Colorado smiths

[vim]

I wouldn't be slagging him and his business by name on a public forum unless I tried to address it with him first. But that's me.

[banks74]

Greg Tannel of Gre-Tan rifles would top my list. Greg is an awesome smith and a hell of a nice guy. He makes the jigs that a lot of other smiths use. Big Horn Actions would be next on my list.

[c3d4b2]

Here is a guy in Rifle, Co that I have heard about in Indiana. I have talked with him, however I ended up using a local gunsmith.

http://www.gtrtooling.com/main.jsf

The first time I had an action worked over it would have been cheaper to buy a custom action by the time I had the action plus paying for the work. For the second rifle I found a group buy for the action.

[banks74]

Here is a guy in Rifle, Co that I have heard about in Indiana. I have talked with him, however I ended up using a local gunsmith.

http://www.gtrtooling.com/main.jsf

Ya that is Greg Tannel of Gre-Tan Rifles. He used to live down the road from me till he moved up to Rifle. Hell of a nice guy and he builds absolute hammers!

[T-Jet]

Mark Chanlynn at BigHorn Arms. Get him to make one of his barrels for you too. Scary accurate.

[Pike10]

2nd TJ's Gunsmithing in Aurora. They are working over a 700 for me right now - 308 to a 260 Rem.

Here's the update on my build. I got my rifle back a few weeks ago from TJ's. I originally had a stock Rem 700 Varmint 308. I bought all my parts and took it in to save time - a Krieger 6.5 mm blank, McMillian stock, Jewell trigger, Badger brake and recoil lug. They trued the action, lapped the lugs, reamed the chamber, fit the barrel, threaded for a brake, bed the action and duracoated barrel and action.

When I ladder tested my loads for the factory 308 at 100 yds I had very clear dispersion in the groups, 3/4" to 2.5", and a very clear direction on which way to proceed with my loads. When I ladder tested the new 260? I worked up from 5 separate powder volumes from 42 to 43 gr of H4350, under 142 smk's. All 5 grouped under 1", between 1" and little under 1/2". So, I settled toward the higher velocity. I got a nice day at BLGC (no wind) and when I did my part it group at 1 3/4" at 600 (witness by another member on this forum) - that is just under 1/3 MOA by my math.

Made my first trip to the Sporting Rifle Match this last weekend and had the opportunity to take a poke at 1700 yds (1680 to 1700 depending on who's range finder you want to believe). Took 5 shots to get the wind call right and rang the plate twice.

When I'm ready for another build or needing a new tube put on - their the only ones I'll go to. As you see above there are some excellent recommendations for gunsmiths - TJ's is definately one of them - Tim and Fritz do great work.

[9secondsflat]

Years back when I lived in Englewood, I had a smith by the name of Gary Alvey G-G Machine/ marksmanarms(Grand Junction) build me a 308 on a hart barrel, trued 700 action, jewel trigger, hs stock..he was easy to work with even when there was a change in plans along the way. the end result was a real tack driver and the action was as smooth as glass. If you can find him he will do you right...

[Shmackey]

Bart at Bass Pro--he used to be the man at Gunworks--does great work and is good people.

[The1andOnlyKC]

All the parts are ordered and should be here by the end of the week.

Got a McMillan A-5 and Shillen coming.

[legaleagle]

Kelley Sport (John) does great work. He is a very good friend (semper fi) and is the only person I trust.