Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Empire rifles...worth the $$$?

Unfortunately I just sold a spare pair of 1-inch Empire rings a couple of months ago...maybe if you keep your eyes open another pair will pop up somewhere.

Empire has suffered mightily from the economic downturn but I don't think they're going under. You'll notice they are now offering custom rifles on any action, as well as standard gunsmithing services. Not what I would typically expect from a custom gun maker but desperate times call for desperate measures, as they say.

I've been in communication fairly regularly with both George Sandmann and the gentleman who started the website you linked. It has to be tremendously frustrating to pay for a rifle and wait so long to have it delivered (then again, a D'Arcy Echols will cost you $32,000 with a 3-year wait...and it's built on a factory Winchester action) but I think it's going to get worked out for both parties.

I think you are confusing Darcy with Miller.

George has more problems then the economy. He is a liar and is dishonest as they come.

I don't think so. Download the "brochure & technical specs" for each of the rifles...$32k with wood stock, $15.5k with synthetic.

http://www.echolsrifles.com/#/home.html

Certainly not my experience with Empire, but as I've stated I haven't ordered any rifles from them directly...my dealings in buying a consignment rifle and having another barrel assembly made for my takedown must have been better than your experience with them.

Must have and I am not the only one that feels that way.

WOW! That's got to be a real bummer, shooting at something that may eat or stomp you with a high end rifle that won't function.

I like perfection, too. But function has to be first and foremost with any hunting rifle, especially when hunting dangerous game.

From the lower end, I'd go with a pre 64 M-70, or an FN M-70. Another option, a tuned CZ. Next up the food chain, a Dakota or an Ed Brown with Ed's control feed proprietary action. Then to custom rifles, probably using a pre-64, Dakota, Mauser or similar action.

For that kinda money, one should be able to have a super rifle and not have to worry about being eaten or trampled...

I think some of these "high end" guys are more salesmen than craftsmen. Roy Weatherby was a super salesman, but he could back it up with some pretty good rifles. Rare combo, IMHO. At least you don't hear of Roy's rifles not going bang...

DF

There is presently a thread over on AR about this very item. The owner of Empire has even gotten in on the discussion a couple of times and rather than really deal with it he has typed up some fluff answers. I've been to his place and while the merchandise looks appealing to my eye I would not do business with him at this point. Too many bad stories and not enough good ones.

Back to the Model 70 I guess.