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Custom Rifles
#6995913
12/14/17 03:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 34
Txlonghorn
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 34 |
I am interested to see who people's favorite custom builders are and why. I was looking at Alamo Precision and they seem like great shop. Would welcome anyone's experiences with their rifles
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6995918
12/14/17 03:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,432
TFF Caribou
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,432 |
Alamo cut and recrowned a barrel for me. Never had a custom rifle built. Their rifle packages seem great. They strike me as an every mans custom gun shop. Not sure that they build ultra ultra high end stuff, but if I decide to have a rifle built, I’ll likely be going to them. They might do more high end stuff that I realize, but they were at least a really good shop to work with.
The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6995931
12/14/17 03:12 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,157
Smokey Bear
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,157 |
One of the guys I hunt with has a left hand 7-08 they built on a 700 action. 20" barrelI in a sporter style stock. It is a tack Driver. One hole 5 shot groups @ 100 with 140 gamekings over 42 grains of Varget. It is sweet!
Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996007
12/14/17 03:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 672
glb1955
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 672 |
I have several Horizon Firearms rifles. My rifles are built off of either Tikka or Remington actions and I have no regrets in using one of their Stillar actions (I am kind of cheap sometimes). Their rifles are very accurate and they have great customer service. It is also handy that they are in the same city I am. I have also used Bobby Pitchford (Pitchford Custom Gun) in Waller. He also builds a very good rifle and they are accurate. Bobby will work with you to get you what you want. I know there are several good builders out there that do good work. These are just the two whom I have used.
g
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996017
12/14/17 04:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,165
Judd
#1 Creedmoor Fan
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#1 Creedmoor Fan
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,165 |
Jon Trammell (in Breckenridge) or Jonathan Stigall (Crimson Accuracy) in no order is who I use for all my stuff. We have a lot of good gunsmiths in Texas. Call around get to know your gunsmith and go with the guy you like the best. I like both these guys and have become friends with them. I also like the fact they tell me I'm screwing up before I actually do it...that doesn't mean I always listen
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Judd]
#6996044
12/14/17 04:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,907
ChadTRG42
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,907 |
Jon Trammell (in Breckenridge) I was in his shop last week!!
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996062
12/14/17 04:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 34
Txlonghorn
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 34 |
Thank you for the suggestions. I was trying to understand also how much more accurate they are versus off the shelf.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996072
12/14/17 04:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759
snake oil
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759 |
Yepper Jon's one of the best..........
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas".
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996074
12/14/17 04:37 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 610
JTPinTX
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 610 |
I usually use Jon Beanland at Beanland Custom Rifles. He is very good and only 40 miles from my door. I have also used Mike Bryant (also very good, and only about 50 miles from me). Another I would not hesitate to use at all would be West Texas Ordnance. A good friend of mine has several of their rifles and they all shoot like crazy.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996084
12/14/17 04:46 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,900
Jgraider
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,900 |
Hear great things about WTO. I also like McWhorter customs, and Hill Country Rifles a lot as well.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996096
12/14/17 04:57 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442 |
Have a couple, one from Trammell and one from Scott Weichel both rifles are very good shooters. Would not hesitate to use them again. Also APR and S&S are good to go as well.
The one Scott did has metric threads and he was the only local smith that said no problem doing those. The others just said no metric threads or didn't call me back to the message I left them. The rifle Scott did has beome my favorite centerfire rifle.
With a lot of factory rifles you are looking at hit or miss as to it being put together right one from a good smith you know it is put together right
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996101
12/14/17 05:01 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 632
505ed
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 632 |
Depends on what you want:
Alamo is slapping together a 6.5 PRC for me...I'll let you know...it will be a pimped up screwed together parts gun...Remmy 700, hardy barrel ect...I'm sure it will be fine.
One of my favorite guys is Dirk SHimmel in Gellitte Wy great guy--and a damn good gunsmith. Can do almost anything.
For blue steel and fine walnut...my first call would be TDK that post here--he is one of the best up and coming builders. He is good...wait not just good he is gooooood....
For a fine dangerous game rifle I have used Lon Paul--in tanglewood CA..he is another one that is a super nice guy and builds a hell of a rifle!
I have also had rifles built by Bill Wiseman, Tip Burns (no longer building), Rifles Inc, Ray Williams (retired), kampfield customs, AHR, and a few others...really have not been disappointed by any of these...
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996107
12/14/17 05:04 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,541
patriot07
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,541 |
Thank you for the suggestions. I was trying to understand also how much more accurate they are versus off the shelf. Depends on what off the shelf rifle you're going to get. For an experienced shooter, I assume they're a little more accurate. For a novice shooter, you'd be much better off buying a nice factory rifle and a bunch of ammo to improve skills.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996112
12/14/17 05:07 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,907
ChadTRG42
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,907 |
Thank you for the suggestions. I was trying to understand also how much more accurate they are versus off the shelf. Night and day!! Factory rifles can shoot good, no doubt. But a full custom with tuned ammo will easily out shoot a factory rifle. You may notice it at 100 yards, but the differences will certainly show itself at longer ranges.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#6996121
12/14/17 05:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481 |
Thank you for the suggestions. I was trying to understand also how much more accurate they are versus off the shelf. Night and day!! Factory rifles can shoot good, no doubt. But a full custom with tuned ammo will easily out shoot a factory rifle. You may notice it at 100 yards, but the differences will certainly show itself at longer ranges. How about a good factory rifle with custom tuned ammo? To me its not a fair rifle comparison if your taking a good shooting factory gun with $17 Remington corelocks and comparing it to a custom with load work up for that specific rifle done. How about accuracy of semi customs? Like savage prefits etc. that are properly installed?
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996142
12/14/17 05:35 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442 |
The custom/semi customs I have nd those that I have shot beat all but two factory rifle I have handloaded for accuracy wise. One is a Remington 700 classic in 17 Remington, the other is a Cooper 53 in 65-284. The Remington shot its first 3 shots in a .125 inch group center to center. and that was with Remington Corelokts factory load. I have yet to duplicate that but just about everything I have fed it have been sub MOA even in load workup. Problem with that one is after 20 shots you have to remove copper from the barrel to restore accuracy.
The Cooper during load workup across 5 grains of powder range no 3 shot group was over 1.5 inches at 200 yards. Settled for a near max load that shot 5/8 groups at 200 yards with no vertical stringing. That rifle an shoot better than I can.
Semi customs shoot as well as or better than the Cooper and cost me about the same.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996156
12/14/17 05:44 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,541
patriot07
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,541 |
What do you guys believe constitutes a custom vs a semi-custom?
If I take a Tikka and have a gunsmith put a Bartlein on it and stick it in a McMillan, is that semi-custom? And a custom is usually a non-factory action with completely aftermarket components making up the rifle?
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: redchevy]
#6996158
12/14/17 05:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,873
Teal28
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,873 |
Thank you for the suggestions. I was trying to understand also how much more accurate they are versus off the shelf. Night and day!! Factory rifles can shoot good, no doubt. But a full custom with tuned ammo will easily out shoot a factory rifle. You may notice it at 100 yards, but the differences will certainly show itself at longer ranges. How about a good factory rifle with custom tuned ammo? To me its not a fair rifle comparison if your taking a good shooting factory gun with $17 Remington corelocks and comparing it to a custom with load work up for that specific rifle done. How about accuracy of semi customs? Like savage prefits etc. that are properly installed? I have a semi custom 700 in 308. Blue printed, heavy lug installed and firing pin & spring swapped, barrel cut and threaded, Trigger tuned as well.Night and day the difference from when it was a factory PSS. Sending my 300 win in after the first of the year for a barrel swap and truing as well. It shoots good now but it can be better.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996163
12/14/17 05:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 672
glb1955
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 672 |
Full custom should be built off of an action other than Rem, Tikka, etc. There are several companies that offer those. Mine are the semi-custom. I can't justify paying the extra money for anything else. If you put a barrel on a Tikka, which I did and don't regret it, then it should be considered semi-custom. It will be custom to you, but, like one person told me, if you build a rifle off of a Remington 700 then you still have a Remington 700. Targets and/or animals don't really know what they are shot with. And Chad can get ammo to work for you.
just my 2 cents worth.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996172
12/14/17 06:04 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,320
Crews
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,320 |
These days, it's hard to build a brand new custom when slightly used ones are available on the used market for a significant cost savings.
with that being said, I've had semi-customs built by both Horizon and Alamo. I would definitely take my business back to Horizon, Derrick was extremely helpful and had outstanding communication. I don't know if that's still the case with their gain in popularity, but I bet it is. Alamo built me a nice barreled action, but I was less than impressed with their communication process. There were many breakdowns in their ability to communicate with me as the consumer, and I'm not one of those guys that will call every 3rd day and drive them nuts. I had already mentioned asking for my money back before anyone realized that my frustration had elevated to that level. In the end, the manager stepped in and made things right, so I can't complain a whole lot. Hopefully I'm an isolated incident, because they really do seem like nice guys.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: glb1955]
#6996181
12/14/17 06:11 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 632
505ed
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 632 |
Full custom should be built off of an action other than Rem, Tikka, etc. There are several companies that offer those. Mine are the semi-custom.
Man I disagree my Wiseman is a LH worked over Remmy 700...it is nothing like it was in factory form. From how it feeds to the way it feels when you close the bolt.... Ever heard of a guy name d'arcy echols...D'arcy is a great guy and uses almost solely Winchester M70...that action when you get it from D'arcy is nothing like it in factory form--his legend rifle is a true custom...David Miller also uses M70 actions--his guns use to start at $17.5K...I have a friend that has one of his marksman rifles...believe me...it's a custom--but built on a standard Winchester action. Ed
Last edited by 505ed; 12/14/17 06:14 PM.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: 505ed]
#6996190
12/14/17 06:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
Full custom should be built off of an action other than Rem, Tikka, etc. There are several companies that offer those. Mine are the semi-custom.
Man I disagree my Wiseman is a LH worked over Remmy 700...it is nothing like it was in factory form. From how it feeds to the way it feels when you close the bolt.... Ever heard of a guy name d'arcy echols...D'arcy is a great guy and uses almost solely Winchester M70...that action when you get it from D'arcy is nothing like it in factory form--his legend rifle is a true custom...David Miller also uses M70 actions--his guns use to start at $17.5K...I have a friend that has one of his marksman rifles...believe me...it's a custom--but built on a standard Winchester action. Ed Shared a sheep camp with D’Arcy back in 2006. He is a great guy. Still keep in touch.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996211
12/14/17 06:35 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 672
glb1955
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 672 |
I have a Wiseman also. He just worked over a Vanguard action, put one of his barrels on it along with a Hogue stock. That is his custom built on that action. He does great work and I paid for that work. Never heard of Mr. Echols but I am sure he builds a fine rifle. My Remington actions have all been worked on before the build. Sure am glad there are folks out there that can pay that much for a rifle. I sure can't.
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: glb1955]
#6996217
12/14/17 06:38 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,273
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,273 |
Full custom should be built off of an action other than Rem, Tikka, etc. There are several companies that offer those. Mine are the semi-custom. I can't justify paying the extra money for anything else. If you put a barrel on a Tikka, which I did and don't regret it, then it should be considered semi-custom. It will be custom to you, but, like one person told me, if you build a rifle off of a Remington 700 then you still have a Remington 700. Targets and/or animals don't really know what they are shot with. And Chad can get ammo to work for you.
just my 2 cents worth.
The whole custom vs semi is dumb, So all the custom rifles are custom because they have semi- custom actions? Aka remington cloned and twicked actions?
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Re: Custom Rifles
[Re: Txlonghorn]
#6996237
12/14/17 06:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,084
J.G.
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,084 |
Seen, and cycled plenty of "custom actions", from certain makers, I wouldn't take if they were free. Tolerances that are way too tight, and not near enough clearance between bolt and action. That has no business being taken into the field and getting dirty.
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