First Custom Build

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I’ve never found a Savage take-off action for less than $250 in the last 10 years - a used factory action, not a custom action by any exaggeration. Let’s pretend it’s not a challenge to find one at that price with the correct mag box and bolt face. And pretend that price includes bottom metal. Also pretend you can find one locally where you won’t get stuck with a $25 transfer fee, and no shipping.

Criterion pre-fits are $370 today, just under $400 to your door. Nothing fancy, and honestly, not even as accurate as most Savage Factory barrels I have bought.

A Boyd’s stock can be had for $130 or so.

Do the block and bed work yourself for about $30 in supplies.

That’s $810, and still nothing more than a cobbled together factory action with a cheap stock, factory trigger, and cheap barrel.

I suppose some guys get excited about their Krylon Kustom paint job, and their bolt on spoilers too, but you won’t catch me spending $750-800 just to be able to say I have a non-catalog rifle with no warranty and no manufacturer support, which doesn’t shoot any differently than a factory rifle.
 
.257 Roberts is a fine round, but I’d disagree on fine choice. Have a look at brass availability and price for a guy on a tight budget; it ain’t gonna be cheap.

My budget is just on the rifle. Ammo is another story...
 
That’s $810, and still nothing more than a cobbled together factory action with a cheap stock, factory trigger, and cheap barrel.

I suppose some guys get excited about their Krylon Kustom paint job, and their bolt on spoilers too, but you won’t catch me spending $750-800 just to be able to say I have a non-catalog rifle with no warranty and no manufacturer support, which doesn’t shoot any differently than a factory rifle.

You're the one bringing up spray paint and spoilers. What's factory support get you these days besides "not our problem"?
 
What's factory support get you these days besides "not our problem"?

Be cynical all you want - but I service a lot of firearms, and buy a lot myself, and since you asked, I’m happy to answer:

When a customer brought a 44mag Redhawk back with a canted barrel, Ruger replaced the barrel. They also replaced a Mark III 22/45 with a Mark IV 22/45 when a customer brought one to me with a seized take-down pin. Ruger also sent me non-catalog parts for free when I wanted to duplicate the front and rear sights of a Guide Gun on a custom barrel. I’ve received thousands of dollars in free parts from Ruger in the last 20yrs, simply by calling and asking (and of course, buying thousands of dollars in other parts).

Taurus replaced my sister-in-law’s recalled Millenium pistol with a G2c, processed within 2 weeks. They also offered 60% off on a new 85 to replace my mother-in-law’s worn out 85 when the ratchet had been galled out of time - when I decided to keep it and fix it myself, they sent me multiple spring sets and pawls from different vintages to help get it back up and running. Not their fault, but they fixed it. They also sent me three firing pins and a set of springs for my Tracker 17, free, when I called to pay for them, just in case I might need them in the future for the discontinued model. That wasn’t even a problem, but they fixed it.

S&W replaces the blast shield on my 329 Night Guard about every 18 months as the sacrificial part starts to burn through. Takes about 3wks total each trip, and I haven’t been charged a red cent for it. Not their fault, but they fix it - repeatedly.

I broke a firing pin in a Rock River BCG after something around 15,000rnds - not even one of their rifles, just a BCG - they sent me three new FP’s and bolt maintenance kits. Normal wear and tear, but they fixed it.

Seekins sent me a cocking piece overnight when I noticed I had galling on mine after about 6,000 rounds of live and dry fire. They also offered to take a rifle in and replace the barrel as a warranty replacement, when I called to pay for a new barrel after wearing the first one out.

Bushnell sent me a new spotting scope after I accidentally stripped out the magnification adjustment by hamfisting it in the cold. They also send me a new spotting scope after my tripod tipped over in the wind and broke out the mounting screw. Both my fault, but they fixed it.

Swarovski replaced the lens and internal adjustment mechanism in my binos after my Vortex spigot mount failed and they crashed 5ft onto gravel and scratched the front lens. Not their fault, but they fixed it.

Vortex replaced a cantilever scope mount after a student in one of my classes mistakenly thought he could run a torque wrench and cranked it down hard enough to crack the mount. Not their fault, but they fixed it.

Remington overnighted me a new stock for a Marlin 60 when the one I had ordered from Davidson’s had been broken in transit. Not their fault, but they fixed it.

Savage had a recall on the B-mag because the bolt handle could disengage the safety during cycling, they mailed out notices to us owners, we filled out a form online stating whether we wanted the parts mailed to us, or to send them the rifle for them to do the work. 3 days waiting on mail and 20min, it was fixed.

Beretta had a safety recall on the U22 Neos pistols. Took 2wks to send that one in and out. They fixed it, and the pistol cycles smoother than ever - plus has enhanced safety.

I took receipt of an Aero precision stripped upper which had a blemish on the forward assist throat. They sent me a new one for free and said I could keep the blemished one. Might have been damaged at the reseller or in transit, but they fixed it - and I ended up with a bonus upper in the process.

Maybe your on-phone etiquette leaves a bit to be desired, but I certainly have not heard, “not our problem” any time I have called customer service.
 
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My point is really for the OP - spending $750 to assemble a non-catalog rifle really isn’t doing anything close to building a proper custom rifle. It’s just sunk cost.

He’d be far better served to put that $750 towards ammo and instruction, or towards an out of state tag for a hunting trip, instead of scabbing together low budget parts and being disappointed when it doesn’t do anything his factory rifles can’t do (except cost extra).
 
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I recall some talk about the new car smell... meanwhile, someone somewhere is enjoying a non-catalog .25cal rifle with a good set of iron sights. The next step, the 200yd line with a 4" AR500 plate should be fun.
 
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