Hi,

I have an old remington 700 in 7mm mag that I'm thinking about building off of for my first custom bolt gun. I realize that like most things you get what you pay for, but in the custom rifle game, there also appears to be a function of getting what brand name is stamped on the barrel.

I'm looking for a reputable good builder. If there's someone out there, and they're the best and the most expensive, that's great and I'd like to discuss the build with them. If there's someone out there cheaper, and they can build an equal quality rifle, even better. what I'd like to do is go with a .300 win mag, in a set up similar to the GAP non typical rifle.

the remington 700 I have has some sentimental value which is why I want to keep that action. I realize there are better actions available out there, but I want to stick with this one.

Gradous rifles.

Jon Beanland.

Greg Tannel

Short Action Customs

Clay Spencer

Gap..........

all these are very good, I'm sure others can add to the list, for pure accuracy and the best fit and finish I'd personally call Robert Gradous!

And Chad Dixon

Again I chime in with you don't get what you pay for. You get what you shop for. I recently had a Savage rebarreled and chambered and my Weatherby Mark V six lug rifle rebarreled and chambered and had a recoil pad installed. Also on the Weatherby the 'smith also had to open up the feed rails from what was built for a .25-06 to a 9.3X64 blown out so it looks exactly like a .257 Weatherby without a belt. This also includes threading both barrels for brakes.

For his work which included rebarreling, threading and chambering, brake threading, opening the raiksm and recoil pad, the gunsmith charged $875. His name is Rick at R&R Gunworks. The phone number is 1(541)826-3627.

You're in TX? Charlie Sisk.

Those are all certainly good I'm sure. I have two rifles built within the last year by Jon Beanland and I can vouch that he does exceptional work. I supplied all the parts and he put them together, the price he charged me was certainly fair in my opinion.

Based upon my experience with him he'd be the first one I'd call again if I wanted to do another build.

Kevin Weaver has done a few for me - quality work, good communication, fast turn times......

Karl Kampfeld - perfectionist, but a multi year wait

yes, I'm in Texas. Where is he located?

Dayton.

Send it to Eddie Fosnaugh.

Call Charlie -

400 County Road 2340 | Dayton, Texas 77535 | (936) 258-4984

Derrick at Horizon Customs in College Station is putting out some good stuff.

Redneck, Eddie and Karl here on the Fire all do excellent work. Chad Dixon at Longrifles is great as well...

I have several from Chad Dixon at LongRifles, Inc. Awesome work and great outside the box thinking. Check out his Rem 700 group buy on Sniper's Hide. Very good pricing. And, think weeks not months/years to get your completed rifle back.

Bob

Longrifles inc seems to do good accurate machine work and really pretty bedding jobs ,and while his group buy is reasonable his bedding and stock fitting prices are not ,starting at $750.00 + the price for a stock and that's before pad and paint, and I realize he probably spends a fair amount of time on the fitting most guys don't need this level of fit and finish in a fiberglass stock and can have a rifle that is just as accurate by having a bedding job for under $300.00....ymmv

Just got a jim kobe rifle back. Just getting it broke in, jim has been VERY patient with me and my questions on the gun. His prices are great, and he's a helluva nice guy to boot.

Call Barry Davis in Bayfield Colorado. Micro Groups is what he goes by.

Perfectionist, afforable and extremely fast turnaround.

If you need his number, PM me, then thank me later.

Any real smith should be able to do something as simple as screwing a tube on an action. The real measure of a smith should be how they handle a gun that they built that shoots like crap. I had a bad experience with two builders on that list. Turned into a cluster F both times...

Greg Tannel

IF you have issues there's always tikka..

That was my only experience with a $3,000 Brown; after I supplied the action. What a joke!

Nothing like getting the response "just because you own a precision rifle, doesn't mean you are a precision shooter."


The other quagmire was:

Gunsmith: "not me, it's the barrel."

Barrel maker: "not the barrel, it's the smith."

Gun was finally dismantled by me in the garage with a pipe wrench. Action is in the safe, stock and barrel are long gone. Should have just wiped my ass with $2000 and saved myself the constant headaches driving home from the range.

Brown told me something like that. He kept my action! After that disappointment I took one of my other actions to the local 'smith and had him rebarrel it. The first three shots out of it were 15/16" with no load workup. After load developement I did that at 300 yards. Both were 7STW with 28" barrels.

John Gallagher built a sako that shoots great and he is reasonable on price. He is located in jasper,AL.

I have had Jim install about 12 barrels and always a great job at the right price in a day or two each time. I supplied the barrels and actions.

wade

I "thought" i might have a problem with the rifle jim sent me, i wasnt sure, but he called the barrel maker in about 30min after recieving my email. it turned out that I just didnt clean it diligently enough based on what the barrel was telling me, but jim was 110% going to stand behind the build, and thats why he'll get my business from now on.

i shot this group in 0* weather today with 10mph left to right gusts, and 547 yards. that group is just under 4" outside to outside. im quite happy with that, as im still working on load developement

I agree a smith that will handle the situation to the customers satisfaction is the guy who should get your business!

Dakota custom rifles. Patrick Auer in Whitewood, Sd.

Your in Texas, why not use Beenland or Gre-tan?

Beanland for the win. I don't think many get out his door with issues. If one were to I know he would make it right. He has been a pleasure to deal with.

Had Gre - tan build me a 280ai. The full meal deal on action work. Shoots amazing - rarely over 3/4 moa with most being much less. Took 15 months but worth it.

I'll second that. I haven't had a rifle built by him, but I have several friends that are more than happy. He'll probably get my 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5X47 build.

Chad Stanley with Titan Firearms in Fort Worth, TX also does good work. He's built for me and multiple for friends using 700 actions that have been hammers.

Not sure if McWhorter will take your action and do a build, but every McWhorter I've owned has been A++

I have heard great things about Redneck. Just sent him some stuff for a build.

Lee is a class-act and he does excellent work. You will not be disappointed.

Some good gunsmiths right here

Another endorsement for Redneck. He built me just a shootin' rifle, Rem 700 SA, Lilja #3 CM, 7/08. Rem Classic wood stock, no acrobatics you understand, easy load development, shoots so good it's scary. Will also give highest praise for Lilja barrels(and yes, I have barrels from many of the top makers,) but my Liljas have been among the most trouble free to clean and develop loads for. Working with 3 different Brux barrels right now and they are all shooting well but have taken a bit more bedding and load developement

Garland Gilbreath in Stephenville TX does great work!

I use Jim Borden, Jon Beanland, and Redneck. Happy with all 3.

I build my own rifles, but on the internet, I appreciate 1) the pictures of Chad Dixon's builds at Longrifles and 2) the videos of Darrell Holland.
I have two mills and two lathes, but those guys are better machinists than me. Put a recoil I lug I made next to one Darrel Holland sells and the difference is obvious.

Had a few rifles built over the years and what I found is you get what you pay for. GAP builds one nice tack driving piece...

Thank for the laugh! LOL

You will get what you pay for........If you choose your builder carefully!

I wanted a small one-man shop, because I wanted the attention to detail, pride, and concern that those guys build their businesses upon. When group pics are posted of their builds, I see a noticeably large percentage of very tiny groups. I talked to John Beanland and Robert Gradous, because their character and craftsmanship are well established. I was impressed by the humility of both of these men (I'll bet $20 that those two weren't the guys with which dogcatcher had problems). Gradous recommended Matthew Stewart (formerly of Surgeon Rifles) for a shorter lead-time without losing quality. I talked to Matthew and sent him my parts. I will get my rifle back next week, but everything up to this point has been very impressive. I am grateful to have found him.

jakelly, you are correct...it wasn't those two. Good luck on your build, post some pics when you get it back.

I would just tell everyone who it is Drew....its not like you're making this schit up!!

People will be surprised or tell you its not true because every rifle they make shoots under 1/4 minute.........................

I'd like to know what a smith did to cause a rifle not to shoot satisfactory?
He cuts [bleep] threads on the barrel= so what
He has rings in the chamber= so what
He cut a [bleep] looking crown= so what as long as it is even.

Crappy barrels shoot crappy groups.
Crappy bullets shoot crappy groups.
Crappy shooters shoot crappy groups.
Crappy scopes help crappy shooters shoot crappy groups.

Now that you are hyperventilating, the question is, what does a smith do to make a rifle shoot [bleep]?

To update my post on Redneck done prior to receiving the rifle...I placed the barreled action he did for me into a throwaway, wood, Remington stock. 2 loads have shot under 1/3 " at 100 and 2 others under 1/2". Only been to the range twice with this gun. Waiting on a stock from Manners. I am a beginning reloader and not much of a shot. He did a nice job quickly and at a fair price.