If you walk into a custom shop, not many.
I just assembled another custom action rifle for around 2700. This is a Kelbly action, "custom" barrel I ordered to my specs, and a chassis. I've been doing it for years.
$2,700 is very affordable for action, trigger, bottom metal, and a good quality barrel. What are the build parts and specs on this if you don’t mind? I don’t think you are the “norm” at all for “building” a custom gun. Nearly everyone who I know who’s shooting customs has close to or over half your costs in just smithing a gun build.
So many folks on here that buy a stock rifle and then replace the stock, have the barrel sent out for threading, and or replace it seems like a waste of money.
Using Tikka as an example (it is Rokslide after all) I never understand why guys practically throw away some of the most consistent and accurate barrels in the world and then replace with some carbon wrapped monstrosity.
Replacing the stock is $600 and then selling the factory stock for $50-$200. That’s not a waste at all especially for what the Rokstok offers in shoot-ability. I get there are other stocks and chassis that can land over $1,000 adding in a ton of cost.
Cutting and threading for a suppressor is only $100-$200 and is a personal preference choice.
Anyone can purchase exactly what they want and not pay for wasted, or parts that need additional smithing, shipping costs, time lost etc.
I think the “issue” with this for most folks is the initial cost, lack of knowledge so smith costs, and then having to deal with Rem700 based downfalls (not as dramatic as some would think especially with how little most folks shoot them).
No dog in this fight, and haven't read all the comments. I agree with others that you can't compare it to some rifles, and it sounds like this rifle is more for hunters who don't geek out on gear, and love doing things themselves.
I believe the point of this gun is a company truly proofing a rifle before it leaves the shop. Sako and Tikka do something similar where chambering/feeding/extracting is checked by a smith who stamps the paperwork for that exact serial number. They are then shot over pressure for 3 rounds and if they pass they are then accuracy proofed for 3-5 rounds for Tikka/Sako respectively. There’s a reason the field failures and reliability on these guns is world renown. Processes like this are welcomed in my opinion and it seems MRC is going even a step further.
As for this rifle being discussed, it's not a custom rifle, it's a factory rifle. To pay extra for someone to shoot a 10 round group-which most are going to do themselves....why? 1.5 moa isn't screaming accurate, but is a darn good standard.
If a “factory rifle” runs for 10,000 rounds without hiccup and maintains 1-1.5 MOA it will be on par with what I’ve seen from Sako for decades now and Tikkas for the last 7ish years. That’s a standard that no “custom” guns I’ve owned and shot have maintained yet. Maybe you have seen differently?
I fully understand the 10K rounds is very low sample size. Looking forward to several more being put to heavy use this winter/spring and seeing results from different shooters.
Add in a much higher spec'd custom action and better barrel, 1.5 and better is much more attainable, and can be done all day for under $3k.
In what way are a Kelby and “custom” barrel higher spec’d? Are you basing that on the stated 1.5 and better spec or factoring in other variables?
So $1k-1300 extra for someone to rack the bolt and feed rounds, again, who doesn't check their rifle out? This place is the most hardcore DIY group of dudes, but somehow these are attractive options from the factory for near actual custom pricing?
I agree that shooting and proofing a gun is still on the end user 100% and I don’t think this QA/QC process is where the costs are incurred. I also wish the gun was $800 cheaper or more but I don’t think folks truly grasp the concept of landed costs plus burden and trying to maintain profitability in today’s economy. Especially when acquiring American made goods from multiple OEMs. This is especially exacerbated in an overly saturated market with overall low margins such as the gun industry (other than niche parts and suppressors).
Higher volume and low profitability is the name of the gun making game, so when a “boutique” gun like this comes in at the price point it does, folks minds immediately go to “custom” without realizing they really aren’t gaining anything there (speaking from a true heavily used hunting gun standpoint) and will for sure spend more if using a smith.
I can appreciate what this rifle plans to be even though I lean more towards “DIY” personally. Looking forward to seeing more of them in the field.
rokslide.com
