Lead time on complete custom rifle build

[dolek]

Its like other things in life.
Cheap, fast, and good. You can only pick 2.

Not true at all . There are still some honest folks that don't need to make a boat payment everyday.

One TRUE story . I know a guy that waited a couple years and spent 5k on a rifle by one of the most self-important smiths out there . His factory Savage 6 BR would out shoot it consistently . Proof that spending more money does not equal quality . He got ripped off plain and simple . Nothing but delays and excuses and then after all that waiting he gets a sub par rifle . I bet that smith knows who I am talking about if he happens to read this .

PS Many fan boys of that internet smith checked that rifle out , most grumbled and shook their heads in disgust using words like thief .

 

[Spike A]

All of this kind of amazes me... I am in the middle of my first build ( action is going to be here Thursday ) and when I started down this road I started to call around and get quotes from smiths with in a couple hours of me... I would also ask there current lead time.. and a few questions to sort of chat a bit and get a feel for the person.... but I in no way would expect mine to be put first... hell if mine is there waiting for him to get to it, and another very regular customer shows up I wouldn’t even complain if he got him on his way first... Every thing takes time .. and unfortunately we only have soo much... I think most days if there were only 2 of me but than I know that wouldn’t even be enough ... we all want everything done as fast as possible.. no one likes spending money and not be able to use what we bought but hey it’s the price of some ones time who is worth as much as yours just remember that...

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I can't speak for every smith. But at least for me the long back log is very stressful. If I could keep a steady 2 week log Id be in heaven. Short of turning away customers Im not sure what else to do. I do this full time, and work more than I ever did when I worked for someone else. I am always happy to refer people to a couple guys I know who do good work and keep short back logs, in fact I encourage it when I get the sense they really dont want to wait. I dont think any smith really likes to keep a guy waiting a year.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

I am always happy to refer people to a couple guys I know who do good work and keep short back logs,

I'm very happy with who you refured me to Alex. - He did an Excellent job and was a pleasure to work with.

 

[X Ring Accuracy]

Not true at all . There are still some honest folks that don't need to make a boat payment everyday.

One TRUE story . I know a guy that waited a couple years and spent 5k on a rifle by one of the most self-important smiths out there . His factory Savage 6 BR would out shoot it consistently . Proof that spending more money does not equal quality . He got ripped off plain and simple . Nothing but delays and excuses and then after all that waiting he gets a sub par rifle . I bet that smith knows who I am talking about if he happens to read this .

PS Many fan boys of that internet smith checked that rifle out , most grumbled and shook their heads in disgust using words like thief .

It was meant to lighten things up

 

[jackieschmidt]

I can't speak for every smith. But at least for me the long back log is very stressful. If I could keep a steady 2 week log Id be in heaven. Short of turning away customers Im not sure what else to do. I do this full time, and work more than I ever did when I worked for someone else. I am always happy to refer people to a couple guys I know who do good work and keep short back logs, in fact I encourage it when I get the sense they really dont want to wait. I dont think any smith really likes to keep a guy waiting a year.

Best post in the Thread.

 

[rjtfroggy]

Being a senior citizen and not the best of health, I may not have 6 months to a year or more.
Long lead times is the reason I started playing with Savages. Unfortunately my quest got out of hand because I have two that have more $$$ into them than if I went custom and waited. Both of these have ABC barrels threaded for no nut, custom? cut chambers, low oz. triggers, McMillan stocks, Leupold optics.
But they still have some what sloppy bolts, don't get me wrong they shoot very well. I am the problem not the guns.
Also being Savages I have about as much chance as a snowball in July of ever even coming close to recouping my investment, but for the time being I am happy just to be able to shoot the matches, get pissed at myself and then try again next month.

 

[hpshooter]

Being a senior citizen and not the best of health, I may not have 6 months to a year or more.
Long lead times is the reason I started playing with Savages. Unfortunately my quest got out of hand because I have two that have more $$$ into them than if I went custom and waited. Both of these have ABC barrels threaded for no nut, custom? cut chambers, low oz. triggers, McMillan stocks, Leupold optics.
But they still have some what sloppy bolts, don't get me wrong they shoot very well. I am the problem not the guns.
Also being Savages I have about as much chance as a snowball in July of ever even coming close to recouping my investment, but for the time being I am happy just to be able to shoot the matches, get pissed at myself and then try again next month.

Maybe we should start a club. Savage PTA, Masterclass prone stock with rail and adjustable comb and butt plate, PacNor shouldered Medium Palma barrel, SSS Evolution trigger in 6.5x47 Lapua. Shoots great has won local matches and is still strong at 1300 rounds. My dad always warned me about going down the rabbit hole attempting to make a silk purse from a sows ear. It is a nice gun but my money could have been better spent with Borden or Bat.

 

[Evan]

Years back, I called a gunsmith that is very well known to ask a simple question regarding adding weight to my firing pin. I started asking the question and he said he was too busy and hung up on me...this was like a 5-10 second conversation. I was like that arrogant b***. Every time his name comes up, I tell this story, lol.

I always email. Best invention ever because now the smith can reply to my question at their convenience. This may be my age showing, but I've always found calling someone on the phone to be a little rude. You're demanding their time at your convenience, not theirs.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I always email. Best invention ever because now the smith can reply to my question at their convenience. This may be my age showing, but I've always found calling someone on the phone to be a little rude. You're demanding their time at your convenience, not theirs.

Texts work the same way. My mood immediately drops when my phone rings

 

[Edd]

I have 6 custom barreled actions. Two were chambered and threaded by one Smith and 4 by another. I have never talked to either one of them.

 

[LVLAaron]

I can't speak for every smith. But at least for me the long back log is very stressful. If I could keep a steady 2 week log Id be in heaven. Short of turning away customers Im not sure what else to do. I do this full time, and work more than I ever did when I worked for someone else. I am always happy to refer people to a couple guys I know who do good work and keep short back logs, in fact I encourage it when I get the sense they really dont want to wait. I dont think any smith really likes to keep a guy waiting a year.

Patience is a virtue. People should be willing to wait for excellent work. I run a services business/organization and the GOOD customers understand it's going to take a few weeks to get to them because our calendar is full. The customers you dont want to deal with in the first place are the ones upset I don't have guys sitting around not billing just waiting for them to call.

 

[spclark]

Texts work the same way. My mood immediately drops when my phone rings

I prefer texting too, or e-mail. More often than not my phone’s ringer’s on ‘silent + vibrate’.

Yet my wife gets really pissed when she has to leave a message when I don’t jump to answer... whyz’at?

 

[ebb]

Yea go to the hardware store, lumber yard or Dixie ply. Get your butt out of bed drive there and wait your turn only to have the salesperson pick up a ringing phone and take care of some one else to lazy to to come to the store. WHILE I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SALES PERSON TO TAKE CARE OF HIM/HER FIRST.