Canadian Rifle Builders - Who would you spend your money with?

Devlin

Devlin

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Looking for opinions and insight from this audience on who would have your money for a precision rifle build? I'm considering something in a 6.5 Creed or regular old 308 in a precision rig and am trying to decide between builders mainly Canadian but open to other options. Rifle would mainly be used for square range activity and some PRS style shooting.

Considering the following choices/builders:

- PGW Coyote
- Chou Brothers build
- Insite Arms in a Manners stock
- ATRS build likely a bolt gun but tempted by the Modern Hunter as well
- Cadex

What's been your mileage and experience with these choices CGN? This would be an expensive build for sure with these choices, interested in hearing from this audience with any insight you have.
 
I have a build from ATRS. They did a fantastic job putting it together and it shoots very well. No regrets there. I wouldn't hesitate to try any of the others you mentioned based on there reputations for building outstanding rifles
 
Any of the makers you list will deliver a superior product, and unless you are in the 1/10 th of one percent of the top shooters, all of these manufacturers will produce a product that is more accurate than you will ever be
 
I have had precision rifles (non F-Class, more like tactical style repeaters ) built by the following well-known Canadian builders:

ATRS ( Defiance, McMillian, Rock Creek .308 )
Tactical Ordnance (Rem, McMillan, Kreiger .308 )
Chou Brothers (Surgeon 591, McMillan, Bartlein 6.5-47)
Insite Arms (Surgeon 591, McMillan, Hawk Hills 6xc )

While also owning PGW's - and they are an excellent choice - I consider them more comparable to other very high end factory offerings and are not in my mind strictly speaking a 'build'.

Without disparaging in any way the work of anyone, I will tell you who is building my next rifle ( Surgeon 591, Manners T4, Hawk Hills in 6mmBR ) and who has already cashed my 50% deposit...

Insite Arms.
 
I also highly recommend Insite Arms! Harley does magical things and can build or manufacture just about anything you can dream up. Plus custom paint jobs. I am also very impressed with a company that will target test, do load development on anything you order. Plus they shoot and compete with their stuff, so they know what works and doesn't, before they sell it to you.
I've had rifles from 3 different Canadian companies and, while they were ok, I didn't think they shot any better then any off-the -shelf product you could buy, and for 3x the price, I couldn't tell any difference.
Then bought an Accuracy International AXMC, and it is an amazing piece of kit, but hard to get the calibers, barrels and options you want, and it was more expensive then most customs to boot.
Then bought a couple barrels from Harley to try in my Desert Tech SRS, and they shoot lights out, so I talked a bunch of options with Harley, and tried a couple new calibers on Harley's advice, (6mm XC and 300 Norma) for my SRS, and wow, my two new favourite calibers lol.
From there decided to commit to a full custom build after talking to Harley and researching for endless hours and it is simply the best, most accurate rifle I had owned. Now I am on my 3rd custom from Harley/Andy and every one has been exactly as good as my very high expectations. I'm not really sure how you could improve on them actually?
Crazy accurate from day 1, and lots of hands on advice to boot. Want a load recommendation, just text him. Want to try a wildcat caliber, no problem. Need a new barrel spun up, no worries, they have reamers by the dozens down there.
My AI barrels were twice the price and a year to get imported.
I've now I've been to Harley's shop, and it says a lot about their pride of workmanship to me. It's very impressive with the latest and greatest machines and gear to build custom stuff, but also the whole place is as clean as a surgical suite! Guy really takes pride in what he does!
I am sure there are lots of great Cdn builders but my hard earned cash is only going to Insite from now on.
 
The best shooters in the world just completed the 2017 F class World championships. The next world championship will be 2021 in four years. Check out who the top 4 shooters are in FTR. You would have to make some outstanding equipment to be at this level and to have your gunsmith understand what it takes, wow.
There were 204 competitors from 19 countries

canwinn17003.png


All the best
Trevor
 
Thanks for all the great feedback so far folks, I'd agree no real bad choices in the group I've listed. The Manners stocks are really growing on me and I'm leaning in that direction if I do go the custom build route. I'd love to get my hands on one before deciding but the reviews I've read thus far have all been super positive on what Manners is putting out.
 
I guess I will be the only going with the CADEX for no other reason thats the only one I have owned from your list.
Got a 300 WinMag CDX-Lite that I picked up used from a fellow CGN. This is by far the best far the best rifle I have ever owned and the workmanship on it was unbelievable. Had a muzzle break that made it feel you were shooting a .243 even with a 200 gr bullet. Accuracy unbelievable.
Before you make your decision, take the time to go to a dealer and pick one up and check it out. I happen to show a buddy my purchase and took a 1/2 doz shots who literally went out the next day and bought one new.
 
GMHVAC said:
I guess I will be the only going with the CADEX for no other reason thats the only one I have owned from your list.
Got a 300 WinMag CDX-Lite that I picked up used from a fellow CGN. This is by far the best far the best rifle I have ever owned and the workmanship on it was unbelievable. Had a muzzle break that made it feel you were shooting a .243 even with a 200 gr bullet. Accuracy unbelievable.
Before you make your decision, take the time to go to a dealer and pick one up and check it out. I happen to show a buddy my purchase and took a 1/2 doz shots who literally went out the next day and bought one new.
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The Cadex are indeed very nice rifles and were the OP looking for a high end factory offering he may well be advised to consider one - as well as the exceptional PGW's, AI's and TRG's but you will find ( as have I ) that the best of the customs really move the art up a notch or two
 
I'm having Insite build a 6.5 Creedmoor on a Surgeon action and Manner's stock for me. Unfortunately for me, the stock I want is a custom order and will take awhile to get here but I can't wait. I shopped around and looked at so many different smiths before going to visit Harley and was super impressed with everything.
 
The only 2 on that list I have used is the Cadex and PGW.

I ended up getting the Cadex and havent regretted my decision one bit :)
 
I'm covering off two from the list on my rebarrelled Tikka - the Bartleins are from the Chou Brothers and Insite is chambering and fitting.

-j
 
JayCarver said:
Insite arms is another level above ATTS from my experience. Not even far to compare them.
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Can you elaborate on this broad comment? I have several rifles built by ATRS and all are stellar as is their service. I have 1 rifle so far that was "put together" by Insite and it is very good to be sure as all top quality components were used but they only assembled the parts rather than actually making them with the exception of their brake.

I have heard that Insite is working on making an action but have yet to see one.
 
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