I made the drive over to Augusta, GA to pick up my custom rifle from Robert Gradous.
It was a great experience for me. Upon arriving at Robert's facility, I could tell right away that this was guy who knows what he is doing and pays attention to detail. His shop was awesome but really its not about the machinery, its about Robert. What a wealth of knowledge, I only spent a few hours with him but it was a tremendous experience. We went over the build he talked about the little things that he does. One thing that impressed me was what he did with the front screw in the ADL trigger guard. The last ADL build I had, the smith sent a little note on the rifle saying this is a dummy screw and it looked like a dummy screw. I have picture below but Robert actually built a pillar in the stock for it....again attention to detail/meticulous. Robert puts the name "GRADOUS" on the barrel and I now know why. He wouldnt tolerate it leaving the shop with that name on it if he wasnt proud of it.
COmpared to my previous custom, this one had a better adjusted jewell (NO CREEP), much better cerakoting job (my buddy brought a fosnaugh coated gun over tonight, they looked identical in quality), no bedding creeping out of the stock....basically fit and finish were flawless. I'm impressed thus far.
We mounted up my scope and again Robert was very particular, measuring things that I still dont know what he was doing.
Time to shoot, we walk over to shooting house. Great reloading room/benchrest out the window complete with AC unit!
RObert throws a load with SCenars together...clean bore shot followed by 2 more, the 2 after the clean bore in the same hole. WE clean again. This time it is 130 TTSX's.. Clean bore shot then 3 TTSX's in the same hole. I'M not kidding. Finny thing is he warned me the TTSX's were gonna be a little harder to get to shoot....maybe my rifle changed his mind. He was surprised at that one.
I also got to watch robert climb in a fish tank and empty catfish into his pond...pic below
I can tell you that the pictures and this summary dont do RObert or my rifle justice. RObert is someone I will recommend every chance I get and someone I am damn proud I have a rifle from. DO yourself a favor and get a rifle from him and if you can make it, drive down and pick it up, you wont regret it.
Specs:
308 win
Pierce SHort Action
22" Mike Rock 5r #4 1 in 11.27" twist
Jewell Trigger
McMillan Rem Classic ADL in Light grey, white, black
Black cerakote everywhere (robert even does the swivel studs)
Pierce custom one piece low mounts
Swarovski z6 1.7-10x42 with #4
LAPUA 1st load...fouling shot on the right, next 2 on the left
TTSX...fouling on the right, next 3 in the same hole on left
RObert gave me all load data as well, just a super nice and generous guy, who puts 110% into what he puts his name on, and the finished product doesnt dissapoint. I dont think I need another rifle but if i do, im going to Robert.
in the fish tank
It was a great experience for me. Upon arriving at Robert's facility, I could tell right away that this was guy who knows what he is doing and pays attention to detail. His shop was awesome but really its not about the machinery, its about Robert. What a wealth of knowledge, I only spent a few hours with him but it was a tremendous experience. We went over the build he talked about the little things that he does. One thing that impressed me was what he did with the front screw in the ADL trigger guard. The last ADL build I had, the smith sent a little note on the rifle saying this is a dummy screw and it looked like a dummy screw. I have picture below but Robert actually built a pillar in the stock for it....again attention to detail/meticulous. Robert puts the name "GRADOUS" on the barrel and I now know why. He wouldnt tolerate it leaving the shop with that name on it if he wasnt proud of it.
COmpared to my previous custom, this one had a better adjusted jewell (NO CREEP), much better cerakoting job (my buddy brought a fosnaugh coated gun over tonight, they looked identical in quality), no bedding creeping out of the stock....basically fit and finish were flawless. I'm impressed thus far.
We mounted up my scope and again Robert was very particular, measuring things that I still dont know what he was doing.
Time to shoot, we walk over to shooting house. Great reloading room/benchrest out the window complete with AC unit!
RObert throws a load with SCenars together...clean bore shot followed by 2 more, the 2 after the clean bore in the same hole. WE clean again. This time it is 130 TTSX's.. Clean bore shot then 3 TTSX's in the same hole. I'M not kidding. Finny thing is he warned me the TTSX's were gonna be a little harder to get to shoot....maybe my rifle changed his mind. He was surprised at that one.
I also got to watch robert climb in a fish tank and empty catfish into his pond...pic below
I can tell you that the pictures and this summary dont do RObert or my rifle justice. RObert is someone I will recommend every chance I get and someone I am damn proud I have a rifle from. DO yourself a favor and get a rifle from him and if you can make it, drive down and pick it up, you wont regret it.
Specs:
308 win
Pierce SHort Action
22" Mike Rock 5r #4 1 in 11.27" twist
Jewell Trigger
McMillan Rem Classic ADL in Light grey, white, black
Black cerakote everywhere (robert even does the swivel studs)
Pierce custom one piece low mounts
Swarovski z6 1.7-10x42 with #4
LAPUA 1st load...fouling shot on the right, next 2 on the left
TTSX...fouling on the right, next 3 in the same hole on left
RObert gave me all load data as well, just a super nice and generous guy, who puts 110% into what he puts his name on, and the finished product doesnt dissapoint. I dont think I need another rifle but if i do, im going to Robert.
in the fish tank
