Cost of full custom rifle but on budget?

As another said above, prowl the classifieds and be ready to pounce. I caught a custom 6.5 SAUM for $1,400 with brass and dies. Was $2,100.

I missed a Seekins Havak Pro a couple weeks ago. Waited about 30 minutes to make decision. Was 20 minutes too slow.

Unless you want to simply build your own. At that rate, find a gunsmith and design with their input.
 
Ive built about 40 rifles and the most cost effective way to build a poor mans Custom rifle is grab an used Kimber Montana in your desired action length, 84M, 84L or 8400wsm or 8400 Long Action,
They have an excellent adjustable trigger, and all stainless action and a Kevlar/Carbon Fibre stock so it has all the components in one package other than a barrel,

buy your self a #2 Contour Bartlein, Benchmark or HawkHill barrel and have your Gunsmith.......

True,Square and bed the Action
Lighten the trigger to 2.5lbs
Chamber barrel to your desired caliber and your all set with an excellent all stainless lightweight custom hunting rifle.

Probably no more than 1400-1500 dollars all in depending on the price of the donor rifle, barrel and labour

Ive built several with the Montana as a donor and they are 2nd to none as a hunting rifle, here's my latest 300 PRC on a Montana 8400 LA I just picked up this morning


You can also use a Tikka T3x or Sako A7 which is a good platform but there stocks aren't the best, other than that they are a great donor.

Hers a 6.5 PRC built on a Montana 8400 WSM donor


Heres my first 300 PRC built on a Montana 8400 LA


Heres a pair of 6.5-284s built on Montana 84L actions


Here's my sheep hunting rig 6.5-284 built on a Montana 84M short action

Lol you're so consistent it's amazing. Always got a new rifle being built and it's always on a Montana
 
Lol you're so consistent it's amazing. Always got a new rifle being built and it's always on a Montana

Here ya go, its my poor mans Custom Target rifle, 6.5 PRC built on a Sako A7 with #3 contour HawkHill barrel !

Ive built a few full customs on Defiance actions but they don't shoot any better than the Montanas !

 
I need to buy a Montana and see how it feels. I could save some money from full customs but doing tried 700s but don't like how they feel that much.
 
I really like doing quality budget builds, pretty much narrowed it down to a Tikka, straight action, straight bolt, great trigger, no extra crap and excellent design, I love building on them with a quality barrel and drop into a quality stock and sell of the parts and be done. Build a lot of Sherman shorts and WSM's and of everything I've built with it's hard pressed to surpass the Tikka action for a quality budget build, I won't use a Remington anymore for these or a Savage.
 
Have used Hawk Hills in last 3 6.5 rigs and have had excellent success with them. That said one of my favs is a B series, rem700 in 30-06 bedded into a classic Mcmillan. Seekins rail and rings with 6x SS. Shoots 155 scenars and 180 accubonds very well for around $850.
 
Bighorn horn origin - $850
Or a trued 700 action for ~600ish.
Timney 510 - $140 I think
Grayboe stock ~$400-500
Grayboe bottom metal $160
Rock creek prefit barrel and nut ~$450
Action wrench $70
Headspace gauges $70
 
I did a 6.5 saum budget build. Found a used Remington 270 wsm for 300 bucks. Had the action trued and a bartlein barrel installed. I bought a McMillan on clearance and used the factory trigger and bdl bottom metal. I have 1200 bucks in it and it's a solid 1/2 moa rifle.
 
All,
I want a custom rifle built but as my title states im on a budget. I do not have an exact budget in mind but am starting to save. My original thought was to buy a cooper rifle but now im thinking I may just go custom depending on costs. What can I expect? This will be a handy rifle and not a dedicated long range. I am thinking along the lines of a sporter type weight in a sporter style stock. I am mostly concerned about accuracy and weight and do not need ultra fancy (such as custom milling of bolts and barrels and such for appearance sake). So what do you think the cost would be for a reputable company to build me this rifle? I am thinking something in a Remington 700 style action. Mcmillan stock would be sweet but they are expensive so not sure if there are other budget friendly options which are almost as nice. I definitely do not want a wood stock as this rifle will be carried in dense woods. I think id prefer stainless but not settled on that. Caliber is also not decided but is between 6.5prc, 6.5x284, 280, 280ai. Game will be 99% whitetails with a very rare opportunity on a black bear. I do not hunt for black bear direct but if one comes by during deer season, id take one so let's focus on that. This rifle MUST be sub 1 MOA out to 500 yards and would prefer closer to .5MOA. So what do you think im looking at for costs and which companies should I look into to build me this rifle? Thanks!
Bell & Carlson are very nice stocks and less than half the cost of McMillan, but they are heavier.
 
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