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Anybody ordered barrels or complete Encore's from them? | ||
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| one of us |
To date I have all SS: 7 STW, 45-70, 22-250 Ack., 260 rem 14" barrel and waiting on .50 ML barrel. Great people and work. If something isn't to your likeing they will fix it until you are happy. | |||
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I have a SS24" TACT20 Encore barrel with a V24 scope from VV, and the fit and finish on this barrel is like a piece of art ![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif){kind=icon} To date I've shot 100 rounds through it to break it in and fire form brass, one 3 shot group at 100 yards measured .300(there were 2 witnesses to this feat) ![[Cool]](images/icons/cool.gif){kind=icon} , I'm waiting on a foreend now from VV.Albert | |||
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Ordered a 257 Wby barrel from them last year. It's a one-holer. Took my Elk last year with it. I have barrel from VVG, SSK, Van Horn and Bullberry. My best luck has been with VVG and SSK. | |||
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Hi Joeyb, Have encore barrels in 22-250, 7STW, 338, and 444. All SS All SHOOTERS. + 2 buttstocks and 4 forends. And a pile of hanger bars. | |||
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quote:My story is practically identical to Albert's with the VVCG Tac 20 barrel -- except for possibly a wee bit tighter group. Received a 28" molly 209x50 barrel from them just prior to late ML season last year. It too, is a work of art. Fiddled with loads with it until I got a group of 3 shots with the holes practically touching each other @ 100yds. Plan on doing more with it when the weather permits. | |||
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Thanks to everyone for the opinions. I ordered a complete Encore from them. 26" Shilen stainless match barrel, frame with 2.5 lb trigger and custom kevlar stock set. Super nice people to deal with. ![[Smile]](images/icons/smile.gif){kind=icon} Joeyb | |||
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What caliber? | |||
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the old boring 270 Winchester ![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif){kind=icon} | |||
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Joey, There is nothing boring about one of the all time premier cartridges! That's what I just ordered from V V C G along with a set of custom stocks. Of course, I'll also have to have some of the more exotic chamberings as well! Good Hunting, | |||
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Joey: I have been working on some loads from my heavy-barreled 22-250 that VVCG built for me. I got a 26" full bull Shilen barrel with a VVCG base. I also got them to do a trigger job on my frame. They also provided me with a laminated stock and free-floated fore-arm. I'm very pleased with my VVC gun so far. Good luck with your .270, great cartridge! 8point [ 04-06-2003, 03:13: Message edited by: 8point ] | |||
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I heard from a very reliable source that Virgin Valley is gettin iffy lately. I know that a new in the box Encore barrel was provided to be cut and reamed into another cartridge. When they put it into the machine they didn't tighten it enough and when the reamer was cutting the new chamber it slipped and caused the barrel to wobble on the reamer. This caused an oversized chamber and creates a noticable bulge in each case when fired. When they were asked about this they said too bad. Didn't even offer to cut and redo leaving the junk work as a constant reminder of their so called customer service. Also heard that members of the Virgin Valley team are fighting within and jumping ship leaving gaps in the staff and new guys to try and learn how to work on your parts. I know they have been good in the past but be careful in the future. I know people who live real close to Virgin, Utah and many of these rumors have come straight from the employees mouths. | |||
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I realize that anything is possible but it certainly doesn't sound like them. I have had things that weren't to my liking, minor things, and they fixed them immediately. So this miss chambered thing sounds a little off. I learned a long time ago that rumors can do more harm than good so don't listen to them. I do know of a seituation where a barrel was miss chambered and they made it right. In fact the person is an AR member, can;t remember if it was Buckweet or JULES. He vists this as well as single shot pistol forums. Maybe we can get him to chime in on his story and how it turned out. For my money, which I have spent a lot of, they are as much concerned with the customer after the sale as before. Great people is my personal feelings. [ 04-10-2003, 06:47: Message edited by: outlawsix ] | |||
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| <V.V. Dave> |
quote:It really pains me to see posts like this. I say this because your source of information is wrong and you pass it on without merit. There is a saying that has been around for a long time. You can never please all of the people all of the time. There are customers that I will never be able to please no matter what I, or anyone else does. As far as the barrel is concerned I highly doubt the fact that anyone currently working in the shop would say oh well and send them on their way. I would ask that the customer in question, if he/she reads this, to contact me directly. On the employees leaving I beg to differ. The only employee that left was Justin and that has been covered in previous posts. If you can identify the gaps that have been left in the company I would ask that you kindly e-mail the points to me. The only thing that we do not offer now is wood bolt gun stocks from scratch, but even that is changing. If people in Virgin are passing on information they must have pretty good hearing. No employees live in Virgin, or the neighboring town LaVerkin, but instead 11.2 Miles away in the town of Hurricane. This coincidently is also where the shop is located. I never have professed our shop to be perfect, but I can�t find one that is. I will directly dispel any myths, misconceptions or verify any truths. I�ve made mistakes before and will admit to them. I�d rather be honest and lose a customer than dishonest and lose many. | ||
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Gig 'em, Dave! | |||
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Virgin Valley has been good to me. | |||
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quote:This is enough to make me register on this board. Yes, Dave did reply, but I thought I might add. To INresponse: Please cite your "very reliable source." I personally cannot believe you made that post. I would check with a truly reliable source (or maybe a few) before I made a post like that. I apologize if I sound too offensive, but I took your post as offensive. It disgusts me that someone aims a post like that to tear a company down that they obviously can't get reliable information on. This is my first post here, and if anyone has any questions on Virgin Valley stocks, let me know. Post or send me a message and I would be glad to help. Mark | |||
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VV Mark quote:OK, you asked. How soon before VVCG can offer wood for the G2? | |||
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i'll chime in here in defense of vvcg. my 13" stainless 6br is down right pretty. if anyone makes me a new barrel, it'll be vvcg. good work and prepared to back it up. by the way, thanks vvjeff. | |||
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V V Mark, Welcome to the forum! Many folks who post here are very opinionated and some are downright nasty; however, the majority of us are at least reasonable! I don't blame you and Dave for responding to some of this "stuff". But y'all have treated me with extreme courtesy and professionalism and I appreciate it! Good Hunting, | |||
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Oldfart: The stocks should be very similar to the Contender, but I can't build a stock until I have a G2 frame in the shop. I would like to get started on one, but I have no dimension specs on the frame. So, as soon as we receive a frame, we should be able to offer them when they come out. ACRecurve: Thank you for the welcome and for your compliments. I have been reading these boards for some time now. I just had not registered until this post. Granted this thread would have been just fine without my post, but I not only wanted to reply, I figured it would be a good time to register. Most of the individuals on this board are great people. I enjoy reading for the humor and display of different views. | |||
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Since all the guys are chiming in here, I didn't want to be left out. The post from INresponse makes me chuckle. It never ceases to amaze me the kind of stuff that gets passed around the rumor mill. All I will tell you reguarding that is not to believe everything you read. Nothing has changed with Virgin Valley. The same well trained team still builds the product. If anyone is concerned about it, feel free to e-mail me or call me with any questions. | |||
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INresponce please get your facts right before slamming someone. I have had several barrels from VV and they will work with you. I had a problem with one barrel and they worked it out with me. I have bought another barrel since that. Rumors like you tried to start can hurt people, Period. | |||
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| <T. D. Clevenger> |
I had a little bit of a heated exchange with one of the VV guys once (right here on this board), but I think they are a top notch outfit. Friends do disagree sometimes, but these guys have a stellar reputation that shouldn't be tarnished by mere rumor. I got another VV barrel last week, and couldn't have asked for better treatment. It's a 25 Classic contender carbine. Haven't wrung it out well yet, but preliminary tests say this will be another keeper. This is the first one I've bought directly from them. I do also have a VV rechamber from 222 to 219DW that I bought in new-unfired condition. It shoots absolutely wonderfully. The only company I ever heard of that didn't have employee problems once is a while is a company without employees! T.D. | ||
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I have nothing but good to say about VVCG. If you have any problems with there work the'll make it good. All barrels I have from them will shoot moa with one load or another. There woodwork is very nice also. I only talked to Steve once to order a barrel but Dave,Jeff and Mark all treat me very well and there work is great. What else can be said?? | |||
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I am glad to see the VV guys step un in defense of their reputation -- a reputation that is well-deserved, I might add. And to see such baseless garble as posted by INRepsonse is irritating, to say the least. I've dealt with Virgin Valley on a number of occasions, and once, I did have to test their customer service when I wanted to get a forend with hanger bar for a factory Encore barrel. There were some logistic problems in getting this done and the first did not fit, but Dave quickly -- and I do mean QUICKLY -- made everything right. Their barrels are works of art, and their woodwork is as good as it gets. In fact, their semi-finished forends are virtually perfect and require precious little effort to get them to finished form. It is readily apparent that the VVCG team cares about quality. And like Dave said, pleasing everyone all of the time is not possible in the real world. But in that regard, the VVCG guys do deserve an "A" for effort... [ 04-12-2003, 07:37: Message edited by: Bobby Tomek ] | |||
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I generally read these threads with interest and have been in various forums for over 6 years. One thing that I note that all such negative comments have in common is that they are unattributable. In short, the poster can't tell you who had that experience. If the person with the negative experience is actually run to ground, we always discover that one of two things happened: he changed his mind about what he wanted when the barrel (or work) was already finished OR he never bothered to go back to the service/product provider (I guess people are too intimidated to raise a ruckus!?!). Come to think of it it might be that the customer just couldn't communicate what he wanted to the service/product provider (often due to ignorance!). In every case where the service/product provider was at fault satisfaction was given. The fact is that things happen, mistakes are made and good shops face up to that and make good. Shops with poor service, poor product, or poor work are quickly known throughout the shooting community (bear that in mind you guys in the business). They might be able to con the ignorant but they lose valuable repeat business forever. VVCG, Bullberry, Dave Van Horn, Mike Bellm, etc. don't have this sort of negative reputation. I wouldn't hesitate (and haven't) to deal with any of them. One more thing, which I think has already been mentioned, just what is the motivation behind some of these nay sayers who post to these various forums denigrating companies in the business? Sometimes I think that they must be real losers who see this as one of the few ways they can make an impact on others. This ability to affect others is an ego massage they apparently desperately need. | |||
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VVCG Has gone two for two with me ! Excellent results with both barrels. One was a carbine length contender barrel & the the other 15 3/4" encore. They both have been very good shooters so far ! Not bad considering two different platforms to work from.Maybe you got some bad info ???? Rich Jake | |||
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Like dave says, you just can't please some people, however, I am extremely pleased with the product and support from these guys. | |||
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It's good to hear from the VV guys. Now if we could get Steve on here. I have three VV Contender barrels. Due to health problems and crappy weather i have only had a chance to shoot one of them.(221 Rem.) Not like my factory barrels, with the VV barrel i shoot groups not patterns. And i'm sure they will all shoot this good. I thought i had a problem with this barrel. A call to Steve and it was taken care of. My own stupidity nothing wrong with the barrel. I will buy from them again no matter what kind of BS i see on the net. bobg | |||
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| <V.V. Dave> |
I would like to say thank you for the great responses that you guys have left. It is nice to hear good things said about the establishment that you work for. A lot of the guys in the shop have been reading your replies as well. This bodes well for them because a few of them don�t post here, but like to read encouraging remarks when they are here. Once again thank you. Dave (and the rest of the shop) | ||
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VV Dave, VV Mark,VV Jeff, I started this thread just trying to get an idea of the quality of work ya'll did. As you can see the results have been very favorable. I haven't checked the thread in a couple of weeks. It is regretful that you would have to defend yourselves aganist mere rumors that someone starts. I do appreciate ya'll taking the time to do so. I don't know what the agenda was but I think most of us didn't buy into that ![[Confused]](images/icons/confused.gif){kind=icon} "very reliable source stuff". Keep up the good work!!! Mark, thanks for the help with the LOP. Like I said in my original post, super nice people to deal with. Joey Brown | |||
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If any of the VV guys are around I would like to know what experiance they have had with the 300WSM and the 270WSM(?) in the Encore configuration and how well the cartridge is woking in the Encore rifle. | |||
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I don't post to often but I thought I'd weigh in on this topic. I first contacted VVG via e-mail. I had questions regarding purchasing a complete contender rifle to include custom stock, forend, barrel and having a trigger job done. Their response to my e-mail was very timely. I next called and spoke to Steve. He was very courteous and provided considerable input as to what he thought would be suitable. He didn't try to put a sale on me, but rather seemed genuinely interested in what I wanted. I ended up finding a contender with a 17-mach IV barrel and a 6X45 barell at a local gun shop and purchased it here. About a year later. I contacted VVG again. this time I purchased a Tac 20 barrel and fore-end. While waiting for delivery, I called VVG several times. Each time I was treated cordially and Steve took much more time than was necessary to answer my questions and shoot the breeze. About six months after I took delivery on my Tac-20 barrel, I got the itch for a 17 Ackley Hornet. I ordered this barrel also from VVG and had them do a trigger job on a contender frame that I had purchased elsewhere. Both times delivery was right on schedule. The barrels were first class in fit and finish and will shoot sub moa groups when I do my part. Several months after I had taken delivery on my 17 Ackley Hornet, I had some problems with cocking the trigger on the frame on which VVG had done the trigger job. I called and again spoke with Steve. Even though it had been several months, His immediate response was that I should send back the frame and they would take of the problem. Considering the treatment I received from these folks, I find it hard to believe that a reasonable person would have a problem with VVG. When I do my next encore project, I'll not hesitate to call them. GWB [ 04-22-2003, 08:44: Message edited by: Geedubya ] | |||
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Sorry for the delay in responding to the response of VV Dave and VV Mark and VV Jeff, kid is sick and in the hospital and I haven't been online in a couple weeks. I wont reveal my source, but I saw the gun and I saw the brass after it was shot. I saw the barrel before it went in for the work and saw that it was the same barrel when it was rechambered and returned. There was a very noticable bulge on one side of the brass after it had been fired. I was not there when the barrel was brought in to the shop after the problem was noticed but I know the barrel was brought home again after and thrown in the back of the closet. I, too, have had work done by Virgin Valley, mainly trigger jobs, and the work has been awesome. I asked for 2 1/2 pound trigger and got a very crisp 2 1/2 pound trigger. I have a few scope bases made by Virgin Valley that are great, but the last couple have had problems requiring some work to fit properly on a stock barrel. Bad run of parts? Perhaps. Oh, and I do appologize, Virgin Valley is indeed located in Hurricane and not in Virgin. I did err on that. I do not live in the southern Utah area, I just visit regularly and know of many people in the area who own, shoot and sell guns. When people tell you stories you take them with a grain of salt, when family speak you tend to listen. I have seen the barrel and the brass. Hope it is just a one time incident. But to be fair to those who are looking for work and tight on money they should be able to hear that things are not always perfect before they make a choice. | |||
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Now that you explain what the barrel is, I know the project you are talking about. I can explain exactly what happened, if anybody is interested. This gentleman was told before we even started to chamber the barrel that there would be risks. I told him that it may not turn out right, and I would not guarantee anything. He, however, wanted me to do it anyway. So, I tried. It turned out badly. I warned him up front that it may happen, so I felt no obligation to replace the barrel. It's been a policy of ours for years that we do not guarantee factory rechambers. People are told that before we even start. I had a similar instance happen a few years ago to a different guy with a 22 LR to 22 Mag rechamber (I can't remember what model rifle it was however). This person was told that if we rechambered his gun to 22 Mag it probably would not hold up and could possibly fail. We went so far at to try and turn down the job because we knew what would happen. However, he was very insistent that we do it and would not take no for an answer. He claimed his brother already had one and it worked great. Long story short, we did the chamber and gave the gun back to him. He brought it back a week later in pieces. It obviously did not hold up to the 22 Mag chambering. He wanted us to buy him a new gun saying we were responsible for it. We refused citing the warning we gave him before even starting. Bottom line is if someone warns you about a project and tells you that they won't guarantee the results, you may want to rethink the project. Chances are it will not turn out to your satisfaction and you will be left without any recourse. I'm always very up front with these things. If I don't think it's a good idea, I'll tell you. The last thing I want is to have things turn out badly for a customer. Unfortunately, things do happen on occasion. | |||
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bobg - Doubt if you'll get Steve on here. I told him about some good posts on another forum, and he told me that he no longer visits forums. He said that, according to forums, one day you can do nothing wrong but the next you can do nothing right. INresponse - why was it that the person in question did not have the barrel rechambered by someone who specializes in that line of work, i.e., Mike Bellm?? I have attempted dealing with T/C on one of their factory made barrels, a too deeply chambered 25/06, with nothing but indifference on their part. In comparison, I've seen Steve Stratton bend over backwards for me on something so simple as over- length screws for a scope mount. The work at VVCG is spectacular, in my opinion, after receiving two barrels, two forearms, and a couple of hanger bars from them. The quality in comparison to T/C stuff is almost rediculous. Lay anything VV down beside a comparable T/C product and one can visually tell who is serious about their work. The proof is in the shooting, however, and I find that the comparison is still the same. | |||
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you know what? everyone makes mistakes, everyone screws up once in a while, and no ones perfect. even the best will run into problems. i've dealt with the public before myself and sometimes nothing can be done to please everyone involved in a project. i know vvcg is really ready to help out if there is a problem with one of THEIR products. it's hard to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. | |||
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VV Jeff- Warning people should be more than sufficient, but even then, some will not take no for an answer. I honestly feel they can't comprehend -- let alone heed -- your warning. In my studio, I once had a lady come in with a tiny snapshot of a dog, a badly-blurred image taken with some $10 retail store instamatic. She wanted the photo made into a 16x20, and during a 30-minute conversation, I tried to tell her that it will look horrible since the original had very little detail in it and had serious technical flaws. I even suggested she go down to the nearest print shop and have a digital image made, which would have been far less expensive. She said she wanted "quality," even though I told her you have to begin with quality to have it in the end result. She still had the dog, but she didn't want to part with a few bucks to have me do a photo session and provide a professional print. She wanted that awful snapshot enlarged... She persisted, came in several more times, and I finally relented. So she got a 16x20 that looked like crap. When she saw it, she wanted her money back and wanted to be compensated for her "wasted time." Trying hard to refrain from laughing and at the same time trying to keep my cool, I again tried to tell her that her image was the problem, not mine. In fact, the 16x20 actually had superior color definition, but like I said, the lack of sharpness & detail from her instamatic was quite obvious. I finally got rid of her by issuing her an ultimatum. I told her that if she could find anyone who would take on the job and produce anything better, I'd refund her money. Two years have since passed, and I've yet to hear a thing from her. | |||
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