How does this bedding job look? High Caliber Customs in Kalamazoo, MI

[Fish_monger]

Edit: I reached out to the shop owner, Mike, from High Caliber Customs in Kalamazoo, MI. he is standing by his gunsmith’s work and says this is exactly what a proper bedding job should look like. He begrudgingly offered me a 50% refund.

I had my rifle bedded into a new stock by a local gunsmith a few months ago. I just took it apart to install a new barrel and this is what I found. Opinions?

 

[sndmn11]

You probably could have done a much prettier job yourself, but it would seem to be perfectly functional since the parts that should contact the lug and pillars are able to do so and the sides of the action are supported by his bedding in between the stock . What does the bottom metal area look like?

 

[Rob5589]

I can say that without a doubt, the worst bedding job I have ever seen.

 

[Don Qui Puncher]

Wow, that’s piss poor. I hope it’s a joke, if not dremel it out and do it over yourself

 

[Bubblehide]

I think people should know who to avoid.

 

[Oregonmuley]

I can say that without a doubt, the worst bedding job I have ever seen.

I'd have to agree with that one. I've only done one myself and thought it wasn't "pretty" but functional but it looked nothing like that. Almost looks like they used Elmer's Glue as the bedding compound??

Not a Tikka but here is what a good bedding job will look like. Not a great pic but I think you get the idea

 

[Cahunter805]

That’s a terrible “bedding” job! I’d be pretty upset with the guy who did that and actually charged money. Id call him and demand a refund/explanation.
Hope you are using a different guy for the rebarrel. If so I’d probably have him cut out that old stuff and do a proper bedding job.

 

[weaver]

I suppose it could be functional but it looks terrible.
I'd probably dremel it out redo it myself.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

 

[robtattoo]

How's it shoot? I honestly wouldn't give 2 hoots what it looks like since you shouldn't be able to see it anyway.
If she shoots well, it's doing its job.

 

[Rob5589]

Note to self; do not use Crisco for bedding compound

 

[B23]

Wow! I'm like one of the others and thought this was a joke because that is soooo bad but unfortunately I'm kinda thinking you aren't joking and this is real.

I'll try and point out the positive so maybe it helps take a little of the sting out of it, because that bedding job is so bad and whoever did it used very little material it really shouldn't take long to get it out of there and there is no way I'd trust the person who did that bedding job to fix it or ever touch anything ever again.

 

[Fish_monger]

How's it shoot? I honestly wouldn't give 2 hoots what it looks like since you shouldn't be able to see it anyway.
If she shoots well, it's doing its job.

unfortunately I haven’t shot enough to really be able to tell a difference yet, and I’m also struggling to find ammo to shoot consistently.

and no, this isn’t a joke. I paid $100 to a local gunsmith for this slop. it took him 3 months because he assembled the rifle wrong and it wouldn’t feed a round from the magazine. he blamed the stock manufacturer. Then he blamed the bottom metal manufacturer. Then I did a 5 minute google search and told him he had a spring clip in the wrong position.

I’m pretty sour with the whole experience from this place. I’ll reach out to management tomorrow and see what they’re willing to do. If they’re going to stand by it I guess it’s on to 1 star reviews?

 

[TxxAgg]

That gunsmith probably mounts bobcats on the side

 

[robtattoo]

unfortunately I haven’t shot enough to really be able to tell a difference yet, and I’m also struggling to find ammo to shoot consistently.

and no, this isn’t a joke. I paid $100 to a local gunsmith for this slop. it took him 3 months because he assembled the rifle wrong and it wouldn’t feed a round from the magazine. he blamed the stock manufacturer. Then he blamed the bottom metal manufacturer. Then I did a 5 minute google search and told him he had a spring clip in the wrong position.

I’m pretty sour with the whole experience from this place. I’ll reach out to management tomorrow and see what they’re willing to do. If they’re going to stand by it I guess it’s on to 1 star reviews?

Ouch. Yeah, compounded with all that I guess i'd be pretty pissed too! He sounds like he's in the wrong trade entirely.

 

[wapitibob]

Late to the party but it looks like shit. Your action isn’t even contacting the pillars.

 

[Bubblehide]

Years ago I did construction for a living, including finish carpentry on multi-million dollar homes down to cracker box homes. I was very meticulous, and a down right perfectionist. Some customers would refer to me as a craftsmen. Others a handyman. I considered myself a skilled craftsmen. It's handymen that produce products like the OP's pictures. Anyone worth their salt would be disgusted with that slop.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

You really want to give someone that was ok turning that loose another chance? I wouldn't even think about it.

Aaron

 

[Fish_monger]

You really want to give someone that was ok turning that loose another chance? I wouldn't even think about it.

Aaron

I’m thinking refund.

they won’t be touching my rifle again.

 

[Trogon]

Doesn't look like the action is even touching the pillars on either the front or the back based on the goo built up there.

I would be furious with that work. Refund no question. Likely Id want others in my area to know to avoid this place as well.

 

[Fish_monger]

Likely Id want others in my area to know to avoid this place as well.

I’ll give them a chance to make it right.