Need Advice on a Rifle

[ejd1]

Hello all. I have a friend at work who is debating on whether or not to build a custom .300 Win Mag with a SS barrel, or just buy a Christensen Arms rifle with their carbon fiber barrel. All of my rifles are custom with either Proof or Hart barrels. I have a local builder who is really good. He's been doing it for over 55 years. That's who he will go with, if he goes custom. I just don't know much about Christensen rifles at all. Are they good, sub half shooters? Can anyone give me pros/cons regarding their rifles? Thanks in advance for any and all help.

 

[The Oregonian]

I would search here - many people lately have had issues with CA rifles. I know nothing about them other than what I have read here so I can't give an opinion.

 

[xsn10s]

I have not seen a CA rifle, and I hate to speak poorly of anyone in the industry unless they utterly deserve it. But think of putting it this way to your friend. If something ever goes weird on his rifle the builder is local. Unless he's going to retire or close up shop he'll have pretty good service right?

 

[MudRunner2005]

Save some money and get one of these...

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...Bolt+300+Winchester+Magnum+26+3+1+Synthetic+H

 

[ejd1]

I have not seen a CA rifle, and I hate to speak poorly of anyone in the industry unless they utterly deserve it. But think of putting it this way to your friend. If something ever goes weird on his rifle the builder is local. Unless he's going to retire or close up shop he'll have pretty good service right?

My builder is in his early 80's. He won't be doing it much longer. I'm having him build me a .338 Lapua Mag right now with a Proof barrel. It'll probably be my last build. His rifles don't have issues. I know a whole lot of folks here who shoot his rifles. None have ever had an issue, and all are 1/2 MOA or less. I have a 6.5 Creedmoor he built with a Proof barrel that is 1/4 MOA to 600 yards. That is as far as I've taken it thus far. That's all we have at the local range. I've gotta find a place to air it out.

 

[xsn10s]

I didn't mean to suggest that his rifles might have issues. After 55 years of building rifles I'm sure he knows what he is doing.

 

[ejd1]

I didn't mean to suggest that his rifles might have issues. After 55 years of building rifles I'm sure he knows what he is doing.

I'm good. I didn't take it that way. I was just letting you know that he will be giving it up soon, but I'm not concerned about it. Here's a photo of a 900 yard group I shot with another 6.5 Creedmoor he built me. It's not a hunting rifle though. Too heavy.

 

[Rick Richard]

REPUTABLE custom builder over a production rifle any day is my opinion. It may cost a bit more initially, but will be cheaper in the long run.

 

[xsn10s]

That's too bad that he is retiring. What I meant to articulate was it's nice to have a good smith local.

 

[ejd1]

REPUTABLE custom builder over a production rifle any day is my opinion. It may cost a bit more initially, but will be cheaper in the long run.

I couldn't agree more, but I think he's having a hard time with the cost. I go with the extra cost, because I can get it exactly as I want.

 

[ejd1]

That's too bad that he is retiring. What I meant to articulate was it's nice to have a good smith local.

There are a few local younger guys who have been working with him to learn his secrets and acquire his knowledge. He built a benchrest rifle that shot five straight groups between .053 and .056. It has a 2oz trigger. Those groups look like one hole.

 

[Jeeper48]

I would echo what was written above, I have personally never shot a Christensen arms rifle, but have read enough bad reviews I personally wouldn't buy one, especially if I knew a good smith local to me.

 

[Rick Richard]

I couldn't agree more, but I think he's having a hard time with the cost. I go with the extra cost, because I can get it exactly as I want.

He takes a bigger risk with going the factory route with getting a shooter. Chances are he will not be satisfied and in the end will end up getting a custom. Trust me, many of us old timers have been through this process and spent many of dollars attempting to be 'cheap'.

 

[ejd1]

I'll say this. He's really cheap in comparison to Gunwerks, or any of the others. The most expensive rifle I have is that 6.5 Creedmoor I shot that group with in the photo I posted earlier. It cost me a little over $2,500, but it's on a $1,000 AI chassis.