Buy or build?
- Thread starter KDX
- Start date
KDX,
I have been going through this same situation myself. There is no right answer because YOU have decide what you want out of the rifle and what you are willing to spend. I am kind of a guy that says why start here at the bottom, then upgrade to the middle and wind up at the top or upper end of the price spectrum; having spent money for every upgrade along the way. I tend to really look at what I want ie best bang for your buck and I think skipping buying a good factory rifle, and heading right for a good action with new accurate match barrel and good stock is the way to go. However, I am sure that there are factory HB varmit or tact type rifles that have good enough accuracy right out of the box. I also think for just a little bit more money, you can have a really accurate rifle. Time of build might also factor into your decision if you want one NOW. Good luck.
I have been going through this same situation myself. There is no right answer because YOU have decide what you want out of the rifle and what you are willing to spend. I am kind of a guy that says why start here at the bottom, then upgrade to the middle and wind up at the top or upper end of the price spectrum; having spent money for every upgrade along the way. I tend to really look at what I want ie best bang for your buck and I think skipping buying a good factory rifle, and heading right for a good action with new accurate match barrel and good stock is the way to go. However, I am sure that there are factory HB varmit or tact type rifles that have good enough accuracy right out of the box. I also think for just a little bit more money, you can have a really accurate rifle. Time of build might also factor into your decision if you want one NOW. Good luck.
mightyhunter
CGN Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
For the price of that Savage, I don't think u can build one for "little bit more money" more like double. And as far as accuracy goes, Savage has proven that their rifles can shoot. I would buy the Savage.
I went through the same dilemma. There was no way I could even get close to the price of the Savage 110FCP. Even going down the remington route would require a lot of work to get it where I would be happy and the remington starts at $1599. I ended up purchasing the Savage 110FCP and have been happy with that purchase. I would buy another.
The best way is get a savage 110BA 338lapua, With rem700 you will pay way more after AICS stock, also you would have to do alot of work to get it shoot, I had to re chamber 338lapua, cut off some thread, Square and tune the action, lap bolt lug, put a nice muzzle brake, and the folded AICS cost over $1300 after tax and shipping, clearly not worth it, even getting a Sako TRG42 black phosphate version would of been a better choice than the rem700MLR.
KDX, your options are limited. You'll likely never e able to build one for the same price as what you can buy the 110BA for. Since you don't care for Rems, it's your only practical option.
I think the 110BA is far from ideal but it's considerably less expensive than your next factory option, the TRG42.
I think the 110BA is far from ideal but it's considerably less expensive than your next factory option, the TRG42.
- Location
- California North
I have two points for you to consider. Custom rifles, as a rule, don't hold their value as well as factory rifles; and can take a fair bit of time to sell. Years ago when my divorce forced me to sell my HS Precision HTR it sold right away and for a reasonable sum. The other thing to consider, given the price of 338 ammo, even if you reload (you should), the cost of ammo will quickly exceed the cost of the rifle; probably by many times. Why fire expensive, quality ammo out of an mediocre rifle? In my opinion (and that's all it is) the cost to quality to accuracy to reliability formula says buy a Sako TRG. I walk the walk brother, that's what I did.
Sako TRG is without a doubt a fantastic firearm but the $3000 dollar difference between a Savage 110FCP and Sako TRG 42 gets you approximately 2222 more rounds down the pipe. Doesn't matter what, trigger time is worth more than the minimal gains. If your life depends on your rifle, then those minimal gains are well worth it. At the same time if your life depends on your rifle you will likely have more than enough trigger time.
Also, lets not forget about the cost of optics.
Also, lets not forget about the cost of optics.
If you are asking the obvious answer is buy. There are two reasons to build. You either demand absolutey accuracy and believe you know best how to get there and thus build. Or you build just because you can. If you want to shoot accurately and enjoy the sport, take advantage of all the hard work and r and d of others and spend your time shooting it.(buy the Savage) The savage is a bargain. If I had kept the picture I could show you a target from a shooting buddy of a sub 2 inch 5 group at 500 yards. 4 were touching. Its impressive. My tools are TRG's, Trust me the savage is a bargain and your build will at best match it for the money, you won't beat it for the money.
The Savage is an absolute STEAL for the price they are going for right now. I just finished a custom build and I love it, but I will buy a factory rifle again. I don't think you could put together a rifle with the same components for the same price if you went the custom route. Think about it, $500 barrel, $200 muzzle break, $500 action/trigger, $400 bottom metal/mag, $350 stock. Thats $1950 right there, then you have to pay some one to assemble it for you. You might end up with a better rifle in the end, and you would be able to get what YOU want, but only you can make that decision.
Good luck!
Good luck!
It depends who you are and what you like. To me, for $1300 its a great opprotunity to get into that elite (ish) caliber, shoot it for a couple of years and see what its all about. Over time you can spin on a custom barrel. It will then shoot like a Sako but for $2000 tops instead of $4000.
It would interesting to hear why some of the guys above recommended the 110 BA over the 110 FCP HS. I know which I prefer and its not just because the FCP was $600 cheaper.
It would interesting to hear why some of the guys above recommended the 110 BA over the 110 FCP HS. I know which I prefer and its not just because the FCP was $600 cheaper.
I think you should also look on the EE for a 110BA. There's lots of them there. For a rifle that is really a low volume seller, you see them up for sale often. Ever wonder why? I think the answer is obvious. Those people never needed the rifle or cartridge to begin with. They were simply expensive range toys and feeding them was as costly as a crack habit.
Everything bout .338LM is expensive. Like the poster above said, the cost of ammo is quickly going to eclipse the cost of the actual rifle, depending of course on how often you shoot it. For the overall amount of money you're going to outlay for this endeavour, are you going to get enough use out of it to justify the expendature?
Everything bout .338LM is expensive. Like the poster above said, the cost of ammo is quickly going to eclipse the cost of the actual rifle, depending of course on how often you shoot it. For the overall amount of money you're going to outlay for this endeavour, are you going to get enough use out of it to justify the expendature?
Just got one from Juanvaldez. I think this will make an excellent moose gun and a perfect long range target gun.
To answer your question, before getting the savage Juanvaldez, with very little help from me, prepared a 338 Edge on a savage receiver for me.
Both guns are excellent. He does great work. The LM hasn't been shot for group yet but the Edge is very accurate at the ranges we have shot it.
The Edge is a one of kind and that makes it special. The LM is stock but you can take comfort that savage quality is still very good for the price.
Build or Buy? I would like to say do both but in the end I think I would buy. Unless you want a unique caliber like the edge, it is just not worth waiting months for parts, then spending a lot time assembling it.
To answer your question, before getting the savage Juanvaldez, with very little help from me, prepared a 338 Edge on a savage receiver for me.
Both guns are excellent. He does great work. The LM hasn't been shot for group yet but the Edge is very accurate at the ranges we have shot it.
The Edge is a one of kind and that makes it special. The LM is stock but you can take comfort that savage quality is still very good for the price.
Build or Buy? I would like to say do both but in the end I think I would buy. Unless you want a unique caliber like the edge, it is just not worth waiting months for parts, then spending a lot time assembling it.
