How do you determine that a gunsmith isn't an idiot?
If you've never encountered less than competent gunsmiths, you must live in a different universe than I do. A lot of shooters do their own work not necessarily because they want to, but because they can't readily access a competent gunsmith to do what needs to be done.
More to the point, these days there are few gunsmiths that are experienced with the intricacies of lever actions, and therein lies the practical problem.
That's my take based on my experience. As the saying goes, YMMV.
Paul
Paul, my mileage DOES NOT vary! I have given up finding a reputable competent conscientious gunsmith in my area. I have taken up working on my Savage 99's as a matter of necessity.
It is very rewarding to learn the mechanisms and repair them myself, but the learning curve is time consuming.
