Top Gunsmiths

[edgerat]

my post count will do nothing to boost the credibility of this reply but I am having a 6BR built by Rick Beginski and I can tell you guys that he is a top-notch person and gunsmith. Nobody said anything against him but I just wanted to say that he is a good man and a credit to the "gun game". Based on my dealings with him I have commissioned him to build me a 6.5x47 now as well.
Isaac

 

[Buffalobob]

Edgerat, your credibility will depend upon you actually killing something with it, not your post count.

 

[1kstr]

Rat:
Pics too when you get those rifles back.

I think we need a calendar. SI has one. Why not LRH.

1kstr

 

[BountyHunter]

Two points.


1. Some very good LR hunting smiths on this site, which have been mentioned.

2. Some very good LR hunting smiths on that list also. Big mistake to think that because they do not post and advertise here they are not. I have had LR hunting guns built by a couple of them and they been building LR hunting guns for many years. Only difference is they have unequivocably proven that they can do both LR and BR. Bruce Baer is another and been doing longer than many of the smiths here have been alive.

the deal is to find a smith that is skilled in building what you want to build, hopefully is close so you can get face to face and you feel comfortable with his skills.

No list is 100%, and I know Paul (6mmbr) held some very strict standards to who he lists as a top recommended smith and personally checked a variety of sources on all the smiths and not all names submitted made the cut.

BH

 

[Boss Hoss]

I am driving up to Colorado to see mine tomorrow! Spent a little time yesterday calling some friends and getting all of the components lined up so I can start shooting High Power Silhouettes in May. That being said it never hurts to have relationships with people in the industry and especially having your Smith as one of your good friends..

 

[Rustystud]

Gunsmiths should be able to rate customers..

Most good gunsmiths don't advertise as they have more work than they can get done in a day. Most merely hang out a shingle as far as advertising this may be a web site.

There are several classes of customers coming to a gunsmith ranging from the most knowledgable to the newbe. Most customers are very greatful and listen to common sense advise. But there are a few flaming horses behinds. I don't mind talking with a genuine customer wanting to build his life long custom rifle or the competitive shooter who is working to be the best shooter he can. I have been building customized rifles and pistols for 40 years and I can talk with a customer for 5 minutes and pretty much sum up what kind of customer he/she is going to be.

Every week I get a call from the guy who has no idea what he is doing and wants $250.00 work done on a $90.00 factory barrel. Or he wants you to chamber and maybe polish and blue a $90 barrel. You explain to him his money could be better served by selecting better quality barrel. You can do the best chambering job in the world but that low end barrel coppers up in two or three shots. Then they blame the gunsmith.

The other complaint I frequently hear is "my gunsmith has had my gun 6-12 months and done nothing". Do your home work, you can order a barrel, reamer, and gauges, dies and bullets, powder, cases and primers. If you take all the parts with your gun to the smith he has no excuse not to get it done and back to you in 30-60 days.

On the average I spend 4 hours talking with a new customer about building his rifle. My long term customers rarely talk with me more than 20 minutes about their work. They get their work in and out because they have it figured out ahead of time. Remember gunsmithing is a service industry. There is a balance between salesmanship and craftsmanship. But the bottom line the smith is in business to make money and is not a charity operation. Time is money.

Quality barrels, stocks, and custom actions usually take 3-6 months to get from the manufacture. Your gun or action sitting in your gunsmiths safe does neither you or your smith any good.

Just thought I would share what it looks like from the other side of the counter.

I tell it like it is. And no, I am not soliciting for business. I have plenty of work to do. If you do quality work the customers will seek you out.

Rustystud

 

[Len Backus]

Rustystud, well said.

 

[Boss Hoss]

2nd that !!!!!!!! This may ruffle a few feathers but a lot of folks are not familiar with what the work that they are asking to be done will actually accomplish. Many of the different individual accuracy enhancing operations performed on a rifle are dependent on what components and the level of modifications already performed on said components are. For example, if the chamber is not concentric then spending money on a new stock and world class pillar bedding job will be of questionable value un into itself.

 

[Ksmirk]

Ya know 5 or 6 years ago I could not for the life of me figure out why it would take a guy 6-8 months to build a simple ol' rifle, heck you just screw a barrel onto a reciever and your golden right? well I finally found a smith that would help me to figure out what I had been missing the whole time and while he has passed he taught me more than I could have imagined about rifles and a little about life in general. I decided that I wanted to build a custom rifle but I WANTED to do the work and learn the trade, I found this old gentleman that told me he would help me but it would cost me! I could not tell you how many things I did like changing lights and helping pick up limbs but either way I figured out real quick about why it would take someone 6 months to build a rifle and the patience that these people have with everyday Joes that don't have a clue or vague idea about what goes into a rifle. I am by no means a gunsmith I can put one together and they have shot well much better than I could have imagined but that is because of a gunsmith that loved what he did and found a kid that would listen. I ask questions on this site due to the people like Kirby and Shawn and a whole mess of others that dodge my memory right now that really enjoy what they do and are willing to share what they know and are willing to help out and that's what makes this site so great.

I see post that someone has talked badly about a person and while I would like to reply with some fairly colorful terms you can tell they need this to continue with from what I belive is a miserable life, if there is an issue with someone there is the PM option no reason I can see to open it up to the whole community unless there is a good reason to drag someone through the mud which I for one can never think of a good time for that kind of childish behavior but you see it on every board on the web, we all need to look at it this way these boards are here for us to get entertainment and information and while I even find it funny make some new friends that you may never meet face to face. Later,

Kirk

 

[lerch]

Ksmirk, have you come by our shop in el reno before??? a few guys from the board have come by to BS and since your in OKC i was just wondering since i have a hell of a time remembering peoples names. I know this is off topic but i was just curious and my PM isnt workin

take it easy
steve

 

[Ksmirk]

Steve, yes sir I have I talked to you and BJ for an hour or so. I used to get out there a lot and purchase all my reloading stuff there but in changing jobs I don't get out that way much anymore. It would be great to get to know some more folks around here that shoot LR most of the time I just get stupid looks at the range on Banner when I talk about shooting past 200 yards. When you get your PM going give me a shout we'll have to hook up and talk about shooting things a long way out there and from what I hear you guys can give me some pointers on the 338 Edge or at least the last time I spoke with Gene he said I might be able to learn a few things from you guys. Later,

Kirk

 

[wildcat]

Another recommendation. What I do is, I order all of the parts, Action, Barrel, Stock, Trigger and when I receive all those parts, I send it to the gunsmith. I find this much easier to due than having your smith do it. It also makes the smith's job much easier.

W.

 

[Veritas]

Not the best pic since I had to take it from a PDF file, but from the start of this thread I don't see any of the smiths in here. Let alone others that were mentioned,

 

[EddieHarren]

Check the date on the original thread. Wildcat was a legend in his own mind!