Custom, Partial Custom or Factory? 2k budget

[BigFaus]

So I've been doing a ton of reading lately and wanted to get some feedback. I know this topic probably gets beat to death, but this is specific to me so I'm going to ask away. I've been contemplating this for a few weeks now and wanted some opinions and guidance. Is it worth going a completely custom route for a bolt action hunting rifle? I dont want to loose quality do to my budget not sure its even possible. Another alternative would be to buy a Tikka that everyone raves about and later build off the action. Another option Ive considered is just buying a higher end factory rifle which for me would be in the ballpark of a Seekins Havak PH2, a barret fieldcraft, or even a CA Mesa or Ridgeline. I currently have a .308 Browning hells canyon and I like it but want to add something else to the arsenal.

The practical application and justification for this rifle would be primarily hunting. Im NE PA guy but im looking to get my feet wet out west and hopefully other places. I'm really considering a 300 Win or 6.5PRC as the optimal calibers for my purpose. Please blast away with opinions or recommendations. Thanks!

 

[Ratbeetle]

Well if you believe what you read on the internet, everyone has a half moa factory rifle. Not sure what more you need.

Honestly, for the ranges most guys are shooting at animals, a rifle capable of 1 moa topped with solid optics is perfectly adequate. Just about anything factory these days can get you there. Going custom is all about the fit, finish and feel.

If you want custom or semi custom go for it, new guns are fun! It certainly wouldn't be necessary though.

 

[scfreeman66]

I was in your shoes about 2yrs ago. I was on the fence about going custom. Dave Bruno is local to me and we had talked about it a few times. I was looking at around $3500 for a custom magnum built on a Remington action. I actually ordered a Hells Canyon Speed that got cancelled due to Browning not being able to fulfill the orders. In the end, I went with a Seekins .300wm and I am very happy with the decision. It's a very nice rifle that shoots better than I can. Good luck, many many options out there...

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[BigFaus]

I was in your shoes about 2yrs ago. I was on the fence about going custom. Dave Bruno is local to me and we had talked about it a few times. I was looking at around $3500 for a custom magnum built on a Remington action. I actually ordered a Hells Canyon Speed that got cancelled due to Browning not being able to fulfill the orders. In the end, I went with a Seekins .300wm and I am very happy with the decision. It's a very nice rifle that shoots better than I can. Good luck, many many options out there...

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Any regrets going the factory route? What were the deciding factors for you to choose a Seekins?

 

[BigFaus]

Well if you believe what you read on the internet, everyone has a half moa factory rifle. Not sure what more you need.

Honestly, for the ranges most guys are shooting at animals, a rifle capable of 1 moa topped with solid optics is perfectly adequate. Just about anything factory these days can get you there. Going custom is all about the fit, finish and feel.

If you want custom or semi custom go for it, new guns are fun! It certainly wouldn't be necessary though.

Yeah, you definitely have a point dead is dead. I guess for me as silly as it sounds aesthetics are important, probably more of a factor than they should be. Really like the spiraled bolts and barrels, I doubt there is much of a practical bonus to them though outside of shaving a few ounces.

 

[Ratbeetle]

Yeah, you definitely have a point dead is dead. I guess for me as silly as it sounds aesthetics are important, probably more of a factor than they should be. Really like the spiraled bolts and barrels, I doubt there is much of a practical bonus to them though outside of shaving a few ounces.

Nothing wrong with that. I would just make sure that if you're chasing a specific look or feel...buy exactly what you want. If that means spending more than your budget, save up. Otherwise you're spending $2000 on a rifle that you might not be satisfied with.

 

[HuntnPack]

I’d recommend a Seekins Havak in either caliber you listed. I’ve owned all the rifles you listed, & they are all great options. I Have a Seekins Element in 6.5 PRC & really like this rifle. Shoots 156 Berger’s well. The Seekins is a really good rifle with great build components for the price. Excellent Customer service & warranty.

 

[BigFaus]

I’d recommend a Seekins Havak in either caliber you listed. I’ve owned all the rifles you listed, & they are all great options. I Have a Seekins Element in 6.5 PRC & really like this rifle. Shoots 156 Berger’s well. The Seekins is a really good rifle with great build components for the price. Excellent Customer service & warranty.

I feel like the seekins really is a great option I really want to try the 6.5 PRC the only thing that makes me nervous is that I am not a reloader. Ammo availability seems sparse. Do you have any issues finding it? Or do you reload?

 

[slowelk]

I feel like the seekins really is a great option I really want to try the 6.5 PRC the only thing that makes me nervous is that I am not a reloader. Ammo availability seems sparse. Do you have any issues finding it? Or do you reload?

Reloading 6.5 PRC is just as hard as buying factory ammo. The brass is hard to come by and sells out quickly once in stock, and now throw in the primer shortage it may be worse. Finding factory ammo isn't that hard, you just need to be ready to buy everything a retailer has in stock when it comes in stock. Don't bother with your LGS, look at online retailers.

 

[WTFJohn]

I feel like the seekins really is a great option I really want to try the 6.5 PRC the only thing that makes me nervous is that I am not a reloader. Ammo availability seems sparse. Do you have any issues finding it? Or do you reload?

I picked up a Bergara Premier HMR last week in 6.5PRC; I would throw the Bergara Premier line onto the list as a 'factory semi-custom' gun since they are hand built in the US by the same guys doing their custom guns. I will know more on the accuracy once I get it back re-threaded and throw the Mk5HD on it, but I'm not worried about it not being a shooter.

As for 6.5 PRC ammo, when/if you find it grab more than you think you'll need. It is vaporware. I grabbed 200 rds of ELDXs a month ago and should have gotten 2x as much; haven't seen it since.

 

[HuntnPack]

I feel like the seekins really is a great option I really want to try the 6.5 PRC the only thing that makes me nervous is that I am not a reloader. Ammo availability seems sparse. Do you have any issues finding it? Or do you reload?

The Seekins in 6.5 PRC has a 3.14 carbon fiber magazine which makes it nice for loading
The longer stuff, & factory as well.
(The other rifle offerings didn’t)
Mine shoots the factory stuff really well also.
143 or 147. I get my custom ammo from Unknown Munitions. Call Jake & discuss ammo availability, he has options for you.
Also there is more factory ammo options coming. Just pick up some as it comes available. I don’t have too much trouble getting enough.

 

[Forest]

You would think with 100s of different guns produced these days there would be something for everyone. But im struggling to find what I want as well. Which is why I'm leaning towards just getting a tikka (maybe the roughtech as it has a few nice add-ons). Then over the years I can just customize with what I want. My guess/hope is that it will shoot and function so well the rest is just personal preference and cosmetic.

The savage ultralite checks a lot of my boxes but, it is a savage ha.

Like the ridgeline and mesa but not a lot of great reports on qc out there lately it seems.

Not too many wrong choices, but no idea what the right one is

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[khuber84]

Personally id find a used Tikka t3x Magnum bolt face. Get a mullerworks or rock creek carbon barrel through pederson Precision, have it chambered in 7 saum, does everything a 300wm or 6.5 prc does. Adg/gunwerks brass is usually available. An ag or jcs composites stock will probably get you to that $2k mark. Hells canyon armory has a deal where you send your Tikka action and for 2k you get the prior mentioned setup back. Mike does fantastic work as well.

 

[tdhanses]

$2k won’t get you in a custom even if you get great sale prices on everything, I’d go with either a tikka and upgrade it over time or something in the $1200-$2k range factory.

 

[tdhanses]

Not true. Choices in parts is slim, but it's absolutely doable.

Mack Bros SS Evo = $575 (includes recoil lug & 20 moa base)
Bartlein Blank = $350
Trigger = $150
KRG Bravo = $350
Chamber & Thread barrel = $450

Total = $1,875.

You can find sales (although not this year with C19 & Election) and cut those prices listed.

The remaining $125 goes to transfer fee, shipping of parts, and you might have a couple bucks left over.

I guess if you want a chassis, but you still need mag boxes. But on a traditional stock for a decent stock your $500+ and have an additional cost for the bottom metal and bedding. Plus add 6+ month wait for a good gunsmith.

My last semi custom was a Howa stainless .223 I bought used for $300 just for the action, changed to a 6.5cm and total cost of everything was $2300 and I sourced all parts and on average probably saved 10-15%.

My full custom just the action was $1350.

Also doesn’t your action only come in a short?

I almost bought a like new Rem 700 ADL in 300wm for $289 just for the action but a rem action just isn’t worth it when you have to true/blueprint them.

I guess one could buy the cheapest parts and get it done, you will not be getting the best of anything which probably won’t be better then most current factory options.

 

[SIontheHunt]

for 2k, buy a pair of tikkas. when the zombies come you will want a rifle in every caliber.

 

[tdhanses]

I hear what you're saying, but you're moving the goal post.

Everything that I listed is a solid quality component, and is absolutely better than what is being pumped out by factory rifle mfgs. You won't get a $1,300 action or an $800 stock on a full custom build for $2k. But you absolutely can get a full custom build with quality components for $2k.

Like I said, component choices are limited. You could tack on $250 from the prices I listed and swap out the Mack Bros for a Big Horn Origin. You could get a B&C and bottom metal for not much more than the KRG (again limited choices in bottom metal on a budget). Or the big wild card is to buy some used components.

I guess for me I don’t want to limit myself if building which $2k does as its close to the bottom you can spend, plenty of good factory options that will be just as quality overall.

Personally the Tikka option is a good one that he could start to upgrade the stock immediately and truthfully put the difference into a better optic and with how well known they are to shoot it would work fine.

The other thing we didn’t price was if he wanted a muzzle break, as you know once you start building the adds come quick. Also with the bighorn you can get a prefit which removes chamber and threading but add about an $80-$100 to install and headspace. So about the same price as your option above.

 

[Trogon]

My feeling is that a custom rifle is only worth it if 1) you know what you want (judging by your list, you're not sure; big difference between a Havak and a Fieldcraft), and 2) you can't get what you want in a factory offering (like caliber, chamber, twist, etc). Otherwise the gains are marginal, at best. Why pay for accuracy that cant be fully realized in an 7-8lb rifle? If you are paying for ultra light weight or just want a project, I get that.

Ive come full circle from custom rifles back to Tikka. They just work. Plus I dont have to be precious about them, and have money left over for hunting, optics, bullets, etc.

Lastly, custom rifles don't always shoot. Sometime the feeding is crap, smith fees add up to build one (add cerakote, add bottom metal, add magazines, mess with the follower, tune the timing, pay for shipping, etc etc)

 

[pjohnson8168]

I can't comment on a custom but ended up getting browning long range pro for a steal in 6.5 prc and it's the nicest (and most accurate) gun I have ever shot, worth checking out.

 

[SDHNTR]

Life is too short for plastic rifles!

save up another $500 and buy one of Alamo Precision’s Maverick semi customs. Top of the line custom components at a bargain of a price. I have two. One is easy 3/4moa or better (I’m sure it would improve with more load development) and the other is a genuine one holer. Fit and finish and balance on both is excellent. Plus, you’ll get to put your own stamp on it with cerakote and stock colors, barrel fluting and length, and of course cartridge choice.