Gunsmiths in Washington

[bobcat]

I have a Weatherby Vanguard in 30-06 that I just acquired a year or so ago. So far I've only tried factory ammo in it, Winchester 180 grain Power Points, and accuracy was acceptable but not as good as I would like. It puts 5 shots into 1 1/2 to 2 inch groups at 100 yards. The problem is, it's not consistent. It will put two shots right next to each other, almost touching, then another two shots almost touching but 1 1/2 to 2 inches away from the first two. I think before I even attempt to work up an accurate handload for it I would like to have it glass bedded. Also the trigger could use some work.

 Problem is there seems to be a real lack of gunsmiths around here. So does anybody know a good gunsmith who does that type of work? Anywhere in Washington would be fine, or even down around Portland since that's only an hour and a half from me. I know of a few in other states that have very good reputations, but I'd like to avoid having to ship it.

I'd sure appreciate any recommendations.

[boneaddict]

There seems to be an acute lack of them in the neighborhood.  I believe glass bedding is very important, though I'm not sure if thats what caused your problem. 

[jackelope]

Bobcat...i'm gonna contact my stepdad and get the name of his guy. he shoots competitive sporting clays and has a few names.
i'll pass on the info once i get it. he's on vacation for the week right now, so it might be a bit.
i'll pm the info to you.

[billythekidrock]

I don't have the number, but Dave from Harbor Guns is still doing work out of his house. He is out near Johns River.
I think Morrow still does some work as well. He is in Lacey.

[bobcat]

There seems to be an acute lack of them in the neighborhood.  I believe glass bedding is very important, though I'm not sure if thats what caused your problem. 

Yeah I don't know if bedding will help or not, but it can't hurt. The stock is a Bell & Carlson synthetic which I bought to replace the cheap plastic stock it came with. It has a raised area in the barrel channel at the end that puts pressure on the barrel, and I'm not sure that helps either. I think the best and most consistent accuracy is attained with a free floating barrel. I know my Browning A Bolt came free floated from the factory and it will put 5 shots just about in the same hole almost every time at 100 yards.

[bobcat]

Bobcat...i'm gonna contact my stepdad and get the name of his guy. he shoots competitive sporting clays and has a few names.
i'll pass on the info once i get it. he's on vacation for the week right now, so it might be a bit.
i'll pm the info to you.

Jackelope, thanks for checking. I'll be waiting to hear from you.

[bobcat]

I don't have the number, but Dave from Harbor Guns is still doing work out of his house. He is out near Johns River.
I think Morrow still does some work as well. He is in Lacey.

Thanks. Is Morrow the one in Tanglewilde? If so, I was wondering about him...he mounted a scope for me about 10 years ago, and it seemed like even then he was getting way up there in years. Maybe I'll call him and see if he does glass bedding and trigger work. That other one out by Johns River might be alright too, as I believe I'm going to be going on a scouting trip real soon out that way. I think the hard part is finding one who is willing to do the work, and is able to do it in less than a year's time.

[jackelope]

I know my Browning A Bolt came free floated from the factory and it will put 5 shots just about in the same hole almost every time at 100 yards.

I get the same results with mine...

[brush hunter]

Brightwater Ventures ( 360 ) 256-6700 Here in Vancouver I don't know if he does glass beading, but I have had work done by him and he does great work. He won't charge an arm and a leg either. his name is Mike

[actionshooter]

Morrow is still around but I'm not sure how much he does anymore. He was old 20 years ago when I was a kid getting run out of his shop for leaving fingerprints on guns I didn't have money for anyway.  
 Dave from Harbor Guns is a good one. Also in Bonney Lake there is a guy named Brett Evans, he specializes in custom bolt guns. I have been really happy with his work.

[Guy]

There are some seriously good rifle builders here in Washington State!

Two that I can highly recommend are Jim Cloward in Machias, near Lake Stevens, and Rick Freudenberg in Everett. Both build superb match and hunting rifles. Jim is the current US Palma team armorer. Our Palma team competes with iron sight .308's at 800, 900 and 1000 yards from prone, with a sling.... Very demanding shooting sport, and he builds the rifles for them... Years ago he also set the U.S. 1000 yard record at Camp Perry, with his own rifle of course. He also has done extensive hunting both here and in Africa. The guy knows his rifles. He does not have a web site, but I have his phone number if you'd like. I've got two of his rifles, and they are scary accurate.

Rick Freudenberg builds some outstanding match rifles, and is also a dedicated, die-hard hunter. He bedded a rifle for me a couple of years ago, and it shoot beautiful tight little groups. I hope to send more work his way. http://www.freudscustomrifles.com

Neither one of these guys work cheap. They are top notch, nationally known and highly respected custom rifle builders. They will also do little jobs, like bedding and free-floating your hunting rifle. Rick may offer to develop extremely accurate handloads for your rifle. You might consider taking him up on that... He knows his stuff.

I'll see about posting a photo or two of the rifles these two have worked on for me. They're both very accurate, and stone reliable.

Regards, Guy

[Guy]

A trued Rem 700 in .308 Win, Krieger 1:12 stainless barrel, Badger base and rings, factory trigger nicely tuned to 3 pounds, very firmly bedded into a McMillan M40A1-3 stock. This thing has shot 2.5" groups at 600 yards, from the bipod. I've used it in 600 yard matches, and also as a precision hunting rifle. The consistency is amazing, no matter if I'm shooting in 100 degree heat or in cold down near zero. Jim Cloward did the barrel & action work. Rick Freudenberg steel/glass bedded it into the McMillan stock.



Jim built this Win 70 for Palma Team coach Gary Rasmussen a long time ago. I bought it used from Gary and use it to shoot highpower matches, both across-the-course and prone. It is an amazingly accurate rifle that shoots far better than my skills allow. At this point it's wearing a 30" Krieger with a tight bore and a 1:13 twist. Pictured here with sights, I often shoot it with a 12x Leupold. Cloward built the walnut stock and pillar bedded the action. He trued the action and added a Medesha two-stage trigger. It's a winner! Now and again on a whim I take it for rockchucks... My normal handload is a 155 grain Nosler at nearly 3000 fps, that 30" barrel helps!

Regards, Guy

[bobcat]

Wow guys, thanks for all the names! I never expected this much feedback. Now I've got some homework to do. I'll be sure and post some pictures of targets and tiny groups after I get the work done.

[brush hunter]

Let us know who you went to and how they did, good gunsmiths are getting harder and harder to find. But there are still a lot of good ones here in Wash.

[Buckblaster]

Bob, you should still try tuning handloads.  Unlike you, my A-bolt 7mm-08 has been finicky from the day i bought it new.  I have had to tune loads to connect the holes since most groups are 1 1/2"-2".  That's one of the main reasons to handload.