Bust out the beer and popcorn, not that I'de imagine there is anyone here who would defend...
Lawton Machine & Tool
Early September 2009 I call up Bobby at LMT and discussed a build Ide like to start, we discuss details, he suggests quite a few things to me, and I bite them.
So I send in my action, and as my records show, the action and a $300.00 down payment are in the mail in early Oct. 2009 (EDIT: Sept 28). Having discussed all details of the action/barrel with Bobby Lawton, I was told it would be around early-mid dec. 2009 before it was done.
Details
- 6.5x47 Lapua Improved
- .292" neck (although none of the 7 invoices from now to then ever show that)
- 26" LER contour
- 3 groove barrel
- stress relieving
- powder coating of action and barrel
- install SF 338 Cal. muzzle brake
- die set
- bolt fluting (although none of the invoices will ever show that either)
I was told the barrel was on hand, and why I agree'd to the powder coating I havent a damn clue.
Well, I go to 29 Palms for a month for Mojave Viper. There I get in touch with Bobby again to see how things were going. I will be honest here and say I dont remember much about what we discussed.
I do remember being optimistic about the due date, because I was scheduled to deploy about a week after I was told it would be done. I didnt bother them much in Oct and Nov as I know a gunsmith cant talk on the phone and chamber a barrel at the same time. Well December comes and goes, and they quote me a new date of early 2010. They also let me know they didnt have the equipment to flute an M2008 bolt...no big deal.
I deploy, and as we all know, its not easy to manage these things from an LAV-25 outside of Marjah Afghanistan. I make it a point to have phone sex w/ my girl and check in with LMT every time I make it back to the FOB.
Feb. 8th - I recieve my 2nd invoice vie e-mail. It basicly asks how are they to be expected to chamber a barrel with no action? I quickly got on the phone to unfuck that delima
Mar. 3rd - I am asked when they should expect to see the required deposit of $350.00, although Bobby told me $300.00 sent w/ my action would suffice? Well, they misplaced it, and I'm not sure if they ever found it, or just credited me the $300.00 I sent w/ the action.
I also get most of the details of the job to be reflected on my invoice, Most notably that I did send in an action, and a down payment.
We talk very sparcely on and off a few times, with due dates being pushed back again and again until around early Sept., when the builder wasnt sure of a few details. I will say here that the shop manager Jackson was metioned to me, he was very helpful.
Well, on Oct 4th....(2010 this time), I get an e-mail that my barreled action is ready, and will be shipped out. Oh thank God!
I'm very excited to see what awaits me in the mail.
I open the box to a very hefty barreled action and start admiring, then inspecting. Heres what I found.
There are 2 big spots that were missed durring the coating of the action.
Here is the rear tang, uncoated.
Here is the upper inside of the ejection port, uncoated.
The bolt isnt coated.
The barrel is 5 grooves, not 3.
I doubt the neck is .292"
Several worn/chipped areas, scratches.
(These Im not particularly worried about. Its not going to stay pretty for ever.)
The side bolt release is only coated on the portion that sticks out; I guess the powdercoating was too thick to apply on parts that interact w/ eachother....Its odd how Bobby didnt mention the inability to do this when we discussed the finish, back over a year ago.
I havent payed them anything over the $300.00 I sent in at the beginning, and havent spoke with them tonight (picked the action up around 6pm EST) but I'm not pleased right now.
Part 2 Tomarrow!
Lawton Machine & Tool
Early September 2009 I call up Bobby at LMT and discussed a build Ide like to start, we discuss details, he suggests quite a few things to me, and I bite them.
So I send in my action, and as my records show, the action and a $300.00 down payment are in the mail in early Oct. 2009 (EDIT: Sept 28). Having discussed all details of the action/barrel with Bobby Lawton, I was told it would be around early-mid dec. 2009 before it was done.
Details
- 6.5x47 Lapua Improved
- .292" neck (although none of the 7 invoices from now to then ever show that)
- 26" LER contour
- 3 groove barrel
- stress relieving
- powder coating of action and barrel
- install SF 338 Cal. muzzle brake
- die set
- bolt fluting (although none of the invoices will ever show that either)
I was told the barrel was on hand, and why I agree'd to the powder coating I havent a damn clue.
Well, I go to 29 Palms for a month for Mojave Viper. There I get in touch with Bobby again to see how things were going. I will be honest here and say I dont remember much about what we discussed.
I do remember being optimistic about the due date, because I was scheduled to deploy about a week after I was told it would be done. I didnt bother them much in Oct and Nov as I know a gunsmith cant talk on the phone and chamber a barrel at the same time. Well December comes and goes, and they quote me a new date of early 2010. They also let me know they didnt have the equipment to flute an M2008 bolt...no big deal.
I deploy, and as we all know, its not easy to manage these things from an LAV-25 outside of Marjah Afghanistan. I make it a point to have phone sex w/ my girl and check in with LMT every time I make it back to the FOB.
Feb. 8th - I recieve my 2nd invoice vie e-mail. It basicly asks how are they to be expected to chamber a barrel with no action? I quickly got on the phone to unfuck that delima
Mar. 3rd - I am asked when they should expect to see the required deposit of $350.00, although Bobby told me $300.00 sent w/ my action would suffice? Well, they misplaced it, and I'm not sure if they ever found it, or just credited me the $300.00 I sent w/ the action.
I also get most of the details of the job to be reflected on my invoice, Most notably that I did send in an action, and a down payment.
We talk very sparcely on and off a few times, with due dates being pushed back again and again until around early Sept., when the builder wasnt sure of a few details. I will say here that the shop manager Jackson was metioned to me, he was very helpful.
Well, on Oct 4th....(2010 this time), I get an e-mail that my barreled action is ready, and will be shipped out. Oh thank God!
I'm very excited to see what awaits me in the mail.
I open the box to a very hefty barreled action and start admiring, then inspecting. Heres what I found.
There are 2 big spots that were missed durring the coating of the action.
Here is the rear tang, uncoated.
Here is the upper inside of the ejection port, uncoated.
The bolt isnt coated.
The barrel is 5 grooves, not 3.
I doubt the neck is .292"
Several worn/chipped areas, scratches.
(These Im not particularly worried about. Its not going to stay pretty for ever.)
The side bolt release is only coated on the portion that sticks out; I guess the powdercoating was too thick to apply on parts that interact w/ eachother....Its odd how Bobby didnt mention the inability to do this when we discussed the finish, back over a year ago.
I havent payed them anything over the $300.00 I sent in at the beginning, and havent spoke with them tonight (picked the action up around 6pm EST) but I'm not pleased right now.
Part 2 Tomarrow!
