Who is Gunwerk’s target customer

[Rock’N Tacos]

Why do you need to do load development to hunt? The vast minority of people hand load.
High end factory ammo does quite well past where most should ever be shooting.

that is what I have been using, that and some of the semi custom stuff from choice and other ammo makers. In addition to hunting, I also love to practice shooting long range, at least long range for me which is 1250 yards. I have noticed factory ammo often lacks consistency at that range, even some of the best match stuff from hornady and federal.

I haven’t always had this mindset. 20 years ago when I got married and had little ones I scraped together money for some used reloading equipment so I could afford to shoot a little bit. Situations and priorities change.

 

[waspocrew]

Surprised this didn’t start with the typical “guys with more money than sense” or “wannabe hunters”, etc.

As @Kimber7man pointed out, Gunwerks manufactures nearly every component of the rifle (except trigger on most models besides the Endex). There’s value in that. Have issues? They’ll take care of you. If you burned a barrel out, they used to rebarrel for free (but I think it’s only $500 now).

My brother worked for Gunwerks for 3 years, as a result, I got a great deal on a Magnus 7 SAUM. I handload quite a bit for that rifle and feel very confident in my abilities with it.

Is it for everyone? No. Does everyone drive an F-150? Nope. Buy what you see value in.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I think they hire a guide who is experienced at that???

Ha!

You make funny joke. I like.

 

[RockAndSage]

Why do you need to do load development to hunt? The vast minority of people hand load.
High end factory ammo does quite well past where most should ever be shooting at animals.

You know man, at some point you're just starting to sound like a jealous broke-ass who has a villager's mentality of money. I grew up in a trailer, around people like that.

It's amazing how creating value for other people, in large quantities, kills off that cracker mindset.

Go do it yourself. Bigly. We'll all cheer for you, and the world will be a better place for all the value you create for others.

 

[43.6N]

I consider gunwerks a legit hunting company. Much more invested in the hunter then some of the more tactical focused brands. I also shoot with 2 guys who went all in on the gw system, and their equipment has held up well.

I wouldn’t look down my nose on anyone rucking up a mountain with one. Just like I wouldn’t dismiss the dude with a well worn set of swaros.

 

[z987k]

You know man, at some point you're just starting to sound like a jealous broke-ass who has a villager's mentality of money. I grew up in a trailer, around people like that.

It's amazing how creating value for other people, in large quantities, kills off that cracker mindset.

Go do it yourself. Bigly. We'll all cheer for you, and the world will be a better place for all the value you create for others.

I can very much afford a gunwerks rifle. I can't see any value in it, and can't see how it has any for much of anyone given the reality of what shooting at the range to need a high end rifle takes.

It strikes me as it's for the more money than brains people. That's fine. Buy what you want. But that's the answer. And I don't mean intelligence, but in this discipline. Lot's of people, myself included, are very good at one thing. And a whole lot of those people falsely assume it transfers over to damn near everything. It doesn't. It takes a lot of time and training(which is why you're so good at that one thing, you did the work). Something you cannot buy.

 

[Deere_Man]

They spend $10,000 for a turnkey deal, for the same exact reason that a blue collar dude spends $400 on a used Ruger American from Bass Pro and slaps a Bushnell Banner on top, and buys a couple boxes of Federal Fusions…he’s not got a lot of time and wants a turn key solution. Two different approaches with a very similar outcome.

 

[RockAndSage]

Lot's of people, myself included, are very good at one thing. And a whole lot of those people falsely assume it transfers over to damn near everything. It doesn't.

This, I agree with 100%.

If I've misinterpreted everything you've been saying, and that your core criticism is that nobody should be doing long-range hunting without being skilled...and that it's not just a criticism of spending lots of money of stuff you personally wouldn't...then I'd agree with that too.

 

[TaperPin]

With all the confusion many guys have who are just getting into long range hunting between equipment, training, etc I can see Gunwerks as a one stop shop someone could trust more than some rando dude at the gun shop who knows a guy that puts on training and another dude who builds rifles in his garage. It makes sense to me. With this year’s high performance Razor costing $35k, another $100k for a fifth wheel, $100k for a pickup to pull it, $15k for a rifle isnt anything for guys in the income bracket that can afford it. They probably also have a collection of $10k handguns, better snow machines than I’ll ever have, a Harley that gets trailered to Sturgis every year, a Raptor as a daily driver, a ski boat that drops bikinis, and a collectible signed baseball worth as much as all my rifles put together.

If a friend I grew up with called with a big budget and wants to go all in and start hunting some exotic destinations and had the money I’d be likely to send him in their direction

 

[43.6N]

With all the confusion many guys have who are just getting into long range hunting between equipment, training, etc I can see Gunwerks as a one stop shop someone could trust more than some rando dude at the gun shop who knows a guy that puts on training and another dude who builds rifles in his garage. It makes sense to me. With this year’s high performance Razor costing $35k, another $100k for a fifth wheel, $100k for a pickup to pull it, $15k for a rifle isnt anything for guys in the income bracket that can afford it. They probably also have a collection of $10k handguns, better snow machines than I’ll ever have, a Harley that gets trailered to Sturgis every year, a Raptor as a daily driver, a ski boat that drops bikinis, and a collectible signed baseball worth as much as all my rifles put together.

If a friend I grew up with called with a big budget and wants to go all in and start hunting some exotic destinations and had the money I’d be likely to send him in their direction

Counterpoint.
They can also just be hard working guys, making a comfortable living for themselves and their families. They love what they do, and have no issue pouring their money into something that brings them joy. They see Aaron as putting out a quality product, and trust him to stand behind their purchase.

 

[TaperPin]

Counterpoint.
They can also just be hard working guys, making a comfortable living for themselves and their families. They love what they do, and have no issue pouring their money into something that brings them joy. They see Aaron as putting out a quality product, and trust him to stand behind their purchase.

I completely agree. There’s a lot of value in trusting a company.

 

[Kimber7man]

Seems like they also have a lot of their customers attend their long range shooting schools when they pick up their rifles. They have a nice trifecta going - order a complete rifle system with scope and ammo, get their BLR10 rangefinder bino’s, and attend their training class. You’d be ahead of a lot of guys within a week.

 

[elsb0048]

With all the confusion many guys have who are just getting into long range hunting between equipment, training, etc I can see Gunwerks as a one stop shop someone could trust more than some rando dude at the gun shop who knows a guy that puts on training and another dude who builds rifles in his garage. It makes sense to me.

I was interested in them for a little bit for this reason.

I'm just starting down the path of truly learning to shoot, trying to reform my ways from being a check zero on october 9, kill a couple things and not touch it again for a year.

Because I'm curious that also pushed me down the path of ordering customized rifle from a local smith. Haven't got my rifle yet and honestly I've already got all kinds of anxiety about what the results will be. I don't have anyone in my life to truly be a mentor in this space and so as I dig in and research it I just keep finding new resources in podcasts, forums, youtube, etc for hunting & shooting philosophy that seem to be pitching me opposing viewpoints and telling me outright that 'the other guy' is an irresponsible and/or ignorant asshole who is just trying to sell me something that will make me fail.

Having a 1-stop shop with potentially a bit of a wider reach of credibility that really handles the whole process of training, equipment, and system. I can see why it's attractive for folks if you've got the cash and a desire to 'get it right' the first time and not fiddle around.

 

[nm.otter]

That pretty much sums it up

...which is mostly what so-called 'AI' does. Don't confuse it with Intelligence.

 

[WVELK]

It seems as though they market as a one stop shop for a rifle that is supposed to be better than a factory mass produced rifle. My biggest question for them would be if you are promoting accuracy why the absence of an adjustable butt plate? You can have the best rifle barrel ever produced and if your shooter can get his cheek weld set the same every time, you are peeing up a rope at long distance.

 

[WVELK]

I was interested in them for a little bit for this reason.

I'm just starting down the path of truly learning to shoot, trying to reform my ways from being a check zero on october 9, kill a couple things and not touch it again for a year.

Because I'm curious that also pushed me down the path of ordering customized rifle from a local smith. Haven't got my rifle yet and honestly I've already got all kinds of anxiety about what the results will be. I don't have anyone in my life to truly be a mentor in this space and so as I dig in and research it I just keep finding new resources in podcasts, forums, youtube, etc for hunting & shooting philosophy that seem to be pitching me opposing viewpoints and telling me outright that 'the other guy' is an irresponsible and/or ignorant asshole who is just trying to sell me something that will make me fail.

Having a 1-stop shop with potentially a bit of a wider reach of credibility that really handles the whole process of training, equipment, and system. I can see why it's attractive for folks if you've got the cash and a desire to 'get it right' the first time and not fiddle around.

Friend,

Jump right in and enjoy. In the midwest where I spend most of my time, managing for good whitetails is often more fun than hunting them. And, you can manage 12 months out of the year. Same for shooting, reloading, load development, etc. You can turn your new custom rifle into a 12 months enjoyment exercise. Yes, there will be bumps along the way. Read forums, and realized that just because a guy can type does not mean he knows what he is talking about. Most know a lot and you will figure it out. Find someone who will take some time and talk to you on the phone and help. A lot is lost just sending messages, posts etc. You will get there no need to be anxious.

 

[TaperPin]

I was interested in them for a little bit for this reason.

I'm just starting down the path of truly learning to shoot, trying to reform my ways from being a check zero on october 9, kill a couple things and not touch it again for a year.

Because I'm curious that also pushed me down the path of ordering customized rifle from a local smith. Haven't got my rifle yet and honestly I've already got all kinds of anxiety about what the results will be. I don't have anyone in my life to truly be a mentor in this space and so as I dig in and research it I just keep finding new resources in podcasts, forums, youtube, etc for hunting & shooting philosophy that seem to be pitching me opposing viewpoints and telling me outright that 'the other guy' is an irresponsible and/or ignorant asshole who is just trying to sell me something that will make me fail.

Having a 1-stop shop with potentially a bit of a wider reach of credibility that really handles the whole process of training, equipment, and system. I can see why it's attractive for folks if you've got the cash and a desire to 'get it right' the first time and not fiddle around.

Luckily, today is really the golden age of long range shooting in terms of equipment and ease of finding information. The anxiety you’re feeling is normal, but it sounds like you’ve digested a lot of information quickly and to be honest you’ve made a more informed decision than 90% of custom guns built over the years. Opposing viewpoints or competing companies today are very much a choice between really good alternatives so it’s hard to go wrong.

I get excited hearing how guys like you dig into long range shooting as a new hobby - the sense of adventure, discovery, and learning new things almost every week is pretty cool. Don’t let the plateaus or setbacks shake you - it’s part of the process.