Headstamp,

>Yes, and we all know the situation will be completely straightened out right here on the forum. Right, Bob? The more the merrier, right?

I don't know. It can be very painful sometimes when we air out dirty laundry.

>Of course, Mike will work faster and all the barrels will be done immediately because this was discussed here.

That is up to Mike but if he had continued to give us weekly updates and had been more communicative perhaps this discussion would have stayed on the group deal list.

>Methinks the only interest you have Bob, is saving face and attempting to turn the discussion away from yourself now.

And why would I do that? Do you have some evidence that I might have done something that I would be ashamed of and that I might be looking to hide or is that just your anger talking?

If you have something to say then just let it come out. You have a large audience and I've invited you to provide evidence.

>The classic "bomb-thrower". Instigate an altercation/discussion and then step back and watch the fun with a little "prodding" here and there to keep it going. I know your history.

Interesting that you would say that. If you have some information about my "history" that would show what you mean I suggest that you provide it or quit making broad generalizations.

>Honestly, I have no idea why it is necessary to start this same old BS story on yet another forum thread, ad nauseum. Custom makers, blah, blah, blah. Delivery time, blah, blah, blah.
Call reputations into question and start arguments and then divide once civil discourses into flame wars. I see it starting already and I am sick to death of it.

The only flames I've seen here so far are those coming from your keyboard. Up 'til now everybody was conducting themselves as gentlemen.

>And we all know at the end of it, we'll be back where we started, solving NOTHING.
Tell you what. Custom is custom. Don't like the wait , go elsewhere. But you won't, because the prices and work are just too damn good to pass up, right? Well, consider it a trade off. Mike is doing the best he can with the time he has. He is a one man shop who is currently swamped with work due to what was stated in the couple past sentences, price and work quality. Have any problems, DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE PERSON THROUGH E-MAIL.

I've tried the email part and get ignored or promises that he doesn't keep.

>Enough of this horseshit already. It serves no purpose whatsoever in the long run.

It may not but it has served to finally get some responses from Mike where he chose to completely ignore us and refuse to provide updates for the last couple of weeks.

>My apologies to the board as a whole for the tenor of this post but it's frankness I won't apologize for.

Mine too... I am sorry that it has come to this. Up until now we've had a discussion. It appears that you want to take it to another level.

Sincerely,
$bob$

Hi Bret,

>Sheesh...where's ol' GB to lock down a thread when ya need him?! LOL Looks like this one could even be deleted. It just goes to prove that you can't fool all of the people all of the time...or maybe that saying was supposed to be you can't please everybody. Yeah, that sounds like the right one.

LOL... It sure did grow quickly huh? This thread kind of wandered around a bit and now seems to have a mind of it's own... <grin>

It seems to me that group purchases aren't in anybody's best interest. From the last one that nearly seemed to send DVH's reputation into the crapper for a while, to this one that seems to be getting a known good guy (OTT Mike) into hot water. I guess I'm hoping the whiners just decide to go away and free up Mike's time so I can get a barrel from him and not have to wait for this group deal to finish first. In reflecting upon all sorts of "barrel talk" over the past couple of years, which maker hasn't gotten hammered by one or many disgruntled customers? I can't think of one...so just deal with missed "deadlines" or only buy existing barrels.

My experiences with custom barrel makers have been nothing short of great. Virgin Valley has always done what they promised and they've done it right on time. The one time they were a bit late I called Steve Stratton and he "fixed" it the same day with a sincere apology.

I've never heard of JD Jones being late. He has marvelous turnaround times.

Even Mike Bellm who has been VERY late in the past has always been a total gentleman about it and has offered refunds to those that couldn't wait. He is extremely careful to not promise that which he cannot deliver and a classic gentleman in every sense.

Dave Van Horne was the victim of a lawsuit that perhaps ruined his reputation but before and after that lawsuit he has been extremely fast at delivering barrels and is very easy to talk to and seems to be patient and informative.

Note: Dave Van Horne and Mike Bellm are one man shops.

There are other custom barrel makers that I might have forgotten or don't know but that has been my experience and what I've heard directly from people that have bought barrels from all the above.

$bob$

Like I said before. OTT will be doing all my custom work till he don't wanna do it anymore. He is a personal friend,does great work and I have no reason to go anywhere else no matter how long a project takes.

He knows he's late on the barrels. But I think he's doing fine for a person that has only been doing this for a little over a year.

I guess the best way to keep this kinda thing from happening is to not give a deadline at all. I know I wouldn't.

Jules,

Very good point... Thanks...

$bob$

I spoke to Mike a couple of weeks ago and was given a 14 week wait time. Big Deal..I'll live and if his work is half as good as everyone says, it'll be well worth the wait. A 416 Rem Mag in an Encore will be a blast (esp with his muzzle brake) He's truly a nice guy to deal with and invited me to see his shop (I live about 1/2 hour away). That would be pretty cool!

PS: I worked with a guy (in a field service-type job) who had a little sign in his tool box. It said "Do you want it done now or do you want it done right?"

Mike has made two barrels for me so far and I have another one on order. The gentlemen above have said it best, thats the way I feel also "Mike will be getting more custom work from me".



The two barrels I've received from Mike was also ordered before the 500 S&W deal, in September to be exact, and it did take a little longer than the 14 weeks quoted, a couple years ago I ordered one from Bullberry and was quoted 12 weeks, it took over 5 months. I also have barrels from SSK and one of them took a couple week longer than quoted. Also the last one ordered from Fox Ridge took 18 weeks and I was quoted 12 weeks.



Also like the gent said above airing your dirty laundry here serves no purpose at all, Mike has been nothing but a gentlemen to me and this whole thread is not a gentlemens way of airing their dirty laundry. Just my 2 1/2 cents worth.

This has been said before, but it bears repeating. When it comes to custom work like this, you can get any two of the following three choices on any given deal:

1) Fast

2) Done right

3) Cheap

You pick which two you want.

I have generally found this to be true. Fast and cheap rarely arrive done right the first time. Fast and done right are rarely cheap. If you find someone that can consistently provide you with all three, you should stick with them and never look anywhere else. Why would you?

I own one Encore frame. I own several custom barrels from all the smiths mentioned in this topic except DVH and Mr. Bellm. The barrel that has spent the most time on my frame was ordered from OTT in April of 03 with no question of how long it would take to produce. I took delivery on that barrel in June of 03. My second barrel and first wildcat chambering order was placed with Mike in September 03, with no question of how long it would take to produce. I took delivery on that barrel in Jan. 04. Those barrels are utilized and enjoyed by me, not because I consider Mr. Sirois a friend. Those barrels are the barrels that go to the field with me because they have proven to be the most accurate barrels in my possesion. I have paid more for a barrel than those purchased from OTT but I have not fired a more accurate barrel. The man or shop that provides me with the most accurate barrel in whatever amount of time he deems neccesary to produce such, has and will continue to recieve my business.

Friends,

All I can say is that Mike Sirois came through like the true gentleman, and responsible craftsman and businessman we all knew he was.

This issue turned negative and there were certainly some hard feelings created.

But Mike shrugged all that off and gave us a promise backed up by a money back guaranty that is more than fair.

He made no excuses... He just made a very fair offer and I'm truly humbled and impressed.

You're a true gentleman Mike!!!

Sincerely,
$bob$

$bob$,

I have to add, that I've been corresponding with some of the people on this topic for years. While we may chafe at the wait(s), none of these gentlemen/firms mentioned has ever failed to "make it right". That includes Dave Van Horn, Bullberry, VVCG, Mike Bellm, OTT/MMBCO and several posters here and on Specialty Pistols with whom I've done buys/trades. It is simply an amazing group. BTW, that includes you, TOO!

That said, I've sometimes had to take a deep breath or two and step back from the keyboard for a moment!