oldelkhunter

I know lots of you probably cannot justify a Custom rifle that is all well and fine. Seems like after spending(I don't really want to know either) lots of money on factory rifles and a few semi-customs along the way. I think I should have bit the bullet when I was younger and built a few custom jobs in a nice caliber spread and and been happy with them and gone on more hunts . Quite frankly I look at the junk on dealers shelves and am not impressed one iota with exception of certain Sakos and Kimbers. I just cannot feel the same way about guns made today as I did back in the early 70's and 80's. I just cannot find the correct combination of features that will do the trick. Anyone feel the same?

Rebel Hog

OEH,these are "SERENGETI ACTION'S" $800 .338WSM

Rebel Hog

Check in to it?

oldelkhunter

Rh I looked at them last week..very nice looking action although the regular MRC action is not bad as well. I guess they get 300 dollars for making it look like the MRC should when it first leaves the factory. They do seem nice though. My gunsmith told me to not bother with them and told me to look for a used Mauser action FN,98,CZ550,GEW etc etc;

bigcountry

absoluetly agree OEH. For most I think they are trying to buy a guarantee for accuacy.

I have found out a few times that if you don't do your homework, there is no guantee.

But for me, there are a few out there that have refreshed my veiw of factory rifles. You mentioned several. FN makes top quality tactical rifles if you want to try your hand at steel plate shooting way out there.

Most guys I see with customs are generally varmit rifles. Big heavy barrels. I myself can't see that. Barrel life can be short.

Rebel Hog

I would go with the 98 actions.

http://www.empirerifles.com/Empire%2098%20Actions.htm

oldelkhunter

RH now your talking

SWAMPMAN

OEH,
You know I feel that way. I've been looking for several years for that "one rifle" that will do it all. I thought for a while it was the Remington Mountain rifle DM in 280 Remington. IT's a beautiful rifle but the action compared with my 70's , 80's vintage 700 BDL's is atrocious. I went the way of Sako and custom to find what I wanted. I'd much rather go buy a rifle at the gun shop for "instant gratification", but not if quality is sacrificed. I may have to spend more on a custom, but I know that that rifle will be carefully manufactured and that the "smith" will take pride in that rifle like the big manufacturers used to.

BareBack Jack

The way guns were built 10 yrs ago don't hols a candle to the ones now let alone 20 yrs ago.

Talking Mauser 98 actions I see leagacy sports imports 98's actions that don't seem badly built.

The only justification I need for custom gun is I wan't one.
BBJ

James B

All the justification it takes is if a guy has the money to spend and feels good packing something thats not run of the mill. I have built custom rifles but I was not any more content with them than with a factory rifle and I soon traded or sold them in order to try something else. Back in 1976 I bought a new 700 BDL custom Delux LH 30-06. That rifle was a tack driver and would have done everything that I ever needed a rifle to do. However I was not content and sent it off to be rebarreled to 280. Again it was all the rifle I would have needed for 90 percent of my hunts. Sold it to try my first 7MM Rem Mag. Its been the same all my life. For me a custom rifle is a waste because no matter how good it is, It won't be around long. I have a lot of guns but only a handfull are safe from the trading block. My wife did inform me that if I want to keep all of my body parts, Her 700 classic 250-3000 had better be in the safe when she wants to use it. I have a sporterized 6.5x55 Mauser that I won't part with and a 308 Browning that I bought from my son. He may want it back some day. And never again will my 7600 Rem. 30-06 get out of my collection.

Thats my Opinion but if a guy has the bucks to spend on custom stuff, more power to them. I have spent enough on guns that I didn't need to finance many more hunting trip. Even more so a few years back when Big game hunting was not just a well to do mans sport.