I call that a custom built on a mass produced action. New barrel, trigger, stock, and bottom metal leaves only the original action that was mass produced. That's what every one of mine are. What seperates tiny shooting rifles from "good" shooting rifles is the barrel and smith more than anything. Assuming the shooter can shoot as good as any rifle can.

Yes, a lot of rifles started out as customs, but in true business form there was $ to be made in replication. I have semi-customs, my kiddo's first rifle from CCA is semi-custom.

Well I'm planning on having another rifle done this year so I guess I'm at a loss as to what it will be

There's no set definition of "custom" vs. "semi-custom". I have my thoughts and yours may be different. Topic will never be resolved.

All I can say is that the vast majority of what folks call "custom" rifles are not even close.

Something you'll be happy with and don't worry about the rest. In a 7mm SAUM so you can somewhat mimick ballistics of your 280 and consolidate bullets.

My 2 cents a custom is when the buyer goes to a gunsmith/gun builder and tells the maker exactly what he wants. The gunsmith then starts to get the parts and assemble them in the configuration the buyer specified. It can also happen when a buyer takes a weapon to a gunsmith and has custom work done to it.

Think about custom cars, all they are is basic cars that somebody customized.

Call it whatever the hell you want Mike,it's yours. If I know you like I think I do, you could give a rats azz.

To me, custom is every single piece made by you, anything else is accesorized.

This is what Websters says about it. I take their definition over most here as they actually have a book. Full of words. With globally accepted definitions...

custom–built
adjective cus·tom–built \ˈkəs-təm-ˈbilt\
: built to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person

A Prius is built to fit the needs of a ton of ppl, Stoney.

This should be a Friday question not Thursday.

But any who... patents would lend to very limited true customs. IMO

Anything you spend $3500+ on you should be able to call whatever you want.
Build, custom, whatever makes you feel better; and good folks should be
empathetic and not call you on it either .

Well I'm a south paw shooter so I'm considering a 28 Nosler since I can use a standard LH 700 long action. Something readily available.

Agreed

Could look at a 7mm Tejas on a Borden action.

If you use the above definitions of custom rifles and apply them to other items, then there has never been a custom car, nor has there ever been a custom handgun made in the past 50 years, maybe longer?? And all the 'custom" shops in rifle manufacturers are a ploy of who??

Can anyone supply facts or are these just opinions as to what constitutes a custom rifle?

Custom is in the eye of the owner. Have or have had rifles with barrels, triggers, stocks, bottom metal, barrel changed out action blueprinted... Those to me are swapping parts to make it what I want, some would call them custom some would not.

Wasn't built for me, came from an estate sale. Would be interesting to know more about one I consider custom. Action has parts from Mauser 98 and 03 Springfield, Springfield trigger, Full length walnut stock, Remington butt plate, 16.25 inch McGowen barrel, Williams sights, Remington 788 44 Mag magazine. The action and bolt have been shortened by removing a section from the middle. Stock is not only full length Mannlicher style but glass bedded full length. Even though that is a mismatch of parts to me that is custom.

Have read and believe that Custom rifles are a shooting or pride of ownership investment that can be a money pit. You almost never can get what you will pay for one back if you decide to sell it. Custom Shotguns on the other hand usually appreciate in price.

Custom engraving can turn any gun into a custom.

David Petzal is about as knowledgeable about rifles as you'll ever find. What he said about it is pretty close to what Nog said. He probably knows more about it than everyone on this thread combined, so I'll go with that.

Unless you have forged it yourself out of unobtainium you do not have a custom rifle. by the way i'm a custom slingshot maker if any one is interested but some may not consider it as I use surgical elastic rather then the biblical yack's gut like David when he thwarted Goliath

Start with this:



End up with this:

^^This and it doesn't matter what action you use because unless you got ATF approval to manufacture a firearm and milled your action out of a piece of billet then its an off the shelf action some are just made better than others. Nice Rifle by the way I'm about ready to send my large ring of to pacnor and have them barrel it for me.

My idea of custom. Full complete builds. Custom actions barrels triggers and stocks. Consistently shooting under 1/2moa.

Despite this thread being a total azz whip and waste of time


I pick this one...

Theres a difference between custom and one-off. If it's been tailored to suits your needs, it's been customized. Which is all it takes for something to be a custom.