I have a pre 64 model 70 action previously used in a 375 H&H. I'm interested in using it to build a 300 H&H. Who would you use for a gunsmith, and how do I get in touch with them?

Thanks

TerryR

Terry,

What do you want? A wood stock, a synthetic stock. What do you have in mind for the rifle when it is finished?

If you are looking for a "classic" style rifle in wood, you might consider Roger Biesen.

Regards,

Terry

Terry
I am considering a classic wood stocked blue rifle. A classic rifle for a classic cartridge.

TerryR

give jim kobe a call or pm him he's in the gunsmith section every so often

TerryR

Lon Paul would do a good job for you. He is building a rifle for me with all the bells and whistle for a very reasonable price. E-mail tanglewoodguns@yahoo.com tel# 951-659-2699.

Mark

Duane Wiebe.

I like Frank Wells' rifles. I believe he is in Tuscon.

The missing element is your budget... what you want to spend can impact who does the work.

I would go with Roger Biesen without hesitation. His father Al Biesen, I consider one of the finest classic rifle builders of all time. Roger has taken what he learned from his father and gone one step farther. He does all his own metal work plus stock work. He has several hundred blanks in his shop to choose from. You name the wood and quality and he has it. You cannot go wrong with Roger, he has built hundreds of rifles over his career. My next and probably last rifle I have built will be by him and his daughter will do the engraving. I have four rifles built by his father on Pre-64 model 70 actions in all the classic calibers, .270, 300 H&H, 35 Whelan and .375 H&H. I am trying to decide on the last one. It will be a 30/06 or 416 Rigby in French Walnut. He has a Web site, and lives in Spokane, WA.

Make your $$ go further and get the highest quality you could ask for - use Magnum Sport who make Sabi Rifles in Nelspruit South Africa. Thier work is outstanding. +27 13 755 1782
http://www.sabirifles.co.za/sabi.htm

While JJ Perodeau is known for his double rifle work, I have seen a few bolt rifles he has done from 250 Savage to 500 something or other.
They all looked very good.

Tip Burns is building two 404 Jeffery projects for me.

Another vote for Biesen. jorge

quote:

who would you have build your rifle?

Ryan Breeding or Joe Smithson.

A third vote for Roger Biesen. You can't beat the quality of his work and his prices are very reasonable.

465H&H

Thank you all for your advice

Lon Paul has done five rifes for me from 458 Lott to 243.His work is impeccable.He can be reached at 951 659 2699.
Richard

quote:

T.Carr: If you are looking for a "classic" style rifle in wood, you might consider Roger Biesen.

Terry, those are very attractively priced rifles. I especially like the G33/40. I'm sending Roger a blank to turn for one of my Brevexes.

Roger Biesen. I've owned many custom rifles and his are as good as they get....and unlike several other makers products, they actually function and shoot very well.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
give jim kobe a call or pm him he's in the gunsmith section every so often

I agree...Jim is a fine artist and smith...very fussy...extreme high quality of work.

If I had the money, David Miller.
If I didn't quite have as much money, Darcy Echols.
If I had less money, Roger Biesen, but I would probably have a Baiar Barrel installed by
Thomas Burgess, have Thomas do some of his other magic in metal, and then have Roger do the stock.

I'd put my money on Dennis Olson, take the rest thats left over and go hunt.

Celt

I have a nominee. Ray Bowman http://www.precisionriflesales.com/

He built a 300 WinMag for me with a Rem 700 action, drop magazine, McMillian stock, fixed sights and QD rings. A beautiful and well balanced rilfe, and he did it in 4 weeks.

I was very pleased, and ordered a 404 Jeffrey and 458 Lott twins, in wood stock, with Montana Rifle actions, they will cost $2,650 each.

His speciality and background are match rifles and law enforcement SWAT rifles. He does work for the local North Carolina law enforceement entities.

I would say he will make you a solid working rifle, very accurate and to your specifications, for quite a reasonable price. He does not do the exquisite stock work as Mr. Beisen is, nor is he set up for engraving/scroll work- more of a working rilfe, as I said. I am away from home, but will try to post photos of my 300 WM when I return.

Dennis Olson is one fine gunsmith but Lon Paul does very fine work, too. I think it would be a toss up for me. I believe Lon is a bit more expensive and the wait would be a little longer.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
TerryR

Lon Paul would do a good job for you. He is building a rifle for me with all the bells and whistle for a very reasonable price. E-mail tanglewoodguns@yahoo.com tel# 951-659-2699.

Mark

ddoes Lon Paul have a website?

I've seen two Brno ZKK602s customized by Lon Paul. The work was as fine as any I've ever seen.

I had Chris Matthews "Longshot Rifles" build a 308 tactical rifle for me. The first 5 shot group at 200 yds measured .625

We are blessed with so many great craftsmen; it's hard to narrow the selection down to just one guy or even just a dozen. Look at some of the used rifles on the market today and find a style that suits your fancy, then find someone that turns out a similar style and is known for being a stickler about mechanical perfection.

Here are a few names to consider if you're interested in modern classics in wood and blue. I've grouped them into catagories based on my own prejudice.

No holds barred perfection at any price builders:

Jerry Fisher (406) 837-2722
Steve Heilmann (530) 272-8758
Don Klein (920) 748-2931
Ralf Martini (250) 417-2926
Gene Simillion (970) 641-1126
Joe Smithson (801) 224-2041
Duane Wiebe (253) 535-0066

Guys who build a whole lot of gun for the money:

Roger Biesen (509) 328-6818
Roger Ferrell (770) 460-0533
Roger Green (307) 473-1112

Super talented younger guys who are really making a name for themselves:

Shane Thompson (208) 547-0383
Michael Ulman (830) 399-0126

I've only included names whose work I have some first-hand experience with. I'm leaving out lots of talented guys who specialize in stock work only or metalsmithing only (but not both). I'm leaving out guys who I've heard are not taking work at this time. I'm sure I owe one or more deserving builders a huge apology for not including them.

I'd take a 270, 300, 338 and 416 made by any of the guys listed above and hunt the world for the rest of my life without any worries whatsoever.

Thanks Forrest, you may have provided one of the most useful lists ever published on this forum. Of course, I'm not objective, I'm having Duane Wiebe rebarrel my Mauser (in 9.3 X 62, hah! you all thought I swore by the .375 H&H) and do a few other tweaking jobs as well.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
give jim kobe a call or pm him he's in the gunsmith section every so often

I agree...Jim is a fine artist and smith...very fussy...extreme high quality of work.

I am also going to vote for Jim Kobe. I just got the call that a rifle of mine is done. WooHoo!

Clark

Jerry Fisher is in Montana so the area code is 406 rather than 416.

Forrest

I'm looking for European gunsmith. Have somebody herd anything on Karl Hauptmann? Also I have no clue what the budget might be for tthe 375 HH Mauser 98 action wooden stock with engraving details. I was quoted 61 000 Euro

quote:

Originally posted by TerryR:
I have a pre 64 model 70 action previously used in a 375 H&H. I'm interested in using it to build a 300 H&H. Who would you use for a gunsmith, and how do I get in touch with them?

Thanks

TerryR

I'd have Mark Penrod build the rifle and then send it out to have it stocked. Mark's a genius with M70s. The last time I was at his shop he showed my some pictures of a couple rifles he had built and Gene Semillion had stocked that were gorgeous. Mark's also dabbling in engraving now, he's a real artist with metal.

Cheers,
Andy

If budget allows consider www.griffinhowe.com because

you get a well known, historical, name maker and your

resale money should be better. They've been consistantly

building custom bolt action hunting rifles for 85 - 90 years
here in the New York, New Jersey area of the USA!

Check out their used rifles on www.gunsamerica.com and

www.gunsinternational.com and you'll see the strong pricing.

Another vote for Jerry Fisher or Roger Biesen.

Jeez, I guess I missed this thread! I can tell you who NOT to go with! jorge

I chose Stuart Satterlee to build the rifle of my dreams.

I wanted someone who builds the whole rifle.I first thought about Hein and was turned off after I phoned them three times and did not get an answer to my message.I then tested them on this forum to determine character and got turned off completely.

Roger Biesen without question. I had four of my rifles built by his father Al Biesen. Roger is ever bit as good as his father when it comes to stock work and I think better when it comes to the metal work. I have beautiful piece of French Walnut, I need to get to Roger build me another rifle. I am just trying to decide what caliber.