Configurator vs gunsmith — what we do
Two ways to get a custom precision rifle. Real gunsmithing — a shop with a lathe, action wrench, bedding bench, and years of experience trues actions, chambers barrels, and hand-bedds stocks from scratch. That's a $7,000-15,000 build with a 6-12 month wait list at the good shops.
Configurator + assembly — what we do. You pick (or we recommend) a premium action, barrel, stock, trigger, and optic. We order at dealer cost, assemble using factory specs and tools (action wrench, torque wrench, headspace gauges), function-fire, and ship. We're not chambering barrels in-house, but the components we're assembling are made by manufacturers who do that work to professional tolerances.
For most hunting and PRS shooters, the configurator path delivers 90% of the accuracy of a true custom build at 50-65% of the price, in 4-8 weeks instead of 6-12 months. If you want guaranteed sub-MOA with a specific barrel and load, you want the gunsmith. If you want a rifle that will print 0.5-0.75 MOA with quality factory ammo and you'd rather have it before next hunting season, you want this.
What we're not: we don't chamber barrels, true actions, or hand-bed stocks in-house. We assemble premium components from manufacturers who do.
Component price ranges (2026)
These are real dealer-cost ranges for current production components. Retail can be 20-40% higher; the value of a configurator shop is partly that we order at dealer cost and pass that pricing through with a transparent assembly fee.
| Component | Entry | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | $700-1,100 Bergara B-14, Howa 1500, Tikka T3X | $1,100-1,800 Bergara HMR, Tikka CTR, Defiance Ruckus | $1,800-2,500 Defiance Deviant, Curtis Axiom, Bighorn TL3 |
| Barrel | $300-500 Factory barrel, comes with action | $500-900 Proof Research carbon, Bartlein, Krieger | $900-1,400 Proof Sendero, custom contour, dual taper |
| Stock / chassis | $300-600 HS Precision, Magpul Pro 700, Boyds | $700-1,200 Manners EH1, McMillan Game Warden | $1,200-2,000 Manners PRS-1, McMillan A5/A6, KRG Bravo |
| Trigger | $150-300 Timney Elite, TriggerTech Primary | $300-450 TriggerTech Diamond, Bix'n Andy TacSport | $450-700 Bix'n Andy Competition, Jewell, Calvin Elite |
| Optic + rings/base | $500-1,000 Vortex Diamondback Tactical, Athlon Argos | $1,000-2,000 Leupold VX5HD, Bushnell Elite Tactical | $2,000-4,000+ Nightforce ATACR, Vortex Razor HD Gen III |
| Muzzle device + DBM | $100-200 | $200-400 | $400-600 |
| Our assembly fee | $650 | $850 | $1,100 |
| Typical total | $2,700-4,150 | $4,950-7,500 | $7,650-12,300 |
Our starting price of $4,200 reflects a real entry-tier build — a Bergara B-14 action, factory barrel, Magpul Pro 700 chassis, TriggerTech Primary, Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16. Function-fired, ready to hunt. The numbers above show where you can land if you spec up or down.
Three example builds
Mountain hunting rifle — 6.5 PRC, ~$5,400
- Bergara HMR action, 6.5 PRC, 22" #4 contour barrel — $1,500
- Manners EH1 carbon stock, FDE — $850
- TriggerTech Diamond, 1.5 lb — $350
- Leupold VX5HD 3-15x44 CDS-ZL — $1,300
- Talley rings + base, muzzle brake — $200
- DBM + 5-rd mag — $150
- Assembly fee — $850
Total: $5,200. Configured for an elk hunter who wants something lighter than a chassis rifle but shoots accurately enough to take a 500-yard shot if it presents.
PRS / precision rig — 6.5 Creedmoor, ~$7,800
- Bergara HMR action, 6.5 Creedmoor, 26" heavy contour Proof barrel — $2,000
- Manners PRS-1 mini-chassis — $1,100
- TriggerTech Diamond — $350
- Vortex Razor HD Gen III 6-36 EBR-7D — $3,000
- Spuhr mount, brake, DBM — $400
- Assembly fee — $1,100
Total: $7,950. Built for a serious PRS competitor — heavy barrel for thermal stability, high-magnification optic, mini-chassis that handles bag rides and barricades.
Western big-game backup rifle — 300 PRC, ~$6,200
- Tikka T3X CTR action, 300 PRC, 24" — $1,800
- Manners EH1 carbon — $850
- TriggerTech Diamond — $350
- Nightforce SHV 5-20x56 — $1,700
- Talley rings, brake — $250
- DBM + 4-rd mag — $200
- Assembly fee — $850
Total: $6,000. Cartridge-driven build for the hunter who wants 300 PRC's flatter trajectory at longer ranges. Tikka action is well-suited to the cartridge.
Where buyers usually overspend
- Optic. A $1,200 Leupold VX5HD will hunt 99% of customers' lifetimes. The $3,200 Nightforce is genuinely better but most hunting rifles don't need it.
- Action. The Bergara HMR action delivers most of what a $2,500 Defiance does, for $1,500. Unless you're competing at the top level of PRS, the upgrade is invisible.
- Custom Cerakote. Looks cool, doesn't shoot better. We'll do it if you want it but we'll quote it separately.
Where buyers underspend
- Trigger. A $150 budget trigger has more felt creep than you'd think; a $350 TriggerTech Diamond is the single biggest "feel" upgrade in the build. Worth the $200.
- Glass-to-rifle interface. Cheap rings/bases are how you lose zero. Talley, Spuhr, Hawkins, or Nightforce. Don't save here.
- Match ammo for break-in. Budget $200-400 for quality factory match ammo to confirm zero + groups. Worth it.
How the process works
- Spec call. You tell us what you're shooting and a budget. We come back with a parts list.
- Quote in 1 business day. Itemized bill of materials, labor, and lead time.
- 50% deposit. We order components. (Deposits become non-refundable once parts are in motion; refundable up to that point.)
- Assembly + function-fire. Headspace gauges, torque specs, function-fire, scope mount + bore-sight. 4-8 weeks typical.
- Pickup or ship. Bozeman pickup by appointment, or insured ground shipping to your local FFL.
Questions we hear a lot
Will it shoot sub-MOA?
With quality factory match ammo, almost every build we ship prints 0.5-1.0 MOA on average. We don't guarantee a specific group size because the variables (ammo, shooter, conditions) aren't under our control — but the components and assembly we deliver are well above what most factory-rifle buyers get out of the box.
Can you build me a $3,000 rifle?
Usually not. Our entry tier starts around $4,200 once you total premium components + assembly. If your budget is $3,000, a factory Bergara HMR or Tikka CTR off the shelf at $1,800-2,500 with a $700 optic gets you 85% of the way there with no wait. We'll happily transfer one to you for $40.
What if I want to supply some components?
Yes. Bring an optic, stock, or other parts you already own, and we'll quote labor only for those pieces. Some customers buy the action and barrel from us and ship in a stock they're attached to.
Lead time is really 4-8 weeks?
Usually closer to 4-6, sometimes 8 if a barrel is on backorder. The biggest variable is component availability — premium barrels (Proof, Bartlein) can have 4-12 week lead times of their own. We tell you in the quote.
Do you pair builds with suppressors?
Yes. The cleanest path for a customer who wants both: we spec the host with the right barrel threading, you pick a can, we file the Form 4 in-shop and time everything to clear around when the rifle is done. One quote, one pickup. Suppressor process →
Ready to spec a build?
Call (406) 518-7280, or use the form on the home page. Tell us: caliber, use case (PRS, hunt, defense), budget envelope, target timing. The more specific you are, the faster the quote comes back.
Prices above are dealer-cost ranges for current production components as of June 2026. Actual quotes reflect current pricing at quote time. Components are listed for example; we work with any major brand the customer prefers.