Big name or no name Gunsmith question

[CatShooter]

Re: The other side of "BIG NAME" gunsmiths.

I went through two XR-100s in 204, and neither were accurate - their best groups running ~1" and going down hill from there.

But I loved the little single shot receiver, and I wanted a 20 calibre rifle, so I decided to go with a 20 Tac, because of the availability of Lapua brass.... but I had no reamer and this would be a one time deal, so I didn't want to buy a reamer.

I asked around and gunsmith "KW" had an excellent reputation in 20 caliber rifles. I recognised the name - mosts people would.

I wouldn't trust anyone in Connecticut to cut a match chamber, so I sent my second XR-100 barreled action, and a Kreiger 10"-Twist truck axle off to "KW", with instructions to finish it to 26" and put a flat stepped crown on it - I even sent him a picture to make sure we were on the same page., so he couldn't get it wrong!!

Well, in time (longer than promised), the barreled action comes back (without my original barrel )... and I try to drop it in the stock, and it won't go - the recoil lug is off to one side about 20 degrees (Gag!!)... but I can fix that, I have the tools and lug jig, but then....

... I look at the crown (Gag-Gasp x10), and I am shocked!!

It was wrong, and cut with a dull cutter, and it gets worse (can that be possible??)

He cut the crown from the outside of the barrel, to the inside, into the bore, so there was a roll of steel pushed into the bore - large enough that I took a paper clip and hung a bunch of keys from this ring, which was INSIDE of the bore (Triple Gag-gasp!)

I shot the steel ring out, and I will re-crown it myself this summer...

... but I do not assume that big names guarantee good work.

 

[jrm850]

Re: The other side of "BIG NAME" gunsmiths.

Awesome pic. At least it has a tight spot at the muzzle.

 

[Chappy]

Re: The other side of "BIG NAME" gunsmiths.

I went through two XR-100s in 204, and neither were accurate - their best groups running ~1" and going down hill from there.

But I loved the little single shot receiver, and I wanted a 20 calibre rifle, so I decided to go with a 20 Tac, because of the availability of Lapua brass.... but I had no reamer and this would be a one time deal, so I didn't want to buy a reamer.

I asked around and gunsmith "KW" had an excellent reputation in 20 caliber rifles. I recognised the name - mosts people would.

I wouldn't trust anyone in Connecticut to cut a match chamber, so I sent my second XR-100 barreled action, and a Kreiger 10"-Twist truck axle off to "KW", with instructions to finish it to 26" and put a flat stepped crown on it - I even sent him a picture to make sure we were on the same page., so he couldn't get it wrong!!

Well, in time (longer than promised), the barreled action comes back (without my original barrel )... and I try to drop it in the stock, and it won't go - the recoil lug is off to one side about 20 degrees (Gag!!)... but I can fix that, I have the tools and lug jig, but then....

... I look at the crown (Gag-Gasp x10), and I am shocked!!

It was wrong, and cut with a dull cutter, and it gets worse (can that be possible??)

He cut the crown from the outside of the barrel, to the inside, into the bore, so there was a roll of steel pushed into the bore - large enough that I took a paper clip and hung a bunch of keys from this ring, which was INSIDE of the bore (Triple Gag-gasp!)

I shot the steel ring out, and I will re-crown it myself this summer...

... but I do not assume that big names guarantee good work.

If that smith wouldn't re-do the work he f***** up, I would've done 2 things; a call to the BBB and a lawsuit but that's me.

 

[Hal]

The crowns sure looks different under magnification, the first crown has two steps and the second has three.

Sorry I misread your post.
Hal

 

[CatShooter]

The crowns sure looks different under magnification, the first crown has two steps and the second has three.

Hal

Of COURSE they look different ??? ??? ???

The two are NOT the same - as was clearly explained, the first picture is a two step crown, and was a picture I sent to the "gunsmith" so he would clearly know what I wanted.

The other pictures are the three step garbage crown that he produced on my barrel.

 

[FBecigneul]

As the nice little old lady in the Buick commercial says, "Oh My".

There is more than one avenue to correct the "smithing" job seen above.

 

[wapiti25]

I bought a F-class rifle that a well known gunsmith built and it had a bad chamber that you had to fight to get the empty case out of it. I had to pull the barrel and rework the chamber to get the rifle to where it should have been. It should have never left his shop.

 

[GPat]

Wow, that crown is unbelievably bad. I've never seen anything like it.

I haven't seen in this thread what chambering the OP is planning for this rifle. If you don't mind sharing, let us know.

There are a lot of gunsmiths that I have used and a lot more that I would use to chamber a barrel. I've used guys with big names, hall of famers, no names, buddies and everything in between. I've not seen an equation where "big name" = "big $$$" = perfect job. A lot of the big names are very reasonable in what they charge and a lot of the big names that charge big $$$ have great reputations that they may or may not deserve (both good and bad).

If you are comfortable using your guy, have him chamber the rifle and be happy with it. If you want to try someone else, give me a call or an email and I'd be happy to share some recommendations of gunsmiths I have used or would use that don't charge big bucks (and some that charge big bucks that I'd use too).

Pat
patr@pmatool.com
260-246-5860

 

[Shynloco]

The crowns sure looks different under magnification, the first crown has two steps and the second has three.

Hal

Of COURSE they look different ??? ??? ???

The two are NOT the same - as was clearly explained, the first picture is a two step crown, and was a picture I sent to the "gunsmith" so he would clearly know what I wanted.

The other pictures are the three step garbage crown that he produced on my barrel.

Hey Cat,
Gotta say that's an AWESOME looking keyholder! Ya takin orders yet?

Alex

 

[Biggabe]

Waiting on the 6mm Dasher PTG reamer (.272 neck, .130 freebore) and Shehane MBR tracker stock. Just so everyone knows what is being built and the parts being used this is what I've got. Borden Rimrock BR action, Jewel BR trigger, and Krieger 6mm 8 twist barrel.

 

[gunnermhr]

Go with reputable and someone you have confidence in, you've already spent enough money on everything else so don't let cost be the determining factor on who you choose whether it's on the low end or upper end. If you go with a reputable big name smith you'll be a lot more confident in your first build, if it doesn't shoot as you expect you can take the smithing out of the equation. If you go with a no name smith that you are unsure of and it doesn't shoot you'll always blame him first before components and your ability.

I can assure you guys like Green, Goodling, King, Springman and others with their credentials will always give you a top quality job.

There are also a few no names that have the same reputation as the top quality smiths that you'll never hear about until you get into game and get to know who they are from top shooters.

 

[STS]

I do quite a bit of rimfire chambering for a few shooters that I have worked for over a number of years. I'm not a gunsmith by vocation, but I do have a passion for quality machine work and enjoy doing it on a VERY limited basis. One of the gentlemen that I have done some barrel work in the past had a barrel chambered by a gunsmith who would be considered to be in the top 5 rimfire guys in the business. I had the opportunity to borescope that barrel fresh out of the lathe and about busted a gut laughing at the chamber and throat. I have never seen as rough and poorly chambered barrel in my life. No surprise to anyone that the barrel didn't shoot for squat. So, the moral to the story is just because the guys gotta name does't mean you're good to go.