Semi-Custom rifle build...am I nuts?

[Hooked Now]

Hi AH crowd,
I am soliciting some advice. Im thinking of getting a semi-custom rifle built. Advantages would be I can pick my caliber, wood, features, etc. Downside is I don't know what I am potentially getting into. So what Im hoping you can assist on is what features you really like, what you wish you'd done differently, what aspects of the process were important to you when you picked a gunsmith to do thr work, etc.

Any guidance you can share would be really helpful. I just want to know what Im getting into. New rifles in fun calibers are hard to come by, so this seems like a cool option.

Thanks for the assist.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

I built a custom .280AI a few years ago and loved the process. Tons of interesting research and options to consider. I had a gunsmith chamber, cut and mount my barrel to my action but did the rest myself.

Happy to help with any questions.

 

[Hooked Now]

Did you build it out of interest or were there things you wanted on it that just didn't come off the shelf? Some of the guys Im chatting with are talking quarter ribs, case hardening, engraved bottom plates, drop bellies, etc. An almost overwhelming number of ways to spend money. And the wood...good gracious. Just trying to think of where the $ spend really matters vs where Im just getting gaudy. Thanks for the response.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

I had a buddy that has built a few and I had a few bucks to spare and I wanted a one off. It’s nothing special, but it is a dead laser. Mine was built to be a (nice) tool, not a museum piece.

 

[Hooked Now]

Makes sense. Most all of my guns except my Garand are fairly dead ugly. My thought on this one was to go for pretty, but I dont have safe queens. This one would hunt. Wear and tear happens. But like you I want it functionally perfect and dead accurate. Its just awfully challenging today to really get exactly what you want. Few manufacturers in the game and when they are the calibers are limited to the same old same old. Unless you go crazy money. Looking for something in between, but still deciding on features.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Caliber, action type and manufacturer, barrel brand/type/length, stock, trigger, scope, magazine type, etc. I relished in each and every decision to be made. Will be doing it again soon with a donor action.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

How much do you have to spend? I built my 404 Jeffery on a military Czech Mauser receiver. Did most of the work myself (except opening bolt face, bluing, and reaming, threading, and mounting the barrel). I have less than $3K invested (not counting my labor). I don't think a gunsmith would have done it for twice that amount.

 

[steve white]

If you are nuts, you have come to the right place!

 

[Mekaniks]

Hi AH crowd,
I am soliciting some advice. Im thinking of getting a semi-custom rifle built. Advantages would be I can pick my caliber, wood, features, etc. Downside is I don't know what I am potentially getting into. So what Im hoping you can assist on is what features you really like, what you wish you'd done differently, what aspects of the process were important to you when you picked a gunsmith to do thr work, etc.

Any guidance you can share would be really helpful. I just want to know what Im getting into. New rifles in fun calibers are hard to come by, so this seems like a cool option.

Thanks for the assist.

You're in the right place. We encourage customs builds

Decide what caliber you want....

Decide what bullet weight you want to shoot...

Decide what action you want (this depends on caliber)

Decide on what barrel twist (bullet diameter squared times 150 and then divided bullet length equals optimum twist in inches) if you are adding a custom barrel....

Decide on a metal coating (Blue, Ceracote, Nitride, etc...)

Then decide on wood or stock material (this depends on action length and manufacturer availability)

All that said.... I decided on bullet size, caliber and barrel twist first, which was based on an action that I already had. Then I figured out a stock and coating that fit my application.....

Have fun!

 

[AZDAVE]

You have asked a question to a bunch of enablers. I have been called a bad influence on more than a few occasions.

First is determine you budget for the project.
Second is lay out a solid set of requirement for what you want. (take your time and get pictures of the rifles you like the look of)
Third is shop around for a quality builder. (If you aren't building the project yourself)

 

[Ontario Hunter]

You have asked a question to a bunch of enablers. I have been called a bad influence on more than a few occasions.

First is determine you budget for the project.
Second is lay out a solid set of requirement for what you want. (take your time and get pictures of the rifles you like the look of)
Third is shop around for a quality builder. (If you aren't building the project yourself)

So now I'm an "enabler"? Isn't that something like an influencer? I may be ashamed of myself.

 

[farmer_john]

You have asked a question to a bunch of enablers. I have been called a bad influence on more than a few occasions.

First is determine you budget for the project.
Second is lay out a solid set of requirement for what you want. (take your time and get pictures of the rifles you like the look of)
Third is shop around for a quality builder. (If you aren't building the project yourself)

I second this. Id also recomend breaking down the project into parts.
Reciever barrel work ( trueing action instslling barrel and sights ect.)

Stock work ( making, free floating, stock pillering, bedding glass bedding, checkering ect.)

And finish up with engraving and final details.

Another important thing is whats the end weight your looking for.
If you make a project list like that you can shop for different craftsmen to do things if a one shop stops available. For the quality you want. Or to break up expensive costs into a better cash flow situation.

 

[ftrovato]

Hi AH crowd,
I am soliciting some advice. Im thinking of getting a semi-custom rifle built. Advantages would be I can pick my caliber, wood, features, etc. Downside is I don't know what I am potentially getting into. So what Im hoping you can assist on is what features you really like, what you wish you'd done differently, what aspects of the process were important to you when you picked a gunsmith to do thr work, etc.

Any guidance you can share would be really helpful. I just want to know what Im getting into. New rifles in fun calibers are hard to come by, so this seems like a cool option.

Thanks for the assist.

What's your budget? Parkwest has a nice semi-custom online process.

 

[greyfox]

Charlie Sisk wrote a book and building and buying custom rifles. I loaned my copy to someone and haven't seen it since. Lots of great information there and interesting reading.

Amazon.com

 

[Bonk]

I’ll assume semi-custom means having an existing rifle modified to your specifications as opposed to building a complete custom rifle from scratch. If that’s an accurate description then I’ve done both. I had AHR do the #1/#2 upgrades to an existing CZ550 and I also had them build me a rifle starting from a NIB CZ550 receiver. I'm extremely satisfied with both rifles but if I had to do it all over again I'd start with an existing rifle and go from there rather than a scratch build from a receiver. Why? Money. The custom built rifle cost almost twice as much as the modified one and other than pride of ownership the full custom build isn’t functionally any better than the upgraded one. I’ll give a minor nod to the custom build for the hand made stock but in every other way the rifles are equally as good.

 

[Hooked Now]

So I guess I mean full custom for this one. I have an opportunity to do something that I didn't think I'd be able to do and create something really unique. It'll be some time before it is done but I will be very excited to share more details when I can.

 

[Rare Breed]

Hi AH crowd,
I am soliciting some advice. Im thinking of getting a semi-custom rifle built. Advantages would be I can pick my caliber, wood, features, etc. Downside is I don't know what I am potentially getting into. So what Im hoping you can assist on is what features you really like, what you wish you'd done differently, what aspects of the process were important to you when you picked a gunsmith to do thr work, etc.

Any guidance you can share would be really helpful. I just want to know what Im getting into. New rifles in fun calibers are hard to come by, so this seems like a cool option.

Thanks for the assist.

My only concern after buying a “custom” built rifle in 375 caliber is never accept NIB. This means the rifle may load easily but since it has not been shot problems recycling the bolt after firing may be a whole different issue. I am going through this now with my paying $700 to fix the “NIB” custom rifle. Just never accept a custom rifle that has not been fired yet

 

[Hooked Now]

Sage advice. I dont have that concern here, but there are other areas that I am still thinking through like features. When someone can do almost anything you want to do it can be hard to narrow down to what you should do. I've been having lots of conversations with the gent who will be building and I think hes going to do something really special. Appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts. All were helpful. And @Rare Breed, did I see a post that you were at the Georgia SCI at Adventure Outdoors this year? We must have walked right past each other...

 

[BlueFlyer]

create something really unique.

It is going to have to be pretty radical for it not to have been done before.
Looking forward to seeing your ideas.

 

[Hooked Now]

Maybe not radical or unique but something that will stand out a bit and be a bit of all mine. Not something silly like a half plastic straight pull or something.