I am new to Sniper's Hide as well as new to custom long range rifles. I know this maybe long, but needed some advice. I have hunted with a remington 700 7mm mag for many years, but wanted to step it up to the next level. A friend of mine has a new Remington AR 204 with a nice swarovski scope on it. I can buy the set up for $1,500. I have been thinking that this may be my opportunity to get a custom tactical/hunting rifle. I was thinking that I could keep the swarovski, sell the AR and my 7mm mag with a Leopold VX3 and put towards the gun. From what I have read, the 338 Lapua is the way to go. Which direction should I go from here? I do not want to spend more than 3K, if possible. If I buy a custom gun, am I limiting myself having a swarovski and not US optics, Nightforce, etc.? Any suggestions on caliber, barrel, used, new, etc.... I know this post could go anywhere, but any input is appreciated. Thanks
Custom rifle: buy complete vs. have made
- Thread starter bracyb
- Start date
Re: Custom rifle: buy complete vs. have made
A lot of the answer is based on your time frame. With Fall just around the corner you can use this period to have someone build one for you. Since you have an existing R700 long action you have access to some of the high BC 30 cal rounds. If you don't want to use your current action, another option is to get a R700 short action. The short action will give you more ballistics options. Starting with .223, 6mm, 6.5mm group including the .260, and the ever popular .308.
The higher the BC the better off you are. Personally I am shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor. It is my very 1st real rifle. I started of buying a new R700 in 308, removing the barrel and action from the stock. I took action with the factory .308 along with the new 6.5 barrel to the gunsmith. A couple of months later I was shooting my amazingly accurate 6.5 CM.
Are you going to reload several of the best calibers you can't buy factory ammo. The 308 your set for life in the amount of ammo that on the shelf. Spend some time reading along with time on uTube it will give you a better idea of what your going to under take.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNnMxRnlFMM
A lot of the answer is based on your time frame. With Fall just around the corner you can use this period to have someone build one for you. Since you have an existing R700 long action you have access to some of the high BC 30 cal rounds. If you don't want to use your current action, another option is to get a R700 short action. The short action will give you more ballistics options. Starting with .223, 6mm, 6.5mm group including the .260, and the ever popular .308.
The higher the BC the better off you are. Personally I am shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor. It is my very 1st real rifle. I started of buying a new R700 in 308, removing the barrel and action from the stock. I took action with the factory .308 along with the new 6.5 barrel to the gunsmith. A couple of months later I was shooting my amazingly accurate 6.5 CM.
Are you going to reload several of the best calibers you can't buy factory ammo. The 308 your set for life in the amount of ammo that on the shelf. Spend some time reading along with time on uTube it will give you a better idea of what your going to under take.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNnMxRnlFMM
Re: Custom rifle: buy complete vs. have made
Don't build a custom rifle. You admittedly are a complete newbie, therefore you don't know what you want. How can you spec out a custom rifle when you don't know what you want?
In the classifieds here, there are dozens of great rifles listed DAILY.
Buy one that strikes your fancy.
Lastly, don't get a 338 until you KNOW you want/need one.
That is all.
Edit: Swaro makes a fine scope, but they lack features very helpful for this hobby.You'd be much better off with a more "tactical" type scope, though any quality scope will get you going.
Don't build a custom rifle. You admittedly are a complete newbie, therefore you don't know what you want. How can you spec out a custom rifle when you don't know what you want?
In the classifieds here, there are dozens of great rifles listed DAILY.
Buy one that strikes your fancy.
Lastly, don't get a 338 until you KNOW you want/need one.
That is all.
Edit: Swaro makes a fine scope, but they lack features very helpful for this hobby.You'd be much better off with a more "tactical" type scope, though any quality scope will get you going.
Re: Custom rifle: buy complete vs. have made
A .338 is a great rifle but unless you are planning on hunting exclusivly big game I would look at one as its expensive to shoot and is going to cause a lot of wasteage on smaller animals. Now if you want a gun that will definitley take down a grizzly at 400+ yards then it might be the way to go but it is very much a niche gun and although I would love to have one some day it would definitely not ever be the only rifle I owned. I am currently buildling a custom bolt rifle in 6.5 creedmoor (my second gun in the caliber my other is an AR)
I think ultimately to determine the best rifle for you you need to decide what exactly you want to do with it you say 'hunting/tactical'. With hunting are you talking about a praire dog rifle or something you will take to africa to shoot a lion. Do you intend to kill mostly white tails with it or will there be moose here and there? As far as the Tactical side do you want something that just looks tacticool (nothing wrong with liking the tactical look I happen to love it) or do you intend to shoot competitvely in tactical precision rifle competitions. Basically a better idea of your expectations for this rifle will help give us an idea what would be best for you.
A .338 is a great rifle but unless you are planning on hunting exclusivly big game I would look at one as its expensive to shoot and is going to cause a lot of wasteage on smaller animals. Now if you want a gun that will definitley take down a grizzly at 400+ yards then it might be the way to go but it is very much a niche gun and although I would love to have one some day it would definitely not ever be the only rifle I owned. I am currently buildling a custom bolt rifle in 6.5 creedmoor (my second gun in the caliber my other is an AR)
I think ultimately to determine the best rifle for you you need to decide what exactly you want to do with it you say 'hunting/tactical'. With hunting are you talking about a praire dog rifle or something you will take to africa to shoot a lion. Do you intend to kill mostly white tails with it or will there be moose here and there? As far as the Tactical side do you want something that just looks tacticool (nothing wrong with liking the tactical look I happen to love it) or do you intend to shoot competitvely in tactical precision rifle competitions. Basically a better idea of your expectations for this rifle will help give us an idea what would be best for you.
Re: Custom rifle: buy complete vs. have made
These guys have given some great advice. I have a 338LM and it is a great gun to shoot but really doesn't start to shine until past 600-800m. If you don't have access to a longer range I would say something in a .308 would be fine. The R700 5R is a great out of the box rifle and you can learn the LR game and figure out what you want in a custom rig.
These guys have given some great advice. I have a 338LM and it is a great gun to shoot but really doesn't start to shine until past 600-800m. If you don't have access to a longer range I would say something in a .308 would be fine. The R700 5R is a great out of the box rifle and you can learn the LR game and figure out what you want in a custom rig.
Re: Custom rifle: buy complete vs. have made
We all started where you now find yourself, at some point in our lives. This site is a great resource, use it wisely as the valuable tool that it is and you will find the answers to all of your questions.
Read, read, and read some more. Then go back and do some more reading.
WIth all due respect, I would suggest your best option at this point is to do lots of reading, and try to get your finger on what requirements you are trying to fill and what will best meet those requirements. Unless you have money to burn, the old adage "buy once, cry once" comes to mind.
Most everyone who has thought about it for a while will agreee they wish they had a good .308 in their collection. So, you might look for something in that caliber first. But, again, it all comes back to what your requirements are and how deep your pockets are as well.
Above all, be safe and have fun with your journey...
We all started where you now find yourself, at some point in our lives. This site is a great resource, use it wisely as the valuable tool that it is and you will find the answers to all of your questions.
Read, read, and read some more. Then go back and do some more reading.
WIth all due respect, I would suggest your best option at this point is to do lots of reading, and try to get your finger on what requirements you are trying to fill and what will best meet those requirements. Unless you have money to burn, the old adage "buy once, cry once" comes to mind.
Most everyone who has thought about it for a while will agreee they wish they had a good .308 in their collection. So, you might look for something in that caliber first. But, again, it all comes back to what your requirements are and how deep your pockets are as well.
Above all, be safe and have fun with your journey...
Re: Custom rifle: buy complete vs. have made
to me this is an easy question. if fairly new to shooting just get a nice stock rifle in a caliber like 308 that is readily available and easily reloadable. start with a remington 700, tikka, or something similar that is reliable and fairly easy to mod. it won't cost you much. get a solid scope like leupold, vortex, higher end bushnell, etc. do a bit of shooting with it. when you feel you are ready start swapping out some important parts, for example get a nice stock or chassis. if you got a decent scope, and a decent rifle, then after upgrading the stock that rifle will likely out shoot you for a few years. once you became a very good shooter with it, then i MIGHT consider having one built. but honestly, if you aren't doing competitions i think having them built is a bit of a waste. you can buy a heck of nice rifle without spending even half what it typically costs to have a custom one built. most customs are great but they only give a great shooter a small edge over a good rifle with good optics and a great solid shooting platform (stock). i can see how its worth it to competitive shooters, but ball park $4k seems pretty high for casual range shooting to me when $2k can get you a very nice set up. just my opinion.
to me this is an easy question. if fairly new to shooting just get a nice stock rifle in a caliber like 308 that is readily available and easily reloadable. start with a remington 700, tikka, or something similar that is reliable and fairly easy to mod. it won't cost you much. get a solid scope like leupold, vortex, higher end bushnell, etc. do a bit of shooting with it. when you feel you are ready start swapping out some important parts, for example get a nice stock or chassis. if you got a decent scope, and a decent rifle, then after upgrading the stock that rifle will likely out shoot you for a few years. once you became a very good shooter with it, then i MIGHT consider having one built. but honestly, if you aren't doing competitions i think having them built is a bit of a waste. you can buy a heck of nice rifle without spending even half what it typically costs to have a custom one built. most customs are great but they only give a great shooter a small edge over a good rifle with good optics and a great solid shooting platform (stock). i can see how its worth it to competitive shooters, but ball park $4k seems pretty high for casual range shooting to me when $2k can get you a very nice set up. just my opinion.
