Getting a Custom Hunting Rifle Built

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by BackPackHunter

he should know, its his gun!

after all this, i don't know if i want to post pics of my custom when she's done

It's surprising that he wouldn't know eh. Kinda shocked myself. Hopefully he didn't order and pay for McMillan bottom metal. That would suck!

[Faststeel]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Having had several custom rifles built, by several gunbuilders, my suggestion is to look at some actions and stocks, decide which most appeal to you, and then shop around for a gunbuilder.Some gunbuilders seem to somewhat specialize in certain types of rifles, so they might be a better choice to build the type of rifle that you want. If I wanted a super lightweight mountain rifle, I would likely use a different gunbuilder, than if I wanted a varmint, or target style rifle.

Elk
How do your customs compare accuracy wise to the many Coopers you have picked up in recent years? FS

[Dick284]

I've got 3 semi custom made rigs in my stable.

The first is my .284 Winchester, built on a Rem 788 action, now sporting a Gailliard barrel (original was a take off alpine) all dressed up in a MPI fiberglass stock.



My second one is a RKS barreled Sako in 25'06, Grandpa Smith did the work himself on this rig.




And my last one is a 280AI on a Rem 700, with a RKS bbl, all dressed up by Paul at Rangesports Unlimited, action is trued, and blueprinted.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Sakoman

I have never had a custom rifle built before. For those that have had one built before, what are the must haves and what should one look out for or ask for? Secondly who would you get to build it? Being located in Calgary it would be nice to have it built close so one could see it progress / some of the processes involved.

My wants are a bit of a departure from most here.
Express sights, single shot, nice wood, and old school look.
Bill Leeper did mine, but I'm not sure if he is taking on any more work.
he did a incredible job on this rifle.



Cat

[Comstar]

Hey Cat, what caliber is it and what kind of accuracy do you get?

Great looking gun.

[209x50]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

My wants are a bit of a departure from most here.
Express sights, single shot, nice wood, and old school look.
Bill Leeper did mine, but I'm not sure if he is taking on any more work.
he did a incredible job on this rifle.



Cat

Very pretty Cat. I love the express sight.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Comstar

Hey Cat, what caliber is it and what kind of accuracy do you get?

Great looking gun.

The rifle was chambered in .303 Brit - s is the rifle that got the ball rolling on Ruger's production run of .303 light sporters!
Accuracy wise it will consistently do 4" at 200 meters, which is not bad at all
for open sights.
Bottom line however, is at 100 yards it will drop a deer about as fast as I can put it up and shoot it, which is what it was designed for!
Cat

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by 209x50

Very pretty Cat. I love the express sight.

Thanks rich, Bill did a great job of the octagon profile into roud on the barrel, and mounting the integral sling mount.
I am very pleased with the whole he whole barrel profile as well as all the other stuff he did to the rifle....
Cat

[Leeper]

Custom rifles vary widely as to form, function, and the extent to which they are built by the 'smith or assembled from aftermarket parts.
In the end, if the result pleases the owner, the rifle has fulfilled it's primary purpose. I have a bunch of home made rifles which would, I suppose, be considered to be "custom". Each one was built to satisfy some urge at the time and all are probably worth at least 30% of what I have invested in them in time and money! For myself, everything I make is best described as utilitarian in design and execution. I enjoy using them and they are unique and that's all I ask.
With the typical modern custom, the rifle is usually just an assembly of parts so the gunsmith's input is less evident. There is still some room for the 'smith to make some sort of philisophical statement though, so you do want to be sure you can agree with him in most respects.
In many respects, the building of custom rifles is one of the most gratifying yet frustrating of all tasks a gunsmith may undertake. As I get older, I find myself to be more and more in agreement with Rick Nelson's line "If you can't please everyone, you've got to please yourself"! Leeper

[silver]

Originally Posted by 209x50

Very pretty Cat. I love the express sight.

Does anybody make a peep sight for the express sight position?

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by silver

Does anybody make a peep sight for the express sight position?

I see no sense in a peep sight being that far forward, as a big aperture is all that is need for instant acquisition on a receiver sight.
The closer you get a peep sight to your eye the better.
Cat

[Sakoman]

Cat... Nice looking rig!

[Sakoman]

Leeper - Thanks for the info / thoughts.

[silver]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I see no sense in a peep sight being that far forward, as a big aperture is all that is need for instant acquisition on a receiver sight.
The closer you get a peep sight to your eye the better.
Cat

I agree with you that an aperature sight mounted close to the eye is more accurate, but mounting a sight on the receiver of a fine looking rifle such as yours would spoil the lines. Mounting a peep sight in the express sight position would be no worse accuracy wise than an open sight and very probably better. It would definitly be a quicker acquisition than an open sight for me.

Just looking forward to buying my first double rifle.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by silver

I agree with you that an aperature sight mounted close to the eye is more accurate, but mounting a sight on the receiver of a fine looking rifle such as yours would spoil the lines. Mounting a peep sight in the express sight position would be no worse accuracy wise than an open sight and very probably better. It would definitly be a quicker acquisition than an open sight for me.

Just looking forward to buying my first double rifle.

It wouldn't if it was a vintage style receiver sight.
target aquesition would actually be faster than with a peep mounted further forward, that is why expres sights are preferred to peep sights for close work when they are mounbted forward .
Go ahead and getrdun owever if you think it will help and you want it there!

Cat

[gunsmithatwork]

Originally Posted by Robmcleod82

A good start for a boat anchor

I can second that one well Bill, lol!

[gunsmithatwork]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

The mounts don't hang over the ejection port...they sit sit perfectly flush.

Biggest problem is there is no 'universal' standard in dimensional sizes in products coming from the US and the quality is lacking badly in most of these products! An even bigger problem is that they can all claim to make the best Remington 'cloned' actions based on the Remy's 'foot-print', but out of all of them, maybe only one or two delivers the whole complete 'kit' that actually fits the action and is machined/produced in-house!
Just my 2 cents worth of thoughts gained trough past work-experiences,lol!

[Dick284]

2-1/2 year old thread, I'm sure the OP has made his decision by now.

Drive that post count!