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

[BlueFlyer]

something that will stand out a bit and be a bit of all mine

With you, there is a lot of enjoyment to be had in making up a rifle that is what you want.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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.

@Hooked Now
You are going down a rabbit hole you will never get out of. You will no longer be in Kansas Dorothy.

First decide the calibre, you may be able to buy it off the shelf.

Decide on the action type and choose either action or donor rifle.

Choose barrel. Chrome Molly, stainless or carbon fibre and barrel profile depending on calibre and weight you want the finished rifle.

Choose the wood. The prettier the wood the more expensive
Choose stock profile

Find a gunsmith/ stock maker to do said work.

All this costs big $$$$$
The most important thing to have is plenty of patience as the job can take up to two years.
Is it worth it only you can decide.

Best choice is pick a rifle you are happy with that there's a lot of after market parts for. Brands like tikka,Howa, Savage and Weatherby Vanguard .
Theses offer a plethora of stocks, barrels, triggers, magazines, bolt handles and a lot of the work you can do yourself with a modicum of skill.
With these rifles you can usually get them in the calibre you want then add or swap out thing to personalise it
After having 5 or 6 custom and semi custom guns done I have come to realise there's an easy and hard way to do things the choice is yours so is the wallet.

If you go the custom route you will find a few of us at the mad hatters tea party. Turn left at the queen of hearts and you find us at the big table muttering gun related bullshit.
Bob

 

[BlueFlyer]

If you go the custom route you will find a few of us at the mad hatters tea party

Your the second person this week to imply that I am mad with my gun builds!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@Hooked Now
You are going down a rabbit hole you will never get out of. You will no longer be in Kansas Dorothy.

First decide the calibre, you may be able to buy it off the shelf.

Decide on the action type and choose either action or donor rifle.

Choose barrel. Chrome Molly, stainless or carbon fibre and barrel profile depending on calibre and weight you want the finished rifle.

Choose the wood. The prettier the wood the more expensive
Choose stock profile

Find a gunsmith/ stock maker to do said work.

All this costs big $$$$$
The most important thing to have is plenty of patience as the job can take up to two years.
Is it worth it only you can decide.

Best choice is pick a rifle you are happy with that there's a lot of after market parts for. Brands like tikka,Howa, Savage and Weatherby Vanguard .
Theses offer a plethora of stocks, barrels, triggers, magazines, bolt handles and a lot of the work you can do yourself with a modicum of skill.
With these rifles you can usually get them in the calibre you want then add or swap out thing to personalise it
After having 5 or 6 custom and semi custom guns done I have come to realise there's an easy and hard way to do things the choice is yours so is the wallet.

If you go the custom route you will find a few of us at the mad hatters tea party. Turn left at the queen of hearts and you find us at the big table muttering gun related bullshit.
Bob

Well, Bob, I built my 404J in less than four months and spent only about $2500. Of course, I change my clothes in a phone booth. No big name engraved on the action but it looks great, cycles perfectly, and shoots MOA (which ain't bad for a +400 caliber rifle). A custom build can be done surprisingly reasonable and fairly quickly.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Your the second person this week to imply that I am mad with my gun builds!

@BlueFlyer
Never implied that your mad. You mustn't be mad enough yet because I've never seen you at the mad hatters tea party.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Well, Bob, I built my 404J in less than four months and spent only about $2500. Of course, I change my clothes in a phone booth. No big name engraved on the action but it looks great, cycles perfectly, and shoots MOA (which ain't bad for a +400 caliber rifle). A custom build can be done surprisingly reasonable and fairly quickly.

@Ontario Hunter
I agree but that's if'n you do the work yourself.
If you have to farm it out to a gunsmith and stock maker it's a different story
Bob