Where do you guys find info / learn about your customs?

[punkwood2k]

I'm going to upgrade to a custom 6.5CM or .308 this year sometime.. And a lot of you have some VERY sexy tackdrivers.. But I dont know anything about who builds them, where you get components, how you choose barrels, ect.. or where you guys get the work done, or if you buy the parts and build it yourself, ect.. Where are some good resources to start looking at builders and begin deciding what kind of rifle I want?

Tell me all about YOUR rifle, and how you came across it, had it built, and if you dont mind, what you paid for it.. Budget at this time is no decided.. (I thought $2k was enough last month, I dont think so anymore) Also, any suggestions for starting my build (Rem 700 seems the baseline), and which parts I can upgrade later on my own without another trip to the gunsmith. Thanks!

 

[Aimsmall55]

Well, you can start at Southern Precision. Greg has got EVERYTHING to build a rifle. He even dabbles in building them himself. Great guy with the BEST components and you'll have em all in a week given that all is in stock. I built a .308 with a stiller Tac 30 and a Jewell hvr and a bartlein bbl. Had the order processed and at my ffl in a week at most...

 

[Asperly Aimless]

This is an outstanding resource. If you can't find the answer here, then a trip to Google is in order.

Places to buy stuff:
3rd Gen
Bugholes
Bullets.com
......

I guess you want to know about my ninja rifle with super scope that has cool turrets.

Started life as a FN SPR. I got bored with 308. I sent it to the man who builds my benchrest rifles, and he trued it all up (didn't need much of anything), put a tactical mall bolt handle on it, installed a 26 inch Krieger, and he sent it back.

Total cost? About $3,000 for rifle, gunsmith work/barrel, and scope. There are many big name smiths who can take care of you, and others will be along to point them out.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Ps.... I got what I paid for

 

[Pointman308]

At that price point I would strongly suggest looking at a Kimber and forget the custom. Is that your total budget for scope and rifle?

 

[Asperly Aimless]

If you want a badass out of the box 308, get a FN SPR. The A5M is nice and can be found used for sub $2,000. It'll shoot circles around most of the factory competition out there.

If you get bored with the 308, send it to a gunsmith to get a new barrel installed in caliber of your choice (Short action). If they say they can't work on the Winchester/FN action then run away screaming and pick a better gunsmith.

 

[GhostFace]

Find out what you want to build first then start looking for parts. Then I would recomend looking for a local smith with a good reputation. I did this and saved quite a bit of money. The big guys have overhead to pay for, multiple employees, health insurnance and advertising. The local guy doesnt have that. Plus you would be keeping your money local and helping out a little guy. Any good smith can build you a stellar rifle, its not voodoo. But ask around and check references not coming from the smith himself. You will save alot of money for the same thing you will get from the big names...

 

[punkwood2k]

No, that WAS my budget, before I realized what its really going to cost me.. Right now, out of the gate, probably about $2000, with more coming along over the next few months. One of the reasons I was looking at components, instead of a total build... If I can get a good action, good barrel, good scope, then I can wait another couple months before sticking it in a $1000 tactical stock, and all the other bells and whistles..

 

[punkwood2k]

Since most of these nice rifles are built around the Remington 700, can I just start by buying one of those with a heavy barrel, and assume the gunsmith can build it from there as money opens up? Or are there things that are best done all at once, and not a-la-carte?

 

[Asperly Aimless]

FN SPR comes with good barrel, super cool stock, good rail, and a damn fine action. Just add a new barrel down the road if you decide to change calibers.

 

[punkwood2k]

what kind of drawbacks to buying a used rifle for the action / bolt ect, since I'm going to rebarrel it?

 

[Asperly Aimless]

Not many. As long as it hasn't been grossly abused or neglected you should have no issues.

 

[punkwood2k]

If you want a badass out of the box 308, get a FN SPR. The A5M is nice and can be found used for sub $2,000. It'll shoot circles around most of the factory competition out there.

If you get bored with the 308, send it to a gunsmith to get a new barrel installed in caliber of your choice (Short action). If they say they can't work on the Winchester/FN action then run away screaming and pick a better gunsmith.

FN SPR looks nice, but does it have a detachable box Magazine? Also concerned about the availability of upgrades.. I know Remington 700 mods are EVERYWHERE. Is it the same for the FN's?

 

[Asperly Aimless]

It does have detachable magazine. It sits flush and holds 4 rds. You can get a DBM from FN that comes with a 10 rd and 5 rd detachable magazine. PTG makes a drop in DBM that takes AI MKIII Magazines for $100.00.

There is o denying that there is way more aftermarket support for the 700.

The SPR comes with a Mcmillan A5 with adjustable cheek piece, TBM (current ones have new DBM), heavy chrome lined barrel, and a near rail. It is also controlled round feed which is important to me. How many upgrades do you need if the rifle is built right in the 1st place?

Remington 700 comes with...a wish you had the coin to upgrade it to be as awesome as the SPR.

Different strokes for different folks.

Remington rifles can also be good rifles and have great aftermarket support.

 

[turbo54]

Skip the custom-route until you've owned and operated a rifle for a while.

Customs are kinda pointless unless it's customized to/for YOU, and currently you don't know what that is.

No offense intended whatsoever!

My advise is to buy a quality factory rifle. Accuracy international is blowing out rifles right now, consider an AE model!

The Sako TRG22 and FN SPR are also great.

Savage 12LRP in 260 or 6.5creed is a damn solid rifle, especially for ~$950! Certainly not as "finely crafted" as the others, but a good competitive shooter.

 

[JesseSB]

I'm going to upgrade to a custom 6.5CM or .308 this year sometime..

What are you upgrading from?

Skip the custom-route until you've owned and operated a rifle for a while.

Customs are kinda pointless unless it's customized to/for YOU, and currently you don't know what that is.

No offense intended whatsoever!

My advise is to buy a quality factory rifle. Accuracy international is blowing out rifles right now, consider an AE model!

The Sako TRG22 and FN SPR are also great.

Savage 12LRP in 260 or 6.5creed is a damn solid rifle, especially for ~$950! Certainly not as "finely crafted" as the others, but a good competitive shooter.

^^^^^
This is sound advice!

 

[punkwood2k]

Skip the custom-route until you've owned and operated a rifle for a while.

Customs are kinda pointless unless it's customized to/for YOU, and currently you don't know what that is.

No offense intended whatsoever!

My advise is to buy a quality factory rifle. Accuracy international is blowing out rifles right now, consider an AE model!

The Sako TRG22 and FN SPR are also great.

Savage 12LRP in 260 or 6.5creed is a damn solid rifle, especially for ~$950! Certainly not as "finely crafted" as the others, but a good competitive shooter.

Perhaps "custom" wasnt quite the right word.. But I mean the next level up from sporting goods stores..

 

[punkwood2k]

What are you upgrading from?

Right now I have a Savage Axis .308, for the last two years.. Bored with it, modded it about as much as an Axis can be to shoot better than stock.. But again, getting bored... I also have a BPM AR-15 Heavy Barrel for long range (for a 5.56), but lacks the fun of bigger bore guns still.. I've just never stepped out of the world of mainstream sporting goods rifles, so i dont know where to start for the next level..

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Seriously suggest you look for a "local" gunsmith who builds. I came across one at a gun-show, and he had several of his builds on display. They were works of art. After talking with him a little while, I started to consider having him build me a rifle. I started studying on rounds and ballistics to decide what I wanted to build, looked into different barrel brands, etc, and over the next 6 months decided on components for the build. During this time, I met and conferred with Kevin, my gunsmith, and learned a lot from him. I know it took about 9 months from inception to completion, but I learned a lot along the way, and had a chance to change/implement ideas along the way. If I had just gone out in the beginning and plunked money down, I wouldn't have the rifle I have today, and probably wouldn't like it as well as I do. One added bonus to doing it this way was that I had extra time to gather resources for this build. Including $2100 for glass, I have about $7500 in this build,
Rem-700P 338LM action
34" Lilja barrel
Accurate Sports fully adjustable chassis
NightForce 8-32x56 NXS scope on 25MOA base
JP Precision Recoil Eliminator
Quality Bipod--can't remember brand off top of head

And, it is proven capable of .38MOA at 565 yards.

 

[Icallem]

It looks to me like there are some really good deals in the for sale section. Looks like you can find something in the 2500-3000 range if you watch (and shoot right handed). The waiting game is not nearly as bad after the first rifle, but for me at least, the wait on the first one seemed to be never ending. Buy used and let somebody else take the hit on the cost and wait. This way you have a rifle in hand and can get out shooting and finding out what you would / would not change. At some point order just what you want from somebody and sell the rifle you bought used. It should have nearly the same value as when you bought it.

YMMV
Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

 

[308Gunner]

I agree with Turbo buy a factory precision from AI, Sako or FNH shoot it and you will find what you want and it will save you money down the road. I have a friend that bought a FNH spr A1 and it shot .5 moa out of the box he ran 1500 rounds down the tube and had it rebarreled to 260.

 

[Ren]

This, this and this. Forget the custom route. Call MileHighShooting and get a AI AE MKIII, be done, and enjoy. The resale later will be much better as well.

 

[DarinR]

This, this and this. Forget the custom route. Call MileHighShooting and get a AI AE MKIII, be done, and enjoy. The resale later will be much better as well.

+1 - call Mile High and buy a AI MKIII at the blowout price before they are all gone. You will not be disappointed!

Darin

 

[dimar1492]

+1 - call Mile High and buy a AI MKIII at the blowout price before they are all gone. You will not be disappointed!

Darin

I agree,at current pricing I don't think the AE has a competitor.