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First custom is in

Geno C.

Geno C.

Dirty Carnie
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Oct 24, 2007
    7,040
    16,126
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    Wautoma, WI
    #1
    I finally took the leap to the custom gun side. Here's the run down:

    300 WSM
    M70 push feed WSM action trued
    Rock barrel M24 30 1/2" 1-10
    Williams bottom metal
    Manners T4
    NXS 5.5-22 50
    Near base
    Nightforce rings

    It took him a while to get her done but that doesn't matter now because I have her now. I wanted a Shrewd varmit brake but he put one of his on, not too big of a deal. I wanted a blasted finish, kind of a big deal. I'll just have to fix it myself. I bedded the action and did the final barrel channel inletting. I also tuned the trigger to 3lbs. I have to say I do love this trigger! I haven't figuered out what finish I an going to go with yet. Color wise anyway. I plan on shooting 190 SMK and 210 Bergers to start.
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    #3
    Re: First custom is in

    Thank's. I think it's gonna look even better when it's all coated. I should be able to get to the range wed. I will post what she is capable of:)
     
    #5
    Re: First custom is in

    I did most of my talking with Harold in person and still there was a little problem getting what I wanted and the build took about 8 months longer than originally planned(not entirely his fault). It's a really long story that I would almost have to relay over the phone, it is so long! He is a really great guy. He went out of his way to show me a few things that he does because I told him that I was trying to learn how to do my own smithing for the most part. He still has a walnut stock that was originally going on this gun that is supposed to be getting inletted. (he said he sent it out to get done so might not be his fault).

    Having said that, I haven't shot the rifle yet so I can't speak of the accuracy of his work yet so I delay judgment until I have shot it.

    Sound fair?
     
    #6
    Re: First custom is in

    So you asked for a Shrewd varmit brake and bead blasted finish and got that in return?

    And you happy about it?


    WTF... I'd be steaming! Esp since the Brake doesn't even contour w/the barrel...

    If you don't mind, how long was it to get this rifle built?
     
    #7
    Re: First custom is in

    I'm agreeing with SuperSeal110, a custom gun is built to your specs not the smith's. I think it's a nice looking gun but if I ordered it bead blasted and a less obtrusive brake, that's what I expect to get. With the price tag on a custom rig, it should be what you ordered.
     
    #8
    Re: First custom is in

    It took about 9 months total. But there were some other problems that occured that were unforseen. I'm not really saying I am happy, just that I have a large tolerance I guess. The more I think about it now the more upset I get but that might go away. I could have made a big deal about it to the smith but I was just so tired of waiting that I just told him that I would get the rest of it taken care of.
     
    #9
    Re: First custom is in

    if the smith didnt finish all the work that you requested please tell me that you didnt pay the remaining balance in full. If i ask a smith to coat and blend a break, i expect that to happen. But all that matters is that you are somewhat pleased with your rifle. Go shoot it
     
    #10
    Re: First custom is in

    i've been biting my tongue on responding to this thread since i first saw it posted. in my opinion, that brake looks like crap. it could have easily been blended or tapered to the barrel. the exit hole should have at least had some sort of chamfer as should the outer diameter to the end of the brake. what makes it even crappier is the fact that it isn't the brake you asked for. i'd like to hear how much you paid for that brake and how much you paid to have it installed.
     
    #11
    Re: First custom is in

    I didn't ask him to blend the break. I guess that part doesn't really bother me too much but the finish kind of does because that is going to be a little harder for me to fix myself. I paid the full price up front because that is just what I do... thinking back I guess that doesn't leave much motivation on his part.
     
    #12
    Re: First custom is in

    did you send all your parts to him or just an action? If you sent the stock as well, and he didnt bed it or open the channel, thats some seriously shitty work. If he did just the action and barrel then i retract that statement, but i still stand by you ordered one brake got a different, ordered a painted finish and got stainless steel. I would chalk this one up to a shitty builder that has had complaints in the past
     
    #14
    Re: First custom is in

    This is how the whole process went:

    July 27; met with him in person at his house and dropped off my barreled action, walnut stock (that I had shaped), and trigger gaurd. He had the barrel in stock and I saw it personally. He said he would have to send out the stock to get inletted. Quoted me one month to be completed.

    Nov; I day been calling about twice a month to check on the progress. First his lathe was down and he was waiting on his new one. Then he was waiting for the stock. Finally in Nov., he said the barrel would not fit in my stock because the channel was not wide enough. That sucks but oh well... I had him order me a Manners and he said the wait was about a month. I was ok with that.

    Mar; I finally went and picked up my rifle. It was a barreled action and stock and bottom metal were separate. Got the bottom metal because the guy doing my stock had one and I couldn't pass on the deal. I was a little angry but I was tired of waiting so I said I would do the inletting and bedding.

    I work 7 days a week all summer so I have not had a chance to shoot it yet. I would have to look at the reciept to verify the price. Labor was about 300 I want to say. Plus 300 to inlet the walnut stock, which I have yet to receive. Called last week about that without a reply yet.
     
    #21
    Re: First custom is in

    Yeah Paul is awesome! Last year I stopped by their shop to see how they do what they do and he was very accomodating. So was everyone there! I will never buy a barrel from a different company, unless they don't start making 358 barrels!
    smile.gif
     
    #22
    Re: First custom is in

    Just got off the phone with Paul. Yet another reason I love these guys. Even though he has nothing really that directly relates to him on this he does know everyone involved and he is going to go out of his way to get the walnut stock taken care of. I don't think there is another company out there that would have done this for me considering I don't buy a lot of barrels or anthing like that. Once again, Rock Creek and Paul have proven to me that they are the first and last stop when it comes to barrels and customer service, even doing it for others!
     
    #26
    Re: First custom is in

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JCH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I could too if I had a year to do it. </div></div>

    LMAO...grin
     
    #27
    Re: First custom is in

    In all fairness his lathe did go down and he had to wait to get the one he has now, which is a peice of art! I believe it was barreled in three months.
     
    #28
    Re: First custom is in

    Range report:

    This gun rocks!!! I tried some Berger 210s today over RL22 and from 55.5gr all the way up to 61.6grs all groups were inside 1/2" and most were inside 3/8"! I think that is damn near enough to overlook all the little things that didn't go as planned.
     
    #29
    Re: First custom is in

    Glad it is a shooter. I too would have been a lot less tolerant then you were with the issues that occurred. I would not overlook anything, regardless of the groups shot. But hey, you are happy and thats what matters.
     
    #31
    Re: First custom is in

    i am glad the rifle is finished the way you want it to be. And I am glad the guys at Rock Creek Barrels took care of you.

    I sold mine after getting it finished. I still couldn't get the mess out of my mind.
     
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