I have a Win. classic supergrade in 338 that I want to have built into long range rig. I am on the fence with either 264 win mag or 7mm Weatherby. I am thinking Kreiger bbl, and HS Precision stock. Does anybody have a reccomendation for a good smith in N.Cal. as I hate shipping guns to/from/in California. I am in Napa/Sonoma area. I would like to be able to drop it off personally. This is a great forum and appreciate any input. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum. You and fellow forum-members, BigChevy4x4, Pigfarmer and I are from the same area.

As far as a good gunsmith, I sure don't know of one in the area. If you don't mind a bit of a drive, Steve Heilmann is in Grass Valley. He is one of the top gun builders of classic rifles in the US. I don't know if he works with synthetic stocks, but he could point yo in the right direction.

But shipping to an out of state smith is no big deal. Just take it down to USPS an mail it out. No FFL needed. The gunsmith ca ship it directly back to you.

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Originally posted by Flattopbis:
I have a Win. classic supergrade in 338 that I want to have built into long range rig. I am on the fence with either 264 win mag or 7mm Weatherby. I am thinking Kreiger bbl, and HS Precision stock. Does anybody have a reccomendation for a good smith in N.Cal. as I hate shipping guns to/from/in California. I am in Napa/Sonoma area. I would like to be able to drop it off personally. This is a great forum and appreciate any input. Thanks!

Not sure but why don't you check the CalGuns website: http://www.calguns.net/ There are alot of participants from NorCal and someone may be of assistance. I'm in SoCal but not involved in long range shooting.

Or PM AR member "Boom Stick", he's in the greater Frisco area and may be of assistance.

Loud-and-Boomer and Mike Dettore are also from NorCal. They both know fine rifles, so you might drop them a PM.

And Duane Weibe(a world class rifle builder) moved from the Placerville area a few years ago, so he may be able to point you towards a good smith here in N.Ca.

When you ship a firearm that you own out of CA then it is shipped back do you have to have a FFL receive and transfer the gun back to you?

Nope, just like any other state you can have your firearm returned directly to you after a repair.

That said, there are a bunch of good smiths in NoCal, as well as a few to avoid. There are guys that specialize in benchrest, tactical, hunting rifles and high end wood/blued rifles.

There is no question that CA has some of the finest gunmakers and gunsmiths to be found anywhere in the world.

Personally, I truly miss California...but you go with life's events...would't give a nickel for So. California, but No. California is a special place...if only it could be made into two states (Been tried a few times without success).

Remeber during a drought,.. we couldn't flush our toilets, but S. California filled their swimming pools with N. California water...you know what I would have liked to have sent them!.

Check out the membership list of the ACGG..you'll find many first class craftsmen


And please don't jump in my face about So. California...I'm being "territorial" I have way too many relatives living there to be taken seriously!