Custom or off the shelf?
- Thread starter wildfowler.250
- Start date
JohnM70
Active Member
I'm in the very lucky position that I don't need to build or sell firearms to earn a living... my little business wipes its face but I don't have (or want) business premises, staff etc. so my overheads are very, very low - it's more of a hobby that helps fund my wine collection!
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
I one bought a camper van and had it customised. Pink body work in metallic "candy treats" shade, a black vinyl roof, the number "69" in a big white roundel "a la" Herbie "The Love Bug" save his was 53, and silvered non-rotating wheel covers and blue underbody lighting. Oh and tinted rear windows. And hand written lettering by a sign writing expert on the rear saying "Don't Laugh...Your Teenage Son May Be Inside". Cost an extra two thousand on top for all the work. But when it came to sell I didn't even seen back a third of what it cost me.
A bit tongue in cheek, the above, and a bit extreme, but what float your boat may sink anyone else's opinion of the thing. I cannot stand, for example, that 1970s British (P-Hale and BSA) faux Weatherby bastardisation of skip line chequering, square profile forend. Or other makers' pistol grips with a curve like a horse's hoof. Fluted barrels don't appeal nor jewelled bolts or picatinny rails here, or there, or every bloody where. Also that urban camouflage dipped finish on the stock. But what I like which is old school or modern interpretation such as P-Hale's M81 Classic others don't like.
I got a custom 6.5 Creed (Im bald so lets not start on the man bun abuse 
) last year and the key thing is that it suits me and beyond that I really dont care whether I could have bought something off the shelf thath would give similar results. I love to shoot it so well worth the price tag 
) last year and the key thing is that it suits me and beyond that I really dont care whether I could have bought something off the shelf thath would give similar results. I love to shoot it so well worth the price tag 
Todays costs for “semi custom” Tikka T3’s range from circa £1500 to £3500 depending on stock, mag system, fluting, coating etc.. shoot better than a factory rifle all day long and can be tailored to your exact requirements.
Pictures indicative of each end of the price range. Barrel fitting and chambering the same standard in all of our builds, the additional cost is in the component selection
Pictures indicative of each end of the price range. Barrel fitting and chambering the same standard in all of our builds, the additional cost is in the component selection
Attachments
Do you have one of these when you take the creed for a day outI got a custom 6.5 Creed (Im bald so lets not start on the man bun abuse
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I'm not into buying lots of new rifles, cost and age being major factors! However it often seems to me that the biggest benefit would be to end up with a rifle that really fitted, so maybe getting an action properly bedded into a truly adjustable stock might be the way to go, or go to a good stocker and get a stock made that really fits if you want to be traditional.
David.
David.
Yes mate..I tried to get a matching thong but alas we cant have everythingDo you have one of these when you take the creed for a day out
Ronin
Distinguished Member
I was about to mention @BE Precision....then he did it himself. I haven't had anything from him but had extensive chat which I was happy with but Irish Licensing is being slow! Tikka action, custom barrel, and everything else as you want it. Cheaper than the Sako and frankly if you are going for what you really want then don't worry about resale - godsons and future son in law can have them when I die!
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
I think there is a fundamental difference between a custom rifle and a high quality rifle.
Take a Rem 700 and stick it another stock, indeed stick it in a stock you have made yourself, but it’s still Rem 700 with all its foibles. A T3 is better, but its still a T3.
A proper high end rifle starts with a really well designed, and then well made action. The action needs be of high quality steel, that is properly hardened and finished. It’s design should allow good feeding of cartridges, but it is down to the rifle builder to ensure that it does so.
Then it comes to the barrel - again of high quality steel properly bored, chambered and finished. A really good barrel provides very good consistency shot to shot, and should maintain this over a long time. A Rem 700 shoots well - but for how many rounds.
Then the barrel and action needs to be properly mated with each other.
The sights and the scope mountings need to be an integral part of the rifle, not an aluminium bolt on afterthought.
Finally the stock. Firstly its fit to the barrel and action mist be perfect with no vibrations being set up. And the stock must either the user so the sights align where the rifleman is looking, or it must have the adjustment to allow such fit.
And then the rifle absolutely must be fit for purpose. Friends in club have some absolutely beautifully built F Class target of very high quality. They are very very good F class rifles. But would not be good as a driven boar rifle. Likewise a beautiful double rifle wouldn’t be good in F class.
Coming back to fit, I don’t like the adjustable comb / length of pull with plungers etc. and cheek peaces hovering over the stock. In a hunting rifle they just catch on things. I much prefer stock spacers and comb raisers that are firmly attached to the stock.
Guns loose money as they leave the workshop. Its a fact of owning rifles, especially where you have strict licensing. Even top end Holland and Hollands loose money.
But given time they might appreciate from a bottom end value, but only if they are particularly special as work of art with a wide appeal, or least appealing to at least three potential buyers who sense of must have outweighs the practicalities of value.
But a Rem 700 custom, will still be a Rem 700.
Take a Rem 700 and stick it another stock, indeed stick it in a stock you have made yourself, but it’s still Rem 700 with all its foibles. A T3 is better, but its still a T3.
A proper high end rifle starts with a really well designed, and then well made action. The action needs be of high quality steel, that is properly hardened and finished. It’s design should allow good feeding of cartridges, but it is down to the rifle builder to ensure that it does so.
Then it comes to the barrel - again of high quality steel properly bored, chambered and finished. A really good barrel provides very good consistency shot to shot, and should maintain this over a long time. A Rem 700 shoots well - but for how many rounds.
Then the barrel and action needs to be properly mated with each other.
The sights and the scope mountings need to be an integral part of the rifle, not an aluminium bolt on afterthought.
Finally the stock. Firstly its fit to the barrel and action mist be perfect with no vibrations being set up. And the stock must either the user so the sights align where the rifleman is looking, or it must have the adjustment to allow such fit.
And then the rifle absolutely must be fit for purpose. Friends in club have some absolutely beautifully built F Class target of very high quality. They are very very good F class rifles. But would not be good as a driven boar rifle. Likewise a beautiful double rifle wouldn’t be good in F class.
Coming back to fit, I don’t like the adjustable comb / length of pull with plungers etc. and cheek peaces hovering over the stock. In a hunting rifle they just catch on things. I much prefer stock spacers and comb raisers that are firmly attached to the stock.
Guns loose money as they leave the workshop. Its a fact of owning rifles, especially where you have strict licensing. Even top end Holland and Hollands loose money.
But given time they might appreciate from a bottom end value, but only if they are particularly special as work of art with a wide appeal, or least appealing to at least three potential buyers who sense of must have outweighs the practicalities of value.
But a Rem 700 custom, will still be a Rem 700.
Never had a custom built rifle but do have a Sako 90 Quest in .243 & absolutely love it, can’t see me replacing or swapping it out any time soon, had a good look around before buying it as in my head I’m thinking it’ll probably be the last centre fire I’ll buy (never say never, i know). It is a lovely rifle though, and yes I’m going to say that aren’t I as I’ve brought one , well my wife brought it for me really.
, well my wife brought it for me really.A few years ago for my 60th birthday. I had Mike Norris put a .308 barrel on a rifle i had sent to him . T3 action with a Orisis fluted barrel he had in stock. Sprayed in a tungsten steel cerokote . I put it into a super varmint stock with a limbsaver butt pad this made a difference. I then bought PSE E-lite stock loved it . Then I became out of work so sold it.
I made it a semi custom which I wanted
Now in the super varmint stock . Still shoots the same . Deer still hit the floor
Still thinking of the next rifle another 6.5x55
This time a t3 . Just the hassle of the paper work and a switch barrel disposal . RWS titan 6 in 6.5x55 .
I made it a semi custom which I wanted
Now in the super varmint stock . Still shoots the same . Deer still hit the floor
Still thinking of the next rifle another 6.5x55
This time a t3 . Just the hassle of the paper work and a switch barrel disposal . RWS titan 6 in 6.5x55 .
Thank God the weather's cooling down now, and you'll need to be properly dressed for the next range day.Yes mate..I tried to get a matching thong but alas we cant have everything
Admit it: You just want one like mine really.
Put your fingers in your ears, shut your eyes, and pull the trigger with your big toe. You'll still end up with the same number of deer on the deckI pi.. myself laughing. 270 hurts my ears especially if they have a mussel brake
Having had .308, then .30-06 and 6.5x55 and now getting a more target orientated 6.5CM, I shot a .308 Mauser M18 on the range at the weekend (great rifle for the money BTW) and I think .308 is the perfect UK stalking round and I would have my"forever" deer rifle in that...with the others for specialist jobs...big reds, Roe, MJ....
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