Favorite Gunsmith for BAT F-Class Rifle

[Wildwillalaska]

Know this topic covered before, and saw the list of gunsmiths from a couple years back on the bulletin/articles area--but information gets dated so wanted a fresh look.

I need to have an F-Class rifle spun up. Have the BAT MB action and a Krieger .284 blank already. Have the Jewell trigger in route, and still sorting my stock options and waiting for confirmation on availability/turn-around on a couple of the options. Leaning towards either a McMillan MBR or one of Pierce's stocks. Likely the later.

Once I have the goodies in hand, I need to send it to someone, likely with a 2nd Bartlien blank too. Most of my custom experience are with hunting and tactical type builds. Never had a competition rifle built, so less familiar with the best options. I would like a reputable builder so if I bore of the gun before I shoot it to pieces, I might be able to sell and re-coup some of my money. Found well known builders sell better and faster than the fella next door.

So, who do you like and if your dont mind sharing, why?

Thanks in advance.

Will

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have been very happy with Dana's work. Hes a short range competitor, and long range shooter too (24th hvy 100 in the super shoot). www.englishrifles.com I consider Dana a friend, but I could use anyone. I feel that he is at the fore front of accuracy gunsmithing do to him being a hungry competitor and the company he keeps (larry Costa). Give him a call to bs. Even if you dont use him you'll probably learn something, I usually do.
Alex Wheeler

 

[NateHaler]

OP, if you're in Alaska, then I would really try to find somebody local. Shipping from the 49th state will cost you a fortune.

If you don't have a local smith, then my first call would be to BAT in Idaho, and get their recommendation. At the least, they will be able to barrel their action, install the trigger, etc. I don't know if they do stock work.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Shipping in and out isn't as bad as you would think, and I am used to it. As my wife likes to point out I invest in my red-neck retirement fairly often, so have guns coming in fairly often.

We have a local guy, and he does alright. I am not looking for alright though. If I am handing over around $3k in parts, I would like a reputable builder to best ensure quality and accuracy, and at the same time have some market when I want something different. I have so far Mark King, Dave Bruno, and Crescent Customs on my list. Not sure Crescent does many competition rifles, but have owned several of his rifles during his time with GA Precision and every one of them shot lights out.

 

[dogdude]

Check the equipment list from F-Class comps. You'll have plenty to choose from.

 

[Jeff Von Rosenberg]

You can't go wrong with Speedy Gonzalez!

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Actually had a couple of Speedy's rifles (SG&Y) back when I lived in Texas. His shop was a leisurely drive away so would stop in and BS fairly often. Both builds were awesome--took a while--but bughole makers.

 

[stubbicatt]

Lester Bruno assembled and chambered by BAT/Brux barreled action. I am happy with his work.

 

[Sray53TXTN]

Ray Bowman @ Precision Rifle & Tool.
http://www.precisionriflesales.com/

Great guy, top notch work, & good turn around time.

Unfortunately it is not real close to Alaska.

 

[s100whunter]

Gordy Gritters I think he still builds all of Shiraz guns

 

[TonyR]

+1 for Mark King. He has built 4 F-Open rifles and one F-T/R rifle for me and is building two more right now. They have all been consistently excellent shooters. I have also been impressed with the results I've seen with Bob Green's F-Class rifles. He is in York, PA. Bob and Mark do business with people located far from Pennsylvania. Ray Bowman is definitely worth a call since you have an action in hand. Three of my rifles are built on his stocks, two with BAT Ms, and he recently build a beautiful Dasher on a BAT SV for a friend in a very short period of time because the guy had all of the pieces in hand. Even the best smiths have to wait in line like the rest of us for barrels and actions.

 

[artbosco]

The picture here says it all and the guy in the lower left hand corner [Bart Sauter] just went into the BR Hall of Fame using Stevens built rifles: http://stevensaccuracy.com/html/benchrest.html Stevens built two competitive rifles for me using B.A.T. actions.

 

[Judd]

Jon Trammell - Trammell's Custom Rifles (Breckenridge, TX)
Stick Stark - S&S Precision (Denton, TX)

They are both good and I would use either.

 

[dhubb]

What JVON said!!!! Speedy is the MAN!

 

[jonbearman]

The Viper supposedly does fine work on f-class guns.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

You can't go wrong with Speedy Gonzalez!

^ If I was having a gunsmith build a rifle, this is who I would have do it.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Thanks folks. Having owned a couple of Speedy's guns, which were awesome and a while ago, was thinking of trying someone different just for the sake of comparison and trying a new-to-me smith.

Thanks again.

 

[JRS]

Try Al Warner, at Warner Tool Co. When it comes to F-Class guns, it doesn't get any better 8)

 

[lrgoodger]

If you do a 5R barrel (the Bartlein?) in 284, I would highly recommend Gordy Gritters. He understands what it takes to keep the reamer from chattering on the canted lands. I had two of them chambered by reputable smiths and they both have 5 lobed chambers because the reamer climbed the ramp on the canted lands. Gordy is the expert on this. I have to full length re-size every time because of the chambers (you might do that anyway). Not sure how that has affected accuracy, but neither barrel has shot as good as I thought it should have.