Should I Get a Custom gun?

[Gregory]

I'm a lefty. I'm looking to replace a 300 Win Mag in my gun safe with something smaller. I bought the 300 15 yrs ago with thoughts of a western or Canadian hunt but I have no interest in that anymore. I'm hoping to settle in PA sometime and the biggest game I'll hunt there would be black bear or a resident elk (very rarely). I have a 25/06 Abolt that I'm keeping. I'd love a 7x57 Mauser to replace the 300 WinMag.
 
I like the looks of a Winchester Featherweight , but it's only available in the WSM's or from the custom shop in other calibers from $2500 to $4500 for a lefty.
 
The Browning Abolt Hunter is also available in LH WSM's. For around $700 or a stainless stalker for $900 in 30/06.
 
Savage comes the closest to what I want caliber wise. I can get a 7-08 for $500.
 
To get what I really want, a LH 7x57 with a 23" barrel, I could buy a Montana 1999 barreled action and have it put in a synthetic stock for around $1500. Other custom guns I priced are running $4500.
 
Should I take the custom gun plunge? The $1500 is the upper limit of what I will spend.

[jvs]

You may want to check out the Remington and Savage websites before you drop that kind of money on a Custom rifle.

Remington usually has south-paw rifles.   I believe the CDL is available in about 7 calibers for leftys.

[Val]

If you are looking a purchasing a gun for function only I would go for the Savage with an accutrigger. You can replace the stock to improve the looks and You'll have a very good hunting rifle. If you take pride in the looks of a rifle then you may want to go the custom rifle route.

[beemanbeme]

If you would be satisfied with a plastic stock, why not buy a barreled action from Brownell or some other provider and then select the synthetic stock of your choice to drop it it?  You could even pay a smith to "blueprint" the action.  Although, if you go that route, I would have a very clear understanding with the smith as to what exactly he considered blueprinting, what results you could expect and what sort of time schedule he needed.  
For you hunting, I think the 7-08 cartridge would be an ideal choice.  Because of its inherent accuracy and the diverse bullet choices, it has become one of the better "go to" cartridges we have.  
 :lol:

[Donaldo]

Go with the Savage.  They make nearly all their rifles in a lefty version and no extra charge if I remember.  You will be hard pressed to find a more accurate out of the box rifle.  Most I have seen consistantly shoot under 1 inch at 110 yards with just about anything you feed it.  If you don't like it, sell it then get the "custom".

[Zachary]

Gregory,

If all you are looking for is a LH rifle, then I don't see the need for a pure custom rifle.  I say that because, as has already been stated, there are several factory LH guns out there.  While I'm not a savage fan, you might like them and I know that they have several LH models available.

Still,  I would recommend, and buy, (and have bought  :grin: ) a remington over a savage.  Someone stated that there are quite a few CDL LHs available.

I also think that Tikka will be making LH models available sometime soon, so you may want to take a look at them too (I also own several Tikkas.)

Now, if you really want a custom gun just for "custom's sake" then that's a different story.  

Zachary

[Gregory]

If you would be satisfied with a plastic stock, why not buy a barreled action from Brownell or some other provider and then select the synthetic stock of your choice to drop it it?  You could even pay a smith to "blueprint" the action.  Although, if you go that route, I would have a very clear understanding with the smith as to what exactly he considered blueprinting, what results you could expect and what sort of time schedule he needed.  
For you hunting, I think the 7-08 cartridge would be an ideal choice.  Because of its inherent accuracy and the diverse bullet choices, it has become one of the better "go to" cartridges we have.  
 :lol:

 
I've heard of lapping the bolt lugs and receiver rails but what exactly is "blueprinting"?  
 
The Montana barreled action will run me $980, getting it into a synthetic stock, bedded would run close to $500 from Mcmillian or Lone Wolf.
My first choice is a 7x57, but I know a 7-08 is pretty much the same thing.
 
I've got nothing against Savage rifles, I've owned two and still have one.
Wanted something that was a little more pleasant to look at as well as shoot.  No offense meant to savage lovers.
 
I'm very happy with my Abolt also so another one in 30/06 is still on the list.  
 
Does the Remington bolt lock in the on safe position.  I heard they don't.
What does a three position safety cost for a Remington CDL?  I'm not thrilled with the CDL caliber choices either, just the standard long action rounds.
 
 
Thanks for the suggestions, keep em coming.

[tscott]

I too like the barreled action Idea. Howa 1500 @ www.legacysports.com
I think under $400.

[beemanbeme]

Gregory, "blueprinting" can be a mystery.  Some of that "gee, it sounds great stuff"  that may not mean a whole lot.  In another room, on a gunsmith thread, the same question (what is blueprinting) was asked of the gunsmiths in attendance.  Their answers varied all the way from merely lapping the lugs  to recutting the barrel threads and aligning the scope holes.  
This is why I suggested getting a very definite answer from the smith as to what he feels blueprinting is.  And what results the owner can expect.
 To me, it is bringing the entire rifle into alignment.  One can lap the lugs but that doesn't mean the bolt is not canted to the bore or the face of the bolt is crooked. While the scope holes may be in alignment with the action, is the barrel in alignment with the action?  That is to say, is the barrel screwed in crooked.  And, of course, the latest craze, recutting the crown. Its not cheap as each item has to be checked whether its wrong or not.  
This is why I reccomend that a person shoot their rifle and do a bit of home cooking before shipping it off to a smith.  That is to say, give it a chance to do right.

[riddleofsteel]

What I like to do is to chose a rifle that has the action that I like. My preference has always been for Remingtons but a Savage, Winchester or Howa would do just as well. If the rifle does not come with the stock I like I replace it with a premium synthetic stock. After adding a nice scope I shoot the rifle with factory and handloads  to see if it is going to shoot well. It is not unusual to get a box, stock factory rifle that will shoot MOA or better. About 1/2 of the factory rifle that do not shoot this well will respond to the standard series of gunsmith tricks used to accurize a bolt action. In the end most, if not all, quality factory bolt actions will shoot 1 to 1.5 MOA or better with selected loads.
If you can get such a rifle you save a grand or so over most custom guns. Of course you can always select carefully, purchase wisely and still get a dog that will not shoot for love nor money. Or perhaps you like the rifle, stock, scope ect. but are not satisfied with 1.5, 2 or even 3 MOA from your investment. In that case a premium match grade barrel chambered in your dream cartridge with a professional bedding job, squared and trued action and bolt face and lapped bolt lugs are the next step and will virtually insure sub MOA performance. I can recommend Henry Ball of Bill's Custom Guns in Greensboro, N.C. for this type of work but there are many great custom smiths out there.
In the end you will have no more invested than if you went with a premium custom to begin with and you may get a real shooter much, much cheaper if you luck up.
 

[USA Varminter]

blueprinting guns has nearly as many definitions as when you hire someone to blueprint an engine.

And really it relates most directly to what you are paying for, and what you need it to do.

There is a gunsmith out there that will take your reciever and barrel and make everything so tight and true you could swear that it was a fully custom piece.

[Gregory]

I too like the barreled action Idea. Howa 1500 @ www.legacysports.com
I think under $400.

 
tscott
 
I checked your link, but don't see any leftyHowa actions listed.
 
I see Charles Daly is selling Mauser 98 actions and barreled actions and they will be offering leftys.

[lilabner]

I can't confirm it, but I've heard some bad stuff about  Montana products. My local gunshop ordered out some of the new CZ Model 3s and returned all of them to the distributor due to problems with build quality. The owner says he will not stock the rifle. I believe Montana is building the barreled actions for CZ.

[longwalker]

Why not build your own. I did.

I found a used Savage in .270. Striped it from the stock and completely stripped the stock. I purchased an Adams & Bennet Barrel in 338-06. While I was at it I did some minor work on the trigger.  But you could replace the trigger.

Now you would have a left hand rifle with a much better looking stock, in a caliber ideal for the pennsylvania woods and a trigger that will be a work of art. Price? In my case $425.00

Think about .358 winchester whitetail deer and Black bear medicine, not a bad elk gun either.


  Longwalker

[Bubba Jack]

Ruger #1 would be a great choice. It is definitly a classy looking rifle and comes in a great variety of chambers. My hunting partner bought one for his son, who is a lefty, in 7mm-08. Great shooting gun, sub MOA, with little recoil. His is a stainless laminated.

Bubba Jack