I've deceided to use my Remington 700 in 270win (LH) for a rebuild project. Changing it to 6.5/284.

The action needs to be blueprinted. Their is some spalding on the lugs. (As I've said in a previous post, I loaded some rather hot loads over the years.)

But is their a way to check the work done. I've replaced triggers and done other minor work before, but never anything major. How does a layman go about checking the work? Or is it a matter of faith and reputation of the gunsmith?

I think reputation is made mostly of satisfied customers. I don't think I am qualified enough to go beyond the superficial or readily apparent work. But if a riflesmith stands by his work and agrees to fix anything you felt he didn't correctly deal with the first time around, that counts. I've cycled a lot of bolt actions and there is lot you can just feel, and probably a lot I can't feel that someone with more experience would feel right away. Short answer, go with the best, they sometimes also have the best reputations.

I think the answer to your question is pretty simple.

Send in the action to whom ever you want to have it blueprinted. Pay for the work. Have the action sent back to you. Inspect it. Then send it back in for the rest of the job.

22WRF -- What kind of tools, other than a micrometer does someone need to check the work? Is it just your basic instincts, feel, etc. along with a good mic, that you can judge the work by?

AI22-250:

I wrote an article on this vary issue. It can be found on the Savage Shooters website.
Look for "Knowing your Gunsmith". They are not all created equal and it is better to know more about them before you get your gun ruined.
Longshot

quote:

Originally posted by AI22-250:
What kind of tools, other than a micrometer does someone need to check the work? Is it just your basic instincts, feel, etc. along with a good mic, that you can judge the work by?

Well, a barrel vise, action wrench and a good set of eyes should help. If the machined surfaces look rough and unfinished, you may want to be concerned. If however the machine work is clean, sharp and otherwise flawless in appearance, then you can probably relax. Look at the bolt face. Is there a uniform and concentric ring of brass around the firing pin hole? Check the lugs to see if they appear to be making uniform contact. Pull the bolt, wipe the bore, pull the firing pin, reinsert the bolt and look down the bore from the muzzle. Do you see the perfect, concentric, undistorted image of a "target" staring back at you? Learn to use your eye's, they can tell you a lot...

Holladay huh?

LongShot -- Thanks, That was a fine article. By the way I'm Deserthunter over there......

You should copy and drag it over here for the fellows on this forum....

Malm --- Huh? What part of the valley do you hail from? I take it you are a Gunsmith, any problem with me stopping by and having a chat?

quote:

Originally posted by AI22-250:
Malm --- Huh? What part of the valley do you hail from? I take it you are a Gunsmith, any problem with me stopping by and having a chat?

Cottonwood Heights... Sure, give me a call. 943-8563

If you did your homework on the Gunsmith of choice you should have felt good about letting him work on your gun if you aren't comfortable allowing himto do the work then take it to someone else and if the work has already beendone to only recourse is to ask around and find a smith that has done a lot of what you wanted done and ask him to check out the job that was done to insure it was correctly done, It's your money and weapon but more importantly your life and of limbs.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. If it tastes good the cook did the job well.

vapodog -- The only problem is that I've eaten some very good tasting treats only to be sick later!!

My opinon on this got changed here about two years ago, I thought you had to spend X numbers of dallors to get a straight action. Go to a smith that you can get face time with, check his rep before you get there. Most are hard working honest guys that will not let you spend a dime more than needed, so pick their brian. I asked my main smith to do a custom for me, and wanted to know how much to true a Remington action. He replied he did not know. I was turning for the door when he says let me show you. He spun the barrel off of a Rem 700in for work. He ran me through what he does. He starts at the front of the reciver with very sophisticated guages. He squares that and takes a measurement and works his way back. Once the action is straight he is done, you only pay for what he does. I use another smith for the wildcats I play with. He was going to charge me $225 to blueprint my action, which is very fair for what he does. I asked him to check it to see how much it needed first.This was number two in just a few weeks. In fact the day #1 came I packed up #2 in #1s box and sent it to him that day. He called back and said it was only a thou out of square (new Rem 700 go figure)he was able to correct it with trueing the threads, facing the reciever and lapping the lugs, all those were included in the price of the barrel job. Ask a bunch of questions you might pay for things you do not need. Get a good smith to give it the once over and let you know what you are getting into. I order my own barrels and other parts , price is not that much different. Get the action work done while the barrel and other parts are coming. Cash gets spread out more thinnly and momma does not catch on as quick. Just my two cents.

AI22-250, I think using this forum will let you know who's who and the quality of work.
I have had several custom varmit rigs built by a local smith and watched the work in progress, a bit differant than sending your gun/action half way across the US.
When I decided to have my Custom hunting rifle done, I talked to several people here on this sight and explained what I wanted and expected.

Never once did I ever have to give a thought to how my gun would turn out. I was given updates as the work progressing and it was completed on time.

I did take the gun to the range while it was in the white, just to confirm it would be a shooter before it went to the engraver.

when you get the firearm back and you take it to the range and it shoots 1/2>3/4 inch groups the smith knew what he was doing.