Recommendations for a 'smith to work on a Savage?

[4000fps]

Emailed SSS and didn't get a reply, hard to reach by phone.

Spoke to Stockade, didn't get a good vibe.

The background is this...I have a 110 Long action currently without barrel. The action was coated in the past, bolt fluted, trigger reworked, blah blah blah. I am not a big Savage fan, but I have had this action for 25 years and would like to put it to use.

The main problem is the holes for the scope bases are not square with the action. I am wanting these redrilled so I don't have to dick with trying to fix windage. I will then rebarrel without the nut and slap it into a McMillan or Manners.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sig Marine]

I've seen a couple of Savages that were tuned up by RWS (RWS Gunsmithing. In Manning IA- 712-655-3819). Work looked good but I'm sure there are many good gunsmiths who could do the job. Do a search here on the Hide and several will show up.

Here's the results I've gotten for a search: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-bolt-action-rifles/225021-sh-recommended-gunsmiths.html

 

[BoilerUP]

Spoke to Stockade, didn't get a good vibe.

Really? How so? Rayhill will talk your ear off on the phone, and his turnaround/customer service/communication is generally regarded to be light years ahead of Fred Moreo/SSS.

I would think any gunsmith that would spin up a shouldered barrel would be able to retap the scope bases.

 

[4000fps]

Really? How so? Rayhill will talk your ear off on the phone, and his turnaround/customer service/communication is generally regarded to be light years ahead of Fred Moreo/SSS.

He mentioned a bunch of accuracy "facts" that just didn't jive. Also didn't like the upsell. I had Fred do work in the past and was very pleased, but getting ahold of him is impossible.

Spoke to a couple other smiths about redrilling my action, and they said they needed a jig for a Savage, and didn't have one.

 

[Dirty D]

Nat Lambeth

Lambeth Builds a Tack-Driving Savage Prone Rifle « Daily Bulletin

Custom Guns and Ammunition

 

[LRJammer]

Really? How so? Rayhill will talk your ear off on the phone, and his turnaround/customer service/communication is generally regarded to be light years ahead of Fred Moreo/SSS.

I would think any gunsmith that would spin up a shouldered barrel would be able to retap the scope bases.

Agreed. Kevin is a man of his word. I wouldnt send anything to Moreo if he said he would do the work for free. Customer service so bad, it is a miracle he is even still in business. The guy has a complaint list with the BBB as long as your arm.

 

[346ci]

Agreed. Kevin is a man of his word. I wouldnt send anything to Moreo if he said he would do the work for free. Customer service so bad, it is a miracle he is even still in business. The guy has a complaint list with the BBB as long as your arm.

Just had Fred do some work on my 10PC, I didn't talk direct to him but Lisa was very nice and kept me updated. The time frame was great as I was willing to wait a lot longer.

Does Fred not do good work or just has bad customer service/long wait times?

From what I researched, never pulled up anything bad on them and didn't find many that would work on Savages.

 

[Little Yoshi]

Kevin is good to go. And, yes, he'll talk your ear off. I'd look at Larry Racine too.

 

[LRJammer]

Just had Fred do some work on my 10PC, I didn't talk direct to him but Lisa was very nice and kept me updated. The time frame was great as I was willing to wait a lot longer.

Does Fred not do good work or just has bad customer service/long wait times?

From what I researched, never pulled up anything bad on them and didn't find many that would work on Savages.

You must not have looked very hard, or went to Savageshooters.net. They ban people that have the temerity to speak the truth about him. There are lots of people that send him an action or rifle to work on and a year or more later, they have no response, no communication, nothing. For every good thing I have read about him, I have read four horror stories. When I was looking to build a Savage, left phone messages and sent e-mails and never got a response. Once I did a little more looking, I was glad they didnt. I have since met and coresponded with others that had the same experience.

Kevin Rahill is a great guy that is a man of his word. He gave me a quoted ETA and met it. Like I said, I wouldnt let SSS do it for free if they offered.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Their disclaimer page is enough to scare me away....

Customer Acknowledgment

I've purchased a part or two from SSS but I've never sent anything to them.