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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,955 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,955 Likes: 3 |
Before I take the plunge on a full custom rifle from Borden in 300 WSM, are there any negatives in owning or dealing with their products?
By the way, in case you missed it, Jeremiah was a bullfrog.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,453
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,453 |
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,130
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,130 |
Of all the 700 clones the Borden is the best platform for a shortmag, the Alpinemag is designed around the cartridge for feeding,magazine and port length, a well designed fire control system and Jim will time the trigger to the action so it has the correct firing pin fall, Jim's actions display flawless machine work and function great, + the rifle will likely shoot ragged hole groups if the shooter is up to the task, I have a 300WM built on a Timberline by Jim and is my go to hunting rifle because of the consistency!
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,546
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,546 |
Totally happy with the three I own.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,359 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,359 Likes: 1 |
I've known Jim and family for about 20yrs. He is very honest and builds wonderful rifles.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,234
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,234 |
Doubt you would find anyone with a harsh word to say about Jim or his products. Never had a full build from him but have handled and shot a few and have a rifle built off his action. He's one of the best of the well known gunsmiths for a long list of reasons
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,303
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,303 |
Well, I know I am the exception and not the rule...but I had issues w/ mine. When I first recieved my new rifle from Borden rifles, (short mag) it would not feed. It would grab the first round w/o failure but then it was hit and miss from then on. Maybe it would grab the 2nd one, maybe it wouldnt. When I called him to tell him about it, he accused me of taking the rifle apart. I told him I was not that smart or that stupid to attempt that.
I told him that Karl Feldcamp was coming to hunt w/ me the next week and we agreed to have him look at it. When Karl arrived I showed him the rifle. He said in no way was the rifle taken apart. He told me he knew a trick to sometimes get the wsm rifles to feed. Then he got on the phone to his wife and had her send him a Ruger follower then he called Midway USA and had them send a Mdl 700 long action spring and a new Wyatts box.
After we got back from hunting, the parts were all waiting. He grabbed a file and went to work. 15 mins later I had a flawlessly feeding rifle. Months after Karl fixing it, I asked him if Jim ever offered to pay him for his services and he told me he did not even call and thank him.
If I have read correctly, Borden rifles now charges $100.00 to make sure the rifle feeds. However, I may be incorrect on this.
I am not "bad mouthing", this is just what happened to me. Had it not been for Karl, I am not so sure what would have been done. I will tell you that if I EVER build another full blown custom, it WILL be on a Borden action, it is very nice!
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1 |
Lot of other smiths I'd use first and last.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,507
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,507 |
Lot of other smiths I'd use first and last. What didn't you like about your Borden Steelhead?
Last edited by Grand; 05/13/12.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,526 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,526 Likes: 1 |
you can do far worse than Jim Borden and i doubt much better than him just remember if you talk to enough people you will hear good and bad about them all of my experience all has been positive while i have only had his actions he is a record setting shooter and smith
gene
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,130
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,130 |
Lot of other smiths I'd use first and last. What didn't you like about your Borden Steelhead? Just listen to the crickets.....as that's all you will hear!
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,053
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,053 |
Greenbrier..you had a good hunting partner
I don't always venture out into the sub-freezing darkness, but when I do, it is deer hunting season, and I carry a Remington. Stay hungry my friends.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,303
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,303 |
Anyone who is reading this post, dont take into too much consideration what happened to me. As I have read alot before purchasing a rifle built by Borden I know that it was a fluke that this happened. It is by far one the nicest looking rifles I own. Again, if I were to build another custom, I would use the Borden action. But due to many pleasant conversations w/ Karl and Robert Gradious, that is who I would use to build it.
Oldguns- Karl was an awesome guy to hunt w/. He is very pleasant and really knows his stuff. I hope he would like to come back up here again (AK) and go hunt again.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,739
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,739 |
I've got a Borden in 300 WSM. Had it since '06. Never an issue with feeding and it out shoots the hell out of me. Jim is a great guy to talk to to answer all of your questions. As a matter of fact, Borden #2 is being built as we speak.
Kiss your girlfriend where it smells.......take her to Jersey!
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,943 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,943 Likes: 1 |
I have a .223 Ackley built on a Borden alpine which was 'smithed by Karl Feldkamp. I can't enough good things about either of them.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,130
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,130 |
Anyone who is reading this post, dont take into too much consideration what happened to me. As I have read alot before purchasing a rifle built by Borden I know that it was a fluke that this happened. It is by far one the nicest looking rifles I own. Again, if I were to build another custom, I would use the Borden action. But due to many pleasant conversations w/ Karl and Robert Gradious, that is who I would use to build it.
Oldguns- Karl was an awesome guy to hunt w/. He is very pleasant and really knows his stuff. I hope he would like to come back up here again (AK) and go hunt again. And if I were a smith I would appreciate a customer like Greenbriar as he is very humble and forgiving from our conversations on the phone!
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,473 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,473 Likes: 2 |
I have a .223 Ackley built on a Borden alpine which was 'smithed by Karl Feldkamp. I can't enough good things about either of them. Well I guess I'll chime in also as another more than happy customer. Last September I got my Borden Alpine action/Kampfeld Customs built .243. The Borden Alpine action sure is a nice choice for a lightweight build IMHO. Action is slick even under nasty conditions and the rifle just flat shoots - Karl was great to work with as well, hope to have another one from him someday:)
"Rather hunt Mule deer than anything else" "Team 7MM-08"
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 350
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 350 |
Have had a complete build from Jim in a 338 RUM and have had about half a dozen other rifles built on his actions and have had nothing but great luck with all of them. No brainer for me, drop $500 on an stainless 700 action have it trued up for another $250, flute the bolt $100 and you still have just another 700 action. Which there is nothing wrong with that. For just about the same money I would much rather start out with a superior product to begin with and resale is always better as well. Cannot go wrong with Jim.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,070
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,070 |
I have owned two. One built by Jim on a 700 action. The other built by Jim on a Stiller action. Both were super accurate. NO issues. Cant go wrong with a Borden IMO.
Crossed Arrows Archery LLC Authorized Obsession Bows Dealer Custom Strings/Tuning www.crossedarrowsarcheryllc.comBlack Eagle Arrows Pro Staff, Montana Black Gold Shooting Staff, Dead Center Archery Products Shooting Staff
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