I shoot a 7RM Sendero that shoots .5 moa even out long. We all like the custom guns and nice stuff, but for hunting purposes, when does the added accuracy and maybe couple extra inches of barrel start to pay off? No specific circumstances just curious what people's thoughts are. Could a guy who can get a sendero 300rum for example to 1/2 moa notice the difference at say 1500 yds for hunting purposes. I am interested in what people think about this. I don't really have an opinion one way or the other so I am looking for something to sway me.
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At what point does custom pay off?
- Thread starter mrb1982
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For me, it was knowing that if I buy all the custom components and have a reputable and good smith put it al together, that I would have a real high probability of a REALY accurate rifle that fit me well. When you buy a factory rifle, there is a good chance that you may get one that shoots bad. Not so with a custom and If the custom doesn't shoot good (which I would think rarely happens), then a reputable smith will work out the kinks to get it to shoot good.
I have a custom 338 lapua that shoots awesome. The rifle fits to me perfect and it looks great.
It really comes down to if you can afford the custom or not. If you can afford the custom, you are going to have a much much higher probability of getting an awesome shooting rifle that fits you perfect.
I have a custom 338 lapua that shoots awesome. The rifle fits to me perfect and it looks great.
It really comes down to if you can afford the custom or not. If you can afford the custom, you are going to have a much much higher probability of getting an awesome shooting rifle that fits you perfect.
I think that the payoff, which is largely based on personal preference, is not only the accuracy aspect but the ability to have a rifle built to one own tastes in various other aspects like dimensions, stock choice, finish, caliber, etc,etc. Some people value this, some don't. I own a couple of factory rifles that will shoot as well or better than my customs and kill game at long range at a fraction of the price. Even so, I still highly value my customs because of other attributes. I think the same principal can apply to many other possessions, good examples being cars and motorcycles. IMO.
Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
I can not say it any better than the previous two post.
It comes down to do you want to roll the dice and hope the factory purchase shoots or not? I don't which is why I went the custom route.
Sure, I've had a factory rifle (savage and rem 5r) or two that would shoot as good as my customs, but that is rare.
It comes down to do you want to roll the dice and hope the factory purchase shoots or not? I don't which is why I went the custom route.
Sure, I've had a factory rifle (savage and rem 5r) or two that would shoot as good as my customs, but that is rare.
Bigeclipse
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I had the same question as the original OP. I have thought about buying a custom but not necessarily for accuracy but because it would be "MY" rifle...almost one of a kind situation which is cool BUT I am not so sure the costs are worth it. From what I have researched, a custom rifle would cost from $2500 and up. I have heard averages of high 2 grand to low 3 grand. For this much money you could buy 3 sendero's with the probability that after some bedding 1 would shoot sub .5MOA. I would be willing to bet all 3 would be sub 1 MOA. Rick Richard, you stated that it's rare for factory rifles to shoot this well but I would have to disagree. I think it is actually more probable the factory sendero would shoot around .75MOA than it would be to not shoot that well. Same with some of the Savage models. Now if you are looking for a rifle that will almost certainly shoot sub .5MOA then yeah a custom is probably the way to go. I don't know if I got lucky but I just put a criterion barrel on an old savage 110 7mm rem mag with a B&C stock that is not bedded except for the aluminum bedding block and that thing shoots sub .5MOA consistently at 400 yards with 160 accubonds. Unfortunately I have not been able to test it further yet. The entire project cost me 800 dollars.
The only other thing I can see as a benefit for a custom is that if you did get a factory lemon, which yes I do understand occurs, you could potentially burn through a couple hundred dollars worth of bullets, primers and powder trying to work up a load. Again, maybe I have just been lucky in my observations. I have only had one rifle that did not shoot to my expectations, it is a Remington mountain SS but I am thinking it is the fact it has not been bedded coupled with the VERY thin barrel. It shoots .8-1.2 MOA
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
A Custom rifle adds to pride of ownership, overall quality and for the most part very accurate and forgiving with different ammo.
I have never seen a factory rifle "consistently" shoot 1/4 MOA, Most good Customs will do it all day
and many will shoot under 1/10 MOA.
It is rare to find a factory rifle that will shoot 1/2 MOA but it does happen. the odds of a custom "Not shooting 1/2 MOA" are rare.
The difference in only a 1/4 moa and a 1/2 MOA are huge at long range and can mean the difference
in success or failure an extended distances.
Also the cost of a factory rifle that is built for long range approaches the cost of many customs.
One other thing, there is a lot of fun (Most of the time) in selecting, planning, building and shooting something made expressly for you, exactly the way you want it.
J E CUSTOM
I have never seen a factory rifle "consistently" shoot 1/4 MOA, Most good Customs will do it all day
and many will shoot under 1/10 MOA.
It is rare to find a factory rifle that will shoot 1/2 MOA but it does happen. the odds of a custom "Not shooting 1/2 MOA" are rare.
The difference in only a 1/4 moa and a 1/2 MOA are huge at long range and can mean the difference
in success or failure an extended distances.
Also the cost of a factory rifle that is built for long range approaches the cost of many customs.
One other thing, there is a lot of fun (Most of the time) in selecting, planning, building and shooting something made expressly for you, exactly the way you want it.
J E CUSTOM
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I've been saying this for years, and had people argue with me the whole time... I just ignore them. They usually don't shut up until we go to the range and they see first-hand what a true 1/2" (or better) 5-shot group from a factory rifle barrel looks like. Then they tend to let the subject go.
If you want to go full-custom, and you have the money....More power to you. But I like having a bunch of different 1/2 MOA rifles in a bunch of different calibers, with several that shoot better than 1/2 MOA, and not just 1 or 2 nice full-custom rifles. If I were more of a simplistic type of person, then buying 1 or 2 nice expensive custom rifles would be fine. But I like diversity, and I can't afford to have a custom rifle built and topped with a NF, for every rifle I currently own... I would be able to buy a new Dodge Viper for that kind of money.
I guess the reason I ask opinion on this one is I am acquiring a 300rum remington bdl from a buddy of mine. Trying to decide if u want to do a few things to it and see how it goes or just redo the whole thing. Like I said I have a good 7RM Sendero already. I got a270 bdl I just bedded and gonna do some loading for. Now I will have this 300rum. I have thought about making it a many year projectand just doing a little to it every year. I appreciate everybody's opinion.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
Not a fan of the RUM calibers myself... So, I would rebarrel it to a different caliber. JMO.
If it is a heavy barrel, I would see how it shoots. If it's a sporter barrel, I don't see you being happy with the accuracy. My buddy's 7RUM sporter CDL shot 3-4" groups at 100 yards. That is no lie. It had a beautiful cold-bore zero shot. But shots 2 and 3 were all over the map. It was not a reliable barrel, IMO. He snatched that barrel fast. LOL
If it is a heavy barrel, I would see how it shoots. If it's a sporter barrel, I don't see you being happy with the accuracy. My buddy's 7RUM sporter CDL shot 3-4" groups at 100 yards. That is no lie. It had a beautiful cold-bore zero shot. But shots 2 and 3 were all over the map. It was not a reliable barrel, IMO. He snatched that barrel fast. LOL
Bigeclipse
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the other thing you might want to consider as well is do you have the ability to work up perfect loads yet? If not, you may not be able to reap the full benefits of your current rifle and also a future custom rifle. I thought I had all the needed equipment for reloading but I am finding out otherwise. I am slowly seeing my groups shrink on my current factory rifles, the better I get at hand loading and the more I spend on the appropriate tools for it. It will make your head spin!
To the other posters... if full customs get you down to 1/4MOA or better that is AWESOME. I didn't know that! For my needs I doubt it is truly needed as I can only hunt to 500 yards at the moment.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I thought I had all the needed equipment too, but something new and cool comes out every 6 months to a year, that I "have" to have.
dragman
Well-Known Member
-Guys who buy customs will always say they are better
-Guys who run factory will always argue if I can get the same groups then why waist the money.
Yes at some point I see both sides if your only ever going to shoot 500 yards at max then why spend the money for a custom unless you just have it. but over 500 yards it would be a 1 in a 100 factory rifle that could truly compete with a full custom.
-Guys who run factory will always argue if I can get the same groups then why waist the money.
Yes at some point I see both sides if your only ever going to shoot 500 yards at max then why spend the money for a custom unless you just have it. but over 500 yards it would be a 1 in a 100 factory rifle that could truly compete with a full custom.
D
Deleted member 46119
Guest
The best guide to follow is the same as cars. Run what you got, that is the most economical.
With fire arms that boils down to:
Make sure the trigger is as light as you can stand.
Shoot it (develop a load), if it shoots leave it alone.
If it could shoot better, bed it and float it. Adjustments will have to be made to developed loads.
If it still won't shoot, check your optics and recheck your optics.
If it still wont shoot, put a quality barrel on it and have it "trued".
