Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters When do you send back a custom rifle?

I received my new 7-08 from a well known builder with a 1/4" guarantee a few months ago. So far I have ran 1 box of factory ammo through it & 23 140 Sierra fb with 41.0 gr of IMR 4350. Except for a single 1/2" group it is a 11/2" rifle.

I plan to try Varget, 145 Speer Hot Cores, 150 partations & 150 Sierra BTs.

It has a new Zeiss Conquest on it with double dovetail Leupold mounts. I don't think the scope is bad but if 1 of the above loads I' trade out the scope for a proven German Zeiss.

If it doesn't shoot the 150 Sierras should I take it back or try all the above loads?

For precision trials use Sierras, Ballistic Tips, Classic Hunter Bergers, or AMaxes.

If you're really looking to shoot 1/4" groups you should get a handle on runout of the loaded rounds.

What format is the rifle? A 1/4" guarantee is pretty strong for a sporter.

With a sporter I doubt I'm a 1/4" shooter no matter how good the rifle.

Sounds like another McWhorter claim.

The rifle with scope & a #3 Lilja barrel weighs just under 8#, I do not expect 1/4" groups, I will be happy if it will shoot steady 1/2-3/4 groups if I do my part. I have had several Jarrett rifles, none would constantly hold sub 3/4" groups.

This is the first time I have used this builder. The rifle is well made & was built on time, hopefully it just wants a 150 gr bullet but it's the first 7mm I have ever owned that would not shoot Sierra 140gr spritzers.

First of all you have ZERO chance of claim in Court.

Secondly your claim needs clarification"

Except for a single 1/2" group it is a 11/2" rifle.

I don't even Understand.

Your SO CALLED guarantee needs to be established in a court of law.

There is NO help available. sorry!

You are so stupid.

The OP said nothing about going to court.

The smart business man will take care of his customer without the need for lawyers.


GAH,

Some rifles just don't like certain bullets. I'd try the bullets recommended by Mathman, each with a few different powders and see if I hit something it liked. If I didn't have any luck after that, I'd feel comfortable sending it back to the smith.

Good Luck.

Two points: 1. - you have hardly tried it yet; 2 different loads isn't much of a test though sometimes you can get lucky.

2. - You need to find out what loads or ammo your rifle was proofed with. If it was guaranteed, not just a general "potential probability" deal. If it was actually guaranteed, the tester of said rifle should be able to provide the target along with pertaining info about the load.

I needed that, thanks willy.

Hi Roscoe.

Me Too

The complainant is seeking advice about a supposed performance guarantee.

He has two recourses:

#1. Enforce performance guarantee. If actual and in writing.

#2. See other remedy.

The evidence that he has posted is not even anything cogent that I can understand.

So to wrap this up lets explore the options and come up with a cogent solution help this fellow shooter.

He asked a legitimate question and he deserves a legitimate answer.

Good grief!

Seems early. Did the smith provide more instructions?

For instance did he mention that stock screw tension is to be checked by you or only adjusted by him?

If there are no specifics then check all scope mount screws starting with the bases and the stock screws.

While a 1/4" group at 100 yds is excellent I demand that a hunting rifle stay sighted in and save 1/4" groups for target rifles.

It's pretty strong, period. I'd ask the smith what load he used, including all the components and the OAL to shoot the 1/4 inch group before he sent it to you.

Two of our finest offering solid advice.

This. If the builder didn't know enough to send you this, well...

It is obvious that some of you have never had a rifle built. I have not even talked to the builder about my accuracy problems , I was simply asking for advice, I expect the builder to make the rifle right which he will. I use 3 name builders and none of them have ever proofed or even fired a rifle they build for me but on 1 occasion the rifle wouldn't shoot to standard, the builder looked at the bedding fixed it and the rifle is a .5-.75" rifle now.

As I said in the original post I do NOT expect a 8# rifle with a 3x9 scope, using hunting bullets to shoot 1/4" groups but I expect a $3,000 rifle to shoot .5-.75" groups constantly.

I will NOT sue the builder under any circumstances, they make a quality product and will make it right. As most of you know there is a world of difference between a 1.5" rifle and a .75" rife.

Try Varget and the Nosler 140 gr BT. Most 7MM-08 will group their best with this combo.

I've never put that much money into one, but every rifle I've had barreled and 'improved' has always been fired by the builder, though not necessarily tested for accuracy - though that has sometimes been an option if I wanted to pay the extra that such work entails. I have loaned my dies for ammo-making such that a rifle can be tested when it isn't a caliber that they normally produce. I know the builders I have worked with have always stated that their work - if they have had control (gotten paid for) factors such as truing, etc, should produce sub-MOA accuracy if I load good ammo and seek to find loads that the rifle likes. I don't think anybody (builder) has the hubris to suggest that a person could pull loads off the shelf or out of a book at random and shoot 1/4 MOA or even 1 MOA groups consistently.

Wow! Doesn't take long to get people riled up.

I have all "cheap" rifles that shoot easily under one inch and are capable of better when I do my part right. My only quasi-custom rifle is a Savage 7 mag that a buddy put a Criterion barrel on.

An expensive, custom rifle should shoot as claimed, IF the shooter is doing his part of the equation correctly.

I've never seen 1 1/2" loads get better with more shooting. Not sure why I'd have slung 43 rounds downrange in hopes of them doing something better.

Seems like you're chasing your tail a bit. I'm not one that cares what something will do with 47 different bullets, pick the one you want to hunt with, kiss and work backwards from there.

If the builder guarantees 1/4" accuracy then they should have tested it out to make sure it delivers that, which should include load data and target info.

My 7.5 scoped custom does under 1/2" @ 100 with three different loads I've tried with a simple 6x scope. Before he sent it to me he broke it in and proved its accuracy, shooting under 1/2" with factory ammo and a 12x scope.

I'd contact the builder about what they used to prove accuracy, go that route, and if it doesn't deliver send it back for work till it does.