Straight Shooter Supply
Take your best shot with a Straight Shooter Custom Rifle
Chambering, Why is our way better?
How we do it.
As previously noted we use Gordy Gritters proven techniques to wring the most accuracy possible from your new barrel. Accuracy is why people seek us.
When fitting a new barrel the first order of business is to confirm the specification such as profile, twist, rifling count and caliber. The barrel is then cleaned spotless inside. Then a 17" Hawkeye bore scope is used to visually inspect every land and groove from one end to the other to look for uniformity, tool marks and imperfections that can cause unacceptable fouling. Then we use dead soft lead slug oiled up with 20-50 motor oil. It is passed both ways through the bore pushed by a series of brass rods until it can be passed back and forth smoothly. We can feel dimensional changes that cannot be measured. With my eyes closed I can feel things as subtle as external taper changes in the bore, where fluting starts and stops and of course any internal defects that can affect how the bullet rides in the barrel. Depending on what is found it is corrected or if substantial like loose where the crown is going to be then the barrel is rejected and the barrel manufacturer will need to replace it. We have had great luck with most barrels but Bartlein and Krieger are our favorites.
The lathe we use is a brand new high precision Sun Master ERL1340 lathe. This is the same company that is building some of the current South Bend machines. This lathe is spec'd out to hold a minimum of .0003" but in reality the inspection sheet shows it is actually holding .00012". It weighs in at 2300 pounds and is securely bolted to a steel reinforced 6" slab. It has high quality Japanese bearings and built with pride in Taiwan. (Not China) Big difference. With a lathe this good, when we dial in a barrel we have no trouble getting our Starrett .0001" indicators to run dead zero. No perceptible run out. Is this level of precision needed? Heck no, but since we can, we just can't help go the extra to build the very best rifle possible.
A modification we added for gunsmithing is the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) . This allows us to run infinitely variable speeds on the lathe from 2000 rpm to as low as 20 rpm. This helps us combat chatter. The modern gearbox allows us to cut a wide range of inch, metric, M.P., D.P. threads without change gears. No extra fee for metric actions. It's the flip of a switch so no problem ever with any thread you want. The lathe is equipped with electronic digital readouts to help us keep track of where we are and want to go to. We went a step farther and outfitted the lathe with precision 4 jaw spider chucks on each end to allow us to dial in only the end of the barrel we are working on. More on this in a bit.
We built up a 2 horsepower high pressure barrel flush system. When cutting the inside of your barrel we are flushing filtered cutting oil through the barrel at 100 psi to ensure we never roll a chip and nothing has a chance to contaminate the bore. This also helps keep the reamer super sharp and provides for superior surface finishes in the chamber.
Once passing quality control inspection your barrel is carefully mounted in the lathe. We dial in the barrel only on the end we are working on. When it's the chamber we dial two locations. The first one is right where the throat is to be located and then two inches farther in. All rifle barrels have a slight curve in the bore. The technology (wire EDM) to drill a perfectly straight bore 30" deep is still too cost prohibitive for rifle barrels. Our goal is to get the chamber and throat perfectly aligned with the path of the bore right where the bullet enters the bore. This allows the bullet to engrave all the rifling perfectly straight so it isn't upset by having to change directions to go down the barrel. We use American made Starrett .0001" indicators with long reach styluses or Grizzly rods to reach up to 6" into the bore. We do not settle for .0002" variance as most shops do. We go the extra mile and keep dialing until the .0001" indicator is running dead zero. No detectable movement. Why go to this trouble? We do it because it is one of the many variables in a rifle we can control and eliminate.
Once dialed, the first thing is to note the position of the curve in the bore. When the action threads are cut the curve of the bore is timed to torque up in the 12 o'clock position. If the curve is outside our limits the barrel is rejected. I can't reject any curve in the bore or we would be rejecting them all. We prefer to see this run out be no more than .020". Bartlein and Krieger are sometimes running less than .005" run out.
The threads are precision fit to your action and allow the tightest fit possible to your action. This precision fit is critical for the barrel action joint to behave as one under the pressures of firing. No CNC can match the fit we can achieve to your action.
Now the flush system is fired up to flush all machine swarf away from the cutting edges and out of the barrel during the internal machining operations. The chamber is roughed out with a drill to a depth equal to the shoulder of the cartridge and about .015"- .020" undersize. Then go in with an indexable tooled boring bar equipped with a carbide cutter to single point cut the chamber to within .005"-.010" of final diameter. If this step is not taken the reamer would simply follow the bore. This is bad because the chamber and bullet are not pointed exactly into the bore. Finally a razor sharp chamber reamer is brought in and the chamber is cut to final size. Using this method we ensure the bullet is going to engage every rifling in the exact same place on the bullet. perfectly following the internal curve of the bore. Many factory and lesser techniques will have the bullet pointing into the side of the throat and the rifling may go all the way to the neck on one side and be spaced out as much as 3/8th of an inch. You can clearly see it in the borescope. Headspace is set with gauges from zero to plus .002" depending on the application and customer preference.
Once the chamber end is done the barrel is removed from the lathe and turned around to cut the crown and muzzle brake threads if so equipped. We use the same care to dial in the barrel for the crown and muzzle brake as we do the chamber. We dial in where the crown is to be and 2" back. We want that crown perfectly perpendicular to the actual bore. If we are cutting threads for a suppressor, muzzle brake our one of our hidden thread protectors this guarantees the straightest threads possible eliminating any chance of a baffle strike. We cut super sharp 11 degree crowns. We can recess them for field use or make them about any way you want it. Our preference is to polish them sharp to give the cleanest bullet release possible. This style crown does take some additional care to protect when cleaning the barrel so as not to damage it.
Using this painstaking method has allowed our customers to frequently report this is the most accurate rifle they have ever seen. Using this method one customer is flashing targets around the internet of groups holding .2 MOA past 1700 yards. This is the same method Gordy used on the rifle he shot two prairie dogs on the same day on video with witnesses at over 2 miles. That's over 3500 yards. Google up "Two Mile Shooting - Gordy's Precision" to read about it.
Our customers are reporting under 1" groups at 500 yards petty regularly. I can't promise your rifle or you can shoot that well but it's being done with our rifles pretty regularly. Your rifle is proven to shoot half MOA by us or it doesn't ship till it does. Most of the time plain old factory ammo will do that and better.
Precision takes time. A barrel takes up to 2 days to inspect and machine. Then it moves on to engraving and finishing. We will not shortcut or rush a job to just get it out. We take great pride in our work and have faith this is far and away the most accurate method possible for chambering and fitting a rifle barrel.
Building and accurizing rifles is our specialty. We have based our business on
only using the very best techniques and components. We take the time needed
to do each individual job to the very highest quality standards. This level of
workmanship takes time and accordingly often costs more than other gunsmiths
charge for similar work. I believe building rifles with this level of
care and expertise is the very best way to do things.
-Complete barrel installation, any caliber .17 through the CheyTacs $500
includes crown of your choice, cut engraving of caliber, barrel specifics, personalization.
*Extra reamer rental charge for uncommon chamberings (minimum) $85
Common reamers I either own or I will buy at no extra charge.
-Extractor cut adds $50
-Thread muzzle and new custom crown on existing rifle $100
-3 port side discharge muzzle brake installed $250
-Receiver accurizing No longer offerenerd
-Holland .250” Lug (Pinned to action w/rifle build) $50
-Wyatts extended mag box installation Remington $100
-Wyatts extended mag box installation Winchester $200
-Badger Tactical Bolt Handle installed $135
-Pillar Bedding $300
Done correctly, this makes for a perfect stress-free fit of the action into the stock,
which gives the very best accuracy possible! Solid metal pillars are machined
and fitted through the stock for a more rigid assembly. The barrel is fully free floated
and the action is carefully bedded into the stock with epoxy. Finally, after the epoxy
has cured, the fit is checked with a dial-indicator to ensure the fit is perfect and all
stresses are eliminated for the best accuracy possible!
-Skim bed aluminum bed blocked rifles $200
-Open barrel channel to free float barrel. includes resealing wood. $100
Handguns FFL Transfer Fee: First gun is $40, 2 gun is $80
FFL Multiple transfer form includes 1 handgun is $40 so 2 handguns is $80.
3 handguns is $110, 4 is $140, 5 is $170
Rifles $40 first one, 2 for $70, 3 is $100, 4 is $130 , 5 is 160
SOT Fee is $0 for silencershop up to max of $100 for silencers from other venders.
Printed fingerprint cards available through our Kiosk and Silencer shop.
See out Contact Us page for FFL & SOT copies.
-AR rifle work by the hour $80 per hour. Minimum charge is $50.
-Trigger work our specialty. I frequently can make your factory trigger feel
any way you want it. Most common triggers adjustable or not $50-$100
depending on time involved
-Mount scope $40
-Scope rings - True and lap, or epoxy bed to scope for best accuracy $60.00 based
on time. Ruger factory rings are a must. due to time they are $100
-Epoxy bed picatinny rail to receiver for stress free scope mounting. $80
-Drill and double pin picatinny rail to receiver for extreme rugged duty.
It will be precision aligned to the bolt raceway.$100
-Mill receiver scope holes in line w/bolt raceway and thread for 8-40 base screws,
$100
this is considered a salvage operation to stripped out 6-40 screws.
-Install your Muzzle Brake w/ new accuracy crown $150
"Accuracy Crown" (bore at crown end dial-indicated straight to last 2" of bore.
and true to .0000''-.0001", single point cut) $100
-Invisible thread protector $65. Knurled thread protector $35
-11 degree accuracy crown or recessed target crown. $100
-Barrel removal fee for brake/crown work if needed $40
-Bead Blast or Aluminum Oxide matte finish barrel $100
-Skim bed stocks $200
-Pillar bed wood and composite stocks Includes most inletting work. $300
-Any Recoil Pad installed includes Pad $100. You supply pad is $75 to install.
-Cerakote Rifle and Shotguns $250 and up,
Call for details on Camo or special requests. (541-297-6500)
-Deep Cut Engraving - Custom engrave caliber, name,
inscription, etc, on barrel $50 and up
-Modify Ruger 77/22 Hornet mag for 17 Hornet use. $25
-Bore Scope Inspection (Chamber, Bore, Crown) $25
-Labor by the hour $80
-Minimum Charge $40
-General gunsmithing on a per case basis.
We don't work on antiques or do old gun restorations.
Normally, by the time you purchase a factory action and do all the work to it,
you would be better off to go with a high quality custom action.
The cost is comparable and resale value of rifles with a custom action is better.
Call us and we can discuss your needs in detail to figure out the best way
to go for your build.