Itsa "itsa your money" but personally I think the growing offering of "super expensive hunting rifles" is getting rediculous. I am not exactly familiar with the particular model you are asking about but most of the other rifles Bansner offers that I have seen on his website are in the $7k-$8K+ range. For a super metal, synthetic "hunting gun" I simply think its a ludicrous amount to spend on something that doesn't shoot that much better than guns costing 1/4 or less as much. A gun that shoots 1/2" group at 100yds is just not that hard find anymore. Most ANY modern bolt gun will shoot that with some minimal work done too them for less than a couple hundred too five hundred dollars by a decent gunsmith and some for well under $2k have that kind of accuracy right out of the box!

I have a few rifles that I have less than $1k in (not including optics) that will shoot 1/2" groups and even a 700/280 from Remington's Custom Shop that literally bores one ragged hole at 100yds with just about any ammo you wanna throw in it. I stole it from a Remington factory rep on a "divorce sale" special for only $800 back in 98. It was air gauged, built through a 7mag barrel (24" with heavier contour than stock 280 sticks), custom bedded, 40X trigger blah blah blah etc... and even if you were to get it brand new from Remington it would be well under $3k. Its a stainless/laminate and though "sharp" its not what I call a "pretty" or "artwork" caliber rifle that I would spend much more than what I paid for it.

Like I said, its your money. But I just think alot of these guys are selling something that is more salesmanship than meat (God Bless him, thats what Roy Weatherby made millions doing, dont sell the steak, sell the sizzle!) You are talking about a $8k rifle. IMHO for $8k I would rather have something like a GORGEOUS European custom (or even Bansner if he builds such rifles), or a Weatherby Crown Custom etc... Artistic pieces are at least halfway understandable. You can see a terribly beautiful stock costing $2k+ by itself. I can NEVER justify over a few hundred for even the BEST Kevlar/Carbon Fiber "superstock" like those found on Kimbers' Montana or the Remington KS Mountain Rifle. And like I said, the guns still look like anything else in the safe or at deercamp in a rack of typical hunting rigs. I suspect you are just looking for the "wow factor" at deercamp and thats fine, like I said its YOUR money. But don't expect the gun to be worth half what you paid for it in a few years time and be prepared to have your feelings hurt when someone takes a $500 Savage and shoots some handloads into a group just as well as your $8k "wondergun". You will then be kicking yourself and wondering "what the hell was I thinkin?". DONT get me wrong, Bansner builds some INCREDIBLE rifles but along with others like those from Kenny Jarrett, Dakota etc... they are extremely overpriced if you ask me. 15 or more years ago, yeah you had to go too them if you wanted a "one holer @ 100yds". But with todays CNC machines, lost foam casting techniques etc, its much easier (and WAY cheaper) for most of todays regular gun makers to make comparable products that compete fairly on paper. Of course for MUCH less green$$$

Also, dead is dead. I can put 5 shots into a 3.5" circle at 400yds with my bonestock Sako TRG-S that used to retail for under $1k (they are no longer available except in a tactical setup and even they are only around the $3k range with most of Beretta's greatest tricks peformed on them). If you want to spend $8k and have the "Oh wow" factor at camp look into a mid grade Blaser if you just want to be different.

Just my .01/2c,
RA