Anybody have any dealings with or knowledge of the current situation at Riflecraft of late?

A friend has been trying to email them and is not getting a response.

There website is also pretty dire at the moment and we wondered if they have folded??

Not to my knowledge Pete. They're probably just up to their necks in orders. Keep trying with the phone.

Cheers

Gareth

Hi Pete
Are these the clowns who were involved in some less than ethical practices regarding the East Anglian branch of the BDS eight or so years ago? The "ex-military sniper" whose claim to fame is attendance at a couple of TA annual camps?

Yes they are the ones!

They are still going I was down there a few weeks ago and I know Andrew has been on the road speaking to RFD's about becoming Klimber stockists.

The number I have for them is 01379 853745

I personaly have not had any dealings with rifle craft but 2 shooting buddies of mine have had work done of there rifles buy them and there service and workmanship was VERY poor!!

quote:

Originally posted by 308mate:
service and workmanship was VERY poor!!

Bugger.
Have been tentatively dipping my toe in the water for a custom 308 and these people were on my short list... Richard Pope is current winner now

Getting a bit off topic here but I have to say the nicest and best performing UK built custom rifles I have seen and shot have come from either Steve Bowers or Callum Ferguson

quote:

Originally posted by DJM:
Getting a bit off topic here but I have to say the nicest and best performing UK built custom rifles I have seen and shot have come from either Steve Bowers or Callum Ferguson

So they ought to be!

I don't think you can get a rifle off Callum for less than £4K these days.

Russ Gall produces some first rate rifles, plus he has his own inhouse designed and produced action. So no need trying to make a silk purse out of a sow eared Rem700.

There are NO issues with RIflecrafts work

I have been a customer and very very happy with their work

I hope I am still welcome there in the future and would not hesitate to recommend anybody for a custom job.

I literally just spoke to RIflecraft and there are no issues with their email or telephone numbers.

londonhunter

I agree Andrew certainly knows his stuff.He wouldn't be as busy as he is if he didn't.

I have been a Riflecraft customer in the past and had one of their LSR Remingtons (around 2000/2001) which was a sub half MOA rifle but haven't had anything rifle wise from them since then.

However I have called Andrew Evans Hendrick for advice and he has been absolutely brilliant over the phone especially since the advice he gave to me meant that there was nothing in it for him business wise.

He is very knowledgeable and has been to me very helpful indeed and yes he does know his stuff.

This is just my experience.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon2:
However I have called Andrew Evans Hendrick for advice and he has been absolutely brilliant over the phone especially since the advice he gave to me meant that there was nothing in it for him business wise.

Same here. Andrews impartial and knowledgeable advise has saved me time and money in the past too.I wish there were more like him around in the trade of rifle building. There are some excellent rifle smiths out there, some quite recent additions to the trade. Although these have usually been been involved in the industry in some way for some years.

I have seen a proliferation of unskilled and semi skilled setting up as "custom" rifle building businesses over the last 5 years, that have neither the technical knowledge nor skills to do anything other than bolt together brought in component parts. Some I am aware of have never worked a lathe or if they had it was at the most rudimentary levels only just prior to setting out their stalls hoping to cash in on what they perceive to be the lucrative business of "semi-custom" rifle smithing. Some rifles I have seen produced by these "Roy Rogers" characters have been mediocre to say the least. Whilst they might talk a good build, producing one is an entirely different matter.

At least in Germany you have to pass the tough state exams before you can set up and tout for business.

There's a great deal of BS spouted by a large number of people in this day and age. The worlds of shooting, and hunting seems to attract more than their fair share from certain quarters. Much of it flowing from self proclaimed or self promoted professionals in some capacity or other.

I have always found the advise and information passed on by Andrew in a professional capacity to be good and well founded.

I have little interest in people personal lives and pay little regard to such matters. Its not as if we are planning on going on holiday together or even exchange Xmas cards So I don't recall having been subjected to his account of when he was a para-sniper. I personally know several who have done the snipers course over the last 25 years whilst they served in different units. So I may well have tuned out whilst that particular account was being told. Working on the basis of having heard it at least once before etc.

Passing the sniper course in the British Army does not give you any secret knowledge about marksmanship and rifles, despite what some may claim. It teaches you fieldcraft and how to use the L96 and L115 sniper rifles according to the pamphlet.

I have outshot many qualified snipers in competition, and have encountered all sorts of fallacies from some of them, for example, several who maintained to me that bullets rise after leaving the barrel because they are still accelerating.

By the same token, many are able and qualified shots who know what they talk about...even if I have outshot them, however, I would have my doubts about anyone who claims to be uniquely qualified to be riflesmith as a result of said course.

quote:

Originally posted by 63:
Passing the sniper course in the British Army does not give you any secret knowledge about marksmanship and rifles, despite what some may claim. It teaches you fieldcraft and how to use the L96 and L115 sniper rifles according to the pamphlet.

I have outshot many qualified snipers in competition, and have encountered all sorts of fallacies from some of them, for example, several who maintained to me that bullets rise after leaving the barrel because they are still accelerating.

By the same token, many are able and qualified shots who know what they talk about...even if I have outshot them, however, I would have my doubts about anyone who claims to be uniquely qualified to be riflesmith as a result of said course.

Exactly!

I have been dealing with Andrew from Riflecraft for a long time now, his knowledge and advice is second to none and I can't rate him or his service highly enough. Have had no problems getting in touch either through e-mail or telephone so can only say try again, I would not recommend anyone else!