Building vs Buying

[R_burg]

Hey guys... I wanted some opinions on building vs buying. Its really easy to get into gun that the manufacturer claims is MOA guaranteed. A Savage, Tikka, Remington, Browning, etc is going to cost me 600-1000 I'd say, depending on the model. From what I've read, MOA is realistic as well, they arent just boasting.

On the other hand, I am a DIY type of guy. Built my AR's, work on/modify my own cars, etc. When the barrier of entry isnt too high, I'd rather do something myself. I enjoy it. You can pick up a cheap Savage or Remington, put a different stock on it, an SS barrel from a nice blank, aftermarket trigger, better recoil lug, different bolt handle and still probably be in the 1000 range as well.

Am I gaining anything with the DIY gun vs buying an off the rack gun... other than saying "I did this"? I'd like to think I'll gain some accuracy, but this will be a hunting rifle, so anything sub MOA is probably good enough. Will I be able to lighten it up more if I go the DIY route?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Assuming a standard caliber:

Go down into the deals section, not sure if its still running but a place has the Tikka T3x stainless on sale for $570. Right there you have an accurate and fairly light gun with a good trigger that is good to go out of the box. If you want to spend more on a really nice stock then you can spend more coin there and sooth your DIY tendencies. You have a desired gun in the community that you can resell if needed.

Hard to imagine assembling a savage in similar weight for less. Even if you put together a sweet savage keep in mind not everyone likes savage if you ever need to sell it that will be a factor.

 

[Brodie]

Hard to stay around the $1000 mark on a build


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[R_burg]

Assuming a standard caliber:

Go down into the deals section, not sure if its still running but a place has the Tikka T3x stainless on sale for $570. Right there you have an accurate and fairly light gun with a good trigger that is good to go out of the box. If you want to spend more on a really nice stock then you can spend more coin there and sooth your DIY tendencies. You have a desired gun in the community that you can resell if needed.

Hard to imagine assembling a savage in similar weight for less. Even if you put together a sweet savage keep in mind not everyone likes savage if you ever need to sell it that will be a factor.

Wow, that is a great deal. Thanks!

Hard to stay around the $1000 mark on a build


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, thats what I am scared of as well. I kinda think I should wait and do a build for a long range gun, rather than a hunting rifle.

 

[dotman]

Yeah if building you'll be more around $3k.

 

[R_burg]

Yeah if building you'll be more around $3k.

Even if i built a target gun... Stevens 200 is 300, stock is 450, Kreiger barrel is 450, trigger is 90, recoil lug is 40... lets say miscellaneous stuff is another 300... thats 1630. Am I missing something?

 

[wapitibob]

Not missing anything. Mine is closer to 1/2 moa and cost $1600. The only thing you need a smith to do is the barreled action. Trigger is a 10 minute job and bedding the rifle is cake. Practice on the factory rifle stock a cpl times then do your rifle. If you don't like it, 10 minutes with a dremmel and it'll be ready for round two.

 

[Whisky]

Even if i built a target gun... Stevens 200 is 300, stock is 450, Kreiger barrel is 450, trigger is 90, recoil lug is 40... lets say miscellaneous stuff is another 300... thats 1630. Am I missing something?

Labor??

Or do you have a lathe and can do everything yourself?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Nope not missing much there, just depends on your needs, desires vs budget, and usage. Most stock Tikkas that many like are shooting sub MOA (esp. with load work) and some very tight. Most semi-custom guns shoot a bit tighter, often 1/2MOA or less. Do you need that extra accuracy for your usage is a question for yourself. Sub 400yd any consistent sub MOA gun would make me happy. Further out I'd personally want a tighter gun, the further out the tighter the MOA I'd want and that is where you may have to throw money at things.

Not that a DIY assembled steven action is going to nessarily be on par with a professional semicustom (in which the action is typically trued up as well). So I don't really see you gaining much in that situation over a good factory gun.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Labor??

Or do you have a lathe and can do everything yourself?

He doesn't need a lathe for a stevens action, its a barrel nut setup. That said it doesn't address any slop in the factory action when you mount up a new barrel.

 

[wapitibob]

Labor??

Or do you have a lathe and can do everything yourself?

My action trued, barrel threaded, chambered, and crowned for $260. Might cost you $350. That's the only labor needed in a rifle build.

 

[Whisky]

So the barrel comes chambered for $450?

Guess I'm not too familiar with the Savage/Stevens DIY options....

 

[dotman]

Even if i built a target gun... Stevens 200 is 300, stock is 450, Kreiger barrel is 450, trigger is 90, recoil lug is 40... lets say miscellaneous stuff is another 300... thats 1630. Am I missing something?

I was thinking avg priced components and a tad more expensive stock, but labor will add up unless you can do it all. Getting a used gun and using it for the action does keep prices down but I bet you come close to $2k depending on all the work you decide to hire out. But yes you can do anything cheaper if you get used components.

Imo it's not worth building based on your list, unless you just want a project.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

So the barrel comes chambered for $450?

Guess I'm not too familiar with the Savage/Stevens DIY options....

Not sure on the krieger cost but yeah you can get prechambered barrels for $450 (heck I think pacnor are like $300 if I recall right).

Edit: Guns you are likely familiar with you cut threads on a barrel and thread it into the action up until the shoulder is touching the receiver face and then cut the chamber. For a savage/stevens the chamber is precut and barrel has threads going further out an there is a barrel nut on those threads. You thread the barrel into the action against a headspace gauge and then lock the barrel nut down. Basically the "shoulder" of the barrel is moveable versus a typical barrel.

 

[Crotalus]

I'm most likely buying, i just don't have the tinkering gene.

I see it as investing in a small business

 

[dotman]

Not sure on the krieger cost but yeah you can get prechambered barrels for $450 (heck I think pacnor are like $300 if I recall right).

Kreiger barrel blank is $365 to your door, then add around another $300ish to chamber and barrel. But I don't know much about the Stevens/savage so that cost may differ.

 

[lcxctf2000]

For $450 you should be able to get a great quality barrel that is chambered and tapered to your specs, yes.

Apache offers cromoly prefits (chambered in one of their offerings and tapers) for $210. Green Mountain blank. That's a good barrel that should shoot as well or better than factory. They also have better blanks to work from that will be more in that $450 range.

You can also frequently pick up factory take-off's brand new for less than $100.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Kreiger barrel blank is $365 to your door, then add around another $300ish to chamber and barrel. But I don't know much about the Stevens/savage so that cost may differ.

$300 for a normal chamber/installation yes. Stevens/savage can be done away from the gun and more quickly machined so I wouldn't be shocked if a prechambered kreiger for a stevens/savage is $450 but I don't know off hand. I do know there are pre chambered savage/stevens in that ballpark (and less) though, top brands might be more as well (if they even offer the service in house).

 

[lcxctf2000]

I have done both build it ground up and buy it new for Savage. Both are great options and it really depends on a few things.

Reasons to buy new:
- hard to beat price (usually)
- can always customize later very easily
- instant gratification
- factory support/warranty for any issues
- easy to "learn" how the gun goes together and works properly when it comes to you that way

Reasons to build:
- you want a wildcat or something other than is offered stock from manufacturer
- you know exactly what you want and want it that way from the start
- you don't want a pile of factory take-off parts hanging around that you have to store or sell
- you have time and desire to put it all together from parts.

now that's not exhaustive by any means but maybe a start.

 

[Whisky]

Well, sounds like a decent option for a DIY'r I guess...