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Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? Big Stick #13330732 12/04/18
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 95,929 Southern New Mexico E elkhunternm Campfire Oracle
elkhunternm Campfire Oracle E Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 95,929 Southern New Mexico	No mistakes on this one. Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard Ken

GB1

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? C_Dixon #13331934 12/04/18
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 9,031 T TimberRunner Campfire Outfitter
TimberRunner Campfire Outfitter T Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 9,031	Originally Posted by C_Dixon 15 or so years ago one of my very good and particular clients had an issue with Hart. Kevin has virtually unlimited resources. He would order 5 or 6 rifles at a time and he'd have AT LEAST 10 barrels per gun fitted up in various flavors. Twist rates, throats lengths, neck OD's, etc. He had acquired quite the collection. We had one that just refused to play nice. Swap the barrel and it'd settle down just fine. Put the old one back on and it would go to hell again. So, he mails it to Hart and asks them (asks, because Kevin is the kind of client a builder dreams for, always courteous, always a pro, and never once balks at a cost so long as he gets what he wants) Well, Hart tells him to basically suck it. They were rude. [bleep] even. Apparently, they don't pay attention to Purchase Orders. If they had, they'd of realized this guy had over 300 barrels from them. I am NOT making this up. Kevin is just "one of those guys" and he had the means to do whatever he wants. And that is exactly what he did. He took every one of those barrels and hauled them down to a machine shop somewhere in IL where he lives. He paid them the going rate and they cut those barrels into 1" segments on a band saw. He then crated the whole mess up and had it shipped to Hart barrels with a very plainly worded letter encouraging all of them to have intercourse with themselves. Then he replaced a whole lot with a new company and we did it all over again. No [bleep]. True story. Hart barrels. They've never made a mistake. Just ask them, they'll tell you. Caveat Emptor I love it. Not "Phug you" money, that's "Phug me" money.

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? GonHuntin #13332002 12/04/18
Joined: Feb 2018 Posts: 10,099 Kentucky Hills R reivertom Campfire Outfitter
reivertom Campfire Outfitter R Joined: Feb 2018 Posts: 10,099 Kentucky Hills	I have a sporterized M1917 with the original barrel from the 50s that weighs nearly as much as a non-sporterized '03. Even with the barrel cut down and turned to a sporter contour, it is still heavy. It's built like a tank, but I'm not anymore. I guess they were judged by their weight back then.

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? elkhunternm #13332467 12/04/18
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 8,735 San Joaquin Valley, Kalifornis... calikooknic Campfire Outfitter
calikooknic Campfire Outfitter Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 8,735 San Joaquin Valley, Kalifornis...	Ken, I believe I have asked you before, but here goes. Did you have the action machined or the rings, and who did it? BTW, that still looks beautiful. Sean

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? calikooknic #13332509 12/04/18
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 95,929 Southern New Mexico E elkhunternm Campfire Oracle
elkhunternm Campfire Oracle E Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 95,929 Southern New Mexico	The action was machined for the Talleys rings. Roy Bedeaux in Los Ranchos NM. He is retired now. Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard Ken

IC B2

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? elkhunternm #13332942 12/04/18
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,490 virginia G gene270 Campfire Tracker
gene270 Campfire Tracker G Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,490 virginia	one of the things i have learned over the years is you dont need a smith that advertises and goes to all the trade shows in order to get a first rate job.....for years i couldnt understand the pricing difference thinking i was loosing something by not paying more....most of the smiths i use today arent nationally known and do as good or better than the well known guys

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? gene270 #13333537 12/05/18
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 95,929 Southern New Mexico E elkhunternm Campfire Oracle
elkhunternm Campfire Oracle E Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 95,929 Southern New Mexico	Agreed Gene270. I learned about Roy from a member here on the 'fire and went to see him and his work. To say the least I wanted him to make a rifle for me. Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard Ken

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? GonHuntin #13334194 12/05/18
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,737 Maryland woodson Campfire Tracker
woodson Campfire Tracker Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,737 Maryland	My only regret is not sending a dummy cartridge with the intended bullet at a OAL that just barely fits the mag well. The throat could be more forgiving.

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? GonHuntin #13335640 12/05/18
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,930 D devnull Campfire Regular
devnull Campfire Regular D Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,930	Regret is not being true with yourself about how you'll use your new custom. Don't buy a heavy contoured pig and expect to lug around mountains. In the same vein, don't take a pencil thin contour to the range and expect to be produced tight shot groups over long shot strings in 90 degrees.

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? woodson #13335657 12/05/18
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 44,805 M mathman Campfire 'Bwana
mathman Campfire 'Bwana M Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 44,805	Originally Posted by woodson My only regret is not sending a dummy cartridge with the intended bullet at a OAL that just barely fits the mag well. The throat could be more forgiving. Why not one a bit shorter than the mag well? Then you'd have room to grow as the throat erodes.

IC B3

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? mathman #13337551 12/06/18
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,263 Out Yonder T Tejano Campfire Tracker
Tejano Campfire Tracker T Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,263 Out Yonder	Originally Posted by mathman Why not one a bit shorter than the mag well? Then you'd have room to grow as the throat erodes. This or if in doubt throated to the shortest bullet that will be used. Worst case it could be lengthened later if needed but max mag length you have no room to grow. "When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? mathman #13338911 12/06/18
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,737 Maryland woodson Campfire Tracker
woodson Campfire Tracker Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,737 Maryland	Originally Posted by mathman Originally Posted by woodson My only regret is not sending a dummy cartridge with the intended bullet at a OAL that just barely fits the mag well. The throat could be more forgiving. Why not one a bit shorter than the mag well? Then you'd have room to grow as the throat erodes. Mathman you pose a good point. I’m likely in a good spot for the long haul.

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? woodson #13339396 12/07/18
Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 8,221 PA Teeder Campfire Outfitter
Teeder Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 8,221 PA	Originally Posted by woodson My only regret is not sending a dummy cartridge with the intended bullet at a OAL that just barely fits the mag well. Sometimes when you do send a dummy cartridge, it isn't used anyway because the smith knows what you want better than you do.

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? Teeder #13339732 12/07/18
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,263 Out Yonder T Tejano Campfire Tracker
Tejano Campfire Tracker T Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,263 Out Yonder	Sometimes when you do send a dummy cartridge, it isn't used anyway because the smith knows what you want better than you do. [/quote] I have been known to put magic marker on the dummy's and then look for land marks on the bullets when I meet with the gunsmith. Don't have to say anything but the Smith will know what your looking at. "When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? GonHuntin #13351748 12/11/18
Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 357 T Tony_Soprano Campfire Member
Tony_Soprano Campfire Member T Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 357	My only regrets have been listening to yahoos on hunting forums, whose only experience building rifles amounts to theory based upon Google searches. Oh and 26" barrels for magnums. It's really funny when your gun builder makes "suggestions" that actually work! After all, WTF does he know....... e.g. Back in '04 I called up Charley Sisk and ordered a 300 Win. I wanted a 26" Krieger CM barrel because I knew better. Charley politely said he'd go ahead and order the Krieger, but he's had pretty good luck with (gasp) 24" button rifled stainless Lilja barrels. That rifle has shot one holers for over 14 years from stag in NZ, to elk in BC/Colorado and lion in Zim. Gonna take it to Tajikistan for MP next year. Talk about a work horse...... When I had Patrick Holehan build my 340 Wby he suggested a 24" as he's had better luck/better harmonics than with a 26". I sold my Weaver 340 Wby (26") as I couldn't get it to group as i'd like........ Last edited by Tony_Soprano; 12/11/18.

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? GonHuntin #13356680 12/13/18
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 7,165 G greydog Campfire Tracker
greydog Campfire Tracker G Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 7,165	I've had rifles which were too heavy, too light, balanced too far forward, balanced too far back. I've had rifles with stocks with combs too high or too low, too much drop or not enough. Grips too open or too close. The sad thing is; I made every one of the damn things myself and couldn't even blame someone else. GD

Re: Mistakes made on custom builds?? 257heaven #13357643 12/13/18
Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,620 Anchorage, AK USA Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna
Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,620 Anchorage, AK USA	Originally Posted by 257heaven A couple of my early ones had shanks that were too long. Made that mistake on a 25-06 that Riley has killed a ton of stuff with... Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.

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