Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Echols Legend?

Legends are accuracy tested with a variety of quality factory ammo before they leave Echol's hands. I remember one of Echol's employees posting about testing them at the range with some pics of the ammo brands - it might have been Brian but I could be wrong. If the rifle does not meet Echol's accuracy requirements, it does not leave the shop until it does.

MtnHtr

How can they be a "ploy"?

If it's a guarantee that is TRULY backed by the maker, it's worth it. Especially in the case of most top end customs,they have ALREADY eliminated a lot of variables by working up loads and shooting the gun enough to know it does not have a bad barrel.

When you have guys like Kenny Jarret who will rebarrel a rifle to get it to shoot(or cut the damn thing up into pieces if it's truly cursed) then you have a worthwhile guarantee.

When you have companies selling factory made rifles like Sako/Tikka making such claims, given Beretta's spotty customer service record, then maybe not so much.

Let's say I sold a bunch of stuff I no longer use much and buy a Legend. Do my time and eventually the phone call comes that it is finished.

According to Bauer, with greedy, snobbish, elitist, pretentious hands, I go to the range. Being careful not to get close to those unfortunates shooting run of the mill rifles, while at the same time showing off my air of superiority just enough to let them know I'm something special, I find out it will not shoot .5s all day long with core-lockts even if I do my part. (Swampy, that was classic.) Heaven forbid with some combos it will only do .6 or just at an inch. What will I do? What will I do? Swamp just nailed another .5 Core-lockt, while I could only do a .7. Tail tucked between my legs I sneak away when no one is looking.

Addition: There is accurate, really accurate and scary accurate. They all may exist in the same rifle depending on the components, shooter and conditions. I'm thinking if you have a consistent 2in Legend, it will be corrected.

I have seen the groups from John55's Echol's rifles and they shoot and like a pure accuracy rifle in the sense that groups are tops even with loads that are not the best for the rifle.

To be fair, their are many smiths who will put a rifle together accuracy wise that will do the same.

It seems from the comments of those with hands on experience, that when one buys a legend there is more than accuracy factored into the final product. And yes pride/appreciation of having something made to the highest standards is one of them.

Not sure I for one would appreciate all the unseen extras or find them something I can't live without. Who knows? I've yet to see one outside of a pic.

Addition: In relation to a previous thread of how Ak can be hard on a rifle to the extreme, the same would apply to a Legend. It may keep going when others go down, but damage may still result. Then one has to factor in the cost of returning it to the previous level of function if that is important.

Often with expensive nice things one also has to be willing to accept increased cost of maintenance. Crack a stock on an 870 and the fix is not all that expensive. Do the same on a Perazzi and the bite requires more stitches.

I'm sure Echols rifles shoot, but I'm thinking after reading all this that it's not his first concern and probably not his customer's either. Any rifle from a reputable maker will shoot small groups and if it didn't they would correct it.

Pete,

It's a line from the movie Tommy Boy with Chris Farley. Classic movie...

Bauer,

I walk dogs every morning with a self made millionaire. I will ask them in the morning if they keep your number on speed dial to seek your advice on how to spend their wealth.

...they have talking dogs....?

One of the perks of being a millionaire..............(laffin)

I'd go with a 264 Win on the bottom end. That way you'd have a Westerner and an Alaskan all in one rifle...

That is the honest truth. I have never had anyone recognize one of my Legends as being anything out of the ordinary in over 12 years of hunting with them.

A couple of years ago, I was hunting mountain caribou in the Yukon. I shared a camp with with a Urologist from Minnesota that carried a .300 WSM built by Rifles Inc like it was his personal talisman. I am pretty sure he even took it with him to the outhouse. I listened for hours about the prowess of his rifle, and how it was ballistically superior to the .300 Wby Mag (Legend) I was using. Finally, on the last night in camp, as we cleaned our rifles on the cabin table after getting rained on all day, he took one of his business cards from his wallet and told me if I wanted to upgrade from my "Black Shadow" after the hunt, to call him as he would sell me his rifle and order another from Rifles Inc.

I took the card and told him I would give him a call if I decided to "trade up".

Chet

That would be a really nice combination. Not much you couldn't hunt with a that duo.

Chet

Now that's funny right there. I've ran into several of those types over the years and it's funny to screw with them.

MD, I sold a bunch of unfinished projects to fund my Legend. At one time I had 26 actions, Pre 64's, high grade Mausers (G33/40's BRNO M21, ZG47's etc.) I had five or six high grade real french walnut blanks and 10 or so scopes and on and on and on.... The Legend is so good that there is nothing else I want.

I am no longer a member of the "build of the month" club. D'Arcy said he will build a two barrel 270 Win & 9.3x62. I know how you like the 7x57 and 30-06 and the 9.3x62. It is nice to be done with all the "pondering". It is really nice to become very familiar with one rifle and fewer cartridges.

Since getting mine I have actually spent less money. I have three scopes. There is room in the safe for all the millions which I have earned HA!

You can't trust talkin' dogs. Some of them have been known to lie about having served with the CIA.

I would rank them with folks like our own "Borer" here, as they likely won't make for good companions. ;O)

RinB,

Another good Legend combo would be the 9.3x62 and .270. Damn, now I'm REALLY thinking about it.

So have you finally sold all the pre-'64 actions?

Gonna be at SCI? Eileen and I will be.

I'm just thrilled that there aren't 413 videos of him on the fire shooting dink brown bear from 674 yards.

Guessing good [bleep] sells itself.

I like the 7mm Rem Mag and .338 Win Mag combo myself. You can hunt everything from antelope to brown bear and find ammo in almost any well stocked gas station from Santa Fe to Whitehorse.

If that is too easy, D'Arcy may be willing to make a combo in 7mm Mashburn and .334 OKH.

Chet

You guys best get on the waiting list. Sounds like Bauer may be one his best salesman. Funny how some things workout.