Curious question about factory vs custom rifles ...

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Tikka223

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So I'm not talking about your basic factory rifles here, I'm talking more about the LE / Military stuff that's out there. By my rough calculations the pricing for a very nice custom rifle in say .308 WIN will go something like this:

Action: 1000-1500$
Stock: 1000-1500$
Barrel: 700$
Trigger: 300$
Total: 3000$-4000$

Then you look at stuff like:
AI AW or AX
Barrett MRAD
McMillan Tac30
Etc. and are all in the 7000$ range

Then you look and very similar offerings by companies like:
HS precision
Sig Sauer
Etc. and you re back down to the 3000$ mark.

What's with the extra 3000-4000$ that some companies are asking for?
 
The way I see it is like this: You have Sako TRG which is probably the best of the under $4K factory offerings and you can build, using a Remington donor action, for a comparable price. When moving to custom builds you are in the $4-6 K range depending upon components and who does the build and, at that price, you can buy a PGW Coyote which is what I call a factory semi-custom. The AI which, incidentally, I think is excellent is basic rifle plus extras - some call it the 'deployment package' - and you are right to question the value added component. From personal experience I see little additional value once I've passed about the $5K mark. For what it is worth my TRG's shot just as well as my other tactical rifles for which I paid considerably more. YMMV
 
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Tikka223 said:
What's with the extra 3000-4000$ that some companies are asking for?
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A ton of different factors, and not always the same one in each case. In terms of the AX and the Barrett im sure your paying for millions in research and development as they are intended as military systems.
 
I have had three "customs" built, none were over $3k before glass, all shot little bitty bug holes, all were chambered to 260 rem. One was a Savage, the other two were Remingtons. My last build is pretty much EXACTLY what I was looking for, it took the first two builds to figure out what I like and don't like, I think I got it right on this last one. Now I just have to build a twin to it in 338 Lapua later this year.

If you go the custom route, you can usually get a VERY nice rifle for $3-3500, add glass, another $2500, and be into it for about the same or less than the higher end semi-custom factory rifles.

But to each his own, it's your hard earned cash. Please yourself because I find rifles to be an extremely personal choice.
 
Why is a BMW 2 to 3 times the cost of a honda/Acura or Toyota?

Why can a US custom builder charge 5 figures to start for a rebarreled and restocked Win 70?

At some point, you are buying brand, perceived function, and in only a few cases features not possible through any other way.

Jerry
 
Crashman, I think it's only fair that you help the op out by posting pictures of your 260's. :)
I'd like to see how thinks progressed
 
An often overlooked cost is gunsmithing. Unless you have all the tools and skills yourself, don't forget the add the costs of having all those parts put together, chambered and tuned

I also bought my own reamer for the gunsmith to use ( I sold it later though and recouped a good part of the cost.)
 
Mystic Precision said:
Why is a BMW 2 to 3 times the cost of a honda/Acura or Toyota?

Why can a US custom builder charge 5 figures to start for a rebarreled and restocked Win 70?

At some point, you are buying brand, perceived function, and in only a few cases features not possible through any other way.

Jerry
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That's another thing I'm quite curious about. Remington 700 actions (or knock-offs thereof) seem to be king of the hill when it comes to popularity but a lot of these LE / Military rifles using the Winchester Model 70 action. I can't remember the last time I read a post on this forum about someone wanting to go the Model 70 route. Why is that?
 
ceriksson said:
An often overlooked cost is gunsmithing. Unless you have all the tools and skills yourself, don't forget the add the costs of having all those parts put together, chambered and tuned

I also bought my own reamer for the gunsmith to use ( I sold it later though and recouped a good part of the cost.)
Click to expand...

I've never build a truly custom rifle before. What would be a reasonable gunsmithing bill?
 
Tikka223 said:
I've never build a truly custom rifle before. What would be a reasonable gunsmithing bill?
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Depends on what you have done ---- Truing a factory Rem 700 action will cost about $200 for the basics. And then you still have Rem 700 clearances....and need the chambering etc....
For "custom" actions that do not require truing, about $300 will usually get a contoured barrel blank chambered, threaded, crowned, and installed on the action.
If you need stock work...cost depends on what you need done.
For a decent custom job that probably shoot well...the following would be a decent guideline:
Barnard s action - 1350
Krieger barrel - 500
Jewel trigger - 300
Smithing to chamber, thread, crown, install - 300
Stock - ????
If you go with a repeater style, add another 100 for the action, 50 for recoil lug, 500 for bottom metal and magazine.
Spend 3500 - 4000 for the job, practice and you can post your pictures in the "I shoot 1/2" groups all day thread" :)
 
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Tactical rifles cost more than custom rifles. I see Rem 700 donor action tactical builds going for $5000+ on the EE.
McMillan A-5 stocks can run over $1000 I'm sure, but you have a $500 Rem 700 action.

I can get the parts for custom benchrest rifle for less, taxes in.
Action - 1500
barrel - 500
stock - 500
trigger - 250

By the time you add rings trigger guard and smithing you are in the $3000 range.
So is everyone paying for the name and finish?
 
Tikka223 said:
That's another thing I'm quite curious about. Remington 700 actions (or knock-offs thereof) seem to be king of the hill when it comes to popularity but a lot of these LE / Military rifles using the Winchester Model 70 action. I can't remember the last time I read a post on this forum about someone wanting to go the Model 70 route. Why is that?
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The heritage of the Rem traces back to WWI and WWII and the birth of accurate rifle fire. round tubes are far easier to set up then those with a flat bottom. Guns were built, they shot well, more were built, they became the norm.

What's so special about a Chevy small block V8? Except there is buckets of parts options, tons of ways to build, huge range of knowledge, etc. Built on early successes, now a go to for the hot rod crowd.

Another Gen of drivers know only about DOHC small displacement Honda/Acura motors. They work great but follow a different direction.

The exterior shape of an action has little to do with accuracy but more ease of set up to machine

Where custom really is custom is in the appearance features that can't be found on factory rifles. Fit, finish, specific use of materials, graphics. Where you see the real dollars spent is in labour to really had panache to a rifle. They may not shoot any better but they sure look good.

So there has to be a distinction between "custom" as it relates to performance (define your game) vs "custom" that relates to appearance.

Ironically, the cost to get a rifle to shoot very well is surprisingly inexpensive. The cost to make a rifle look good, well, if you have to ask....

YMMV

Jerry
 
For myself factory versus custom means, using an aftermarket action. Not a reworked mass produced action like Savage, Rem or Winchester.

Those actions are not even close to being in the class of a Farley or BAT.

As LeJarret said above, I can have a BR rifle built for less an all aftermarket parts from the ground up for less than what most people pay to have a tactical rifle done on a Rem 700.

They are 2 different beasts but I will take the accuracy of a custom action over a reworked anyday.
 
I have an AI AE MK 11 which cost around the $4000.. mark when I bought it 2 years ago. I also had a TRG 22 and a custom Remington . The thing about the AI is that its built like a tank and designed from the ground up as a purpose built rifle, not a hunting action modified to fit a different purpose. Its just as accurate as the custom Remington and has worked in conditions where the Remington failed to. The TRG is also a purpose built rifle but I do not think its as durable as the AI. Having both, that is my opinion. There have been instances where the stock has cracked and also chipped. Do I think the AI is work the money compared to what guys are paying for custom rifles, absolutely, again just my opinion.

To clarify as well, I am referring to a field grade rifle designed to work in adverse conditions, unlike a rifle designed for benchrest or F Class etc with tight tolerances to the point where moisture, dirt, sand etc will cause them to fail. Although designed for that purpose, I have seen them hold their own with dedicated target rifles. I can say from experience as well that I have seen the so called custom action Remington clones also fail where the AI and Trg rocked on.
 
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IMO, you could have closed the thread after the first reply :)

The prices listed in the OP all include installation, by my judgement. Add an extra $325 to have a good BM setup installed, with 1 mag.
 
The cost of a truely custom tactical rifle is in my income level, "Retarded"!

I have and shoot a "FACTORY" rifle out to around 2000yards. With for the most part, MOA precision.

Do I NEED such a highly specialised custom rifle?........ NO!

BUT, "WiLL" I build one?....................WHEN I can Afford to, you friggin bet!!!

Its all about satisfaction/inner peace of mind in this game of life. And I plan on enjoying every luxury I can afford to have without hurting/jeprodizing my families financial security.

I had a father who saved his pennies for the rainy day. When he turned 73, he was in the middle of the "worst storm" of his life! He never survived that storm! So what good did saving his pennies do?! Not much more than leaving his HARD EARNED money behind.

My son, who is 3 years old is going to have allot of precision rifles at his finger tips when he gets older! (hopefully he likes shootin like his old man)! I will teach/instruct/encourage his shooting background as much as he likes.

Enjoy yourselves my fellow Gunnutz! I know I will do my best! 
 
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