VAspeedgoat
Well-known member
I found at least two threads I created discussing various topics as I was working on my first custom made gun. I thought maybe some people remember helping me and maybe others will read this as a warning if they do the same without a clue like me.
My custom gun began life as a 700 mountain rifle in 7-08......I hated it. It shot ok but it didn't balance very nice. The barrel was thin and heated up quickly and the stock, though a Bell and Carlson, seemed bulky. That was especially at the forend. Nothing like the thin stock of the original mountain rifles. I began eyeballing some high end rifles that I liked better. Then it hit me. Maybe I can get another stock!
Many months later, I had a budget and an idea in mind. I took a rifle I had that pointed very well and took it with me to the gunsmith. We talked about the various stocks he worked with and found one that fit perfectly. Then the question of balance and the way it pointed led him to talk about a new barrel. It was 23" and fluted to balance while maintaining a light weight. My budget became immediately strained.
I was assured I would be able to sell the barrel and the stock and with that I could just about swing it. I ended up with a pinched barrel trying to take it off the reciever and a stock I still hate and still own. Regardless the deposit was made and we were off.
The first hiccup came when his carbon fiber stock maker went out of business. I tried an alternate stock and thought it should be smooth sailing.
The next decision was to make a choice on cartridge. This was the subject of at least one thread. I ended up letting practicality rule the day and stayed with 7-08. I even saved a little extra money to get it all cerakoted. Heck yeah can't wait.
Version one didn't look like what I had in my mind. Despite me trying the stock before, I didn't like the lines of the forend.....again. But the gun shot well and had a VXR scope with a tmr reticle. Very cool.
After one season all I could do was stare at the stock I hated. It sat in the cabinet for a season till I saved a little cash and worked up the nerve to pursue another stock. To my surprise, my gunsmith had started molding his own stocks and admitted he didn't like it either. All I paid was labor and we traded stocks. This time I shorted the length of pull to fit a bit better with backpack straps or bulky coats. Not too much but a little.
Version 2 came and was immediately my best shooting rifle. Light, accurate and ready to go.......I hate the scope.
The VXR is a great scope and I got the TMR reticle after one of my first trips out west because we had low end rangefinders and the reticle allowed me to range in a pinch. The issue with the scope is that the crosshairs are very thick and it had adjustable turrets on it. Call me old fashioned but I don't trust it in brush or carring on a backpack. I constantly fretted. The thick crosshairs also made it hard to shoot at paper because it would cover a dot. Dealt with that for several seasons until I couldn't take it any more. Schmaltz remedied that issue with a vx3i and version 3 was great.
Perfect, except I began to be frustrated with the 7-08. As I said, it was very accurate and very capable. But I had already invested so much time and money why not. It was just boring, sorry to offend buy it had no personality for a custom gun. Another thread and I eventually pulled the trigger on rechambering to .284 win.
Lack of time ended up to another lost season but I finally shot version 4 last weekend. I bought custom ammo from Reeds ammunition shooting a 140grn CTBST at 2900 fps. Bore sighted it at 50 made one adjustment and went to 100yds. Fired three rounds and was done. As luck would have it it was 3" high which is generally what I do in deer rifles. Ready to hunt.
My boys and I tried a new spot with a late rifle season. Trecked as far from the parking area as possible and sat down for a short bit in a saddle I found with fresh sign. Tagged a nice buck. The short length fit perfect with the backpack straps and the load worked flawlessly.
It was a very long journey and I have enjoyed it. However, anyone reading this that is considering going the custom route should be warned. You better spend a ton of time considering every small detail. Also don't start until you have enough money to do the job right.
I still want a better fitting sling and I intend to push the velocity when I reload. I can eject a loaded cartridge up to 2.9" and maybe a bit longer so hopefully I can gain case capacity. But that will let the journey continue I suppose.
My custom gun began life as a 700 mountain rifle in 7-08......I hated it. It shot ok but it didn't balance very nice. The barrel was thin and heated up quickly and the stock, though a Bell and Carlson, seemed bulky. That was especially at the forend. Nothing like the thin stock of the original mountain rifles. I began eyeballing some high end rifles that I liked better. Then it hit me. Maybe I can get another stock!
Many months later, I had a budget and an idea in mind. I took a rifle I had that pointed very well and took it with me to the gunsmith. We talked about the various stocks he worked with and found one that fit perfectly. Then the question of balance and the way it pointed led him to talk about a new barrel. It was 23" and fluted to balance while maintaining a light weight. My budget became immediately strained.
I was assured I would be able to sell the barrel and the stock and with that I could just about swing it. I ended up with a pinched barrel trying to take it off the reciever and a stock I still hate and still own. Regardless the deposit was made and we were off.
The first hiccup came when his carbon fiber stock maker went out of business. I tried an alternate stock and thought it should be smooth sailing.
The next decision was to make a choice on cartridge. This was the subject of at least one thread. I ended up letting practicality rule the day and stayed with 7-08. I even saved a little extra money to get it all cerakoted. Heck yeah can't wait.
Version one didn't look like what I had in my mind. Despite me trying the stock before, I didn't like the lines of the forend.....again. But the gun shot well and had a VXR scope with a tmr reticle. Very cool.
After one season all I could do was stare at the stock I hated. It sat in the cabinet for a season till I saved a little cash and worked up the nerve to pursue another stock. To my surprise, my gunsmith had started molding his own stocks and admitted he didn't like it either. All I paid was labor and we traded stocks. This time I shorted the length of pull to fit a bit better with backpack straps or bulky coats. Not too much but a little.
Version 2 came and was immediately my best shooting rifle. Light, accurate and ready to go.......I hate the scope.
The VXR is a great scope and I got the TMR reticle after one of my first trips out west because we had low end rangefinders and the reticle allowed me to range in a pinch. The issue with the scope is that the crosshairs are very thick and it had adjustable turrets on it. Call me old fashioned but I don't trust it in brush or carring on a backpack. I constantly fretted. The thick crosshairs also made it hard to shoot at paper because it would cover a dot. Dealt with that for several seasons until I couldn't take it any more. Schmaltz remedied that issue with a vx3i and version 3 was great.
Perfect, except I began to be frustrated with the 7-08. As I said, it was very accurate and very capable. But I had already invested so much time and money why not. It was just boring, sorry to offend buy it had no personality for a custom gun. Another thread and I eventually pulled the trigger on rechambering to .284 win.
Lack of time ended up to another lost season but I finally shot version 4 last weekend. I bought custom ammo from Reeds ammunition shooting a 140grn CTBST at 2900 fps. Bore sighted it at 50 made one adjustment and went to 100yds. Fired three rounds and was done. As luck would have it it was 3" high which is generally what I do in deer rifles. Ready to hunt.
My boys and I tried a new spot with a late rifle season. Trecked as far from the parking area as possible and sat down for a short bit in a saddle I found with fresh sign. Tagged a nice buck. The short length fit perfect with the backpack straps and the load worked flawlessly.
It was a very long journey and I have enjoyed it. However, anyone reading this that is considering going the custom route should be warned. You better spend a ton of time considering every small detail. Also don't start until you have enough money to do the job right.
I still want a better fitting sling and I intend to push the velocity when I reload. I can eject a loaded cartridge up to 2.9" and maybe a bit longer so hopefully I can gain case capacity. But that will let the journey continue I suppose.
