Gunsmithing Rifle Project

[Jackalope33B]

A buddy of mine wants to get into long distance shooting. He saw what I had and asked if it was better to have a smith supply everything and put it together, OR supply your own componets and pay the smith his shop fee.
I simply dont know and told him I would ask. The budget is around $4k.. He was looking at GAP or Robert Gradous to have them build his rifle. It will be a 308 with a AI Chassis (hes dead set on that stock) Whats yalls take on this?

 

[Boomholzer]

Re: Rifle Project

Sometimes the rifle smith has the desired components in stock sometimes they don't. That takes a phone call.
With limited budget sometimes it's easier to piecewise the build together first, and perhaps including some second hand items instead of ordering a turnkey rifle.

No set advice. Time, and money, and desired options..

 

[Jackalope33B]

Re: Rifle Project

With $4k, what componets would you use to build a rifle?

 

[turbo54]

Re: Rifle Project

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jackalope33B</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With $4k, what componets would you use to build a rifle? </div></div>

For a guy that doesn't even have a rifle??

Take that $$ and buy any one of the delicious turn-key rifles here in the post exchange that strikes his fancy. Everyday there are dozens of awesome rigs.

That way, he's shooting in a couple weeks.

Spec-out and build? Lucky to be shooting next spring.

Custom builds are great, but it's a process MUCH more easily enjoyed when you've already got a good rifle to shoot while you wait.

ETA: A custom built first rifle often produces regret. You simply don't know what you want till you've been in the game for a while. Greater likelihood of "great success" on a rifle build when you can easily say, up front, EXACTLY what suits your fancy.

Just my 2¢…

 

[1911GunNut]

Re: Rifle Project

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A custom built first rifle often produces regret. You simply don't know what you want till you've been in the game for a while. Greater likelihood of "great success" on a rifle build when you can build easily say, up front, EXACTLY what suits your fancy.</div></div>

This ^^^

I went thru several custom built guns before I finally figured out what I really wanted. As others said, find a nice used rifle and save some $.

 

[DS-11B]

Re: Rifle Project

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ETA: A custom built first rifle often produces regret. You simply don't know what you want till you've been in the game for a while. Greater likelihood of "great success" on a rifle build when you can easily say, up front, EXACTLY what suits your fancy.

Just my 2¢… </div></div>

^^ I did this on my first AR project. I went WAY over budget and got close to 2k on it. I had traded it away less than 2 years later and had been trying to get rid of it after about 800 rounds. Better to start simple and develop your own preferences from there, and then keep all that in mind for your next build.

 

[Anachronist]

Re: Rifle Project

If he's dead set on 308 and AICS (fine choices in themselves) then it's sort of pointless to make other suggestions, but I'll chime in and say that turn-key is good because it gets him started faster, and all investments at this point should be measured with the "am I better served by buying practice ammo and and getting trigger time" yardstick.

 

[E. Bryant]

Re: Rifle Project

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Take that $$ and buy any one of the delicious turn-key rifles here in the post exchange that strikes his fancy. Everyday there are dozens of awesome rigs.</div></div>

This is great advice! For someone just getting into shooting, it's great to have an accurate high-quality rig, but I don't see the point of commissioning a custom piece until one really knows what they want.

Buy someone's else cast-off, shoot it for a while, take care of it, and turn it around for little or no loss once it's time to build the rifle of your dreams.

 

[2156SMK]

Re: Rifle Project

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ETA: A custom built first rifle often produces regret. You simply don't know what you want till you've been in the game for a while.</div></div>

In my experience, first time builders usually choose based on looks.
They never get behind the actual stock and see if they like the feel or not.

AICS stocks look awesome, but many don't like the thumbhole.
I pulled a KMW sentinel off a prize table instead of a Nightforce scope.
I had to TRY the stock to find out I didnt like it.
I wish I had taken the Nightforce instead...