Thread: More recent custom builds

Originally Posted by dfmaisey

Still trying hard to catch up on the backlog of custom rifle jobs, as well as the inevitable mad rush that this time of year brings.

Delays with parts and not enough hours in the day meant that jobs i had planned to do in Jan or Feb were still in the to-do list.

So I though i'd try an experiment - see if doing 5 rifles at once in a sort of custom-production-run would speed things up a bit? Well, long story short - it didn't really work out. Might have saved an hour or two while doing the barrels, not having to change lathe set-ups, etc. But there is often just so much work in some of these jobs (such as the Remington re-works) that all it did was tie me up for about 3 weeks solid, while all the little jobs started piling up.

Here are some pics of 4 of the last 5 - not all Long-range rigs this time.

Rifle 1 is a .20BR built on one of the LH Stiller Predator actions that i import. 24" barrel, threaded for silencer, Jewel LH HVR trigger, HS stock.

Rifle 2 is a .308win (palma) on one of the Stiller Spectre actions with integral 20MOA rail, threaded for silencer also, Jewel HVR trigger, HS stock and HS detachable mag box system (new model).

Rifle 3 is a fully re-worked and trued Rem700 short in 7mm SAUM, sleeved bolt body at rear, sleeved bolt nose and sako extractor installed, lengthened ejection port, modified mag box, and EGW HD 20 MOA rail bedded into place for straight stress-free foundation. Boyds tacticool stock glass and pillar bedded. Also one of my proprietary Megamax brakes fitted to 28" True Flite Ultramatch barrel.

Rifle 4 is a fully re-worked and trued Rem700 Long in .300 Rem Ultramag custom, sleeved bolt body at rear, sleeved bolt nose and sako extractor installed, lengthened ejection port, Weaver 20 MOA rail (bedded), HS Precision stock, and one of my Megamax brakes on this one too finishing off a 30" True Flite barrel.

Pics attached.

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At this time of year it means i just can't really do more than 1 or two custom builds per week, while keeping on top of all the other little jobs for guys, as well as muzzle brake production. Unfortunately that works out to 10 or 12 builds taking up to 2 or 3 months to get though, but that's just the way it is with a custom shop. Not everything lends itself to mass-production. Sometimes good things just take time! Still trying to get out for a hunt too.......

Time wise, with some of these builds i think it may actually work out cheaper or similar $$ for the customer to start with a custom action if it is a fully 'from scratch' build, and when things are super busy from the gunsmiths point of view, that can make life easier too. Working with those Stiller actions is such a breeze - no truing required, just do a top-quality custom barrel install, test, bed, brake or silencer install, etc., etc. Good to go!

D.

There is a young keen fulla living in gisborne who would be an ideal apprentice for you.perhaps he should pm you to help with your backlog @dfmaisey

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