Factory vs custom vs semi custom

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Claytom Magnet

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I was wondering if their's really a big difference in accuracy between the 3? I see a few that are works of art but are in raging wife pricing. With those do they really shoot that much better or are you paying for name/looks?

Or what about semi custom, been looking around and saw the DeFacto. Seems to be in my price range but is it worth the premium over say a 700 or savage?
 
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The way I see it, when you get a "factory gun" (non-AI/Sako/etc) you may or may not get a barrelled action that is capable of shooting to your accuracy expectations. You also probably won't get exactly what you want in regards to barrel length, twist, contour.

When you move up to a "semi-custom" (or a high end factory gun like AI, etc) it's very unlikely that the gun won't be up to your accuracy expectations. In the case of something like a Defacto, it comes with a high end barrel (IBI) so it should shoot as well as any other action with an IBI barrel on it (provided quality gunsmithing, which should be a given). Same thing for any of the "more affordable" custom actions that are built to tolerances tight enough to accept prefit barrels sight unseen (Nucleus, Ruckus, Origin, etc) with a quality prefit barrel from a reputable gunsmith. What you often give up with a "semi-custom" vs a full on custom is your choice of barrel length, contour, some calibers or specific reamers as generally a bunch are manufactured in the same configuration to keep costs down with those savings then passed on to the consumer. For instance, the Defacto appears to only be available with a 24" barrel.

A custom will be exactly what you want, down to the action, coating on action, barrel contour, caliber, reamer used, etc. Built a-la carte, hence the increased cost.
 
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Another option you can probably look into is to get a donor factory action (Remy 700, Tikka T3, Savage etc.) and have a barrel to your liking installed by a competent smith.

Install that barreled action to a chassis or after market stock and you probably will have a capable rifle that will give you sub MOA results.
 
Another way to look at it as a law of diminishing returns.

Quality handloads out of a modern factory rifle should get you sub-MOA without too much trouble. Let's say 95% chance at $1500
Now do the same with a semi-custom, like a Tikka with a prefit barrel, nice matchgrade trigger. Let's say 98% at $2500
And then a high-end factory like Cadex, AI, PGW. I'd estimate 99% at $3500
Lastly, a full-on tricked out custom rifle will be 100% at $4500

That last 5% is the improved QC, workmanship and materials that come with higher end rifles, and cost you three times the investment.
 
Factory options can be pretty hit or miss, especially from companies like Savage and Remington that have mediocre manufacturing quality and spotty QA/QC. Accuracy in general mediocre, though some absolute shooters have come from both factories (not the norm). Actions are generally a bit rough, heavy bolt lift and close and gritty feeling. Savages have more of a propensity these days to come from the factory in poor shape, some advocate taking the entire rifle apart and loctiting every screw in place. If you want to buy factory, a Tikka is your best bet on the lower end of the price scale, they are generally much higher quality then Savage and Rem. Obviously a factory gun like AI, PGW, etc are going to be very high quality and has the potential to shoot very well.

The lines are kind of blurred between semi-custom and custom, so I'll treat them as the same. Accuracy/precision potential is derived from the quality of the barrel blank and the quality of the chamber. The type of chamber cut needs to also be suitable to the type of ammo you plan on shooting through it. Without any of these things, you are leaving precision potential on the table. Besides accuracy, with a custom/semi-custom you can build a gun to your exact specifications and preferences, as well as to the specific ammo you want to shoot. A custom rifle if done right is like a finely made tailored suit - exacting details and built specifically to fit you and your preferences.

The Ultimatum DeFacto seems like an amazing deal, the price is pretty attractive. As far as how it's going to shoot - verdict is still out on that as I haven't heard any reports from the "wild" yet. A bighorn origin or Kelbly Atlas would also make for another attractive "semi-custom" build, but the price would exceed the DeFacto.

Of course, you couldn't go wrong with a Tikka in a KRG Bravo action - that's a great starter setup that doesn't completely blow out your bank account.
 
Claytom Magnet said:
I was wondering if their's really a big difference in accuracy between the 3? I see a few that are works of art but are in raging wife pricing. With those do they really shoot that much better or are you paying for name/looks?

Or what about semi custom, been looking around and saw the DeFacto. Seems to be in my price range but is it worth the premium over say a 700 or savage?
Click to expand...

First you have to answer... What does accuracy mean to you?

Every car works on the highway.... precious few work at 200mph

Jerry
 
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