Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Value of a custom rig

I have a custom rifle that I have been toying with selling to finance a different project. The rifle is not for sale yet and this is not a for sale add. I know that customs often sell for much less than the build price. Here are the specs. Just looking for a ballpark price.
Rem 700 long action ss trued.
Fluted shilen 26 inch heavy sporter barrel in 243 AI
Jewel trigger
Dies and 50 or so brass
Badger rings and bases 30mm
Mcmillan hunter stock that has been bedded.
Shot about 100-125 rounds.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks
John

How much you got in it?
Bart

Who did the work? Usually you get more for a "name" maker than an unknown builder.

I have a beretta 682 in it. I traded with a buddy that got into clay shooting. I think that he had a local smith do the work, nobody famous. I will ask him though.

Thanks
John

I'd gather, what it took to build the gun ...

$400 for the trued action
$300 for the bbl
$150 finishing the bbl and fitting it to the action
$350 for the stock
$100 for rings/bases
$200 for trigger
$75 for dies and brass

$1,575 for the completed rifle, built to spec ...

You could probably sell the entire get-up for about $1000 ... give or take?

caveat emptor ... all previous info in this post is guestimation ... I usually don't know what I speak of ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

We would all like to think we made a helluva an investment in our custom rifles but ...

Unless they are like new and a well documented product of a known and respected custom hand who stands behind his work -- and this means very expenive, they rarely sell for anything like half the original investment cost.

You can plan on a long siege waiting for the right buyer to show up.

Any wear and tear, dings, unusual "features" you just had to have like a custom chamber -- will probably knock it down to below the price of an average used rifle price.

1B

Unless you have a custom gun from a known maker, and in a popular configuration, you're lucky to get $.50 on the dollar for a custom gun. A heavy 26" tubed 243 ackley would fall under one of the less popular configurations, especially when it was built with a long action to begin with.

Most likely whoever would buy the gun would do it to get parts for a donor action to build a new rig from. I'd imagine you'd be lucky to get $700-800 for it, and if you ask $1000 or more, you'll be waiting a long long time.

IME 458 is spot on and I would add that even from the high end custom fellas. .40 to .50 on the dollar is about it for the most part.

Mark D

For those who can determine that the work was quality you may ask more . It does not take a famous gunmaker to build excellent rifles, it takes good machine skills.Most famous builders also have stock making ,engraving and other skills that made them famous.If you have an accurate rifle and can convince a buyer that will sure help.I have seen some real messes made by famous gun builders(or their help). I agree with the rest that 50 % to maybe alittle more will be all you will get. Also try to determine which shilen you have . It will be a match or select match which have significantly different prices.

I'd think the rifle would sell briskly,at a $1k asking price................

I think that gun would be sold before you were even done typing at $700-800! People drop that kind of money on a crap factory rifle.

Generally speaking, add up the total cost of the build, and divide by 2.

In your case, second-hand McMillan and Badger Ordnance componentry generally command 90-95% of full retail price. So if you factor that in, I'd guess you might fetch up to around $1200, if you are not in a hurry.

Shane ... I think you're spot on ... for this rifle in particular as well ... I'd bet there are a good many people around here that would more than happily drive a .243AI beanfield rifle with a Shilen bbl, jewel trigger, and set in a McMillan handle ... I know I would, if I had the cheese to float out there for the rig ...

and unless the "smith" is a world class doof, I wouldn't be surprised if the thing actually shot well either ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In my World,the S/S Sucks commands a premium too.

As a Consumer,my concern would be twist rate and throat geometry.

'Course round count too..................

I couldnt get past the long action.

I wonder at this! You had the rifle made up to these special, expensive details and now you don't want it. You want something else more.

I would keep the rifle and save up for the new "project". If the new "project" is thought out like this one was then you should reconsider.

How does it shoot by the way? Any targets to show us?

99, Start at the top of the thread and work your way down. Fourth post from the top. I think I read that he traded into it. Steve

Comprehension,sure as [bleep] ain't his long suit....................

For a hundred more clams, it could be a 6mm-06 Imp. and be a real screamer, as THAT would do the long action proud....sounds like a LR PD thumper, if the twist and throat allow...

QUIT..........readin' my mind.................(grin)