After a minor mixup on an Encore forend order, Virgin Valley went out of its way to correct the situation and expedite the new forend to me. Dave Branham was in constant communication throughout the transaction and even let me know the day it was scheduled to be at my door.
The 6x45 barrel I got from them recently shoots fabulously, and I've already ordered another forend for a carbine barrel. My next new barrel will be ordered from VVCG as well.
I just wanted to post this to publicly say "thanks" for the excellent service and to tell anyone considering any custom goodies to give these guys a shot. They won't disappoint you...
Posts: 9441 | Location: Shiner TX USA | Registered: 19 March 2002
Bobby, I must agree. My first time dealing with them was earlier this week when I contacted Steve about a barrel during their "shorty" sale. He was most helpful with his info on what bullet wgts. to use for the twist rate available on the 6-.284 barrel I ordered.All my other dealings have been with SSK, but I could not pass up the pricing of VVCG's sale. Jeff
Posts: 411 | Location: Ephrata, PA, USA | Registered: 18 March 2002
They sure are and Dave is one of the best at seeing you get what you want. There even gettin better at shipping our stuff more then once a month. But it would be unfair to leave out Mike Bellm or SSK also. They all do there best to make it right. These three are at the top of my list.
Jules- You are absolutely right: Bellm & SSK are great as well. Mike's rechambering perfection is a tribute to his dedication to precision, and it shows under the 'scope -- and certainly on the target range as well. I've been pleased with my SSK purchases as well, and my Bullberry barrels are no slouches, either.
But I felt obliged to make the original post because I felt Dave at Virgin Valley truly went above and beyond to rectify the situation. From the moment the correct measurements were brought into play to the time I received the new forend was no more than a week -- and that includes VV making the forend from scratch, drying time for the bedded pillars and the shipping time as well. That sort of customer service is to be commended...
Posts: 9441 | Location: Shiner TX USA | Registered: 19 March 2002
Hey Fellas, I am always pleased to hear good comments. (I also like to hear bad comments, as I don't want to make mistakes) It is funny that most of the people I talk to on the phone or e-mail are really pleasant to deal with, even if I make a mistake. I find that it is not that hard to put forth the extra effort becasue the returns are worth it. Rob-Drop me an e-mail and I'll take care of your extractor problem. Jules-Your Pink Laminated grips are coming along as I type this. And Bobby...As a customer has really helped me out by forwarding a package to another customer for me. I guess I got a little wild with the UPS labels. thanks for the praise.(and/or constructive critisism) Dave
Jules, hmmmmm. I guess the pink laminate is out. Maybe something in a nice black or brown would suite you. (You think I am kidding on Pink, but I had someone order a set.) Dave.
I gotta tell ya Dave, I've seen alot of custom wood in all the walnuts, maples, and hardwoods from South America and Africa, but I think the brown and black lamanite with a satin finish looks great on Matte blued and matte stainless steel. And they are very tough also.
VV DAVE, My Daughter is begging for a set of pink laminate grips for her 4-H Competition guns, a Ruger Mark II and the Contender. Do you have a photo of how they turned out? Please note---These really are for my 13 year old Daughter who loves to shoot! Now if I could get Red White and Blue for my polished SS frame I could be very Happy.
Posts: 140 | Location: MEMPHIS, TN USA | Registered: 16 March 2002
Really, I have been trying to get in touch with them since Tuesday, by e-mail, several phone messages, no reply. I am losing patience. I can wait for my work, but not communicating is not acceptable.
I have to disagree with you on this one. Maybe you had good luck with them but I have NOT. I returned a Encore 6BR barrel to VVCG because you could move the barrel up/down & right /left with the barrel closed. Well here is Steve's reply.
From: "Steve Stratton" <vvcguns@infowest.com> To: Subject: Re: Package Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2002 07:21:56 -0600
We are going to replace the underlug. It appears the hinge pin hole is too large plus it isn't in exactly the right position. It will be a week or 10 days to get it done.
Have any of you guys ever heard of the undrelug being replaced????? They manufactured a defective barrel and now they are going to try and repair their mistake. Last VV barrel for me. Its strictly SSK from now on for me.
Posts: 104 | Location: Ohio USA | Registered: 16 March 2002
My last SSK job was a 14" 30 30 factory barrel rechambered to 309JDJ. I already had a set of dies. When I got the barrel back from them the sized cases wouldn't fit. I had to send the barrel back and they polished out the chamber. These things do happen and I had the barrel back in a week.
Ki Jules, I agree with you that things happen. To polish a chamber is minor compared to cutting off a lug and rewelding another one on. I wonder if the barrel was defective they would put a new barrel on the old underlug????
Jay
Posts: 104 | Location: Ohio USA | Registered: 16 March 2002
Hi Bobby, I agree with you that manufactures make mistakes but to replace the underlug is unacceptable in my book. Isn't the steel structure changed by the heat during the welding process. Now you are going to cut off the lug and weld another one on. What will the heat from welding on a new lug do to the chamber???? If this was your barrel would you be a happy camper with the repair???
Posts: 104 | Location: Ohio USA | Registered: 16 March 2002
Jay, If you talk to Dave i'm sure he'll do what ever he has to , to make you happy. I know where your coming from but give em a chance to get it right.
quote:Originally posted by HHI6818: Hi Bobby, Isn't the steel structure changed by the heat during the welding process. Now you are going to cut off the lug and weld another one on. What will the heat from welding on a new lug do to the chamber????
HHI6818, The method used to weld these lugs will not affect the chamber. There is very minimal heat input and it is isolated to the area near the lug. I believe it is a fusion weld, so the size of the grain structure of the metal in the heat affected zone is not dramatically increased. It will still be a very strong weld. If they post weld heat treat and stress relieve (which i believe they do), the grain structure will be normalized in this process even if they do use a filler metal.
HHI6818- Like Mike noted, the strength/structure of the steel really shouldn't be affected. If I were in the situation, I'd let them do what's necessary to make the correction and then make my call judging how it shoots. If it meets my accuracy & performance criteria, I'd simply thank them and move on. Of course, if it didn't, I'd certainly speak up...
BUt I'd be willing to bet one of Jules' barrels that it will be "right" the next time you receive it.
Posts: 9441 | Location: Shiner TX USA | Registered: 19 March 2002
Hi Guys, I wasn't even going to make a post until I saw VV Dave's post: Hey Fellas, I am always pleased to hear good comments. (I also like to hear bad comments, as I don't want to make mistakes.
So I made my post. I'm going to wait and see how it turns out and Steve did say that the barrel is still guaranteed.
One of Steve's reply, We put it in the milling machine and cut the weld with a thin cutting wheel. It's a very precise operation, we don't just "hack" it off. You'll never know it's been done. The barrel is still guaranteed, if it doesn't shoot we'll build you a new one. If you'd care to speak with Jeff (he does it) please feel free to give him a call on our toll free number listed below and discuss it with him.
Well it did shoot in the first place so why not replace it?????????
Jay
Posts: 104 | Location: Ohio USA | Registered: 16 March 2002
Well it did shoot in the first place so why not replace it?????????
Jay
Do you mean it did "not" shoot? I can understand that simply because you said it basically wobbled on the frame. There's no way even the best barrel could shoot decently under such conditions.
Posts: 9441 | Location: Shiner TX USA | Registered: 19 March 2002
HHI6818, Cocerning the Lug being cut off and re-welded, I have no issue with that. In fact I would say that it will be stronger. The barrel that you sent in was picked up second hand if I remember your letter right. The lug hole was oversized, but it may not have been oversized when it left the shop. Without knowing who the original owner was I can say how old this barrel is, but Jeff says at least two years. If the barrel does not shoot it still has the accuracy guarantee on it. So it will be covered. Dave
HHI6818- I hope you let us know how it shoots after VV replaces the lug. I have a feeling you'll be quite proud of it once this little obstacle is overcome.
Posts: 9441 | Location: Shiner TX USA | Registered: 19 March 2002
Hi Bobby, Of course I'll let you know the out come. My first VVCG was a 6TCU that I have shot 5 shots under an inch at 200 yds!!! I emailed a picture of the target to VV telling them what a great barrel it was. It will do under .5 inches all day long at 100 yds. I was so pleased with it thats why I bought the 6BR barrel.
Posts: 104 | Location: Ohio USA | Registered: 16 March 2002
V V Dave, Yes I bought the 6BR barrel off GBO's so it is used. If you look the barrel over you can see that it is excellent condition. If you look real close you can see that the blueing isn't even worn in the hinge pin hole. If someone used a oversized pin in it wouldn't you be able to tell?? What about the lug not being in the corect location?
Posts: 104 | Location: Ohio USA | Registered: 16 March 2002
I asked for pictures of stock blanks available for a custom Ruger #1. I finally got three and when I asked to see some more with a price list and thats the last I heard from them. I went elswhere for my project.
Jules, Its all good. I do not want bad blood between anyone. Minor oversight I'am sure. Jeff has cut the lug off already and HHI6818's barrel will be refinished and blued by Friday. Dave
Dave, my hat is off to you guys. This just proves Bobby was right in his title to this thread. If HHI6818 has a beef, it should be first with the person who sold him a problem barrel without disclosing the problem. The original buyer is the one that should have sent it back for repair, not trying to unload it on some unsuspecting person. Your customer service is of the highest order IMHO, and this proves it.
Posts: 323 | Location: Anchorage, AK, USA | Registered: 15 June 2000
Rob, Thanks for the compliments. I try to give 100% on service, quality, and anything else I can do. Sometimes I slip or I am pressed for time and mess up. In those situations, I will try to rectify the situation as best as I know how. I better call it quits for now. I could write two pages on this. Thank guys, Dave
quote:Originally posted by HHI6818: I have to disagree with you on this one. Maybe you had good luck with them but I have NOT. I returned a Encore 6BR barrel to VVCG because you could move the barrel up/down & right /left with the barrel closed. Well here is Steve's reply.
From: "Steve Stratton" <vvcguns@infowest.com> To: Subject: Re: Package Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2002 07:21:56 -0600
We are going to replace the underlug. It appears the hinge pin hole is too large plus it isn't in exactly the right position. It will be a week or 10 days to get it done.
Have any of you guys ever heard of the undrelug being replaced????? They manufactured a defective barrel and now they are going to try and repair their mistake. Last VV barrel for me. Its strictly SSK from now on for me.
Wow! I hope they give you a new barrel HHI! Never heard of this type of thing from a custom barrel maker. I hope VVG makes good on ther reputation here. CONCERNED!
quote:Originally posted by Bobby Tomek: After a minor mixup on an Encore forend order, Virgin Valley went out of its way to correct the situation and expedite the new forend to me. Dave Branham was in constant communication throughout the transaction and even let me know the day it was scheduled to be at my door.
The 6x45 barrel I got from them recently shoots fabulously, and I've already ordered another forend for a carbine barrel. My next new barrel will be ordered from VVCG as well.
I just wanted to post this to publicly say "thanks" for the excellent service and to tell anyone considering any custom goodies to give these guys a shot. They won't disappoint you...
It does not seem all is in this matter Bobby. HHI 6818, I believe has had a differen't experience. I cast no dipersions but a lug that does not line up via not abuse signs is a problem. I understand that milling the lug off of the 6 BR with a micrometer width saw is the solution...but come on!! A new barrel with the old6 BR as a paperweight or a "what not todo" seems a much better solution. No? I mean how much will it cost them really. We go for Customer satisfaction....like you have had with VVG.
AWTC- I applaud VVCG for fixing the problem on a barrel that is several years old and is not even with the original owner anymore.
We don't know several things, like how the barrel went all this time without the problem being reported to VVCG. It could be that VV simply made a production error and that the barrel sat idle all this time. It also could be that the original owner used it as a tire iron.
Given the circumstances, the fact that VV is correcting the problem is commendable.
Or, AWTC, maybe I should put it like this hypothetical situation: Say I buy a car in 1998. THis week, I decide that an alignment problem is causing excessive tire wear and makes the handling on the highway iffy at best. It's been happening since I bought the car, but I never bothered to report it. Do you think Ford, Chevy or any other big name dealership would fix this problem at no charge to me?
[ 06-18-2002, 21:50: Message edited by: Bobby Tomek ]
Posts: 9441 | Location: Shiner TX USA | Registered: 19 March 2002
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