M40 builder

I've had Raven Rifles build me two USMC styled rifles.

They were not 100 percent clone by my choice.

Mark can do the 100 percent route though if that is what you want.

My rifles shoot/look great.

Do you have your parts?

Jeff has the knowledge and experience to build you a very nice clone.

Understand the procurement of the parts will be more of a challenge than the build.

Schneider usually has barrels in stock.

The correct trigger is out there, start looking asap if you don't already have it.

Good Luck with your build, know that this series of rifles are Very addictive!

jetmd said:

River's Bend Gun Company

Builder of custom rifles for long range hunting, target shooting, and competition

www.riversbendguncompany.com

Jeff has the knowledge and experience to build you a very nice clone.

Understand the procurement of the parts will be more of a challenge than the build.

Schneider usually has barrels in stock.

The correct trigger is out there, start looking asap if you don't already have it.

Good Luck with your build, know that this series of rifles are Very addictive!

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Had Jeff build me an M24. Quality work from this guy!

Jeff is a Great gunsmith and a Great guy!

The work that comes out of his shop is fantastic.

OP, if you give him a call to discuss your build ask him if Old Granddad is still in jail?

Texas Brigade Armory. Their website is pretty much defunct, they maintain a Facebook page. Mike has been in the business for a long time.

Mark at Raven is who I used on my M40A5, awesome work.

No difference at all. Just depends if you want to build an accurate rifle that it a clone too one of the M40 series
or if you just want to build an accurate rifle.

I have shot my M40A5 clone to 1480 using FGMM 175's, missing the shoot off by 1 miss in the process.

Nates4Christ said:

Can anyone refer me to a quality and reasonable gunsmith that will build an M40A3? Not GA Precesssion, those jokers need to be in arkham asylum for their insane pricing. I'd like it blue printed and ready for some sub moa shooting.

Is it better to use a local gun shop to accurize a rifle or an online smith? My local shop seems good, but when I said I wanted a receiver lugged for a Badger Ordnance M40A3 rail, he said that was a waste and he said to just buy a standard rail and have it bedded to the receiver. That was not a good sign to me, but again he does seem knowledgeable on building Rem 700 rifles.

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Call it what you may, GAP may not be in your available price range.

That being said if you want a downright near 100% copy, GAP is one of the very few that can duplicate a M40 series SWS; Eric Reid, Mark Hall or Yoda himself.

I know of only 3 other riflesmiths that can build a near clone M40-series combat ready weapon to exacting USMC SWS specs besides GAP.

1. TBA
2. DD Ross
3. AJ Brown

The next questions are will they build one for you, will you be willing to wait, and how much $$$

Are there exceeding capable riflesmiths out there that can turn out an exceptional rifle, absolutely.

The level of refinement and M40-series authenticity is dedicated by the depth of your wallet.

Will the steel or paper know the difference, not a chance.

Will this be a range queen, that's up to you.

Reach out to RW Snyder. I had him build out an M40-66 rifle for me. The rifle was a tribute for my grandfather, built after his rifle in ‘Nam. Shoots Sub Moa with 168s and my Grandpa couldn’t put it down with a huge smile that made it worth it. He knocked it outta the park. Took longer a few months longer than quoted, but as I’m learning that’s not uncommon for custom rifle builders.

Totoro said:

Call it what you may, GAP may not be in your available price range.

That being said if you want a downright near 100% copy, GAP is one of the very few that can duplicate a M40 series SWS; Eric Reid, Mark Hall or Yoda himself.

I know of only 3 other riflesmiths that can build a near clone M40-series combat ready weapon to exacting USMC SWS specs besides GAP.

1. TBA
2. DD Ross
3. AJ Brown

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GAP makes great rifles, but their clones aren't 100%. For example, they don't black oxide their barreled actions, they cerakote them. The A3 pictured on their site has M5 bottom metal, but the rifle doesn't have the PGW EFR. They are more expensive ($4,800 for their A3) than other gunsmiths and you're still not getting a 100% clone. If you like GAP, just buy one of their other great rifles. As for the other gunsmiths you listed:

1. I've never dealt with TBA or have seen any of their rifles, so I can't comment on how correct they are.

2. Dan Ross makes great rifles, I have a few from him. The downsides to going with him is the price and the wait. You could be paying a lot more than other gunsmiths and will probably be waiting over a year due to his lead times. However, he knows the A3 like the back of his hand and I guarantee he'll build you one to 100% spec.

3. STAY AWAY FROM ALAN BROWN!!! That's one of the absolute worst recommendations you could ever make for a gunsmith! He put out quality Mk13 Mod 0 builds years ago, but in the past few years his builds have been absolute garbage! A few of my friends got their rifles back and had to send them to competent gunsmiths to get them fixed. A lot of people, myself included, had to request our parts back after 3 fucking years of being lied too about our builds. All of this is heavily documented in the Mk13 thread over in the Vintage Section on this forum, read it before sending anything to Alan!

Tonto20 said:

Reach out to RW Snyder. I had him build out an M40-66 rifle for me.

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Robert Snyder builds great guns, he's built some for some friends and myself, we're extremely happy with our builds! Also, there's also no such thing as an "M40-66," that's a made up designation from some guy who is building M40 "clones."

Nates4Christ said:

I called Raven and Rivers bend. They are both very knowledgeable and seem to build it how you want. Raven is 1,500 and Rivers Bend is about 1200. If you want it milspec then they will make it happen. Parts not included of course, which the parts are about 2k.

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I haven't seen any of River Bend's clones, so this is another gunsmith I can't comment on.

On the other hand, I've seen dozens upon dozens of Raven's clone builds and they are perfect! Mark Williams is the only gunsmith I've seen on these forums discussing the minute details of various military rifles. A 2112 friend also taught him everything there is to know about gunsmithing for the entire M40 series. I also send him original military takeoff parts for him to examine, in addition to detailed photos and measurements from original rifles in my collection (M40, XM3, etc).

All of this detailed information in his knowledge base allows Raven Rifles to produce some of the best, most accurate clones I've seen. His lead times are also pretty short, he knows what he's doing with this rifles and gets it back in your hands as quickly as he can. There's a reason why people are lined up just to have him build their M40xx and Mk13 Mod x rifles!

Nates4Christ said:

What is the difference in accuracy if you tell someone to build it clone correct or to just accurize the rifle to the best of their ability using the correct parts? Like is the correct barrel not the best? I'd like a rifle that looks right, but is the most accurate possible.

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The only down side to clones is they limit you to the past.

The Marines have either moved on or the Dream item they wanted was too expensive for contract or unavailable to them.

You may find you get more performance/enjoyment from an "ish" rifle.

It's your rifle. Your money.

If your heart/brain says you want a Bartlein barrel but spec says it has to be Schneider.........go with your heart/brain desire.

Try to keep the receiver to spec if you ever want to chase parts later but for consumables like barrels use a pet.

@USMCSGT0331 has some of the finest rifles if not 100 percent original than about as original as you can get without worrying about NIS showing up at your door. His comments concerning clones are from the Holy book of M40.

Might also look at Crescent Customs. www.cresentcustoms.com.

Don‘t know if they are still in business but a friend of mine has one M40A1 from Texas Brigade Armory that is very nice and shoots 3/8 in groups with fed and black hills AMMO.

Hey if USMCSGT0331 says it is then it is holy scripture.

I don't know of any other rifle building company employing any former MOS2112 let along two that have hands on experience with USMC PWS/SWS systems.

My reading skills must be lacking to according the GAP site about the current generation M40-series SWS.

However the case may be, spend your money as you wish as I will spend mine where I want.

Good luck in your search.

Daniel Ross builds a very fine rifle. It is as correct as it can be. I waited for 1 week from being TWO years . Was very frustrated in the process but now that I have it it’s the rifle I pickup first when I go to the range . As accurate as it can be in my hands is not saying much for the builder. 500 rounds down the pipe shoots 3/8 or smaller on a good day .

A lot of egos in this business, and lots of respect for Dan Ross and Chris Higgins. I have heard good things about Rob Schneider and Alan Brown did good work "back in the day."

We are working our way to stocking parts for the A3 and A5 at fair prices, where you can source and take to one of these guys or someone else. If we ever get into the full M40 building process, it will be with an expert doing the hard work.