Thanks for all the quick answers, guys!
I didn't expect a response like that and I'm impressed by the unanimous vote.
There is a small twist or rather addendum to the story.
I expected a .30-06 to be a no brainer and ordered the barrel last year, defining the specifications via email and describing the expected outcome and purpose of the rifle in detail. The rifle was in the gunsmiths hands since June 23.
He is quite reputable, usually builds benchrest and other competition rifles and has supplied a lot of them over the last decades for various national championships.
I have never had any work done by him, but shot rifles build by him before.
He uses Krieger and Bartlein barrels, one of the few in Germany keeping a small stock.
And he lives just 50 miles away.
That's why I chose him.
The rifled action was finished in March and I received it 2 weeks ago. He didn't follow my specifications and cut the barrel at 23.6". Maybe I should say he didn't choose to care for my wishes, since he contoured the barrel to the specified 0.75" muzzle diameter at 23.6". The muzzle brake wasn't timed right either, the safety is missing and he apparently sanded of the actions coating on top, as if he wanted to glue on a picatinny rail. Quite a fubar, in my opinion.
After I called him out and asked him to remedy his mistake he started telling me the aforementioned excuses, so far refusing to even acknowledge that he made a mistake.
At the end of the day my insurance will cover any cost, if legal action would become necessary, but I had hoped to have my dream rifle in my hands instead of thinking about lawyers.
ps:
the post was saved a bit too early
@Muddyboots
I thought about the Serengeti Reamer too, but it's not really available in Germany. This I went with a standard chamber with lease adjusted to a loaded bullet at 3.46".
@436
Thanks
@K.E.C.
I really love the cartridge and I decided on a stainless barrel, too.
Availability of Bergers is a bit difficult, thus I went with Hornady for the time being. 600 bullets are ready, if they work well, more are easy to come by.
@Gary in MD
I hope it will be my do all rifle. I can't imagine any game that won't succumb to a .30-06 with the right heavy bullet.
Gunsmithwise I'm screwed, but hopefully he'll come around, if atleast to avoid legal fees.
@redneckbmxer24
The next rifle will be done by a different gs, I'll keep you guys updated how the project proceeds.
@del2les
I've seen so many long barrelled .30-06 here and on the hide, that I didn't expect any problems. Except barrel availability and proof house queues maybe.
@lancetkenyon
If he had just made these comments earlier, I would have taken the rifle and run. You're absolutely right.
@dls guide
A cooper I've been dreaming of at one point too (if we're talking about the same company). Did you take a synthetic or one of their walnut stocks?
@DirectDrive
He absolutely isn't. Good smiths are rare in Germany though, and now I'll have to pay for the education on that subject.
@sable tireur
Thanks for your kind words.
The barrel itself should be fine, since the gs uses Bartlein and Krieger exclusively. He is probably just stuck in the benchrest world so far, that he can't imagine a lighter barrelled rifle to shoot well. Or I'm starting to make excuses for his bs.
Lapua Scenar are available, I'll probably order some, if the ELD-X don't work out.
VVN160 is readily available too, about Hodgon powders I'm not certain.
I hope to get a bit better velocity with VVN560 but only time will tell, if the gs comes around and fixes his mistake.
@xsn10s
I really don't understand his reasoning either. The Tikka I owned before and I have 2 stocks for it, one synthetic stock accepting 3.715" mags and the MDT Chassis in the picture accepting the shorter ones. The longer mags work really well with longer cartridges, with the MDT chassis I have to be a bit more careful. I believe the max coal was something like 3.42". But I'd have to check again.
Ho boy!
