what defines a custom rifle

[Phil fox man]

the first I a 22/250 first made by Callum at PRS around 20 years ago on a sako action.
over the year's it's had many expensive " custom" parts added.
1)new barrel this year from Brock & Norris, it's on its third.
2)multi adjustable stock from Danny at Stafford custom stocks.
3)north star mod.
4)nightforce nxs scope.
5)archer and dragonfly nv.
no expense has been spared an will shoot under 1/4 moa.
now the rub is !
the 243 zastava has had the rear of the stock replaced from on old Chinese air gun and filled.
the t8 came off the 22/250 and a 7mm drill run through it.
the action was bedded with epoxy.
the home loads were done to factory col .
finally the but extender was threaded bar and an old but pad.
this gun will shoot1/2 moa and fit's me as well as the other.its not as pretty as the other but shoots nearly as good.
go on give me your thoughts ? I'm a big boy and can take it!

 

[Stevie/P]

the first I a 22/250 first made by Callum at PRS around 20 years ago on a sako action.
over the year's it's had many expensive " custom" parts added.
1)new barrel this year from Brock & Norris, it's on its third.
2)multi adjustable stock from Danny at Stafford custom stocks.
3)north star mod.
4)nightforce nxs scope.
5)archer and dragonfly nv.
no expense has been spared an will shoot under 1/4 moa.
now the rub is !
the 243 zastava has had the rear of the stock replaced from on old Chinese air gun and filled.
the t8 came off the 22/250 and a 7mm drill run through it.
the action was bedded with epoxy.
the home loads were done to factory col .
finally the but extender was threaded bar and an old but pad.
this gun will shoot1/2 moa and fit's me as well as the other.its not as pretty as the other but shoots nearly as good.
go on give me your thoughts ? I'm a big boy and can take it! View attachment 285787View attachment 285790

At the end of the day it’s a tool not a show piece and works.
I sometimes think I would like a magnificent tool instead of this great big thing.

 

[Greenmist]

Factory action + new barrel (not factory) = semi custom

Bat, Surgeon etc action + barrel etc etc = full custom

 

[Malxwal]

It's something I give not one toss about, but; what's the real difference between using a Tikka/Remmy action and buying a fancy Gucci action, when both will form the basis upon which the Krieger and the McMillan are then fitted to ? If the McMillan is inletted from a blank, does that not imply more "custom" ?

 

[NigelM]

It's something I give not one toss about, but; what's the real difference between using a Tikka/Remmy action and buying a fancy Gucci action, when both will form the basis upon which the Krieger and the McMillan are then fitted to ? If the McMillan is inletted from a blank, does that not imply more "custom" ?

If the action is blueprinted then in practical terms absolutely nothing at all, but @Greenmist is right in his definition.

 

[Malxwal]

If the action is blueprinted then in practical terms absolutely nothing at all, but @Greenmist is right in his definition.

For sure, as a rule, that's the definition. Especially so in the case of a Remmy that has had truing carried out, it's custom work. Even bedding a pre inlet stock to a factory action is custom work, so the generally accepted definition isn't really accurate.
(Bitter and twisted as he can't afford the Gucci action here )

 

[One on top of two]

How can it be custom if everyone is using pretty much the same custom parts ? Just a thought .

 

[Malxwal]

I'd "argue" (I won't really) that custom should imply some work that is unique to that build, such as inletting a blank or pillar bedding, altering stock length or height etc ?

 

[scotch_egg]

The full term customised should be used rather than the shortened term custom.

All rifles modified in any way to suit the end user are customised. This will include the changing of any part from how the rifle left the original manufacturer.

It’s the level of customisation that changes between rifles.

Not all changed features will be desirable to everyone. Hence the difficulties selling a customised rifle and usually the significant loss in any invested associated costs.

 

[enfieldspares]

For a gun or rifle made to individual order from loose and separate component parts I hate the bloody word "custom" an awful Americanism that has no place here. Like a person talking of a "custom" made suit of clothes. The word is "bespoke". Like say a Purdey side-by-side sidelock even if there's a rack of them identically all the same!

The word "customised" (as per SCOTCH_EGG) better describes, as he notes, any rifle bought in as a complete assembled rifle from which some parts, maybe a barrel) are then replaced or slightly changed such as a different bolt handle (or even extensively modified such as bolt fluting) to the need or usage or taste of the owner. Just my 2p worth!

 

[mealiejimmy]

the first I a 22/250 first made by Callum at PRS around 20 years ago on a sako action.
over the year's it's had many expensive " custom" parts added.
1)new barrel this year from Brock & Norris, it's on its third.
2)multi adjustable stock from Danny at Stafford custom stocks.
3)north star mod.
4)nightforce nxs scope.
5)archer and dragonfly nv.
no expense has been spared an will shoot under 1/4 moa.
now the rub is !
the 243 zastava has had the rear of the stock replaced from on old Chinese air gun and filled.
the t8 came off the 22/250 and a 7mm drill run through it.
the action was bedded with epoxy.
the home loads were done to factory col .
finally the but extender was threaded bar and an old but pad.
this gun will shoot1/2 moa and fit's me as well as the other.its not as pretty as the other but shoots nearly as good.
go on give me your thoughts ? I'm a big boy and can take it! View attachment 285787View attachment 285790

It means whatever you want it to mean
For some people replacing the standard trigger with a jewel or something similar is enough for them to call it a customised rifle.
For others, every component has to come from a different supplier - each of which, in the opinion of the person having the rifle built, are the best available

Cheers

Bruce

 

[martin_b]

To me it means "made to measure". In a shotgun that would be the stock barrel lenght &choke, and i my case for a rife that means Ive got an action, barrel and stock all selcted by me and the barrel has been chambered for a specific weight bullet at a specified COAL.

 

[Ronin]

I really think it’s down to the owner what they consider is custom, customised or semi custom

A Rem 700 with a replacement trigger is customised

Like any factory action with a replacement non standard barrel

Full custom - well I’d suggest a rifle buikt to the specification of the end user that didn’t come from a factory

 

[Dunwaters]

A custom rifle is one built to your specification.
It matters not whether its plastic and stainless steel or wood and blued, what defines it is that there isn’t another one exactly like it on the planet.
Unless of course you’re a lot better off than I am and ordered a matched pair…

 

[Phil fox man]

A custom rifle is one built to your specification.
It matters not whether its plastic and stainless steel or wood and blued, what defines it is that there isn’t another one exactly like it on the planet.
Unless of course you’re a lot better off than I am and ordered a matched pair…

and there is not another one like my 243
zastava on this post

 

[User00040]

If you can do it yourself by ordering online, opening a box and bolting it on with some allen keys, it's not 'custom' (even though many will choose to delegate this task).

Unless you have dropped over £25k picking out the stock from a bit of wood that is over 100 years old, been measured to fit and had your family crest and initials inlaid in gold, it's not custom!

I doubt many/any of the top pro shooters in NZ/Aus have 'custom' rifles although they may have been given the 'Trigger's Broom' treatment (new stock, bolt/firing pin, trigger, barrel) over time (see SD Dictionary)

 

[20-250]

Unless you have dropped over £25k picking out the stock from a bit of wood that is over 100 years old, been measured to fit and had your family crest and initials inlaid in gold, it's not custom!

You do spout some crap.

 

[Dunwaters]

and there is not another one like my 243
zastava on this post

I dunno, I think a true custom rifle/gun is assembled with care and skill and displays a level of craftsmanship and somewhat above the ordinary. Somewhere during the process it crosses the line from “tool” to “art”.
Your rifles are fine examples of working tools adapted to their owners specific requirements, but I wouldn’t describe them as
” custom work” .
If you were to submit them to, for example, Ronin of this forum and have him work his magic by transforming your working concepts into a truly elegant functional sculpture in steel and plastic, that would be a true custom rifle.

 

[Cottis]

Who cares. If it works, it aint stupid.

But I suppose I always see the term "custom" bandied around in the shooting world but rarely the term "modified".

Modifications, to me, are updates generically that can improve something but do not necessarily improve it to purposely fit the individual user. That is where the term "custom" would be defined for me. As in made for the customer, to fit the customer better than anyone else. ie, fit to them in terms of measurements, anthropometrically speaking.

 

[viking90]

I hate the term "custom rifle" with a passion. It's not custom, it's just a load of off the shelf parts screwed together. "Custom action" is basically a fancy way of saying I dropped about 2 grand on a remington copy lol. In my trade (fabrication/engineering) if something is custom/bespoke made it's because it's not available anywhere else and is usually a one off. Unfortunately fancy words and being shiny often sells stuff