Curiosity ? on wrong rifle purchase.

cycbb486

cycbb486

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Straight and to the point.

How many people have actually made a rifle purchase or a build thinking that they would be interested in shooting a certain discipline and then realized it was not what it was cut out to be?

An example would be building a rifle capable of shooting 1000 yards and then realized there was no place to shoot it that was within reasonable distance.

I made the mistake by tearing appart a perfectly fine CZ 452 22LR and turning it into a Full Blown Benchrest rifle. Not satisfied as it is not a TRUE BR action. Must be the real deal.

CBY
 
I've made the mistake of being talked into buying factory rifles that weren't up to the task, but that's as close as I have come.
 
I have seen guys spend for serious coin on rifles to shoot in competition that will only fit the safety template on one range in Ontario.
Seen lots of guys spend way too much on the latest factory uber sniper magnum rifle with death-ray scope only to be whooped by a guy shooting a .223 target rifle with iron sights off his elbows at 1000 yards.
Seen guys buy factory rifles to shoot F Class that don't have a fast enough twist to shoot past 600 yards.

I always try to tell guys not to spend a dime on any precision rifle or equipment until they go out to a few matches and see what everyone else is shooting. There is a good chance you can built a rifle cheaper than some factory rifle.
 
I had my first full custom built about a year ago on a Barnard action, Robertson composites stock and Lilja barrel in a 7mm saum( deadly accurate). I just got the second one 4 days ago also built on a Barnard, Robertson composites stock and Trueflight barrel in a 7mm RUM. With less than 45 rounds in load development I found one deadly accurate load. I shot a group of 3 at 109 yards. I let the barrel cool for 10 minutes and shot 2 more into the same group. It measured 0.137 .That to me is worth the price of admission.It is just down right fun to shoot a super accurate rifle.So to answer your question, so far I have no regrets.
 
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The reason

I am asking is there is always so many questions on the board about I want to build a rifle for long range, F-class, etc etc. Then there are at times MANY big ticket rifles for sale. I just wonder how many people actually KNOW OR KNEW what they were getting into?????

CBY
 
I have to admit the cost was much greater than I expected.It's not just the rifle but the precision dies,neck turner, concentricity guage,jewel triggers and the list goes on and on.
If I had to do it over again I would have started with a Tikka super varmit in a small caliber. I would have saved a ton of money and could have worked on shooting form, load development etc while not wearing out an expensive custom barrel.Plus with something like a tikka it isn't a big production just go shoot the thing, no 25 lb rest to tote along etc etc...
 
I am kinda in that boat right now.

I am trying to shoot 100-200 yard BR with a rifle I built for 800-1000 yard shooting. Ended up removing the McMilly A5 for a speedy style stock and mounting a BR scope but still shooting the long pills that shoot good at 600-1000 but don't do much better than .3-.5 at 100. Still good, but nothing like a 6PPC with a fast twist shooting lighter bullets meant for super short range precision.

More or less trying to play 2 games with one gun and not doing good at either. At least I now have a place where I can go whenever I want and shoot 800 yards and its only 20 mins from my house.
 
While I didn't spend big $$$ on a custom rifle, I have one that isn't working out as planned. Last year I bought a Savage 12FV in 22-250 for a varmint/coyote gun. The rifle works fine and I have found decent loads that shoot well. However, it has never made it out for either gophers or yotes yet and I am thinking that a fast twist .223 would have been a better choice for 99% of my shooting.

Instead of giving up on it, I am thinking I will buy one of Mystic's prechambered barrels with a fast twist and long throat for the heavier bullets and see how that works out in 22-250.

Mark
 
Did I ever tell the story about the SSS stock I ordered on 12th December 2009. It was gonna take 8 weeks, then another 8 weeks, then 3 to 4 weeks, well I'm now down to 2 to 3 weeks before shipping commences. The day after I ordered it I found out robertson Composites was only 10 minutes form my place of work.

I have my Shilen barrel which I think can shoot but its stuck in the crappy stevens stock which I just do not have the skills to shoot consistantly with. Did I ever tell that story. :rolleyes:

But no I don't have regrets. When I get that SSS stock I'l be super happy. :D
 
warrenb said:
Did I ever tell the story about the SSS stock I ordered on 12th December 2009. It was gonna take 8 weeks, then another 8 weeks, then 3 to 4 weeks, well I'm now down to 2 to 3 weeks before shipping commences. The day after I ordered it I found out robertson Composites was only 10 minutes form my place of work.

I have my Shilen barrel which I think can shoot but its stuck in the crappy stevens stock which I just do not have the skills to shoot consistantly with. Did I ever tell that story. :rolleyes:

But no I don't have regrets. When I get that SSS stock I'l be super happy. :D
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I don't think they inlet for Savage actually. At least they didn't when I asked before I bought my SSS stock that took 8-9 months to arrive.
 
MagnumPeanut said:
I don't think they inlet for Savage actually. At least they didn't when I asked before I bought my SSS stock that took 8-9 months to arrive.
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I was wondering that and was going to give them a call to find out. Why would anyone not inlet for a savage action? :confused:

EDIT: so if I was doing it again, I would start with a BVSS or VLP (rather than a stevens) because they have nice stocks that sit stable in the bags. And the accu triggers are half way decent to start also.
 
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I don't know how many are going to report on the open forum of purchasing or building the wrong firearm for whatever reason, however when looking through the classifieds you will see tons of firearms that only have less than 100 rounds through them and they are going for decent dollars such as $2k plus.

Who invests that type of money into something like that only to turn around and sell it after putting 50-100 rounds through it. People that didn't ask the right questions prior to the purchase. Those are the ones you are asking for!

Greg
 
Coyote Caller what you said above is 100%. I am waiting patiently for some of those to speak up. Top dollar rifles can be tough to sell at times so unless people have money to burn and are not concerned about the rifle sitting, there must be a TON of pricey rifles sitting in cabinets collecting dust.

I have noticed some people who have bought rifles for a discipline and ended up selling them before ever putting them into the ring.

CBY
 
cycbb486 said:
I have noticed some people who have bought rifles for a discipline and ended up selling them before ever putting them into the ring.

CBY
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I do not shoot any disciplines, I shoot for fun and I think my rifles reflect that! Have you noticed my kind too? :)
 
Well, I have a couple of pretty pricey rigs and I am not sure I will ever shoot a competition. I am still glad I did it though. I have been reloading for approx 33 years but I have learned so much more about PRECISION reloading in the last year and half than the previous 31 combined.Sure I was very familiar with reading pressure signs and all that stuff but I just never had the equipment before to tell if neck tension etc etc would make a difference . I would never know if it was me or the rifle.Now I know when something isn't working cause the rifle is more capable than I am...I know I am getting somewhere when I am down to the 3/8ths area and then I refine things a bit in hopes of getting sub 1/4 moa . It also really helps with shooting form because I know when I have a really good load and it doesn't do 1/4 inch that it was me. I will analyze where the impact is and what I did inconsistent to cause it.I am also learning a lot about setup for consistency. When I think about it, the biggest regret I have is that I didn't do it a lot sooner. I could have learned so much more by now....
 
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The reason there are alot of big ticket rifles for sale at times are because of people like me :) whim-buyers

with my precision/long range/varmint/snipersteez rifle im going to take the time with my build and buy something that wont kill me financially for the next 3 years
as really im not experienced enough to warrant dropping more than a couple of grand into it just yet
 
Most guys that buy a 338 Lapua because "they want to shoot long range."

Poor place to learn.....Just as me! :redface: :D
 
I think alot of people like "Building the ultimate rifle" or whatever, and then find its alot of work or expense to shoot it? Dont shoot it as much as they hoped?

Its the same with car or bike people, half of them spend years fixing up and building, but when its done they are quickly bored of the project.
 
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