New premium rifle or custom

[Lee M]

I’m thinking of getting a higher end bolt rifle or maybe a custom build. I have been looking at a Springfield Waypoit 2020 with carbon barrel. I know there are Seekins, Bergera, Fierce, Christensen and others in this price and quality range. I know there are people on here who are gun aficionados well beyond my knowledge. Any thoughts? These are in the $2500 range. I have a local customer compary (Hart) that will do a similar custom build for 4-5k. Is it worth it or not. Who has one of these higher end factory rifles that is positive on the rifle. Not sure what caliber I’ll get. Thinking somewhere between 6.5 PRC and .300 PRC. Big range i know lol, but looking for a modern cartridge. Thx.

 

[farmer_john]

I’m thinking of getting a higher end bolt rifle or maybe a custom build. I have been looking at a Springfield Waypoit 2020 with carbon barrel. I know there are Seekins, Bergera, Fierce, Christensen and others in this price and quality range. I know there are people on here who are gun aficionados well beyond my knowledge. Any thoughts? These are in the $2500 range. I have a local customer compary (Hart) that will do a similar custom build for 4-5k. Is it worth it or not. Who has one of these higher end factory rifles that is positive on the rifle. Not sure what caliber I’ll get. Thinking somewhere between 6.5 PRC and .300 PRC. Big range i know lol, but looking for a modern cartridge. Thx.

My first question is what are you wanting the rifle to do/do with it?

 

[Lee M]

Just looking for a quality rifle to hunt and maybe do some longer range target shooting. But to be honest i haven’t done any consistent long range shooting or competitions. But who knows, retirement is 2-5 years out.

 

[farmer_john]

Just looking for a quality rifle to hunt and maybe do some longer range target shooting. But to be honest i haven’t done any consistent long range shooting or competitions. But who knows, retirement is 2-5 years out.

If your wanting to shoot competition and longer strings of fire im not sure how the carbon barrels will hold up as far as heat managment and poi shifts.

I have linited experience with them so others will have to add to that. I would probably go for a steel barrel for high vokume of shooting.

If its for hunting and a handful of shots ive heard good things about carbon barrels.

 

[Russ16]

For a long range setup in the $4k range I would buy a Tikka in the desired caliber the upgrade the stock and out good optics on it.

 

[Ray B]

Regardless as to price I would look at the three part-groups of a rifle. Review each group for the features that you want then pick the rifle that gives the groups nearest to your desires. Back in the day it was simple for me- I'd find a suitable action, put a Canjar trigger on it, have CP Donnelly overhaul the action and install a barrel and have it fitted to a pillared stock. But CP passed away several years back and I haven't met a gunsmith who I felt the same bond with as I had with CP.

 

[RedTag]

I vote for the custom build. Or perhaps just consider a clean used gun. I have little to no interest in most of the firearms made in the past 20 years or so. Craftsmanship is generally not what it used to be, and many of the newer designs are cheapness disguised as innovation. So many of the rifles nowadays make a late 60s push feed Model 70 seem downright elegant by comparison.
I think it’s worth noting that Fierce and Christensen are two brands of rifles I actually see up for sale used more often than new, which seems a bit suspicious to me. And aside from that their designs do nothing for me.
I would add that most cartridges of the past century should be considered modern. There is little these newfangled alphabet soup numbers can do that the .270 Winchester or .300 H&H Magnum hasn’t been doing for the last hundred years.

 

[akrifleman]

I’m thinking of getting a higher end bolt rifle or maybe a custom build. I have been looking at a Springfield Waypoit 2020 with carbon barrel. I know there are Seekins, Bergera, Fierce, Christensen and others in this price and quality range. I know there are people on here who are gun aficionados well beyond my knowledge. Any thoughts? These are in the $2500 range. I have a local customer compary (Hart) that will do a similar custom build for 4-5k. Is it worth it or not. Who has one of these higher end factory rifles that is positive on the rifle. Not sure what caliber I’ll get. Thinking somewhere between 6.5 PRC and .300 PRC. Big range i know lol, but looking for a modern cartridge. Thx.

I'm not sure these are high end customs. However, the Seekins and Bergera actually win NRL Hunter matches. You make no mention at all of purpose, which makes things very difficult.

 

[BryceM]

I probably don’t have much useful advice, except that how much you pay and how much you get aren’t always connected. My best shooter was built custom from the ground up from a low-volume, excellent quality gunsmith. My second best shooter was a custom build, purchased used, sight-unseen.

If you just want to get familiar with long range shooting, the advice to get a Tikka, put some good glass on it, and shoot it a lot is pretty good advice. They’re a ridiculously good value on the cost vs accuracy scale.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Most who are considering custom are thinking nice wood, CRF action, blued metal, etc. A classic hunting rifle. Long range rifles are typically multi-adjustable synthetic stock, push feed action, long barrel, bipod, "tactical" scope, etc = butt ugly. So, what are you looking for? Something to hunt with or a gun that will gong metal in the next zip code?

I would go for a custom build over anything off the shelf, new or used. The custom is made for you. It becomes part of your identity for the rest of your/its life. A lot more than just a tool. But you won't get much of a custom rifle for $2500. I built my own 404J on a Mauser 98 and did most of the work myself. I cut a lot of corners (e.g. refinished a fancy used stock) and it still set me back about $2700. If I shopped for a buyer I could probably sell it for more than that but not much more. But now I have a gun that truly has my name on it. Any serious long range metal-gonger will have more than $2500 tied up in a scope.

 

[Roosterlund]

Own a Christiansen FFT with carbon fiber barrel. Mine is in .280 AI. Super Accurate, light,come with a lot of custom features such as fluted bolt, M16 extractor. Follow break in procedure. Absolutely love it. Took four days to get it from local gun shop. For less than 2500$ you can’t go wrong

 

[Roosterlund]

 

[dchum]

Bergara premier is very nice, if you put all the components they use together yourself you won’t be able to beat their price.

A Remington 700 with 5r barrel and a trigger upgrade will shoot with the best of them.

Most seekins of the rack are great shooters.

I think these “semi” custom of the rack guns are a really good value and it’s hard to beat them price wise - even building your self.

https://www.eurooptic.com/bergara-premier-series-canyon-65-prc-22-1-8-bbl-rifle-w-omni-mb-bpr26-65prc

This is very ideal and still a hunting set up.
AG composites made stock, AICS mag, and a trigger tech trigger.

This was a good deal at $2k. Now it’s 1,599 and I might just order it…

You would be supporting a sight sponsor too!

 

[DaddyFlip]

Look at the full Weatherby Mark V lineup to see if anything interests you. They have adopted the 7mm and 300 PRC into their 9-lug lineup. For what you want to do, there are plenty of factory guns available; not worth custom. Sound like you just want a cool rifle that speaks to you. If you want carbon, titanium, camo, etc , Weatherby can hook you up.

Weatherby Mark V

 

[Bighorn191]

One of the great things about today is that there have never been better components available to build a rifle that will shoot amazing and fit your style and wants. You can assemble everything yourself or have a good 'smith put it together. Example: Impact Precision NBK; Proof CF or Benchmark pre-fit barrel, Manners or tons of others' stocks, Triggertech or Bix N Andy trigger, Hawkins bottom metal. Should be doable for $4k or less and will shoot as good as anything out there.

 

[Lee M]

I have a Tikka T3 lite in 7mm mag with a leupold scope.It’s my go to gun for the past 20 years and shoots anything i put in it well. Has served me well in Colorado, Alaska, Canada and Africa.

Agree that most older calibers still work as good as newer ones. I just have an itch to look at something new.

 

[farmer_john]

Most who are considering custom are thinking nice wood, CRF action, blued metal, etc. A classic hunting rifle. Long range rifles are typically multi-adjustable synthetic stock, push feed action, long barrel, bipod, "tactical" scope, etc = butt ugly. So, what are you looking for? Something to hunt with or a gun that will gong metal in the next zip code?

I would go for a custom build over anything off the shelf, new or used. The custom is made for you. It becomes part of your identity for the rest of your/its life. A lot more than just a tool. But you won't get much of a custom rifle for $2500. I built my own 404J on a Mauser 98 and did most of the work myself. I cut a lot of corners (e.g. refinished a fancy used stock) and it still set me back about $2700. If I shopped for a buyer I could probably sell it for more than that but not much more. But now I have a gun that truly has my name on it. Any serious long range metal-gonger will have more than $2500 tied up in a scope.

I think alot of folks dont put enough into glass. But you dont need 2500+ in a scope to shoot 1km well. It helps to have great quality. But even top tier from 2010 is alot more accesable today price wise.

And you can have a nice aestetic rifle that will reach out and hit something.

Alot of your mid priced rifles will do oretty wekk even at 1km you just wont be winning matches. I wouldnt do a carbon barrel for long range f class or psr matches.

 

[buffybr]

Most who are considering custom are thinking nice wood, CRF action, blued metal, etc. A classic hunting rifle. Long range rifles are typically multi-adjustable synthetic stock, push feed action, long barrel, bipod, "tactical" scope, etc = butt ugly. So, what are you looking for? Something to hunt with or a gun that will gong metal in the next zip code?

I would go for a custom build over anything off the shelf, new or used. The custom is made for you. It becomes part of your identity for the rest of your/its life. A lot more than just a tool. But you won't get much of a custom rifle for $2500. I built my own 404J on a Mauser 98 and did most of the work myself. I cut a lot of corners (e.g. refinished a fancy used stock) and it still set me back about $2700. If I shopped for a buyer I could probably sell it for more than that but not much more. But now I have a gun that truly has my name on it. Any serious long range metal-gonger will have more than $2500 tied up in a scope.

I'm like Ontario Hunter as I'm old school and I think that most of the modern "tadtical" rifles are just plain butt ugly.

I've re-stocked most of my rifles, upgrading to fancier wood and doing the work myself. For two of my rifles I've always cringed on taking them on hunts where foul wet weather would damage my fancy wood stocks, so I also made synthetic foul weather stocks for them.

 

[farmer_john]

I'm like Ontario Hunter as I'm old school and I think that most of the modern "tadtical" rifles are just plain butt ugly.

I've re-stocked most of my rifles, upgrading to fancier wood and doing the work myself. For two of my rifles I've always cringed on taking them on hunts where foul wet weather would damage my fancy wood stocks, so I also made synthetic foul weather stocks for them.

Is bad weather really that dangerous to a wood stock?

 

[MacJenkins]

All depends on what you are trying to do. A hunting rifle and rifle I want to go shoot steel with are two completely different guns. I’ve had and or built at least two dozen custom walnut stocked guns over the 25k mark. That is my real passion and what I hunt with.

However not of them will shoot anywhere near as good as my daughter $5k custom push feed carbon stocked gun.

All depends on what you are trying to do.