Lots of good information....so I'll highlight a few and then address the gunsmith question since it didn't get as many answers.



If you aren't going to reload as Chad said you'll likely never see the true potential of a custom gun.

Disagree shoot the 6.5 creedmoor or the nosler trophy ammo in the other calibers. we have has some guns shoot lights out with that ammo.

A good one!

All the Savage action does is move a handload from the mag into the chamber, fires it, then kind of ejects it....

So you are right but I still don't see the purpose in spending all that money on a killer rifle then throwing factory ammo down it...99% of the time you can get it to shoot better with a load tuned for the barrel than you will out of a box. )

As soon as I can decide on a caliber I'm going have Horizon build one for me. Either 264 WM or 7STW.

As soon as I can decide on a caliber I'm going have Horizon build one for me. Either 264 WM or 7STW.

we can do ether but still think you need to seriously consider that long throated 7 mag with 180 grain bergers. Way easier to get brass

I don't dabble with "custom" synthetic bolt guns much, so my opinion on advantages of a custom is different. Yes, the gun will typically shoot more accurately and better materials used. The customer has more options on what to do, as well as one-off things.

Had a customer that wanted a Damascus butt plate and grip cap. Know where to get one? Cant order that at Brownells. Here is what we made:




Want a pair of 1911 grips with U.S. dimes dated 1911? cant find that either.

Want a barrel contour matching a pre-war Rigby?

Aside from one-off stuff, $3000 wood, and high coverage engraving custom guns can also be stocked to fit you. Most people see benefit from this concerning shotguns, rifles shouldn't be any different. One of the single shots we made had stock dimensions that fit me perfectly. With no iron sight, no scope, no nothing I could quickly point this rifle(like a shotgun)and hit a 10"-12" steel plate at 220yds the vast majority of the time. Without shooting it ten times to "find the target". Just walk out, point, shoot. no resting the rifle on anything, no holding the rifle awkwardly. You just cant do that with an ill-fitting factory gun. I call this trait shootability. Shootability translates to a rifle you can shoot more accurately in all scenarios. Shootability comes from a fitted gun, proper handling, good balance, pointability, proper weight, etc...

When concerning finish of the wood and metal no factory gun can get to the same level of finish as a good custom gunmaker. A lot of people wouldn't care about this aspect, but mine do. Craftsmanship is also much higher on every aspect. Cant get extremely tight wood-to-metal fit on a factory rifle.

Agree with you 100%, now you are starting to talk custom. Much of what is called custom is nothing more than high dollar bolt on material. McMillan stock and Timney trigger and Harris bipod does not qualify as custom.

With glass bedding.

A wood stocked gun is just as suited as any other in any situation. You may need to make some compromises and have extra diligance to not use the stock as a boat paddle or walking stick.

To the next reply that wood can shirk and expand causing consistency issues, not all wood is created equal.

Go ahead since you form steel lets see it