Looking for a smith that is a guru at bedding an action to stock. I have a Kelblys black bear on order going into a Manners PRS one and need the square tang in rear to mate perfectly with the stock...what do you gents recommend?
Gunsmith recommendations
- Thread starter bodhisafa
- Start date
LRI if you get a flat top stock. I believe Chad and crew only do their bedding with their full stock work as they do their own custom inlet and then blend and refinish the stock
Do you intend for the same "smith" to do the barrel/chamber work, and bed the barreled action, install the DBM bottom metal, etc.?
Presume you are ordering the stock with inletting for that action, DBM, and barrel contour you plan to use?
Presume you are ordering the stock with inletting for that action, DBM, and barrel contour you plan to use?
I have nothing but wonderful experiences with Robert Gradous and couldn’t be happier.
I recently completed a build with Gray Sloan at Swift Creek Rifles. Beautiful attention to detail, fast turn around, and scary accurate.
All of the above mentioned builders/shops will do a great job. Also consider Beanland Rifles, Collier Rifles, Spartan Rifles, SAC, and GreTan rifles.
Many many more great smiths out there. These are just ones I have personal experience with.
I recently completed a build with Gray Sloan at Swift Creek Rifles. Beautiful attention to detail, fast turn around, and scary accurate.
All of the above mentioned builders/shops will do a great job. Also consider Beanland Rifles, Collier Rifles, Spartan Rifles, SAC, and GreTan rifles.
Many many more great smiths out there. These are just ones I have personal experience with.
The Best work I have ever seen came from Valley View Guns https://www.facebook.com/valleyviewguns/
I’m not knocking anyone else by no means. But, His attention to detail is second to none.
I’ve owned a GA Precision, a few Surgeons, and have a Short Action Customs on the way.
I’m not knocking anyone else by no means. But, His attention to detail is second to none.
I’ve owned a GA Precision, a few Surgeons, and have a Short Action Customs on the way.
I don't think Spartan is taking any more work. Either that or he didn't want to fuck with my current project rifle lol.
GreTan rifles guy is still alive? I thought he died like five years ago.
Every single person that's been recommended is good TBH. I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them provided they have the time to do the work for you.
GreTan rifles guy is still alive? I thought he died like five years ago.
Every single person that's been recommended is good TBH. I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them provided they have the time to do the work for you.
Lots of great choices, but I'll 2nd Jon Beanland @ Beanland Customs. Plus I think currently his wait time a pretty short.
Hi,
Hands down, one of the industries best and regular contributor here on the hide...
@DAVETOOLEY
Sincerely,
Theis
Hands down, one of the industries best and regular contributor here on the hide...
@DAVETOOLEY
Sincerely,
Theis
Any of the top smiths will be hard to discern the difference. LRI, PVA, Tooley, grad, beanland, cross, moon, SAC, and about a dozen others. I would find the one with the best prices and turn around time.
Thanks for all the responds, just called LRI and as it was mentioned above he does paint the stocks as he says they are “pretty heavy handed “ when performing there great work.
Moving on to contacting others mentioned on here
Moving on to contacting others mentioned on here
LOL I saw someone at the range with an m40 clone and the told me it was a "Gray-Tan" rifle but he's not making any more "because he's dead".
Some of these gunsmiths are 70-80 years old so you never know. Especially the M1A and Garand guys. Those dudes are nigh prehistoric.
I haven't talked to him in awhile but Greg is still alive and kicking. Bushing a lot of bolts etc.
Yes like me he's one of the grey beards.
Yes like me he's one of the grey beards.
Im interested in using LRI but this comment has me concerned or should I say confused?
Most of the time they start with un-inletted flat-top blanks supplied by Manners, or the customer.
If the stock supplied is NOT a flat-top, the inlet is entirely filled with epoxy to make it a flat-top. Bolt handle is filled in with gas tank repair epoxy putty, then the rest is filled with a 2-part mix epoxy and milled fiber (this is as of 2015, things may be slightly different now). From there, a complete CNC inlet is done, .050" oversize from your action. Then bedding epoxy is put in the stock, and the action bolted in with stainless pillars. Epoxy cures, then the tang of the receiver and the stock are blended by filing/sanding for a seamless fit. The action is popped out, excess bedding is cleaned up, then the stock is inletted again from the top to make room for the trigger, pins, clean up bolt release area, mag well, bolt handle, etc... Then inletted from the bottom for bottom metal. Then there's exterior "body work" filling in pinholes, applying texture, adding sling studs, QD mounts, rails, etc...
By the time all of that work is done, the stock is about 6 different colors and materials, so he primes and Cerakotes them all for presentation. You can have him do just a CNC inlet, that will not require the bedding, sanding, filing, etc... but if it requires bedding, that's the only way he rolls.
LRI is a great shop, my comment was not a negative one. Chad just relayed information to me regarding the kind of work that he does to perfectly blend the barreled action to the stock which requires painting in the end. I’m just not interested in painting the stock...that’s all.
I'm assuming you'll have all the parts after getting your action? My backlog is about 2 weeks and I could have it finished before the end of the month if I get it in time. I do not alter the factory finish on stocks unless there's damage to begin with.
