I just read the bad news on another forum, posted by Allen Day. Several of us knew of this a few weeks ago but Mike asked that it be kept quiet until after the new year. A great bullet and a great person, both will be sadly missed in the hunting/shooting community. Hopefully, another company will pick up the line and continue making them.

What happened?

What happened?

Just checked his web site and there is no mention of this there.

I believe he decided on pursuing another career path for the future. I'm sure he will make some type of public announcement in the near future.

...............DAMN! I guess I better hoard the last 150 of his solids I have for my 470NE!

Damn it, Damn it, Damn it!

Really a fine unique bullet along with a geniunely concerned manufacturer. Killed three buffalo in Tz this summer and used the NF bullet w/ complete satisfaction. Dr.C

Mike told me a few weeks ago
Mikes problem was 16 hr days /7 days a week
mike was a great guy who made a great proj....seems like a death of a good friend!!
Regards Daniel

There has to be more to the story than this. Did he sell his operation to another manufacturer?

While I can imagine the schedule getting to him, I can't imagine Mike just closing up shop and walking away. His operation was something of value, and something I am certain another bullet company would covet as its own.

JIM

there is no more no less its as simple as that, 16 hr days/7 days a week .Mike told me he had two options keep on going as was or invest another xxxx$ to increase production and empoly people and have all the on going issues that has with it , which did not appeal to him, so the only option left was to shut shop which he unfortunatly chose
and no he did not sell his operation to
another manufacturer
Daniel

I am very sorry to hear that -- not only did he make a great product but he had the best customer service I could imagine.

I do not blame him with those hours. Everyone needs a life.

Wow. What a loss for sure.
Not sure I could have walked away from such an investment and such an asset. Years ago Jack Carter made a deal for his bullets with Federal. I was one of the first to know and had drinks and dinner with him that night in New Orleans. Surely there was someone Mike could have talked to. Seems like a lot of money left on the table someplace not to mention time and effort already spent.
I never shot one of his bullets but he sure had a super reputation.
I understand the part of super long hours. I walked away from a very high paying straight commission job at age 48 as I did not want to travel 8 states anymore. After 23 yrs. on the road I was burned out. I just wanted to stay home and sleep in my own bed.I was earning a high 6 figure income in those days too and I have never come close to that kind of money since but I have damn sure been happier.
Better tomorrows Mike!

Say it ain't so!

370gr .416 recovered from a buffalo in 03...a thing of beauty...


Understandable of course, and Mike, I wish you well in whatever you pursue in the future. Bill

Mac,

I've got 9 of the 470 cup points you can have, that way you'll have 159.

it often takes greater courage to say "no more" that to become a slave to what used to be a passion.

good luck to you mike , you will be missed , i heard great things ... about you and your service ...

I wish this was an April 1 joke.

And I was just about to place an order for some 416 CPS's....

Sorry to hear about this Mike. All the very best to you in whatever your next endeavor is.

Cheers,
Canuck

Mike posts here... until he says so, I ain't believing it...

This is surely bad news.....I really liked the product!

I knew something was "afoot" as I was told the 6.5 120s were to be discontinued and there was a discontinuation of the .270 150s as well...

Clearly among the best bullets ever made!

Yikes. Those FPS's will be missed.

My best wishes to Mike. They were fantastic bullets that he made.

Does anyone else make a similar bullet? I heard somewhere that Federal were looking at a complete re-design of their TBBC. Any truth to that?

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Mike posts here... until he says so, I ain't believing it...

Well you better believe it. I spoke with him today to see what he had left in stock and all he has is a few 458 bullets. He said he let his stock go to 0 by design.

Clark

Too bad, I really hope someone picks up his line. I know from talking to him he wasn't able to keep up and was not open to upping production by hiring others if it was going to compromise quality.

DAMN! DAMN1 DAMN!
best bullet maker in the USA
and I only have a couiple hundred of his bullets!
Good luck, Mike, whereever you are!

Remember the movie in ROMANCING THE STONE when Michael Douglas slide down a quarter mile mud slide and landed with his face in the crotch of Kathleen Turner, he said "My Lord What A Morning". That is exactly how I feel about Mike's bullet, MY LORD WHAT A BULLET. I took it to Alaska, Canada, Colorado and Africa, and will take it next week to Alberta Canada for Wolf, I felt then and will now that there is no better bullet produced in America, and always will. I consider myself previleged to have shot it and will treasure what I have for those extra special hunts for me and mine. Mike, THANKS FOR A TRULLY FANTASTIC BULLET, I wish you the best, it sure as hell was a great ride while it lasted. Enjoy life without having to worry about us knuckle headed AR idiots that are so hard to please sometimes. Good shooting my friend.

Mike, I hate to hear that you are closing up shop. It pains me when a high-quality producer with excellent customer service leaves the shooting industry. Whether we used your bullets or not, we're all worse off because of your departure. You raised the bar on bullet performance and on the ability to give your customers what they wanted and what they needed - even before they knew they wanted it.

I have my little treasure trove of your bullets and will shed a tear every time I have to shoot one at the range. I'll try to save them for the game fields.

Thanks for providing us with a good ride and best of luck to you in your new endeavors.

Forrest Bruch

You snooze, you loose, speaking personally. I was going to order some for my .375 for an upcoming African hunt. Damn. Now I'll never get to try them out. Good luck, Mike. It's a rotten shame when another great American invention goes by the wayside.

Man say it ain't so! You offered a great alternative to the "others" out there, and did it better! Now I'm back to Accubonds and TSXs

I wish it could be another way.

This leaves www.gscustom.co.za

as the only thing with similar

traits I think. I hear great things

about them, but it was nice to
have an American made product that
really had a super reputation.

Will someone be acquiring the rights to NorthFork, with plans to continue production, or is this the end?

There was a post on the 24 Hour Campfire questioning the same fate for Swift. Any other information?

Mike,
I also hate to hear that you are no longer going to be producing one of the best hunting bullets available (actually "the best") - that's all I used for hunting. I will also miss your AAA Customer Service.

I want to wish you all the best in the future.

Mike

Mike gave me great advice on loads for my 400 Whelen and the perfect solid for that load.

I'll miss speaking with him about ballistics.

Great guy, great product.

Garrett

Darned! I saved my pennies just a bit too long. My apologies to Mike, and my condolences to the Mike and the community.

Anyone have any of the .458 450g FPS that they want to sell? They regulate well in my double. I'll pay $2 per bullet

Tnanks

This is an unfortunate but understandable development.

Work - if too unremitting - can become oppressive. A man needs time for himself and his family.

Mike, best of luck in your future endeavors. Your excellent bullets and service will be sorely missed.

Too bad. I have never shot them, but heard nothing but good.

Me? I would have just kept bumping up the price until the demand went down to an acceptable level.

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:
Me? I would have just kept bumping up the price
until the demand went down to an acceptable level.

I know a guy whose child used that very tactic!

Becoming a very popular hair colorist in New York

City, the kid was making 250K per year, BUT working

80 hours per week. Kid's boss says, "Up your price

50%, enough people will stop using you to get your

weekly hours down to about 40 and you'll still make
your quarter mill." Need I say, BOSS knows his business...

Perhaps someone could enquire about acquiring the operation? With so many highly satisfied clients here it can't be a bad business to work on if the current owner has other priorities?

There has still been no explanation as why he did not just sell the business or, gulp, just schedule his production accordingly. When you buy from GS Custom you may have to wait months. So, knowing that, I order my bullets months ahead of time. After all, I don't go through these "dollar a shot" bullets hundreds at a time. I think there is more to this story than the fan club is admitting. Just my 2 cents.
Peter.

"it often takes greater courage to say "no more" that to become a slave to what used to be a passion"


Truer words were never spoken! Well said Ivan.

Hate to see a good product leave the market though I never used them personally. Maybe someone will buy his trademarked productline and make it available again....