Ordering a Custom Rifle vs. Building a Custom Rifle

Sam Jacobs

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No doubt, purchasing a custom rifle is a wise investment, yet it can be overwhelming with all the decisions that you must make and trying to stay within your budget.

Do you order a custom-built rifle, or do you build one yourself? Both scenarios have benefits and drawbacks, which we will discuss as you continue reading.

By the end, you’ll know which route you should take when buying a custom rifle for any shooting activity.

Ordering A Custom Rifle

Because ordering a complete custom-built rifle has many pros, most first-time buyers go this route.

Pros:

• Excellent performance and precision
• Built to fit your style and preferences
• High-quality parts
• It saves you time, similar to buying a factory rifle
• You pick what you want, and a professional correctly installs it
• Receive a one-of-a-kind rifle

When you purchase any custom rifle from JP Enterprises, you should expect a high-performance firearm because JP uses their high-quality parts and builds the gun based on your preferences.

Unlike buying a factory rifle, you won’t immediately receive your custom rifle, but it will be much quicker than searching for all the parts and putting them together yourself.

Not all of us are handy with tools or have the desire to be a gunsmith, which means we might mistakenly purchase the wrong part or improperly install a part that could lead to catastrophic results when shooting the firearm. However, you can rest assured that an expert assembled your custom-built rifle when ordering from JP.

Lastly, when you order a custom-built rifle, it’s doubtful that another rifle will be built exactly like that one, so you have a unique gun that can be passed down for generations.

But, as great as ordering a custom-built rifle is, it still has a few cons we must consider.

Cons:

• It tends to be more expensive
• You must wait for it to be built
• Low resale value (compared to the initial price)
• You must use an FFL to pick your gun up

Ordering a custom rifle tends to be more expensive than building one because you’re paying someone else to source the parts and put them all together instead of doing it yourself.

If you’re impatient, a custom rifle probably isn’t for you because you’ll need to place your order, and depending on how busy it is during that time, you might have to wait several months before receiving your rifle.

While you might assume since you initially paid more for it, a custom rifle will have a higher resale value, that’s rarely the case. Most custom-built rifles have a lower resale value because they’re built specifically for you, and other firearms enthusiasts know they could purchase a new custom-built gun instead of buying a used one.

The last con is that you must go through an FFL to get your firearm. This process is rarely complicated—I’ve done it multiple times—but they typically charge a processing fee, another additional cost.

Now, let’s move on to building a custom rifle.

Building A Custom Rifle

Building your custom rifle is a favorite of many shooting enthusiasts because it offers many benefits, whether you’re good with tools, enjoy basic gunsmithing, or are looking for a fun challenge.

Pros:

• Less expensive
• You get the exact parts you want
• Most parts can be shipped to your door
• You get to design it to fit you perfectly
• Increased performance
• More meaningful

While building a custom rifle is more expensive than buying a factory rifle, it can be less costly than ordering one because you can hunt for the best deals on parts without paying someone else to put it together.

Also, since you’re sourcing the parts, you pick the exact ones you want, so your rifle is truly custom-built and designed to fit your preferences perfectly.

As with any custom-built rifle, it should outperform any factory rifle.

Lastly, I believe building your rifle is more meaningful. Building a gun with friends or family can be a lot of fun if you have basic gunsmithing knowledge or access to YouTube. I’ll never forget the memories I made building several AR-15s with my grandpa, brother, and some friends.

Though you can create a family heirloom that’s worth passing down, there are several downsides we must be aware of.

Cons:

• Longer build time
• You could accidentally purchase the wrong parts or improperly install them
• You need some knowledge of piecing together rifles
• You must be handy with a screwdriver, punches, and other hand tools
• Still need an FFL for some parts
• The resale value could still be low

Waiting to find the best deals, shipping the parts, and putting them all together can take many months or even years if you’re picky. So, if you’re in a rush, it might be best to order the custom rifle.

It’s also possible that you accidentally order the wrong parts or install them incorrectly, so you definitely need some knowledge of building rifles and to be good with hand tools when building a custom rifle.

You’ll also still have to go through an FFL for some parts, such as the lower receiver. However, many other parts can be shipped to your doorstep.

Finally, compared to factory rifles, which will probably increase in value over the years, a custom rifle might hold its value at best because the demand for it is lower than that of a typical everyday firearm.

Building A Custom Rifle

Whether you order a custom .308 Win rifle or build one, you now understand what to expect from both experiences.

I recommend ordering one for first-timers, and for those a bit more experienced, building a custom rifle is the way to go.

Stay safe out there, and always watch your six.

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About the Author:

Sam Jacobs is a writer, and chief historian, at Ammo. As a self-proclaimed outdoorsman, it’s his responsibility to use his knowledge and experience to educate others about ammunition, the outdoors, and conservation.