Custom rifle cost going to the moon , when does it end ?

[Bang4theBuck]

The other cool thing about this sport/hobby is that for the most part, the best components are readily available to everyone. The average Joe can acquire the same parts and services that the big dogs get. And the fact that the total range of price for really good to 'apex' in an action is the difference between $1000 and $1800, and barrels. Avg., barrel blank is around $350....same quality in Carbon is $700. If this were top fuel drag racing, or boating, the differences in price of things would be 'multi-exponential' ($20 word of the day)

 

[Deleted member 103481]

The other cool thing about this sport/hobby is that for the most part, the best components are readily available to everyone. The average Joe can acquire the same parts and services that the big dogs get. And the fact that the total range of price for really good to 'apex' in an action is the difference between $1000 and $1800, and barrels. Avg., barrel blank is around $350....same quality in Carbon is $700. If this were top fuel drag racing, or boating, the differences in price of things would be 'multi-exponential' ($20 word of the day)

This is true. The best way to feel better about gun prices is to get a race car.

 

[Ingwe]

I just saw a new release of a highbred big game rifle from probably THE big boys in the industry . The cost including a 2500.00$ optic is 12500.00$ . I have done my fair share of buying things that I knew were a bit out of the ( practical or common sense range ) because I just wanted it but not to the tune of 12500.00 lol !! To be clear I'm sure it comes with 100 rounds of custom ( tuned ) Ammo for it and we all know the work that goes into that although the load development is the steepest on the first ( set up ) then after that it's probably a little more cookie cutter . I'll be the first to admit these are some of the baddest rifles to ever hit the planet and the detail and designs are AMAZING for sure! I feel a custom build with a premium barrel , stock , trigger , action and optic around 5-6 k is ( fair ) but I also have some factory rifles with a proper tuned load that shot at .250 or better . One in particular I have is a .093 5 shot group at 100 yard and it holds that moa pretty close to 800 so far , I knew they shot well but I'm still on cloud 9 with that one and I promise, that's not the norm for me on factory guns !!
I know these factory rifles most likely will walk significantly more threw a 20 shot string then these premium guns will of course but for most hunting rifles that's not necessarily going to be needed . I have set up several rifles for friends that just want a hunting gun with factory Ammo . I set one rem 700 up with a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14 and found THE factory Ammo that it liked ! On most of these projects I'm able to find Ammo that will shoot .500 or better all for 1800.00$ and it just about holds that all the way to 800. I'm not poking at custom builders ,it is a true art , I'm just asking what your feelings are towards these 10-12000.00$ guns and where the future is headed ( and I'm not talking about 50 bmg or 375 cheytac type guns) With all the modern machining practices, factory rifles have came a long way for sure ! I think we are going to see a swing in the market for gun builders to produce a gun that is a (budget) version . I think these are selling now because of the craze we are in now kinda like in 2008 when desil pickups were grocery getters during that craze that blew up , then desil hit 5.00$ gallon in Comifornia and they were dumped quick ! Is it just me or are these prices crazy ..... but soooo bad a** of a rifle !!

What I am going to say is not directed at you but personally I can't imagine spending almost 13G's on a rifle. If a guy want's one that bad hey go for it, since that's what life is all about but $13,000 will buy you a really nice Plainsgame Safari in Africa, a top shelf Indian Res Elk Hunt, or an Ibex Hunt in the Himalayas.

I know a guy who has been dreaming of hunting Africa his whole life but he always ends the conversation by saying, "I can't afford it, I'm not rich like you." This is a guy with a custom Gunwerkz rifle and a $70,000 pick-up that will be a bucket of rust in 10 years.

To each his own I guess but I'm a blue-collar working man and I have been to Africa 5X already and have another one in the works.

That said, if money was no object to me, I would definitely buy that $13,000 rifle myself

PS: I just read my post over guys and the first thing I thought was, "What was the point of my post and how does it apply to the original post" LOL I have no idea!

I guess I'm bored with the CV shutdown and giving you some of my thought for what it's worth

 

[Rick Richard]

Those prices typically reflect the overhead of such a company since they have NUMEROUS employees. Most companies are just a single builder or two, which is why their prices are about half that.

 

[Ingwe]

Those prices typically reflect the overhead of such a company since they have NUMEROUS employees. Most companies are just a single builder or two, which is why their prices are about half that.

I bet they have huge marketing bills too.

 

[25WSM]

Most big companies are building their own actions so you know the cost is way lower than we can buy it for. When you buy a ton of barrels you pay 50 percent of we are. Same with custom stocks. So these big companies have half the cost in parts and sell them for double the price of a small custom shop. The small one man custom shop probably makes a better gun for half the cost and makes 25 percent of the profit of the big guys. I will put my one man shop rifle up against any big name company's rifle and it will shoot as good or most likely better. The one man shop has quality control on every aspect of the build. The small shop rifles are just built better when they are done one at a time by one person.
Shep

 

[Almondgrower]

My opinion is that as long as these ultra premium rifles stay in a class of their own, and they don't drive the market up on the 'average' and 'economy' stuff, I am fine with people getting whatever they want. I have noticed that most of the time, when I run across one of these guys/gals at the range with a rifle and the 'Rest of the Shooting System' in a 40 lb case with wheels, I take notice. Not of just how pretty their rifle is, but of how their bipod is on backwards, or their zero stop isn't set, or other signs of them not having a clue how to properly operate their high-dollar rig. Again it's their money, but it makes you wonder why they don't include a multi-day course with the purchase of a rig like that. Besides when my wife sees me watching those TV shows (I do enjoy them) and they advertise the high dollar rig, I just tell her that I am suffering through on my low dollar ($2-3000) rigs!!

brilliant !!!

 

[Almondgrower]

I bet they have huge marketing bills too.

And a state of the art new headquarters coming soon !!!!

 

[Rick Richard]

Most big companies are building their own actions so you know the cost is way lower than we can buy it for. When you buy a ton of barrels you pay 50 percent of we are. Same with custom stocks. So these big companies have half the cost in parts and sell them for double the price of a small custom shop. The small one man custom shop probably makes a better gun for half the cost and makes 25 percent of the profit of the big guys. I will put my one man shop rifle up against any big name company's rifle and it will shoot as good or most likely better. The one man shop has quality control on every aspect of the build. The small shop rifles are just built better when they are done one at a time by one person.
Shep

Don't disagree with what you said and I do purchase from the "small shop". The only disadvantage to the small shop can be on an expected delivery date.

Typically, they do not have a large stock of parts and order from suppliers based on a customers specification, which means they are at the mercy of the supplier for delivery dates. Also, some may send out certain aspects of the build to a subcontractor such as to Cerakote. So, what does this all mean? Problems out of their controll will affect your promised delivery date.

Plan and allow plenty of time for your build so you will not be disappointed with the builder.

 

[JMW67]

Don't disagree with what you said and I do purchase from the "small shop". The only disadvantage to the small shop can be on an expected delivery date.

Typically, they do not have a large stock of parts and order from suppliers based on a customers specification, which means they are at the mercy of the supplier for delivery dates. Also, some may send out certain aspects of the build to a subcontractor such as to Cerakote. So, what does this all mean? Problems out of their controll will affect your promised delivery date.

Plan and allow plenty of time for your build so you will not be disappointed with the builder.

I have found the answer to this is when you pick up one rifle you simply order another by the time the new has worn off the next one will be ready to pick up and so on and so on this has worked for me for years just keeps the wife a little upset at first but she got used to it

 

[25WSM]

True the small shop has more trouble sourcing parts but that has gotten way better with so many companies stocking barrels and actions now. Stocks are the hardest part for me. And when I buy from a retailer I pay retail prices for parts. This makes the bottom line much smaller. But if a customer needs fast there are ways to get the parts now.
Shep

 

[Buckreed]

Remember when everyone needed a custom chopper motorcycle? I have a few friends that regret spending 50k on them and their not worth hardly anything today. It's all demand driven.

 

[highdrum]

Man I've got a few tikkas that have been pimped out by hells canyon armory for about 1500$, custom barrel and bedded stock, action was checked for true, they always are, 10$ trigger spring. This lil guy here is 8# scoped with a 23.5" summit barrel and a Mesa Precision altitude stock. Just started breaking barrel in today. After the shoot/clean bs the first group was 3 shots to settle and then the last 3 were half inch group. And I have this ammo set up for a different chamber so I'm jumping the 200.20 Bergers about 70k.

 

[25WSM]

Tikka builds are a great value. There is not a smoother running bolt on the market today.