off and tig on the bolt. .. same bolt
grind to barely worth while
2 hours

find the action
5 hours total time

select the wood
find teh wood
spend 5 days flipfloping on the wood
cut the stock
file
sand
shape from there
sand alot more
bed
sand
sand
12 coats of tung oil

AT LEAST
40 hours

mill off "extras" from the action..
2.5 hours


Oh, yeah, forgot to mention the FIFTEEN GRAND worth of tools to do all this

sure sure, you can turn out a decent rifle in 3 weeks....

and if you amortize your tools (you have to, or you are in dumbass.. err, cash basis accounting) you'll find that the cost required to keep the lights on the in shop is about 35 bucks an hour MINIMUM

So, the guy that sends a rifle to a decent smith, you know what, the difference between a 250$ blank and a 500$ blank, after 6 to 12 months, is TRIVIAL


Then again, I tired, ONCE, to go against what the old timers says on stock FINISHING

"take your longest estimate... double it, add 50%, and then go high" and you'll STILL loose money on a "budget" stock... after all, who wants to pay 750 bucks labor for a 150$ blank?

jeffe

It looks like i kinda stirred up a hornets nest here. That was not my intention, and i apoligize if i angered anyone.

I would like to further explain myself. It seems like the most of the work previously mentioned is in doing a fancy wood stock, which i am not really interested in, so i will ignore that part. I am talking about a working rifle that shoots well. I am not saying that custom guns are not better than others, cause they are much better than "regular" guns, i even have a couple custom projects in mind as i write this. I am just trying to better understand where my money is going. In order for persons like myself to purchase a expensive custom, it takes several years of saving money to accompish this.

If the gun really takes a month to build i can see charging many thousands of dollars, i understand that there are many more expences than just the gun, (machines, tools, utilities etc.) If that's the case fine, i would gladly pay the price. I guess i just cannot comprehend the time involved here. I have had some experience with mills, lathes and CNC stuff and while they are somewhat slow processes i dont see many weeks worth of work in truing actions, bedding rifles in stocks, threading/chambering, etc. The only things that i can currently think of that takes time is perhaps bluing, (if that is to be done), and maybe load development.

I guess the best way for me to understand this better, without causing anymore disturbance to this discussion is, could somebody recommend a gunsmithing website or perhaps a book that can explain the custom gun process in more detail?

Thanks for your time, sorry about the ignorant posts.

I aprreciate the views of everyone!!

You are right when you suggest that "ultimate accuracy" is not necessary for big game hunting. I agree. However, even though I know it is not necessary, it is for me at least, desirable. I looked at a website for a smith who built Craig Boddington a rifle. I can't remember the cost exactly, but it was greater than $15,000!!!! Sure, I know he can afford it and I can't. If I made my living as he does, I'd probably be willing to fork that much over too. No, I wouldn't cause if I was a billionaire, I think I'd still be an old country boy who likes to shoot an accurate, useful rifle.

I really have no interest in a custome rifle. Let me explain. I don't care about who builds it. I don't care about fancy checkering and fancy wood stocks. I care abount tiny groups even though they are not necessary.

Someone hit the nail on the head when he said the value of shooting a critter with his custom rifle and ammo is priceless. You know why? It is not necessary for a custom to be involved to make the hunt priceless. It is the satisfaction of our individual desires that is priceless. My desire: An ultra accurate hunting rifle. So, that is what will make me happy.

If I could buy a Remington, Sako, Savage, or New England Arms or whatever brand rifle that meets my accuracy expectations, I would be happy as a bug in a rug.

Problem is, since joining this great board, I've gotten hooked on handloading. It is fun! I like to punch paper, but I also like to hunt. I want one rifle in my safe that is "ultra accurate". The rest can be played with at the range and shot until the barrel is worn out. This one will be special. It will be fired just enough to develop a great load, have the scope set, and then checked each year for the hunting season.

I'm hung up on laminate stocks. I am tired of the black synthetics. My last three rifles have been stainless with black synthetic stocks. I'm just tired of it. No good reason, just plain tired of it. I won't pay the cash necessary for a fancy piece of wood. It just isn't worthit to me, nut I do want a laminate. I understand that the laminates are supposed to be less receptive to changes in the conditions thereby providing more reliability. Correct?

"Ultimate accuracy"--First let me say without sounding like a brag deal, I have a Remington Model 7 that I love. It is short, lightweight, and pleasant to carry. It is chambered in 300 Rem SAUM. It is all factory and get ready for this: It wears a Tasco 3-9x40. I have used it for three years now. WIth my handloads, it will average 1" 100 yard groups. I have attempted 15 shots with it on game. My dad has carried it a few times and has attempted 3 game shots. The longest shot wa 346 yards (with laser range finder). I'd say the average shot has been 125-150 yards. Out of those 18 attempts, our record with it is 18 for 18 without a single animal requiring a follow up and not one lost animal. That should satisfy anyone right? I agree it should, but it don't!!!

I can't explain it guys, I just want one accurate devil in my safe. I have Leupold scopes (4 of them), I have Tasco's, Bushnells, and even one BSA. Name doesn't mean anything to me. Performance counts to me. I want this rifle to shoot 1/2" groups at 200 yards. I would assume I have to get a custom to do that. However, I don't own any customs and I know that some customs are not going to shoot a great deal better than a factory rig...

I just want what I want...I can't tell you why. Maybe it is impossible. I don't know, but I'm learning a lot by asking!! You guys are very knowledgeable in my eyes and therefore, I ask you with much humbleness.

Thanks again.

quote:

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Originally posted by Born to Hunt:
I care abount tiny groups even though they are not necessary.

I can't explain it guys, I just want one accurate devil in my safe.

I just want what I want...I can't tell you why. Maybe it is impossible. I don't know, but I'm learning a lot by asking!!

---

Heh Heh.....

Well, you certainly don't have to apologize for wanting what you want. And I doubt it's impossible to achieve. Depending upon where you introduce the subject, you may encounter some contentious issues. That's sad, but frequently the truth.

My suggestion would be to start communicating with people who have exactly the same desires as yourself. Perhaps this might be a place to start.....

http://www.xtremeaccuracy.com/

GV

257,
no offense meant, just meant to say there's LOTS more to it than screwing a barrel on and bedding.. though one can do that TOO... i certainly have before, probably will again... i've got a great mexican mauser in 358... put a douglas barrel on it, remington take sights, a bolt handle, trigger, stuffed it into a unknown fibreglass stock, stuck some weaver bases on it (don't use em anymore) bedded it, blued the metal, camo painted the stock, and got what I wanted, a 500$ truck/4wheeler gun... that it shoots subinch is a plus!!

but, i STILL put 500 into it, and that's with a 20$ stock and 35$ in sights, I think i gave 5 bucks for the bolt handle at a gunshow...


BTH,
1/2" at 200 is fine work.. and they do come that way.. in fact, the shortest way to get there is to buy the rifle you like (maker is your choice) have a smith setback and rechamber TO THE SAME CALIBER, target crown it, bed it, tune the trigger, and see what you get...

there are ONLY two things that make a gun shoot super groups... this is an over simplification, but it's true...

alignment
consistency

lots and lots of things go into those two things, but that's IT

btw, the last win 300 wsm I worked for a guy started as a super shadow, swapped the stock for a wood featherweight, bedded it, polish, but not lightened, the trigger, and loaded for it... the damn thing was 1.25" with factory in plastic, and about .300 bedded, in wood, with reloads...

lucky? you bet ya... with a hunting rifle, 1 moa is MORE than accurate enough... at 326 yards, that something like 3.265" group (moa being slightly larger than 1") or .0002782" off perfect alignment.... over 11736 inches

or, in degrees, .1594006.

let's put that in persective
that's .08206 of a single sheet of paper
or, the other way, that difference would go 12.58+ times into a single sheet of paper

the difference of your blood pressure on the third shot would make more of a difference than the rifle could..


I've shot ONE true 3/8 200 yard gun... ONE... and, funny enough, it was JUST a rebarrel rem 700, with the action trued and a 2# trigger...

jeffe

Bron to hunt. You don't want a custom rifle what you want is a tweaded/tuned factory rifle. Good luck with yoru project.

Born to hunt,

What action would be acceptable to you? If almost any perhaps the path of least resistance would to buy a new rifle complete and try it as it is and go from there.

I have found that a factory rifle can be just as accurate and reliable as any custom. I have proven this at the range over and over. It however is not without a cost. One has to sort thru them and modify the rifle most of the time. This can be quite time consuming and frustrating at times. On the otherhand it can become a hobby in itself.

The Savage rifles come with a nice looking laminated stock. So right off that component might be a keeper and so should the action be. The action and stock might need work of course but maybe not.

Look thru the Savage site and see if there is a rifle that appeals to you. Then it's a matter of management by exception.

The Savage WSM's are CRF by the way! <---

BTH, I think you can get what you want for the price range you stated and it really isn't going to be that difficult.

257

There is an interesting book by Mr Macpherson of Precision Shooting magazine (?) ttled "Accurizing the Factory Rifle". This has a section in the introduction of the book about costs for services. It gives a useful guide to costs.

I am having two 'working' rifles built in the US. One synthetic stocked, the other wood. The projects have features I like, which I discussed with the 'smiths concerned / took advice, and are generally unavailable 'off the shelf'. I am getting something which is tailored to me.

No one should reasonably expect craftman's products at discount prices. You are paying for their expertise and quality components cost. However, within sensible limits, forgetting the fashionable names premium, you get what you pay for normally.

By paying for a custom action at the outset, you can save gunsmith hours correcting quirks etc. From what I have discovered, walnut stocks really push the price up. This is due to the shortage of good quality, seasoned timber.

I cannot really afford full custom jobs. Apart from the wood stocked rifle mentioned above, most of my rifles are re-barrelled / tuned jobs. They all do what I wanted from them.