Who are the go to smiths for getting a blank made into a shouldered prefit and muzzle threaded, with decent turnaround times, in 2025?

[DocAutomatic]

I did a search, and maybe my search skills suck, but I didn't get results that were relevant to the question of this topic that was contemporaneous.

If I have a carbon fiber blank (I mention this because I have seen smith services advertised with the caveat that they don't do work on CF barrels) who are the obvious options to send it off to to get it chambered and muzzle threaded (I would like a thread protector in the end if possible), with reasonable and reliable turnaround times, in the year of our lord 2025? I value quality careful work over turnaround, I mostly just want something with a time estimate that is actually true, I don't care if it's 2 weeks or 3 months, just as long as it comes back when they tell me to expect it.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Fisher T&C. Chambering barrels is what they do.

Fisher T and C

www.fishertandc.com

 

[EXSOCAL]

I did a search, and maybe my search skills suck, but I didn't get results that were relevant to the question of this topic that was contemporaneous.

If I have a carbon fiber blank (I mention this because I have seen smith services advertised with the caveat that they don't do work on CF barrels) who are the obvious options to send it off to to get it chambered and muzzle threaded (I would like a thread protector in the end if possible), with reasonable and reliable turnaround times, in the year of our lord 2025? I value quality careful work over turnaround, I mostly just want something with a time estimate that is actually true, I don't care if it's 2 weeks or 3 months, just as long as it comes back when they tell me to expect it.

What action is it? After chambering 500+ barrels and doing a bunch of pre-fits, there are certain "pre-fit" actions that I won't do pre-fit barrels for due to the tolerance issues I've seen. I can chamber and thread a barrel in less than a day. Work in my shop rarely sits around more than a couple weeks. I'll say this, which is sure to spark some debate, if you want things done perfect, just send the action off. Pre-fits kind of suck in my opinion with a few exceptions.

 

[codym]

I run big horns/zermatt and have had great results from TS customs, West Texas Ordnance and Southern Precision Rifles.

 

[Rubicon Precision]

What action is it? After chambering 500+ barrels and doing a bunch of pre-fits, there are certain "pre-fit" actions that I won't do pre-fit barrels for due to the tolerance issues I've seen. I can chamber and thread a barrel in less than a day. Work in my shop rarely sits around more than a couple weeks. I'll say this, which is sure to spark some debate, if you want things done perfect, just send the action off. Pre-fits kind of suck in my opinion with a few exceptions.

Awful lot of matches being won with prefits for them to suck much.

Sure, I always prefer to have the action in hand to verify HS and markings line up property with my own hands, but I’ve yet to have a prefit come back.

 

[Rob01]

I did a search, and maybe my search skills suck, but I didn't get results that were relevant to the question of this topic that was contemporaneous.

If I have a carbon fiber blank (I mention this because I have seen smith services advertised with the caveat that they don't do work on CF barrels) who are the obvious options to send it off to to get it chambered and muzzle threaded (I would like a thread protector in the end if possible), with reasonable and reliable turnaround times, in the year of our lord 2025? I value quality careful work over turnaround, I mostly just want something with a time estimate that is actually true, I don't care if it's 2 weeks or 3 months, just as long as it comes back when they tell me to expect it.

Patriot Valley Arms in Pottstown PA has done a bunch of prefits for me and does excellent work. @bohem Josh is here on the Hide too. Give them a call.

 

[fanninland]

LRI did a great job for me - excellent comms and completed within the quoted time frame.

LongRifles, Inc. Store

LongRifles, Inc. Web Store

www.longriflesinc.com

 

[DocAutomatic]

Y

Patriot Valley Arms in Pottstown PA has done a bunch of prefits for me and does excellent work. @bohem Josh is here on the Hide too. Give them a call.

Interesting, I didn't know that's where PVA was located, that's not too far from me.

 

[4g64loser]

Y

Interesting, I didn't know that's where PVA was located, that's not too far from me.

No brainer, then. Josh is a solid guy. Buying from him has not left me disappointed once.

 

[Earnhardt]

Southern Precision Rifles
AKA …. Bugholes.com

 

[TahoeDust]

Y

Interesting, I didn't know that's where PVA was located, that's not too far from me.

Lucky. My next barrel will be a PVA.

 

[4g64loser]

Lucky. My next barrel will be a PVA.

I creep pva website every now and then to see if he is making remage barrels again (I have a non remmy that is same tenon and not prefit friendly).

 

[Rob01]

Interesting, I didn't know that's where PVA was located, that's not too far from me.

Makes an easy choice then. You can drive right over and drop it off. You are very lucky with being so close.

 

[bohem]

I creep pva website every now and then to see if he is making remage barrels again (I have a non remmy that is same tenon and not prefit friendly).

I've got an easy solution for that, though we do offer Remage barrels at any time. It's in the pull down on the prefit page for "Action" and they're arranged in alphabetical order (mostly).

What I would suggest in the mean time though is to send the action and we'll measure it and custom fit the barrel first time. When it comes back it will have a lasered tag with all the dimensions required and you won't need to send it to us a second time. You get a custom fit the first time and a "custom" prefit every time thereafter.

I did a search, and maybe my search skills suck, but I didn't get results that were relevant to the question of this topic that was contemporaneous.

If I have a carbon fiber blank (I mention this because I have seen smith services advertised with the caveat that they don't do work on CF barrels) who are the obvious options to send it off to to get it chambered and muzzle threaded (I would like a thread protector in the end if possible), with reasonable and reliable turnaround times, in the year of our lord 2025? I value quality careful work over turnaround, I mostly just want something with a time estimate that is actually true, I don't care if it's 2 weeks or 3 months, just as long as it comes back when they tell me to expect it.

Our lead time is stable at 6-8 weeks, we offer a rush service for 1 week and 2 week options with a guarantee that if the Rush ship date is missed you get 50% of the rush fee back. We work on carbon barrels without issue.

Here's the shop number and my email if you'd like to call and chat first.

484-696- seven eight seven four
josh (at) patriot valley arms (dot) com

 

[kindabitey]

@DocAutomatic Can confirm that @bohem does great work on carbon barrels. I recently ordered a 22" 6.5 Creed carbon pre-fit and also paid the
2 week rush fee. I did speak to Ben to check on what twist rates on hand prior to ordering.

 

[EXSOCAL]

Awful lot of matches being won with prefits for them to suck much.

Sure, I always prefer to have the action in hand to verify HS and markings line up property with my own hands, but I’ve yet to have a prefit come back.

That doesn't make them the best. They work... and some people have great results, others not so much. A lot has to do with the smith obviously. PVA, LRI, and the others mentioned above are top notch. For my high volume PRS shooters who burn out a couple barrels through out the year. In those cases, I'll turn out 3-4 barrels at a time for these guys and record their tenon dimensions for future reference... the "pre-fits" they get are dead nuts.

I guess my point is why not send in your action for the $20 shipping fee and have things perfect.

Terminus, Impact, and Zermatt all have been solid, repeatable actions in my shop. There are a couple others out there I've seen some tolerance issues with that led me to not want to build pre fits for, but to each is own. I just want things to be 100% correct for my customers.

 

[buckleboy]

Fisher T&C. Chambering barrels is what they do.

Fisher T and C

www.fishertandc.com

One datum, for reference. I shipped Fisher T&C a blank across the country on the 3rd of this month. I will receive a chambered and muzzle threaded barrel tomorrow.
Don’t hold them to that timeframe, as it does not match the lead time on their website. But the turnaround at least this once is impressive.

 

[Baron23]

I guess my point is why not send in your action for the $20 shipping fee and have things perfect.

Ship w whom? I believe USPS is the only shipper that still will deliver a serialized gun part…and giving to them is often the same as throwing into a lake.

 

[Rob01]

Ship w whom? I believe USPS is the only shipper that still will deliver a serialized gun part…and giving to them is often the same as throwing into a lake.

And it’s a hell of a lot more than $20 shipped and insured.

 

[JaoeyP]

What action is it? After chambering 500+ barrels and doing a bunch of pre-fits, there are certain "pre-fit" actions that I won't do pre-fit barrels for due to the tolerance issues I've seen. I can chamber and thread a barrel in less than a day. Work in my shop rarely sits around more than a couple weeks. I'll say this, which is sure to spark some debate, if you want things done perfect, just send the action off. Pre-fits kind of suck in my opinion with a few exceptions.

Curious which actions you're good with doing prefits for

 

[4g64loser]

And it’s a hell of a lot more than $20 shipped and insured.

Haha yeah it cost me 34 bucks to 2day a PMO across the country. Insurance and shipping on a barreled action is going to be in the 100 plus range.

 

[TahoeDust]

Curious which actions you're good with doing prefits for

..and what actions do you refuse? @EXSOCAL ?

 

[Rubicon Precision]

That doesn't make them the best. They work... and some people have great results, others not so much. A lot has to do with the smith obviously. PVA, LRI, and the others mentioned above are top notch. For my high volume PRS shooters who burn out a couple barrels through out the year. In those cases, I'll turn out 3-4 barrels at a time for these guys and record their tenon dimensions for future reference... the "pre-fits" they get are dead nuts.

I guess my point is why not send in your action for the $20 shipping fee and have things perfect.

Terminus, Impact, and Zermatt all have been solid, repeatable actions in my shop. There are a couple others out there I've seen some tolerance issues with that led me to not want to build pre fits for, but to each is own. I just want things to be 100% correct for my customers.

Your shipping/return insured shipping numbers are way off. And who wants to take a rifle off-line while getting rebarreled these days? I fought doing prefits for a long time; mostly because I’m a control freak. The numbers don’t lie though. If yiur income is based of cutting barrels and you can’t or won’t do prefits in this genre, your days have been numbered.

 

[EXSOCAL]

Ship w whom? I believe USPS is the only shipper that still will deliver a serialized gun part…and giving to them is often the same as throwing into a lake.

Yeah, shipping for non-FFL's really sucks. Be nice if the other carriers would lighten up but we all know that won't happen.

Your shipping/return insured shipping numbers are way off. And who wants to take a rifle off-line while getting rebarreled these days? I fought doing prefits for a long time; mostly because I’m a control freak. The numbers don’t lie though. If yiur income is based of cutting barrels and you can’t or won’t do prefits in this genre, your days have been numbered.

I have a Terminus action here in the 3"x3"x11" 2.5 lb box I receive them in. Depends on where you are shipping. I just shipped one of these to Dallas, TX from north Idaho for like $24 including the adult signature confirmation charge. Sending a barreled action costs quite a bit more and that does indeed suck.

I do a lot of pre-fits. My point was, based on my experience, there are some actions I would prefer to have here in the shop to check before I turn a barrel for them, others I have no problem with. My reputation and the quality of work are more important to me than spitting out mass quantities of pre-fit barrels. I do a lot of pre-fits for Terminus, Zermatt and Impact. The tolerances on those actions have always been incredibly good and dead nuts to the print and I have 100% confidence in what I ship off. I haven't had any problems with ARC either, those have always been solid. I've had some issues with Defiance in the past which I was able to work around, but their recent stuff seems to be back on track.

I've fixed more than my fair share of other folk's pre-fit barrels. I've got someone's Tikka pre-fit in here now that has a tenon length .040" shorter than it should be. Does it work? Sure...... Is it right and would I put my name on something like that? Nope.

Buy a pre-fit from a good smith as outlined in the previous posts and shoot it till it burns out.

 

[powdahound76]

My local guy wont do prefits. Or wouldnt last I talked to him, not that long ago.

He is BUSY from guys around the country to the point he had to re-organize his tracking and work flow.

His business is newer, worked for a big shop previously here in CO.
And he is growing rapidly.
he is the nicest dude and awesome to work with.

You for sure see his name mentioned a LOT on this board as a go to smith.

 

[roostercogburn98]

Make some friends that can do it and then sweet talk them with cash

 

[XP1K]

My local guy wont do prefits. Or wouldnt last I talked to him, not that long ago.

He is BUSY from guys around the country to the point he had to re-organize his tracking and work flow.

His business is newer, worked for a big shop previously here in CO.
And he is growing rapidly.
he is the nicest dude and awesome to work with.

You for sure see his name mentioned a LOT on this board as a go to smith.

Fritz ?