Rimfire and centerfire gunsmiths not the same !!!

[Westex]

Just got Rimx from friend had centerfire smith install barrel ! Holy moly ! What mess ! Crown was awful and chamber had a burr right on face , didn’t cut correct face on shank and was left rough as a cobb ! Threads rough, thread tennon cut to small and wobbled as I screwed action off . The worse part was everything was cut off center of the bore ! Had to cut tennon over 1” to clean up mess ! I just kept shanking my head watching tennon wobble in my lathe ! Good thing is it is done correctly now and should shoot lights out !

 

[Rwfish]

Just got Rimx from friend had centerfire smith install barrel ! Holy moly ! What mess ! Crown was awful and chamber had a burr right on face , didn’t cut correct face on shank and was left rough as a cobb ! Threads rough, thread tennon cut to small and wobbled as I screwed action off . The worse part was everything was cut off center of the bore ! Had to cut tennon over 1” to clean up mess ! I just kept shanking my head watching tennon wobble in my lathe ! Good thing is it is done correctly now and should shoot lights out !

I can bet their Centerfire work probably isn’t all that great either then…..

 

[ronsatspokane]

Cutting a tenon is cutting a tenon. He must have been drunk when he cut it and his centerfire work is probably as bad or worse.

 

[CCM]

None of those problems have anything to do with being rimfire.

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

Terrible work is just terrible work.

 

[dgeesaman]

I agree that centerfire and rimfire smiths aren’t the same but I think their differences are largely things that are their personal tweaks and techniques that they won’t (shouldn’t) fully disclose. A centerfire smith doing rimfire or vice versa should be able to do at least a very good job.

Universally important things like fitment, accurate machining, headspace, and perfectly clean crowns, lands, and chambers just need to be done well.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I find rf chamber work much simpler. Add in the slugging, lapping, tuner fitting, and extractor grooves its much more involved. However the thread tenon and chamber itself goes much faster.

 

[DirtySteve]

I would not give that guy, not going to call him a Gunsmith, another dime. Even if he had an Apprentice doing the work he should have checked everything before a tool started cutting.

 

[linebaugh]

Right is right with either RF or CF... sounds very wrong. Get a different gun builder.

 

[JohnnyJohnsoninWI]

In my lifetime, I've had about 10 gunsmiths do work for me. Of them, there are only three whom I would return to for additional work. Unfortunately, anyone who is interested in tinkering with firearms can hang out a shingle "I are a Gunsmith". Many of them aren't meticulous and many of them far over rate their own abilities.
I have a saying based upon a lifetime of observations. "I was born male; therefore I know everything there is about welding, chainsaws, trailer hitches, and firearms."
Occasionally, I add to the list.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Mark Penrod can do both Very, Very well!

 

[TRSR8]

I find rf chamber work much simpler. Add in the slugging, lapping, tuner fitting, and extractor grooves its much more involved. However the thread tenon and chamber itself goes much faster.

While I would not disagree with anything you have said and am familiar with your work, FWIW regarding chambers, a few of the very best have those barrels on and off several times, shooting between and adjusting their chamber depth somewhat depending on how throat fouling develops.
Theory being, they all may shoot great fight from the start but you don’t want fouling to start too quickly….just saying.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

While I would not disagree with anything you have said and am familiar with your work, FWIW regarding chambers, a few of the very best have those barrels on and off several times, shooting between and adjusting their chamber depth somewhat depending on how throat fouling develops.
Theory being, they all may shoot great fight from the start but you don’t want fouling to start too quickly….just saying.

I'm only a rf gunsmith in the sense that I'm willing to do them. What ever tricks the top guys have up their sleeve is why they are at the top. But thats also the case in cf. Some just get deeper in the weeds than others. When I built my first rf, my main goal was to develop a really good way to lap the throat without washing it out with iosso or jb. I dont like it in cf and sure didnt like the idea in rf. Its been fun to play with something different.

 

[TRSR8]

I'm only a rf gunsmith in the sense that I'm willing to do them. What ever tricks the top guys have up their sleeve is why they are at the top. But thats also the case in cf. Some just get deeper in the weeds than others. When I built my first rf, my main goal was to develop a really good way to lap the throat without washing it out with iosso or jb. I dont like it in cf and sure didnt like the idea in rf. Its been fun to play with something different.

And frankly, you should be credited for willingness to dive into that pool, I’d venture a guess that you’re as good as you are partly by trying a ton of stuff. i just figured I’d add a little color. Thanks Alex.
P.S. love the springs

 

[mongo chicago]

Mark Penrod can do both Very, Very well!

Mark Penrod is truly qualified to be called "Gunsmith".. He has done 5 rifles for me including one rimfire. The best I have gone to!

 

[Frankr]

I can say I am very happy with Alex’s RF work. I know for sure there are several other guys with good shooting Alex RF’s. I was at this match where I shot this target and a few guys walked over to look at my rifle and seen Wheeler Accuracy on the barrel. There was like a long drawn out Ahhhhh. They were ah Alex built that rifle. Yep! I ended up Second that day. It has shot very well for me even though I haven’t had great ammo and I’m a rookie at RFBR.

 

[Frankr]

I ended up 13th overall in UL at my first IR 50/50 National, 12th at the Ohio state ARA tournament with the Rifle shooting Eley black box in my rookie season. Some say wow if you could get a good lot of Lapua ammo You probably could do a lot better.
IDK maybe. All I really do know is the Rifle and the ammo did not hold me back. It absolutely was shooting well enough to win. I was just missing conditions and probably had competition that was just a little above my skill level. I had a BLAST. So yea a big Thank you to Alex Wheeler

 

[wildcat3d]

Mark Penrod can do both Very, Very well!

And Speedy also...

 

[redrockranger]

In the past I seen a smith describe himself as Master Rifle Smith. Is there a governing organization that confers such a degree as this ?Thanks.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

In the past I seen a smith describe himself as Master Rifle Smith. Is there a governing organization that confers such a degree as this ?Thanks.

Nope! I am not for more regulation but sometimes I think it wouldnt be a bad idea. When I was a mechanic I had to take a test with the state with basic mechanical questions. Not every state requires that. Ase testing was voluntary but most shops required it. You got a little more money if you were ase master certified.