Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Central Texas gunsmith

Hopefully this is the right forum for this question,.......
I'm looking for a good smith to build me a 338-06 on a Mauser 98 action. I've go the barrel, action, and laminated stock I just need some of the metal work done, bedding, and D and T the action.
My last 338-06 turned out great but the smith is no longer available, so I need another.
I would prefer keeping the gunsmith as local as possible, but shipping would not be an issue if needed.

Thanks, Trapr

Mark S. Pharr
3005 Live Oak Street
Tumbleweeds Custom Rifles
Round Rock TX 78681
www.tumbleweedsrifles.com
512-246-7563 shop

You might try Mike Bryant:

http://www.bryantcustom.com/

While Mike is one of the absolute best 'smiths out there, he is a long drive from central Texas.... He'd be worth it though... have done that drive myself...

John

Mike Bryant is an excellent smith and very very honest. He recently started back taking in work.
I find USPS travels the World. Location is not a factor for me. I do not want my smith bothered with me breathing down his neck.

Where you at and what type of rifle do you want?

http://shurleybrothers.com/ These guys have a good reputation. So do these. http://hillcountryrifles.com/

I would also check the roster of the Custom Gunmakers Guild, there are several members from Tx.

Two of my former coworkers worked for Shurley bros. One still does. They do excellent work.

Thanks for the info,
Mr. Pharr is actually someone I've used in the past but lost contact info and forgot name.
Last I checked Hill Country didn't do Mauser???

I'm not one to bother a smith while work is being done, I simply like dropping off and picking up to avoid postal handling or delivery issues.

Thanks again.......

I understand, but even being in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, it is cheaper to ship USPS than driving back and forth a couple times. No foul ups with registered mail.

Mike Bryant

Location has never been an issue with me, either. I find the smith I want to use, one who does the kinda work I want done.

UPS/USPS isn't that expensive.

Not all smiths work on Mausers. Find one who does, use him.

Fire member, Jkob, who's done some great work for Butch, is a Mauser smith. I'm sure there are others.

I like using Fire contributors when possible.

DF

mike Bryant. as good as they come and as stated above you wont find a man with higher integrity.

See above one of the post.

I'll be calling Mr. Bryant as his website makes it sound like he only wants to work on 700 and 700 clones. Which isn't what I'm looking for but I'll double check before making any decision.

Trapr

Last time I was in Boedeker Brothers Armory in Shiner, J Earl Bridges was doing gunsmith work there.
I talked to him about building either a 6.5
He does good work

Mark

Mr. Bridges does in deed do good work. I used him on a couple projects when he still SOLEY owned his business in La Vernia. Good guy.....

On the contrary...I wouldn't step in Boedeker's shop without a copious supply of lube......

Mike Bryant does great chambering, etc. He states clearly on his web site he will ONLY work on Remington 700 or clone actions. No Winchesters, Savages, or Mausers!!!

Aaron Little, Mineola, TX, does specialize in Mausers.

Mark Pharr is a good guy....

Jim Kobe is doing another for me at this time.

I've used Felix at Dale Wise Custom Guns in San Antonio for a couple of things and have been very happy. Good work at a fair price and he's always finished well before the original due date.

I have several rifles from Dale Wise guns, back when Dale was the gunsmith his work was impeccable. It was a pleasure to walk through the vault and look at the finished work.

Trapr

I dropped my parts and instructions off the Mark Pharr, this afternoon after work. According to him I'll have my completed Mannlicher stocked 338-06 back in 6-8 weeks. Just in time for Texas deer season!!!......lucky me.

Trapr

Good turn around for this time of year. Please post photos.

Jim Kobe has barrelled two of my Mausers, a .300 H&H and 338-06 with good results. Easy enough for me to ship them to him out of DFW area also.

You are right.

Jkob has worked on my 2 FN's and would not think twice about whom to send my next project. Another bonus is his turn around time and fair prices.

Take a look at Bobby Pickford. He's in Waller, Texas. Used to work for Briley before he went on his on. Hasbeen

Last Monday, in an email exchange with Aaron Little about my .404 with feeding issues, Aaron said that he has a big backlog of work, and that he's gotten kind of choosey about which projects he will take on and has decided to not work on bolt guns at this time.

Just dropped parts off at McBrides. Robert "Bobby" Butell is an excellent gunsmith and I have been pleased with the three re-barrel jobs he has done for me. Robert built all of the first couple of TTH rifles. Notice I waited till my job was in line before I mentioned this gunsmith.

Michael Ullman is in New Braunfels. He is past President of the ACGMG. If he will do the work it will be top shelf.

I've used these guys before.

http://www.aquilafirearms.com/

Good work and quick turnaround time.