Precision / ELR Rifle Gunsmith in Phoenix Area (or old thread on this topic?)

[BigNate]

I seem to remember reading a thread about a local gunsmith who has a national reputation for building precision rifles. I took a look for it but I'm not finding what I remember. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

I've got an ELR project started and am considering having the rifle rechambered before I start load development (338LM > 338LM Improved - probably the 40 degree shoulder)... looking for someone who knows that world and would be trusted to do the work.

EDIT - I found what I think was the thread... I THINK Arizona Custom Rifles is who I was looking for - but would still like confirmation as I'm seeing both Phoenix Custom Rifles, and Wright Armory recommended in a few places.

 

[BigNate]

Regardless - I talked to Keith @ Phoenix Custom Rifles - got some good advice - and am probably not going to go down that road right now...

 

[Abbey]

It's Phoenix Custom Rifles, but yeah, Keith is the guy.

 

[BigNate]

It's Phoenix Custom Rifles, but yeah, Keith is the guy.

Thanks - fixed it...

 

[G34]

Owens Armory up in Chino are shooters as well. very capable. they did my 338LM

 

[Gatsby]

Regardless - I talked to Keith @ Phoenix Custom Rifles - got some good advice - and am probably not going to go down that road right now...

If I'm not being excessively nosy, what info did they give you that made you change your mind?

 

[Abbey]

I had Keith build my .338LM. I previously had a cheap (but surprisingly accurate) Savage that I was replacing so already stocked up with .338LM brass & dies so figured I'd just stick with it. I briefly thought about switching to a different caliber, but as infrequently as I get to the ELR range I figured I'd just stick with .338LM.

Now if I was starting from scratch, I'd go straight to .375 CT for ELR

 

[Doc]

Another +1 for Keith and PCR

You can also reach out to Brian Blake over at Blake machine. He’s making his own actions now. Has been building barrel blanks for a long while. I met him one at a range doing things w a 280Acklet I didn’t think possible at 500yds…and this was easily 8+ years ago.

Blake Barrel and Rifle

fclassproducts.com

 

[BigNate]

If I'm not being excessively nosy, what info did they give you that made you change your mind?

FWIW - I had not decided to go down that path - I was just noodling the idea. The short version of our conversation was essentially that as someone just stepping into the ELR space (me), what I would get out of the change in improved velocity etc. was not likely going to change my experience as I was ramping up in ELR.

In essence, the base 338LM wouldn't prevent me from doing any of the things I wanted to do. On the other hand, going to the "improved" cartridge was going to add some challenges (or at least fractional challenges) in terms of things like smaller pools of load data or people to compare experience with, more limited availability of die suppliers, etc. not to mention the cost of the work. None of these were show stoppers - they were just little things to consider. I went into it thinking that if the rechamber would both add some performance headroom, and would increase brass lifetime due to the steeper shoulder, maybe it was worth doing before I started load development for the base cartridge. I think that both of those things are true - but when I genuinely balance that out against the stuff on the other side - it's not worth it for me "today." If, when the factory barrel is done I want more, I can decide at that time whether to re-barrel in 338 LM Improved, or to build something in .33XC or one of the .375s... or something else.


To Keith's credit - I was trying to talk myself into spending money with him, and he had no reason to talk me out of it other than genuinely believing that I wasn't going to get good value out of the money that I would be spending with him. That tells me a lot. Based on that, and the positive views of his work - I'll be headed back to him whenever I ready to do the next thing.

 

[BigNate]

I had Keith build my .338LM. I previously had a cheap (but surprisingly accurate) Savage that I was replacing so already stocked up with .338LM brass & dies so figured I'd just stick with it. I briefly thought about switching to a different caliber, but as infrequently as I get to the ELR range I figured I'd just stick with .338LM.

Now if I was starting from scratch, I'd go straight to .375 CT for ELR

Thanks much. I'm starting with a brand new Savage as well (110 Elite Precision). I thought about building a .375 but being able to get started with something that is (hopefully) as capable as this gun is supposed to be - at the price point for this gun - is what let me talk myself into diving in. $2000ish for the base gun is easier to swallow than the cost of a full .375 build. Additionally - I'm pretty sure that for at least the life of the factory barrel of this gun, I'll be the limiting factor in the equation - not the gun. Assuming that the ELR bug keeps biting me - I'll probably go there (375 CT or something like it) the next time.

 

[BigNate]

Owens Armory up in Chino are shooters as well. very capable. they did my 338LM

Thanks much... I have some family in Paulden - I'll look them up the next time I'm up there.

 

[BigNate]

Another +1 for Keith and PCR

You can also reach out to Brian Blake over at Blake machine. He’s making his own actions now. Has been building barrel blanks for a long while. I met him one at a range doing things w a 280Acklet I didn’t think possible at 500yds…and this was easily 8+ years ago.

Blake Barrel and Rifle

fclassproducts.com

Thanks much...

 

[Abbey]

Thanks much. I'm starting with a brand new Savage as well (110 Elite Precision). I thought about building a .375 but being able to get started with something that is (hopefully) as capable as this gun is supposed to be - at the price point for this gun - is what let me talk myself into diving in. $2000ish for the base gun is easier to swallow than the cost of a full .375 build. Additionally - I'm pretty sure that for at least the life of the factory barrel of this gun, I'll be the limiting factor in the equation - not the gun. Assuming that the ELR bug keeps biting me - I'll probably go there (375 CT or something like it) the next time.

One thing that I like about .375 over .338LM is being able to see splash at ELR distances. .338LM is better than the .300 bullets, but I still sometimes have trouble reading my misses.