Build or buy a rifle

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bearhunter338-06

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I was thinking (I have to much time on my hands) does it make sense to build a rifle. Would I be better off buying a Cooper rifle. I figure the cost of building a rifle will be about the same as buying a Cooper rifle.

Give me your thoughts on the subject.

Thank you
 
Even high-end over the counter rifles are made to suit a wide selection of people, so despite spending what might seem to be a great deal of money, the end product might not suit you as well as a custom. The custom rifle doesn't necessarily do anything better, but with it, you can do better, provided that the custom features you select have to do with shooting and not just aesthetics. The man who understands what it takes to shoot well under the conditions he wants to use that rifle in will benefit from the custom rifle, but the novice might not.

The best advise I can give someone who is a knowledgeable shooter but new to the world of custom builds, is to look at your current rifle and determine what it is about it that you would change, and then try to imagine how a custom rifle might improve upon that. It might very well be that an over the counter rifle will work just fine with a bit of tweaking to address its short falls, say for example you don't like the position of the sling swivel or the fact that you new rifle doesn't have irons.

I've been thinking for sometime about having a switch barrel made. Provided I keep to the same barrel contour throughout my cartridge selections, I need only change barrels and perhaps bolt bodies, while keeping the same stock and scope, which over the long run is significantly less expensive that purchasing or building complete rifles for each cartridge.
 
In my experience the cost of a true custom is generally more than what a Cooper will cost. If later on you wish to sell the custom the resale value is generally less than half of what you put in to it. If you want a special rifle by all means get a custom. If you want a nice example of the riflemakers art that will make your friends envious then go with the Cooper. As boomer said above sometimes a few custom touches to an existing rifle will make all the difference.
 
Placing value on ones handy work is rather priceless. We tend to have our wallets dictate what we want to do and the answer may not lie within it. So kudos if you have the time, skills or will to do some items yourself.

You cannot put a price on being able to say "I did that" on an nice DIY stock job, or I had a custom barrel installed and here is the results, or what a difference it made with my DIY bedding job. I do it because I love it.

There are options out there which allow you to customize rather readily without a great deal of cost and perform very well. If you are trying to build a rifle to emulate the Cooper....then It may be better to just buy the Cooper. It may cost you less even with the built in profit for the builder factored in. But it will not provide you the self saltisfaction a DIY build will.

If you are trying to build a custom rifle to suit your needs or wants to DIY...then by all means....put the pieces together. Suggest you first write a list of the options, needs, wants, and abilities to DIY. Then put the costs together at the end to make your choice.

I have put together components that in the end, where I bought off the shelf, would have provided 90% of the list and without a fraction of the time spent. But it would not have provided 50% of the satisfaction the DIY provided back to me. My 25c....
 
Can you buy a commercially made rifle in your choice of barrel contour, weight, chambering, stock etc? Nowadays the offerings from the manufacturers are mind boggling. If so, you're likely better off with that especially if you decide to sell it later. I had a semi custom built because I couldn't buy one in the chambering and barrel profile I wanted. But should I ever part with it, I know I'll take a s**tkicking on the price. If you tend to switch rifles a lot, then you're better off with a commercial one. But it is nice to own a one-of-a-kind :)
 
Boomer said:
The best advise I can give someone who is a knowledgeable shooter but new to the world of custom builds, is to look at your current rifle and determine what it is about it that you would change, and then try to imagine how a custom rifle might improve upon that. It might very well be that an over the counter rifle will work just fine with a bit of tweaking to address its short falls, say for example you don't like the position of the sling swivel or the fact that you new rifle doesn't have irons.

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Click to expand...

Great info and what I did when I "customized" my recent hunting rifle. Made a list of priorities and worked on a rifle to fill those needs.

For me, a hunting rifle is all about Fit, function, weight, balance, durability and cold bore accuracy. Pretty doesn't need to be part of the equation.

I am now hunting with a well messaged Savage Edge/Axis. It will undergo more PLASTIC surgery after the season ends.

Is it fancy? Not in your life but it is completely custom...

In the parameters I feel important.

Jerry
 
I think that you can build a custom rifle easily at or under the price of a Cooper. I did it.

That is also using a very competent smith and using a Krieger barrel.

Doing some of the work yourself saves some cash and also allows you a hand in the actual build, some pride factor also.

There is no need for or $600.00 stocks either, there are options out there.

Also you don't need to go balls out to get a good build.

So it does make sense to build what you want, then you get what you want without making compromises.

You can get an SPS Remington , tear it down and build it up with new components , machining and stock.

OR get Jerry at Mystic to get you an action and barrel is an option also ,a custom stock from Boyd's bit of finesse work and away you go with a one of a kind rifle that is what you want.

Most likely be a good shooter too!!
 
bearhunter338-06 said:
I was thinking (I have to much time on my hands) does it make sense to build a rifle. Would I be better off buying a Cooper rifle. I figure the cost of building a rifle will be about the same as buying a Cooper rifle.

Give me your thoughts on the subject.

Thank you
Click to expand...

I've had four custom rifles made, three by Corlane Sports and one by Martini and Hagn. A true custom rifle is built from scratch, starting with the action, barrel, stock and trigger. In my shooting and hunting experience I found them to be of little different compared to a high end manufactured rifle. My Cooper, Sako, Krico, Blaser and Weatherbys shoot just as accurate and work as smoothly as a custom.
I would say that the best bang for your buck is the Cooper and Sako. If you have a custom rifle built be willing to wait for it for at "least" one year, where as a manufactured rifle is more immediate.
 
I have just recently completed a deal on a Marlin XL7. I have been told that the Savage barrels fit these rifles also. So my thought is to get a barrel and the tools to switch the barrels my self.

From what I understand I will need a barrel vice, go, no go gauges and the barrel nut wrench. OH ya and the new barrel lol.

I have been told that once you have done it your self it's about a half hour job, to switch barrels.

I'm I correct or am I being lead down the wrong path so to speak.
 
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