are most gunsmiths pain in the butt

[flinginammo]

I have been calling this man for weeks getting a ton of excuses,so finally i have and apointment with him this morning. As i walk in to his shop it is cluttered with stuff like a pack-rat. Reloading presses,lathes,books,guns and parts everywhere. He had some builds he was working on that were awesome. So i explain to him i just found a 700 SA that i wanted to build a extra light hunting rifle that my kids could go punch paper and hunt with. He said ok. I say i want to build a 7mm-08 he said with out batting a eye "nah i will build u a 308" I was like ooooook. I said i wanted a vais break he said "nah i will put my break on there" which was big enouh for a 50 bmg.I said i wanted a timney trigger he said"your getting a jewell" I said i wanted it blued so deep it was black. He said "im gonna duracoat it" I said i wanted a fluted bolt with a badger knob. He haid "your getting a pt&g bolt and you can add what ever knob i wanted" I said i wanted a B&C medilist. He sayed "i only use HS percision". Lilja barrel? we where in agreement with krieger barrel,But i wanted 3 contour. ummmmm u geussed it! "i will order you the sendaro"

i took 1500 dollars and found out that with his parts and labor it was going to be 2600 for a gun that i do not want. But i guess i won on the 30 dollar bolt knob .... so in your face.Wow that like going to buy a car and getting sold a bull dozier :-\
second opinion maybe!!!!!

 

[T 700]

He's working for you Not you work for him!!

 

[500 meter ram]

I can only hope you walked out and am looking for another gunsmith. Where do you live?

 

[ReedG]

He works for me. I pay the bill. If he has suggestions, that's great. But it's my rifle, not his.

 

[flinginammo]

Auburn Alabama....war eagle

 

[fdshuster]

With an attitude like that I would not expect him to be around very long. I make the decisions, not him & if he's unwilling or unable to meet my requests, then it's a quick adios!

When I take the parts ( which I supply) to my gunsmith, it is accompanied by a very detailed written list explaining exactly what I want built. We go over each and every item. He keeps a copy & I keep an identical copy. I have never had any problems what-so-ever, and both my gunsmith's tell me they welcome the detailed written list, so there can be no misunderstandings.

I am blessed with two of the best, both within a 25 minute drive, so packing up & shipping has never been a requirement. I also make it a habit to stop by & drop off a small Christmas gift each year, and never hesitate to praise their work & leave their shops with a big Thank You. They also enjoy seeing and having copies of those little bug hole group/ score targets that identify the rifle's as their builds.

They have both told me that the only time they hear from their customers is when they have something to complain about, so they really appreciate positive feedback.

 

[boogershooter]

I don't know why, But there are alot of good smiths in Pa. :-X You may have to be patient.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

That is funny.

 

[Hombre0321]

There a couple of Benchrest quality Smiths here in Alabama. One of the best is a man I have used for 4 builds. Right now you may even be able to get the work done in not to much time. Drop me a PM and I will get you in touch if you like.

Roland

 

[Cimarron2011]

Based on my recent (and limited) experience with gunsmiths, I think that the biggest problems are project management, setting expectations and progress reporting. I have been involve in project management in the information tech business for almost 20 years, and I see a strong correlation.

Now as to the gunsmith who tells you what your project is going to be..what caliber..what trigger, etc....I would have gathered up my parts,, and thanked him for his time. The product that he produces may be of great quality, but it's not going to be what you want. Were I in your spot, I would be at his shop this week retrieving my parts!

The poster who talked about working from a written work order...he was right on target!

 

[Erik Cortina]

When he said $2,600.00 you should have said "Nah, I'll pay you $800.00" ;D

 

[RandyD]

I think your gunsmith trained my secretary :

 

[flinginammo]

this gunsmith was highly recommended by everybody i talked to. he has been a gunsmith for years. i dont know if he understood when i said key words kid- light- hunt .... he must of heard heavy -bench- target.

 

[slurpin dog]

Go back and tell him what you want built. It is your money not his. I sent my work to Pa., never met a nicer man that I never met. ;D

 

[ohearchai]

You didn't actually pay this man any money did you? I am sorry I don't care how recommended a smith comes, if he cannot listen to a customer then he cannot be any good. The whole reason you are going to a smith in the first place, is for him to build you exactly what you want, nothing more, nothing less. I can understand a smith that makes some recommendations, perhaps which chamber, but come on. I live up here in the Northwest and theres several very good smiths that I can drive to, if my smith said anything like that to me, I would thank him for his time and walk out.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

As a gunsmith, there are things that I will do/use, and there are things that I won't do/ won't use. I make that clear to my customers when discussing a build, but if we're talking good components and not cheapskating somewhere, as long as the customer knows what he's asking for, and it's safe IMO, I'm happy to do it. It's the 1/4" all day long Adams & Bennett on a Mauser hunting rifle type that need to be steered or told "no".- Gunsmiths have to be mind readers at times it seems. Not that this is the case with you, but it happens. --Mike

 

[tenring]

I know a very good BR gunsmith who has a great reputation and has built many top rifles; shoots competition himself. But; no matter what I say, his response is like "Do it my way or hit the highway". I chose the latter. You need to say "NO".

 

[flinginammo]

You didn't actually pay this man any money did you? I am sorry I don't care how recommended a smith comes, if he cannot listen to a customer then he cannot be any good. The whole reason you are going to a smith in the first place, is for him to build you exactly what you want, nothing more, nothing less. I can understand a smith that makes some recommendations, perhaps which chamber, but come on. I live up here in the Northwest and theres several very good smiths that I can drive to, if my smith said anything like that to me, I would thank him for his time and walk out.

no i didnt pay him a dime and i also picked up my donor rifle. i told him since it was 4 months on the barrel i was gonna strip my rifle down and try to collect more money since i didnt have enough.

 

[flinginammo]

I know a very good BR gunsmith who has a great reputation and has built many top rifles; shoots competition himself. But; no matter what I say, his response is like "Do it my way or hit the highway". I chose the latter. You need to say "NO".

he actually told me if he was going to build me a rifle with his name on it that he was going to build it his way.

 

[MrMajestic]

I think your gunsmith trained my secretary :

I think I married his sister!