Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Southwest Pennsylvania Gunsmith?

I've aquired a savage 220A that I'm planning on having some barrel work done. I would like to have the chamber lengthened to 3", forcing cone lengthened, and threaded for a choke tube? Any reccomendations?

Battue on here may know of a smith in the Western PA area.

I would just send it to Mike Orlen, if you really need a 3" and choke tubes.

thanks. I would like to keep the work local if there is somebody good who can do it. appreciate the name though

Veronesi, just south of New Bethlehem. Do not know if he gets into shotguns much.

I can't think of his name but there is a guy in Farichance, just south of Uniontown that does some nice work.

do you know any other information on him? street? etc? Fairchance is a reasonable day trip for me for sure.

I'm more particular with my shotgun smiths than I am with the rifle guys. Know a couple who I would trust with the work, but they are not local.

would ya mind sharing some names?

One of the best would be these guys:

http://jimeyster.com/choking/choking.htm

I've heard nothing but good things re: Mike Orlen

Some are not fans, however Briley in Texas has always done top notch work for me.

There is another fellow by the name of Larry Palinsky out of Virginia I think, that travels the various clays circuits and does great work. For now I can't find his contact info, but will keep looking.

With Briley you will get their chokes. The others will thread your barrel for whatever brand you want.

Forcing cones: Remember there is no standard and some smiths will only go short. Others will go longer. Much of it depends on barrel thickness at the chamber area or the smith own opinion. Eyster believes it doesn't take much.
Personally I have not found it to be of much or any benefit. The theory sounds good, the results are imo questionable, or perhaps more accurately variable.

For the fastest turn around I would go with Briley. For spot on work Eyster.

I've got to the point I stick Modified in and forget about chokes. Chokes have been the rage for more than a few years. Personally I would rather have a fixed choke Modified, at least for sporting and hunting.

If I played Trap or Skeet I'm sure I would think different.

i agree with the modified for a generaly small game field round, and for some occasional trap shooting. That said I'm making a deidicated turkey gun, so I'm wanting a little tighter constriction. Thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it.

i've posted this before.

Something to think about.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/2010/09/23/longgun_reviews_st_headintheclouds_201002/

Anyway, now knowing what you are after, I would give Eyster first consideration.

Give him the shell and load you are going to use, along with the yardage you desire for the most efficient pattern, and they will make you a choke that gives the most efficient and even pattern for that range. However, remember it will be for that specific shell only.

They are probably the most expensive, but they are the only one that I know of that will actually shoot and pattern your shotgun, with the load you are going to use, until it consistently throws an evenly dispersed pattern at the range you specify. You pay for their time in doing so, in addition to the actual choke work.

Also remember, they don't worry about actual constriction numbers. So the constriction they end up with, may or may not be that for what we think of as full choke. They only are concerned with what works, with that shell, at a particular distance.

Or you could just bring them in closer and not worry about any of this.

Eyster is probably the best in the business. But with that comes two things price and wait. If you are a very competetive shooter he would be the go to guy.

If I remember right, he has three choke constrictions: Close, Medium and Far.

Also, they don't just make a choke and screw it in. They hone the barrel along with the choke, and work with shot transitions until everything works.

All depends on how serious one wants to be.

well yeah...there's always that :p

I am not super competitive, nor super wealthy

I just want good work at a fair price. Got some good information to start with. Thanks again everyone.

Again I would say Mike Orlens, but you sound like it has to be someone in PA.

by all means no. It doesn't have to be, but as always if I can support my local economy and get what I need, I will.

Do you have any contacts for Mr Orlens?

413-256-1630, or google him and you will get address too.

thanks. I will shoot him an Email and see what he has to say