What is the longest you have waited on a custom bolt gun build? I know the past 2-1/2 years have been difficult for many businesses keeping up production wise and they’ve had to deal with logistic nightmares, etc. but even under these circumstances would you consider 18 months + far too long for a build to be completed? I know people are seeing some crazy lead times from stock manufacturers like Manners, but even if it took a year for a stock, would 6 months leave the average smith more than enough time to complete a build?
How long is too long?
- Thread starter CBaker124
- Start date
What was your expectation of lead time when you placed the order?
I'd wait a dam long time for what I want, but do not want to be jerked around. If it will be late, tell me when it is known, do not leave me chasing answers.
I'd wait a dam long time for what I want, but do not want to be jerked around. If it will be late, tell me when it is known, do not leave me chasing answers.
With the wait on barrels and stocks easily being a year +
I would suggest 1 to 2 years is about what you should expect unless everything is already in stock / in hand.
I would suggest 1 to 2 years is about what you should expect unless everything is already in stock / in hand.
I’m not waiting more then a month to get a barreled action. Impact, barrel of choice, foundation. Done.
- Nov 3, 2010
- 10,541
- 23,115
Things your girlfriend lies to you about for 500 Alex?
3 days.
Only a idiot waits for a gunsmith when you can get just as good or better product to your door in 3 days and slap together with some basic tools and knowledge.
Only a idiot waits for a gunsmith when you can get just as good or better product to your door in 3 days and slap together with some basic tools and knowledge.
Obviously it will get sent to FFL but point is, you do not have to wait and can use superior parts to what most gunplumbers are using anyway. You will save a ton of money and time.
That’s kind of the situation I’ve been in. I think the initial lead time I was given for the rifle to be complete and shipped to me was 10-12 months. I was given a 7 month lead time on the stock. When I put the deposit down, I did so to secure the action because a run had just been made and it was only the second production run of that particular action. This was within a few days of the first of March 2021. I was contacted at the end of July 2021 to talk about barrel selection. My barrel was due in on a shipment at the end of July but there was a possibility that it may not come on that shipment and if it didn’t come on that shipment they were expecting a shipment in December as well and they would definitely have it by December at the latest. They said I could have went with a 9 twist, which they had just gotten in stock but my stock wasn’t due in until December anyways so I said that I was fine waiting until December to get the barrel that I wanted since the stock wouldn’t have been inletted until then anyways. Like I said that was in July 2021. By the end of March 2022 I hadn’t been contacted at all since they called about the barrel. At that point I had just surpassed a years time of waiting. By this the end of this past april I still hadn’t heard anything or gotten anymore updates so I emailed the company to get an answer but never got a response. So the first week of May I decided to call to see if I could get any answers. Surprisingly the guy I had emailed answered so I politely ask if he could give me any updates, just as I had done in the email. I was told that they had everything for my build, the stock took a little longer than they thought because it was the first stock manners had ever inletted for a vampire action, but it was all there and the rifle was 8 rifles back on the custom build lineup which usually equates to about a 4-6 weeks lead time for completion on a build that many rifles back. Once it was built they’d get in touch with me and we’d go over things for cerakote and get the finishing touches finalized, which they do in house, then it’d be ready to ship. Fast forward to the end of June and still no call that it’s been put together or a call to discuss finishing details. At the end of the June I did get an email stating my build was coming up and if I was interested in an ELR class they were holding I could save $500 off the class. No update or eta on the rifle though. It was just all about the class. Got a call around the middle of July but missed the call. Voicemail was left by a girl I had never spoken too before just wanting to know if I was interested in adding one of the new night force scopes they had just gotten in stock to my build spec sheet, but no update or eta on my rifle. That was the last time any attempt was made to contact me and it’s been since May that I’ve heard anything about the progress. This week just put me past the 18 month mark with no clear end in sight. The guys build top tier rifles and went out of their way to get the parts to build the rifle I wanted so I’m trying to be patient, but I feel like this isn’t the way business should be done when someone has given you over $3,600 down on a $6,500 rifle build.
It sounds like a professional outfit, other than not being in front of keeping you updated. I don't get the vibe they intentionally mislead you or is trying to rip you off.
I work in supply chain and will say, everything has and still is crazy. I tend to believe there were supplier delays that were unexpected.
I think stories like yours are common among all makers this year.
Yea they are and they have grown a lot in the last couple of years. But I’ve also heard similar stories like mine for just basic part upgrades and maintenance pre Covid which is what scares me. I don’t think they took me for my money, I just don’t think it’s right you take a guys money and 6 months plus after the rifle was supposed to have been done you haven’t contacted him and it’s still not complete yet. Yet you can do all this other stuff that I’m certain was not in line before my build. Sad thing is, they all know about my build because of how unique it is. You’d think they’d put a priority on getting it finished up. But what you said was mainly what I was looking for in an answer, if this is or is not a common thing. I’d just like to know when I can expect my rifle, and when I’ll need to fork out another 3 grand to pay them. Instead of you haven’t heard anything for a year then all the sudden the rifle is done and they want paid. I want to remain respectful towards them though. Like I said, they did go out of their way to get the parts I wanted for the build instead of parts they commonly source and all that.
Not what you want to hear, honestly this shit as been going on for a looooong time. I moved to AI a long time ago so I could stack barrels up. I don't think any one person goes out of their way to do this. Sometimes things happen. I got tired of the things happening and would buy several barrels at a time. As soon as the last barrel went on more were ordered.
I once had a team match that I wanted to shot with my buddy, both running the same round. 8 months out was told no problem, 1.5 years later I received it. Gave him the benefit of the doubt. Sent in another rifle to be built knowing the experience that I had, bringing to his attention. Same thing, I never shot that rifle. Sold them both went to AI and never looked back.
Their are some really good guys too, and AIs are not for everyone. It's just how I dealt with the BS.
Sounds like you are putting together a rifle with some highly desired parts. Seems like custom stocks and barrels are the longest lead times right now. You could always call to see if they have any alternative parts on hand that could push your order ahead. Happened to me recently on a build were the barrel was holding us up, so the guys at the shop had a Bartlein M24 from a build someone backed out of and just cost me $25 for the barrel upgrade.
If you want some more waiting pain, you should get into the supressor game
Regardless just hang in there and you will get what you wanted.
If you want some more waiting pain, you should get into the supressor game
Regardless just hang in there and you will get what you wanted.
Those jobs that got done in front of you were likely ones for which they could get parts and materials sooner than yours. A business has to generate cash flow to operate and letting jobs that could be finished first sit undone because there's other jobs (that don't have all the parts to continue) "ahead in line" isn't going to happen.
