Cost of full custom rifle but on budget?

OP was planning on buying a cooper, I mean absolutely zero disrespect by this because coopers are sweet, but OP wants to spend some money.

What we "need" is a savage axis or the like and a fixed 6x for 95% of hunting. Sometimes we want cool stuff. You can assemble one hell of a rig with 2.5k
 
The same is true for non-braked rifles.
Any kind of muzzle brake raises the decibels to the point of being much more harmful to your hearing with one shot, than a standard rifle without a brake. I always wear ear plugs when shooting, but seldom wear them when hunting. My buddy has a brake on his 7 Mag, and will not shoot it Evan once, without hearing protection. Ha! One time he stuffed cigarette butts in his ears, because he left his plugs.
 
Any kind of muzzle brake raises the decibels to the point of being much more harmful to your hearing with one shot, than a standard rifle without a brake. I always wear ear plugs when shooting, but seldom wear them when hunting. My buddy has a brake on his 7 Mag, and will not shoot it Evan once, without hearing protection. Ha! One time he stuffed cigarette butts in his ears, because he left his plugs.

All my hunting rifles sports MBs and suppressor. I do not wear earplugs because I want to hear what's around me. I however use balaclava and it's plenty enough protection for the one shot, it's like cupping a hand over the ears.
 
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This is a good example of a budget custom that leaves no compromise and is built for hunting hard and far.
Tikka 7mag bought new, tore down, fit and chamber a Rock Creek #5 cut back to 24 inches, threaded for suppressor with timed brake adapter. Stock opened up and barreled action bedded back in by owner. Rail and custom bolt knob by owner and fluting by Polished Knob. Chambered in 300 WSM set up on the 215 Berger, dropped everything out to 600 yards last year with one round right though the cross hairs with the 215 running mild at just over 2900 fps, an easy 1000 yard kill everything you range rig with no compromises, shoots small too and he's into it including gunsmithing just over $1700 without the optic, suppressor or bipod naturally!
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OP was planning on buying a cooper, I mean absolutely zero disrespect by this because coopers are sweet, but OP wants to spend some money.

What we "need" is a savage axis or the like and a fixed 6x for 95% of hunting. Sometimes we want cool stuff. You can assemble one hell of a rig with 2.5k
Very true, I bought a Savage Axis 223 heavy barrel for $175 after rebates on Black Friday a couple years ago that shoots 3/8" groups with Hornady Match factory ammo. The stock is horrible but you can't argue the price.
 
This is a good example of a budget custom that leaves no compromise and is built for hunting hard and far.
Tikka 7mag bought new, tore down, fit and chamber a Rock Creek #5 cut back to 24 inches, threaded for suppressor with timed brake adapter. Stock opened up and barreled action bedded back in by owner. Rail and custom bolt knob by owner and fluting by Polished Knob. Chambered in 300 WSM set up on the 215 Berger, dropped everything out to 600 yards last year with one round right though the cross hairs with the 215 running mild at just over 2900 fps, an easy 1000 yard kill everything you range rig with no compromises, shoots small too and he's into it including gunsmithing just over $1700 without the optic, suppressor or bipod naturally!
View attachment 142135

For a budget build, it's hard to argue with a Tikka action, as long as you are building for a short action cartridge. Since they are 30-06 length actions, they are not ideal for long action cartridges unless you're willing to live with the COAL constraints. Lately I have seen aftermarket long action bottom metal for AICS mags, but don't know how well that works.

Savage is the other way to go, and there are a lot of benefits to them as well.

Maybe the best way to go is finding a full custom barreled action for sale that is close to or exactly what you want. I have one rifle that was built this way, and easily saved $1500 over the cost to build once I bedded it in a Manners.

I have also owned a number of customs that somehow didn't suit the original owner, and these can be had at a great savings too, but since they aren't custom-for-me, they mostly haven't met my needs.

For some people, buy-once . . . cry once works, and it's hard to argue against that logic, but I am kind-of a churner so it wouldn't work for me.

Finally, though not "custom", companies like Cooper, Seekins, Barrett, Bergara, Fierce, offer enough great rifles with enough variety to satisfy most any need for under $2500.
 
Can't get any better than this... unless you choose a PVA pre-fit barrel for the Curtis, but then you need the tools to install the barrel yourself.

Curtis Axiom $1,095
Bartlein Barrel $345
Gunsmith Chamber/Install $325
Timney Calin Elite $230
Bottom Metal $163
Stocky's Long Range Composite Stock M50 $150

Total $2308
 
Or just save yourself $1000 and the time by buying a Christensen Arms Mesa for $1295..

Can't get any better than this... unless you choose a PVA pre-fit barrel for the Curtis, but then you need the tools to install the barrel yourself.

Curtis Axiom $1,095
Bartlein Barrel $345
Gunsmith Chamber/Install $325
Timney Calin Elite $230
Bottom Metal $163
Stocky's Long Range Composite Stock M50 $150

Total $2308
 
Barret Fieldcraft
Cooper
Kimber
Christensen
Tikka

All are great factory rifles, that can probably shoot better than the average custom built rifle owner can handle... I stand by my custom recommendation of a Curtis for $2300, but still believe that the average shooter can save a ton of money on a Christensen.

The Christansen isn't the same league as what was posted!
 
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!

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

I went back and reviewed your original post, and if you want a custom hunting rifle on a budget, then IMO you would be hard-pressed to do better than Weatherby Fan's recommendation.

The Kimber donor already has a great stock with exceptional ergos, a lightweight action, and a great trigger.

All you need is some gunsmith work and a top quality barrel and you are done. $1500 sounds like a good estimate, and 1/2 MOA should be reasonable.
 
"Budget" can mean anything, $1k, $2.5k, $5k,...It's just an upper limit or range that a person is willing to spend. "Custom" would mean something that you just cannot buy, special stock, super light weight, obscure caliber, or you want bragging rights. Could be he wants the piece of mind that his action and barrel are trued and fit better than a factory rifle, I'm in that boat myself, but mine shoot well enough that I don't want to spend the money to do more.

He wants a Whitetail woods rifle that can shoot reasonably accurate to 500 yds, don't understand the no wood stock thing, I use wood stocks all the time and I'm hunting Pacific Northwest, thick timber and rains all the time here. No issues with accuracy or durability. Don't think he needs a 26" barreled, long range sniper rifle. Big canyon open terrain maybe yes but not in thick whitetail woods.
 
Check out E. R. Shaw. They make custom rifles on the Savage action and you can get a variety of options and calibers at prices ranging from $1,200. I am currently getting a rifle made here by William Trotter in .35 Whelen with a Shaw 26 inch 1 in 14 twist heavy sporter barrel. Its on a Remington 700 action and will mount a Shepherd P2 scope. Cost will be under $800.00.
 
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!
I'm going to **** alot of people on here off, but to do what you (op) wants to do is a complete waste of money to "build" anything. There are any number of rifles under $1000 that will do exactly what you want and they exist in the cartridges you list. And if you happen to get the occasional dud-in-a-box, sell it and buy another one. You're still ahead money.

Before any of you blow your tops, or computers up, my friend (and gunsmith) and his neighbor were sitting around talking 2 days ago about this. He does this for a living, and he's as ultra precise as a brain operation with a laser. He looks me in the eye and says, "You know as well as I do many of the off-the-shelf guns will shoot just as accurately as most any custom gun." I admitted MORE accurately many times. He grinned and said he hoped none of his work fell in that category. I grinned back and said not so far, but the jury was still out on the last one. A $250 Marlin XL7 or XS7 will hold .700" @100yds all day. That's why Remington bought them and ceased production. They had a decent trigger and cheap but utilitarian stock and a fluted bolt, along with an excellent safety. A Bergara low end model will shoot in the .5s. How do I know? Most of your Browning X-Bolts will shoot half or sub-half MOA without buying the McMillan version. I have multiple examples of that. I'm making my cousin some ammo for his now-discontinued Remington 710 in .30-06. It was considered by most to be junk. The barrel isn't free floated, the factory trigger is 6 lbs, and it ain't much to look at. That stupid thing that sold for $300 new shoots one ragged hole with my handloads and a good rest. I've got guns I've invested $4000 in that won't do that, man! More than one! I could rework his trigger for him and buy that gun for whatever he wanted and be REAL happy! Winchester XPRs will go at least to the .7s, also. You want something special, invest $700 in a Sauer 100 in your 6.5 PRC. Or if you just like the cool, tactical look, buy the new Ruger Hawkeye Varmint Target rifle for $999 in 6.5 PRC with full 26" tube. It has a 2+ lb trigger in it and demonstrates sub-1/2 MOA in reviews. The first guy that commented on this post advised you to buy a Tikka Tx3 and have it rebarreled. I'm telling you that you don't even have to have it rebarreled. The Tx3 will shoot 1/2 MOA with it's preferred load off the shelf.

There are only 2 reasons to build a custom gun. Well, 3. Ok, 4. 1)For a particular style that fits the shooter better than available models, 2)For a special caliber (cartridge chambering) that isn't available in the desired model or anywhere, 3)For a competition grade rifle, and 4)Just because you want to and what people like me say is boring and can't possibly be true. Then $60,000 or more later after 20+ custom guns, many of them wildcats, have been built and paid for, you realize only one or two was as great as you thought it might or ought to be. Yes, that's me. I've easily spent money to build at least 20 custom guns. I've used barrels from McGowen, Mullerworks, Shilen, Hart, Pac-Nor, Krieger, Bartlein, Douglas, Brux, Lilja, Wilson, etc. and had as much blue printing as any machinist would care to do on Winchester, Remington, Pierce, Weatherby, Savage, and CZ, and spent several thousand dollars in parts, labor, and loading components for each one. Not one was capable of doing what the $300 Remington 710 is doing now. One other gun was capable, and it was a Browning A-Blolt Eclipse in 270 WSM. Now I've had some quarter-inch big magnums that were capable of a whole lot more than this .30-06, and I've had some very capable .22 wildcats.

Look, if you want to build super, guaranteed accuracy into a custom rifle, you can. It's going to have a near straight-taper barrel sitting in a Manners, McMillan, or AG Composites stock. If you want to tote a 15-lb rifle into the woods every time, it will be superbly accurate. I believe what you are asking for is something you actually enjoy carrying and not "lugging" or "hauling" around. Go to www.stockysstocks.com and you'll be able to configure the stock you want. If it's not available, you'll know where to look to get it factory direct. www.bugholes.com and www.redhawkrifles.com ALL have precision parts available. you're dead set on forking out the dough you could be spending on high-end glass, my advice is to see which stock on Stocky's site tickles your fancy, and order it. Go over to Red Hawk Rifles and buy a Douglas Air-Gauged barrel in appropriate contour for your wants and specifications in your bore size of choice. Have a knowledgable, capable, and ENTHUSIASTIC gunsmith do the machining and bed your action choice in your stock of choice with that Douglas air-gauged barrel and be prepared to spend a lot of time at the reloading bench to figure out the gun's desires. That's right. You HAVE to reload to get the performance you're looling for. And top accuracy. Don't blame the rifle for poor accuracy if you haven't taken the time to craft and feed it what it wants.

$1800 is going to be about the least you'll spend for a custom buy a Browning X-Bolt in 280 Remington, or the new Ruger Target in 6.5 PRC, or the Sauer 100 in 6.5 PRC, or a Savage Long Range Hunter in 6.5x284 and be amazed at the accuracy and value in what you get- or throw it out and buy another one if it doesn't function up to par. I could buy 6 of the Rem 710s for my least expensive custom and the extra dollars bought no more accuracy. They bought perfect balance, good trigger, extra long barrel for extra velocity, and unique caliber/cartridge- and great accuracy- just not quite as great as the 710 model. AG Composites and Manners are my 2 favorite choices for custom stocks. You won't go wrong with any barrel you pick from any one of the Web sites I listed. It's easier to just go ahead and buy an aftermarket action rather than make smith do all the dialing in to true/blue-print a factory action. Lots of big name, flashy actions out there now and list grows by the day. Still nothing wrong with a plain old Stiller Predator to drop into a Manners stock and have it properly bedded. I have a smith I'd trust to do anything here right by home and his name is Johnny Garris and he owns Custom Gun Coatings and Repair in Mobile, AL. He can do anything you want done and do it faster than 90% of any other smith in the country. Most of your "big time" smiths are only interested in building you a super-ultra-long-range-badass-countersniper-tactical-match rig weighing the requisite 15 pounds or more capable of shooting about what the $300 Remington 710 is shooting. A "regular" hunting rifle is beneath them. Tell Johnny that Ray Young from Hurley, MS sent you and you might get an even better deal than he's already going to give you.

Another option is a semi-custom. Montana Rifle Company and Nosler both make sub-MOA rifles in the calibers you specified for half the price of a Cooper. If you want to go a little higher up the food chain, buy a Fierce Fury for $1999 and it's GUARANTEED to shoot 1/2 MOA! Best deal on the market, IMHO. But don't just throw money at the idea. You are much more likely to be disappointed since your expectations will be perfection for something "custom" you paid all that money for. Good luck!
 
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