Help choosing gunsmith

[KyHillbilly75]

Any suggestions on who to consider building custom hunting rifle? This would be a customer supplied components build.
Thx!!

 

[ODB]

What components?

 

[Wrench]

I always ask;

What components.

What do you want it to weigh.

Where do you want it to balance.

What's the budget.....both time and money.

Some smiths can meet most or all....some cannot. Customer supplied parts cuts a bit into the mix too if your guy has been burned by a barrel or reamer mfr.

 

[wind gypsy]

Agreed with the above.

My two most disappointing builds were disappointing largely due to component selection (my fault). I can 100% identify with why some smiths aren't open to putting together whatever a customer wants.

 

[JohnJohnson]

Longrifles Inc is pretty much a sure bet for that sort of thing but their prices aren't cheap. GA Precision and Short Action Customs are two others who come to mind who will be able to do pretty much anything. You really have to think of your components though.

 

[rayporter]

Stevens accuracy and ezell custom rifles are just north of bowling green Ky.

i have used stevens since 03,

 

[ResearchinStuff]

i've never read a single bad thing about LRI, Piercision, Unknown munitions, Lane Precision Rifles, GAP, tac ops, alex wheeler, or SAC.

 

[kherbstreit1775]

I'm currently having one built by Karl at Kampfeld Custom and have been impressed by his responsiveness with answering my questions and providing feedback about components. I've been able to supply every component, and for most of them have just had everything shipped right to his shop. It's my first rifle through him, so I can't speak to the quality yet , but lots of other people on here have recommended him in the past.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Agree with most here. There are plenty of great builders that will be able to get you squared away. The time line you are wanting to have it done in is a big thing depending on how busy the smiths are so take that into consideration as well.

If you are willing to ship parts your options are wide open. If looking for local that obviously reduces your choices some.

 

[Lawnboi]

I can’t say enough good about LRI. The whole process is on another level from what I have had done from others. They are not cheap but I have had nothing but quality work from them.

 

[KyHillbilly75]

Greatly appreciate the information. I didn’t list components for reason of not wanting the…. Shoulda not bought that or this etc

 

[KyHillbilly75]

Curiosity got best of me. And perhaps be directed in a direction that would keep me from making mistakes and or money down the drain. Listed Components for 7mm prc
AG Composite - Adjustable Chalk Branch
Terminus Zeus Action - Full length threading
Proof Research CF 26” 1:8 blank
Trigger Tech Diamond
Hawkins Precision bottom metal
Muzzle Brake not decided - suggestions welcomed
Optic not decided - lost at sea on this one.
Ok let’s hear it… The Good The Bad and The Ugly

 

[khuber84]

My gunsmith of choice last 3 years if Manzella Precision in Montana. He started at Accuracy Intl bringing cnc chambering in house there, after a 4 year stint went to work at TS Customs and chambered barrels there for a handful of years. 4 years back he moved from SD to Montana and started up his own shop. His cnc chambering process is arguably the truest and most rigid setup I have ever been around. He sends me a video of every one my barrels indicated to 0.0000 if the barrel is capable of it. Everything he's built me flat out shoots, routinely sub half to quarter moa, accept for one bad Bartlein carbon barrel(not his doings). His turn around times are relatively quick, excellent communication.

As to your components, the only area of question, it says hawkins bottom metal. You planning on M5 oberndorf and a wyatts box bdl style or a hawking hunter dbm with 3rd hunter mags? The detach mags are nice however that setup will add 2-3, oz over a bdl style. The detach mags will feed 100%, whereas the 7prc being a somewhat short OAL long action magnum, has been somewhat inconsistent as to what bdl mag box/followers are best for feeding reliability and the least amount of tuning required.

 

[Lawnboi]

People are probably asking about component selection because some smiths like their preferred stuff.

 

[KyHillbilly75]

My gunsmith of choice last 3 years if Manzella Precision in Montana. He started at Accuracy Intl bringing cnc chambering in house there, after a 4 year stint went to work at TS Customs and chambered barrels there for a handful of years. 4 years back he moved from SD to Montana and started up his own shop. His cnc chambering process is arguably the truest and most rigid setup I have ever been around. He sends me a video of every one my barrels indicated to 0.0000 if the barrel is capable of it. Everything he's built me flat out shoots, routinely sub half to quarter moa, accept for one bad Bartlein carbon barrel(not his doings). His turn around times are relatively quick, excellent communication.

As to your components, the only area of question, it says hawkins bottom metal. You planning on M5 oberndorf and a wyatts box bdl style or a hawking hunter dbm with 3rd hunter mags? The detach mags are nice however that setup will add 2-3, oz over a bdl style. The detach mags will feed 100%, whereas the 7prc being a somewhat short OAL long action magnum, has been somewhat inconsistent as to what bdl mag box/followers are best for feeding reliability and the least amount of tuning required.

Wasn’t wanting to go with detach mag. Appreciate the info. Most definitely will keep this in mind..

 

[KyHillbilly75]

People are probably asking about component selection because some smiths like their preferred stuff.

Yes that’s true.. first time attempting rifle build. Already feel on my own that I’m going in million different directions.

 

[TaperPin]

There is an added risk when supplying parts. Business owners are quite good at keeping it clear who’s problem is who’s. When your part malfunctions it’s your problem. When the part is supplied by the gunsmith it’s his problem.

Many will ask, “What’s the difference and why should it matter?” Items bought on a commercial account have a larger amount of support for the gunsmith, because he’s a higher volume customer with fewer stupid customer service issues. His suppliers will take care of issues much quicker, even ship replacement parts just based on his word.

When a client supplies me with parts for their house I add 17% of the value to the bill because it’s going to be an extra hassle and it makes up for lost revenue on part markup. The actual markup should probably upward of 25%.

 

[khuber84]

There is an added risk when supplying parts. Business owners are quite good at keeping it clear who’s problem is who’s. When your part malfunctions it’s your problem. When the part is supplied by the gunsmith it’s his problem.

Many will ask, “What’s the difference and why should it matter?” Items bought on a commercial account have a larger amount of support for the gunsmith, because he’s a higher volume customer with fewer stupid customer service issues. His suppliers will take care of issues much quicker, even ship replacement parts just based on his word.

When a client supplies me with parts for their house I add 17% of the value to the bill because it’s going to be an extra hassle and it makes up for lost revenue on part markup. The actual markup should probably upward of 25%.

So if a customer supplies his own parts for a build, say barrel, action, stock, trigger, bottom metal, brake, you're going to add on an extra $500 to his bill? (assuming 17% on 3000$ worth of components)

 

[TaperPin]

So if a customer supplies his own parts for a build, say barrel, action, stock, trigger, bottom metal, brake, you're going to add on an extra $500 to his bill? (assuming 17% on 3000$ worth of components)

That’s how I used to do it, now I don’t do any work with client parts unless they are established clients I like. Others I’ve worked for had allowances in the contract for various parts - if you want to supply your own, then the allowance is taken off, but the allowance doesn’t refund the entire amount and accomplishes the same thing as my markup.

My suppliers are reliable and the parts work - something bought used is the worst - maybe it works maybe it doesn’t and if defective it can’t be returned so extra work goes into fixing it.

Ebay is completely full of defective parts of all kinds. Anything bought retail with an open box is highly likely to be missing a part. Even unopened boxes are a hassle - one client had parts purchased over a year ago and once opened and found to be damaged the supplier wouldn‘t refund or exchange it. Sizes are often purchased wrong.

There are guys that take any and all parts and never up charge for it, because they need the work, or their hourly rate is elevated to cover it. Those of us that are plenty busy with good projects would lose money and have to slow down the schedule just by allowing customer supplied stuff.

 

[Steve from GA]

I had Garrett Preece at Preece Precision built me a custom lefty 30-06 on a Tikka action that is flat out awesome. He is builder worth looking into. He's in Utah.

https://www.preece-precision.com/