my Lawton experience
April 28, 2008: I order my 400x single shot, no-flute bolt, one piece bolt handle with handle swept back, aluminum 20MOA sight base. Estimated delivery time 3 months. I was trying to keep this rifle "made in montana" so I also planned on a Lilja barrel chambered in .284 Winchester.
June 2, 2008: paid in full
December 19, 2008: picked up action from local FFL. The wait was loaded with excuses and is uncalled for. Please notice the "modified" serial number. Every Lawton I've ever seen uses only digits on the SN# but this one has an "A" scratched in with what looks like a sharp screwdriver!. I just know that the SN assigned to my build was shipped off to god knows who after about three months then oops, they have to build me another one... Also notice the machine shavings in bolt and no sight base.
December 24, 2008: shipped action back to Lawton for repairs. They promise a speedy turn around. I asked them to fix the SN#, send me the sight base and the handle is OK, it's kind of growing on me.
February 6, 2009: UPS delivers new action. Pretty nice. It is straight, smooth, tight, I like it. Still no sight base. Call Lawton and have them send me the base I ordered and paid for.
February 12, 2009: I get sight base delivered. Great. Try to attach it to action. This sight base is for a long action. Call Lawton.
February 20, 2009: Again call lawton "where's my aluminum 20MOA sight base for a short action?" They say they don't have any aluminum 20MOA bases for short action, can we send you a steel one? "sure"
February 27, 2009: I get steel 20MOA sight base for short action and try to put it on action. I'm rather disappointed that it doesn't look or fit like the one on their websight, It is beadblasted and not finished to match the action, there are no attachment screws like the long action sight base came with. Well at least I have it and can continue with the build. Starting at the front, I thread in the 8x40 screws I have in my shop. Starting at the front of the action I begin threading the screws in. #1,#2,#3 then I attemp #4, the rear most screw won't thread, hum, let's have alook to see the problem.
The dog gone sight base screw spacing is wrong. Can anything else go wrong? Honestly I am sick of dealing with lawton, I'm going to pay my gunsmith to fix the thing and I'm going to sell it. I have never had so many problems trying to spend nearly $1,000.
Jeremy
