Yeah I’d love to own one but prob have to look at the used market. Doesn’t appear wait times are fixed. The website reads they are no longer taking pre orders. I figured 2 years it would be sorted out oand selling like hot cakes.
I am not bashing them for not allowing orders. It’s the best move I’m sure.
I’m grateful to say that the pre-orders have all been taken up and the sale of the Hancock rifle is closed. It was a great idea to bring to market a single rifle that meets the needs of competitive shooters in an affordable package that performs way above it’s price point. As a builder of rifles, it was exciting. As a businessman, it was an expensive tuition. I learned so many lessons that I wish I didn’t have to learn in such a painful and public manner, and mostly at the expense of my customer. I’m sorry, but, I’m grateful nevertheless. I will never let my excitement over a project get before my commitment to my customers. Never. Fulfillment, on time, on budget is as much about the experience of buying a rifle as accuracy and robustness of the product. I think our reputation is building back after a year of doing exactly that.
Now, will I bring something like this to market again? Yes, absolutely. Why? Because customers want it and my team at PVA are really good at building very accurate rifles. What will be different is that I’ll only do it once every component is in hand and ready to be built. When it’s for sale, you’ll have time lines that will in stone. That may mean that quantities are limited and first come first served but that's the alternative to launching a product and waiting a long time due to unforeseen delays.
However, meantime, I do need to do some website housekeeping so apologies for that folks.
From the sound of it the initial order was way more popular than expected and turned into somewhat of a debacle. People being people they bitched and moaned because they were out $2k (not blaming them) until the rifles were finally wrapped up. IIRC The John Hancock rifle isn't going to be an ongoing thing but offered as a limited run whenever they are offered. In the meantime the replacement barrels remain available.
I know this is in the past, but my pride is forcing me to just make a note of clarification: We did not require a $2000 deposit, we took $250. Unless someone placed 8 deposits for 8 rifles they were never out 2 grand.
And he still has an undelivered backlog, yeah?
No, there is no outstanding backlog. All rifles have been purchased and delivered. The books are closed.
That’s a great question.
Anyone know?
I know they use Rock Creek for the cut rifle barrels. I have 2 Rock Creek barrels and they shoot fantastic.
This is a good opportunity to discuss barrels in general, thank you for the segway.
Cut vs. Button and what blank?
I’m a competitive class shooter, a former aeronautical engineer and a gunsmith. I’ve studied this aspect of rifle components as an engineer and a practionner and honestly, here’s the horribly anti-climactic truth – it doesn’t make a difference downrange. It doesn’t make a difference in cost or ammo consumption. It’s a total wash.
Having said that, confidence is a big part of shooting. If having a cut vs button barrel gives you that mental confidence and comfort to make that wind call, to go for that longer shot and score that buck or extra points then frankly, THAT’S the customer experience I want my clients to have behind a PVA barrel, rifle or barreled action.
It’s your rifle, it’s your shot, it’s your once in a lifetime hunting trip or competition that you’ve spent dozens of hours practicing for or years saving for. Make your choice and we’ll deliver the top level performance that folks expect either way, cut or button.
What do I, as a builder and engineer care about? Quality, consistency and timeliness. Simple. I want quality materials, every time, every barrel and I want a quality process in rifling regardless of method. If I’m satisfied at that level, then it’s customer preference and we will make the customer what they request. Sometimes we don’t have it, we’ll tell you and suggest sourcing it directly so that we’re not the middleman passing along expectations and delivery times of things we cannot control. Back to what I said above, if it’s here it is for sale. If it isn’t, then it’s not for sale. There’s no in between.
