Gunsmithing Spending a while at Bighorn Arms

[Oddball Six]

It takes a lot more than machining equipment to make a gunsmith. I had the opportunity to spend a while at Bighorn Arms yesterday afternoon and talk guns, 'smithing, materials, and the industry with one of the key guys, AJ Goddard.

Its a pretty awesome experience to have someone with as much experience as AJ (and who is still nice enough to spend the time) walking you through the features of his action and some of the challenges he has worked to engineer past.

AJ has a long history building, designing, thinking about, and machining guns yet was still willing to talk through a few designs and thoughts rattling around in my head. From the challenges that forced him to innovate in the Bighorn Arms action to the potential dangers of nitriding-gone-wrong and contrast of surface hardness vs core metal properties, the man is a treasure trove of information.

AJ is a stand up guy and those interested in a custom action that melds the best bolt action features out there with the service and craftsmanship of a gunsmith who genuinely cares about his art, check out Bighorn. I am sure you will be glad you did.

 

[KYS]

Re: Spending a while at Bighorn Arms

I bought a short action from them back when they first appeared. GAP did the assembly and it's a great rifle. They are a favorite action of mine and their customer relations are top rate.

 

[bohem]

Re: Spending a while at Bighorn Arms

I have a short action BigHorn and the rifle has been working really well for me. AJ is a great guy, glad to see he's making a name for himself here too.

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: Spending a while at Bighorn Arms

AJ is an exceptional person and machinist. Consider yourself lucky to have gotten the education you did. "Nice Feller" is a gross understatement as well.

 

[maccrazy2]

Re: Spending a while at Bighorn Arms

Ditto. I had a good discussion with him at a match about his actions. I like the floating bolt head design and the lug hardness specs to avoid galling when dirty. It will be my next action.

 

[LRI]

Re: Spending a while at Bighorn Arms

Aj is a sharp cookie.

He and Mark Chanlyn are super dooper.

Good stuff.

C.

 

[AJ_Goddard]

Re: Spending a while at Bighorn Arms

I appreciate all the praise but I first have to say I think this is in the wrong place. I don’t consider myself a gunsmith, I am a machinist with 33 years at the trade that just happens to be building rifle actions. Yes I have barreled a couple of my own rifles with Mark Chanlynn standing over my shoulder not unlike Frank and Robert Gradous. I have to give allot of praise to all the true gunsmiths out there that put these rifles together. To Dave Sullivan, Jon Beanland, George Gardner, Mark Gordon, and many more. Darrel Holland, and Gordy Gritters for some great videos (should of watched Darrel’s one more time before attempting bedding my rifle). I watch Chad Dixon’s post here on bedding and I see what artist these gunsmiths truly are. I have to especially thank Mark Chanlynn for pushing me into this endeavor. No I am just a machinist that is trying to do the best I can. If it wasn’t for all the great barrel and stock makers, And most importantly all you great shooters that are really showing these things off I really wouldn’t be anything but another machinist.
Thanks
AJ

 

[culdee]

Re: Spending a while at Bighorn Arms

sounds like a place I need to check out!