I want a custom rifle built.

G

govmule84

New member
I'm looking for extreme accuracy and durability. If possible, I'd like to keep the cost down. Weight is of little import to me.

I'd like a rifle, chambered in 7.62x54R. I need a synthetic stocked animal, preferably barreled in stainless.

I'll be shooting 180 grain bullets almost exclusively through it, both game loads and target. Sierra MatchKings and GameKings are my usual bullets, assuming this particular rifle responds well to that bullet.

As far as an action, I don't want a semi or a lever. A bolt or single-shot would be best. Given my goal of minimizing cost and maximizing durability, my guess is that something based off an existing H&R single shot would be the most cost effective route, perhaps a .30-06 with a different chamber reamed into it. I'm operating under the assumption that the barrel length and twist that H&R uses for the .30-06 is also good for 54R, as I know they are balistically super-similar.

I'd also like to top this thing with some really good glass, but not silly expensive. My total budget might be in the 1k range for the whole kit 'n' caboodle, unless that proves to be unrealistic. I'd like it to be slingable - that is, I plan to schlep this thing through the woods to kill somethin'.

Is my budget realistic? Who do I call to do this for me? Can that gun be re-worked to fire that round?

Thanks in advance, guys.

-L.
 
I think you would do well to move away from the -54R round. I like it and it's good, but that makes your rifle choices much less.

If you went with the '06 the entire world would open up to you. You could find a nice custom sporterized '03 and be in great shape!

Or, if you stick to the '54R it will be pricey.

Why the -54R may I ask?

You could get a Thompson Contender or Encore barrel custom made in '54R which would fit your needs. Would guess that would be $400 for the barrel alone though. Not a bad option.
 
-54R ammo is cheap!!!!

I have been given to such a thought myself.

I would just find the best Mosin action you could, strip off the wood and put a synthetic stock with a deceleration system on there. You could even carve a picture of a hog in the stock like a guy at the range did.
 
I have all the reloading equipment I need, a decent store of components, and another rifle chambered in it. I don't have or want the accoutrements and cost and space requirements demanded by an additional caliber. I like the round, and would also kind of like having a cool, one-off gun.
 
I would just find the best Mosin action you could, strip off the wood and put a synthetic stock with a deceleration system on there. You could even carve a picture of a hog in the stock like a guy at the range did.
Click to expand...

I have that.

Built a little sporter jobby. Search my back posts and you can read all about it and see pics - it's called the $250 scout rifle.

I want something a little nicer that has potential to be a tad more accurate.
 
What kind of hog did you depict? A big boar?

-54R is not a common round to make nice rifles in. I agree with the previous poster. If you want anything nicer go with X63 or X51. Those are better rounds anyway.
 
Contact Wyosmith on this website if you are in the market for a custom rifle.

He has posted pictures of some of his work several time and they are beautiful rifles. I have no doubt they are all shooters as well.

He is a great guy to correspond with if you have questions. Good luck with your search.
 
-54R is not a common round to make nice rifles in. I agree with the previous poster. If you want anything nicer go with X63 or X51. Those are better rounds anyway.
Click to expand...

No, thank you. I'd like a 54R. That's the round I want it done in.

Contact Wyosmith on this website if you are in the market for a custom rifle.
Click to expand...

Will do. Thank you for the tip!

I cannot imagine that $1K would buy a custom rifle. I think you are dreaming.
Click to expand...

I can't imagine that 1k wouldn't do it. A Handi-Rifle goes about $250. I know the chamber would need re-working (Reaming, or welding up and then re-reaming? I'm not sure.), and the breechface, I imagine, would have to be opened up a little. I can't picture that work costing more than five or six hundred bucks, plus maybe 4-5 for a scope? I might be over a grand, but not by too much, I wouldn't think. Where do you think all the additional cost would come from?
 
Friend, "custom", "accurate" and "under $1000" will not (unless you are extremely lucky, ever be found in the same sentence.

This is even more true if you want the gun in a custom chambering. While 7.62x54R is not uncommon, it is unique enough to cost you some money.

There are lots of things to consider while building up the rifle. Lots of hand work, careful, precision fitting and man hours. Bottom line--if you want custom and the best accuracy possible, think of good amounts of cash and waiting time.

Example:

I contacted a custom riflesmith who specializes in building law enforcement precision rifles. After some discussion, I settled on one particular rifle configuration.

Here are the specs: Trued and blueprinted Remington 700 action; 26" Bartlein cut-rifled barrel, 1/11.25 twist, in .308 Winchester; McMillan A3 stock with adjustable cheekpiece installed; Badger Ordnance bolt knob and badger Ordnance bottom metal that takes AI 5 and 10 round magazines. The rifle is also Dura-coated in an ACU camouflage pattern. The riflesmith guarantees 0.25 MOA in any and all conditions with my duty ammo.

The rifle should be on its way--it took close to TWO YEARS to build--and it cost WAY, WAY more than $1000--and that's not including the optics.

As for welding and reaming a barrel, if anyone suggests that RUN in the opposite direction. Even the most inexpensive barrels I can think of (Douglas, who turn out very good barrels indeed) will set you back about $450 for the chambered and rifled barrel ALONE. Most barrel manufacturers will be in that ballpark though some are more expensive.

The action will have to be blueprinted--worked to the original blueprint specs. The action will also be trued--everything worked to perfect alignment and centered.

After installation of the barrel, there is chambering and lapping to consider.

There will be bedding done to stabilize the rifle. Whether it's skim bedding, a full bedding job, pillar bedding, receiver bedding or what have you, there will be additional cost required.

Of course, a good rifle needs a good trigger. Most of the time, the existing trigger can be tuned and adjusted; however, some folks will spec out a Giesele or Jewell trigger. Those will cost you over $200.00 alone.

If you want a custom stock, hold on to your hat. A McMillan will cost over $500.00; Manners, HS Precision and other custom stocks are almost as pricey--or depending on the accoutrements may be even more.

Finally, consider the optics. Building a $3000 or $4000 rifle and putting an NcStar or Barska on it makes absolutely no sense. You're going to have to drop the coin for quality.

As for ammunition--do you REALLY want to put corrosive primed milsurp ball through a custom rifle? Break out the dies and the reloading books--you will probably well need them!

One thing that I did not mention--the labor price. You'll be lucky if you find a gunsmith that will bill at ONLY $50.00/hr. Frequently--you'll pay more.
 
Last edited:
If you were to approach a legit custom rifle builder with those requirements and tell him it must be no more than $1,000, I hope you're a patient person, because it will be several hours before he stops laughing.
 
Here are the specs: Trued and blueprinted Remington 700 action; 26" Bartlein cut-rifled barrel, 1/11.25 twist, in .308 Winchester; McMillan A3 stock with adjustable cheekpiece installed; Badger Ordnance bolt knob and badger Ordnance bottom metal that takes AI 5 and 10 round magazines. The rifle is also Dura-coated in an ACU camouflage pattern. The riflesmith guarantees 0.25 MOA in any and all conditions with my duty ammo.
Click to expand...

That is in no way even remotely similar to anything I've mentioned. It's interesting, but has little to do with what I'm looking for. I'm looking for about the most durable, boring, and cheap rifle to be worked over for a different caliber than it was designed for. Your barrel probably cost what my gun and glass together would run. My little monster wouldn't have but a fraction of all that work.

If you were to approach a legit custom rifle builder with those requirements and tell him it must be no more than $1,000, I hope you're a patient person, because it will be several hours before he stops laughing.
Click to expand...

I'm perfectly okay with that if I am way out of the ballpark. Again, though, assuming the chamber does not need to be welded up, I believe one would be looking at reaming a chamber and opening a boltface to account for the rim. Unless I am completely missing something here, cutting a chamber and opening a bolt face should not be hundreds of hours worth of work. I'm sort of hoping a 'smith will ring in here who can give me the yay or nay on my guesses of cost. It doesn't have to be under a grand per se, but I can't see this taking more than 3 or 4 hours of work, at a hundred bucks an hour, mayhaps? If it's much more, I'll see about buying the tools and doing it my self, I guess.
 
What you are calling a "custom rifle" is not the general picture of a truly custom rifle. If I were to have a custom rifle made today I would be surprised if the stock did not cost much more thnt $1,000. I would be lucky to have one made for $5,000.

I hope you get what you want, however, by whatever name you call it.

Regards,
Jerry
 
If you find a gunsmith willing to "weld up" and then recut the chamber on a high pressure rifle cartridge would you please post their information so I can stay as far from them as possible............
 
Finding that barrel will be the problem. A quick look at ER Shaw and Douglas showed they don't offer that chambering, probably because the barrel should really be 312 and not the standard 308. A good gunsmith could build you a 308-54R, but that means you have to reload and can't take advantage of surplus ammo.
You can have a "custom" built done for your money, even if that means ER Shaw barrel, boyd stock and timney trigger. Just don't expect it to perform like a Shilen barrel on a trued action with Jewel trigger and custom bedding.
 
You don't have to build a custom rifle, just a custom barrel. Match Grade Machine (MGM) will chamber you an Encore barrel in 7.62X54R (.308 bore), and all you'll need to get is a new size die with a bushing to resize your curent brass. Your seating die should work just fine with the .308 diameter bullets. You'll have a far larger selection of bullets to choose from as well.

I'd look at a chamber print of a .308 and 7.62X54R and see if all you would have to do is ream a new chamber. You can pick up a new Encore for around $700 and reaming a new chamber if possible would probably keep you under $1000. That will fit the bill from what you asked in your first post.
 
Taking a 54r platform to long range accuracy is a bit unrealistic. To complicate many of these cannot handle heavy ball. There are two guns that fit your criteria:

1) Finnish M39
2) Finnish m28/76

Both bolt action and based on the mosin. It will be cost prohibitive to squeeze this much out of SVD/NDM/TIGR/PSL.

Actually just get a M39 and dont do any major things to it. Spend the rest on a scope and mounts ($600). The budget is a bit too limited for any custom work.

Also, dont get fixated on the rifle, you mentioned a good scope. For a good entry level scope plan at least $500. Midrange scopes start 1700-2700.
 
Last edited:
govmule84, Most gunsmith have a set pricing for their work,chambering, opening bolt etc and if they don't have reamer/gauges you may wind up buying them or the cost of renting.

As to the 7.62x54R I'm not sure but with a rim dia of .570. Your be between the standard mag bolt face .532 and 30-378Wby @ .580.

Myself I would be looking for something that work with that rim size first.
 
Scope mount

I would just do the custom job myself...many good tutorial on youtube. Focus on your scope mount quality first, especially on 54r platforms, then the scope
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top