I just started a custom rifle build with Excorio Precision Arms ("Oneeyedmac" around here).
I talked to more than a dozen 'smiths before I went with Larry McElroy. I know a lot of the community 'favorites' are tied up with huge backlogs, I talked to most of the big names I ended up going with Larry. Just another option to consider if, like me, you had trouble with the "big name" smiths' backlog or felt like the small fry order in a really big pond.
He is building a coyote gun for me. The way I want it. That was the big difference for me, he wasn't the bottom dollar cheapest. With some of the other folks I talked to it felt like it was more what THEY preferred or how THEY wanted to build it because they do so many other people's guns a certain way or for a certain purpose. Advice from Larry felt like advice, not a command.
Surgeon RSR with the Double Pinned Barrel Lug
Surgeon Double-pinned 20MOA Rail
CDI Precision DBM
Rock Creek Barrel, in 308, 5R rifling profile, Target Contour #1 HBR, Threaded 5/8x24 and cut to 18.5"
Badger FTE Brake
Badger Maximized Rings
Badger Cosine Indicator Kit (Its colorado, folks)
Barreled action and bolt Black Nitride
Barreled action, rings, etc, (but not bolt) then Duracoat SL in T3 Coyote Brown
All sitting in a Bell & Carlson Medalist A5 fully adjustable tan w/ black webbing and topped by a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50, FFP.
Frankly, this thing has been a bit of a pain to put together and get right for what I want to do with it. Larry has been patient as we have worked with various vendors to figure out turnaround times and consider the benefit and fit of different components.
I just figure there are folks like myself out there looking to get good work started with a solid smith. You might want to consider giving Larry a call when you are talking to the other guys.
Range Report and Pics in a few months when the rifle is done and in my hands!
I talked to more than a dozen 'smiths before I went with Larry McElroy. I know a lot of the community 'favorites' are tied up with huge backlogs, I talked to most of the big names I ended up going with Larry. Just another option to consider if, like me, you had trouble with the "big name" smiths' backlog or felt like the small fry order in a really big pond.
He is building a coyote gun for me. The way I want it. That was the big difference for me, he wasn't the bottom dollar cheapest. With some of the other folks I talked to it felt like it was more what THEY preferred or how THEY wanted to build it because they do so many other people's guns a certain way or for a certain purpose. Advice from Larry felt like advice, not a command.
Surgeon RSR with the Double Pinned Barrel Lug
Surgeon Double-pinned 20MOA Rail
CDI Precision DBM
Rock Creek Barrel, in 308, 5R rifling profile, Target Contour #1 HBR, Threaded 5/8x24 and cut to 18.5"
Badger FTE Brake
Badger Maximized Rings
Badger Cosine Indicator Kit (Its colorado, folks)
Barreled action and bolt Black Nitride
Barreled action, rings, etc, (but not bolt) then Duracoat SL in T3 Coyote Brown
All sitting in a Bell & Carlson Medalist A5 fully adjustable tan w/ black webbing and topped by a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50, FFP.
Frankly, this thing has been a bit of a pain to put together and get right for what I want to do with it. Larry has been patient as we have worked with various vendors to figure out turnaround times and consider the benefit and fit of different components.
I just figure there are folks like myself out there looking to get good work started with a solid smith. You might want to consider giving Larry a call when you are talking to the other guys.
Range Report and Pics in a few months when the rifle is done and in my hands!
