Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

I Am Hero

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 29, 2011
779
1
34
Grand Rapids, MI
I have a Lawton 8000 receiver as well as a Lawton 31" fluted barrel. It is chambered for .375 Cheytac.

To the point:
The other day I had 2 different people tell me that you can't order through them because their company went under. He also questioned Lawton's quality.

I am just wondering a few things:

A) Was that just one guy's opinion about them?
B) Are they good quality guns?
C) If they did in fact go under, what kind of effect will this have on the value of my gun?
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

A) No, they tried to screw me. My barreled action showed up with chunks missing and rust on the bolt.

B) Pre Barney's Passing they made Top Notch stuff. After it.....nothing but shit.

C) The value of your gun sucks regardless to anyone who knows the lawton name.
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

Sounds like you have had quite the experience with them. I actually got it from a guy who order it unfinished. He had two different gunsmiths go through it. One put the duracoat finish and the other put in the trigger.

Neither of them seemed to think anything was wrong with the gun. It is in excellent shape and the quality looks good so that is why I was wondering,.
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

I wondered what had become of the company. Just the other day I was checking around for a new action to do a build around. Funny how some companies can survive a key person's leaving or dying while others just implode.

IAH, maybe the stuff you got was older and thus the good stuff. It may not be worth as much as it would if there was a surviving company, but if it shoots well and you like it, just enjoy it for its intrinsic value.
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

That's what I am hoping for. When I called Cheytac to order some ammo, the guy wondered when my gun was made. I told him I wasn't sure because I got it from another guy who had never shot it. I was a bit confused at the time but now I am guessing that was probably the reason he asked; because they went under.

Yea as long as Cheytac stays where they are I will be all set. But I sort of figure if Cheytac was to go under for whatever reason, the patent would most likely run up or whatever other protection they have and hopefully Hornady would take the reigns and make the .375 Cheytac cartridge. I know Sierra makes the round but they only make it for Cheytac apparently.

Anyways, I am going to order some ammo real soon from Cheytac and hopefully that gun will impress me. The guy I got it from was a really cool guy so hopefully if it was complete garbage he would be willing to work something out with me.
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

Once I got it.......... my Lawton shoots just fine and the action is smooth. It was built as part of the action group buy of 2009 so, it is a "newer" action and barrel.

Shoot it and see how it goes.
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

While Lawton didn't technically "go under" they did have lots of problems and the business as it was no longer exist. While Barney was alive the company did well and was well respected and after his passing thing went to hell. A host of personnel changes, quality of products decreased, Time lines were nonexistent, etc..... So after an eventful few years the companies reputation was ruined and what was left of the company was up to its ears in alligators. Last I heard of the current state of thing was that the company was bought out and the new owner was going open back up in a different location under a different name and begin producing Barneys designs. While I don't have confirmation of these facts it is the information that I was given. So take it for what it is worth.
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

Item C) I would think if anyone had reliable information it would be Chad or George, it seems as though the big players in the custom gun business also have their fingers close to the pulse of industry.
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

Lawton is gone and they still owe me money or a barrel for my customer. I had a great experience with them for years and then in the last year some bad things went on and they shut the doors. Starting in 2012, there is a company who is going to make actions similar to the Lawton`s with minor changes but with same footprint. Can`t wait.
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

I would never deal with Lawton Michine again, even if the parts and laybor were free. I had an M2008 barreled by them back in 2009 and the barrel did not have the groove count I specified and the coating was garbage. That being said, the barrel they did for me shoots well.

In short, there are MANY smiths around here that cane give you a better end product with 1/3 of the wait time, 50x the communication and the same if not less $.
 
Re: Feedback on Lawton Receivers/Barrels

I got a PM on another site yesterday asking how to reach them that he has been chasing them for 2 years they have $3700.00 of his cash and parts. I sent him this link and suggested he call the police and ATF. PG

For that matter they owe me a $225.00 magazine too.