Apache Barrel

[blvedere]

Would sure like to get my 6.5 Creedmore back together.

[Robot]

I'm in the same boat as some of you are waiting for a barrel. I hesitated to make the order from Apache as I saw some posts complaining of excessive waits and poor communication from him a couple years back. I also saw many of posts praising the quality of his work. For a while there was a message on his website explaining the errant customer service as growing pains and saying how he was going to keep things a small one man show from then on so that he wouldn't become so far behind again. He seemed to be making a genuine effort to do better and the price was decent, so I decided to roll the dice and give him a chance. I made a order in July of 2017 and am still waiting. I understand these things take time, but 9+ months for a Savage pre-fit barrel seems excessive. I expected to wait around 4-6 months. After about 6 months I would occasionally send inquires on the order status by email or telephone message. Most were ignored or went into some email and voicemail "black hole". I've gotten some responses back, always polite, apologetic, and promising to look into the situation and complete the work. Then nothing happens. He's told me in email that he's had the barrel blank for quite awhile now, but still hasn't completed the work and sent it out. I've politely asking for a refund if he can't complete the work. No refund has been issued. It's been a frustrating experience to say the least. I can't afford to eat the money I paid him. I can't order from another vendor without a refund. I understand that it's a one man show and life events can happen that can cause delays. But it seems to me that if you're willing to take people's hard earned cash in advance there would be some sense of responsibility to get them what they paid for in a reasonable time. Is he a genius on the lathe who is just terribly disorganized? People say he's a stand up guy who will come through...........eventually. It certainly seems that I've been getting the run around so far. It would be nice to get this rifle back together in time to salvage some of this year's shooting season. As far as I can tell my options are to keep waiting and hope that it's worth the wait. Alternatively, I could try to get a chargeback done through Paypal or my credit card company. I'm not sure what the time limits are for chargebacks on goods ordered but never delivered though. Do any other forum members have any suggestions or experiences to share?

[blvedere]

Robinhood, Been waiting a year for a Fred's stock. I figure that my money is lost on this buy!

[gbflyer]

It takes 6-8 weeks for X-Caliber to produce a contoured blank. I’ve had similar results at Hart. If Ragged Hole has your desired contour in stock, I get it in 3-4 days. Most reamers are about the same unless it’s in stock. Manson gets custom reamers out in a couple of weeks. I’m not sure if that’s the norm, just my experience.

I’m no gunsmith. It takes me pretty much all of an 8 hour day to thread and chamber a barrel. A little less for Savage but the day is pretty well shot for me then too. I usually cut/crown/muzzle thread the next day in a couple of hours. I don’t have a pressurized system for cutting oil, my setup time is long, and again, I’m no pro.

The pros who do it every day and have all the toys can produce 2 a day without issue, some 3. This does not include the administrative aspects of running a small business.

I’m not running Apache down or anyone else. This is my experience with the mechanical aspect of doing the job, for those who don’t know.

[Robinhood]

Robinhood, Been waiting a year for a Fred's stock. I figure that my money is lost on this buy!

Don't know where that came from but OK. I'm not sure what happens when people cant make good on their promises. I have had to wait extended time for some things but have only been shafted once. for about 150.

[eddiesindian]

Defently a waiting game. Last barrel jimmy cut,chambered,contoured, and threaded took him a mere 3 months to finish and deliver. Judging by others comments, I fear I have a long wait for mine. I'm only 5 month's into the 2nd barrel. For me?......its a waiting game. It gets here when it gets here. I hope alls well on jimmies end.

[FlightMurse]

I am in a similar situation with Robot and have hesitated to post publically because Jim seems like a great guy, but I am beyond frustrated with my order. I ordered a barrel in June of 17 and from that point on was unable to get any status updates at all. I finally contacted Paypal at the beginning of April to see if I had any options and was informed that I was past the 180-day dispute window, but they offered to send him an email for me. Got a phone call shortly after and I was told that the blank was in and would be to me shortly, and I am back to no return for phone calls since. I have already missed out on two matches that I had hoped to shoot in, and have a prairie dog hunt coming up in two weeks. I went ahead and purchased a different rifle because I am not missing out on another opportunity, and just want a refund at this point. In case anyone is wondering, Paypal is 180 days, and if you use a direct withdrawal instead of a credit card, it is 90 days.

[blvedere]

Would sure like to get my 6.5 Creedmore back together.
Thanks Jim, Received my replacement barrel today. Will get it on action tomorrow and see how it shoots this weekend. All things considered I think Jim did right by me. Thanks again Jim....

[blvedere]

Been working with my Apache 6.5 Creedmore barrel, and to this point it likes Sierra 140's better than Hornady 140 ELD's. Will shoot 5 in an inch at 200 yards. Think it will do better with a little more test and tune.

[Evlshnngns]

Thats a FINE start. Who made the barrel blank?

[Robinhood]

Evlshnngns, (http://www.savageshooters.com/member.php?42112-Evlshnngns) Probably an Excalibur

42.3 +or- will get you < 1 inch at 400 5 shot group with a good setup, Lapua with br4's. Slightly larger at 600

[blvedere]

What powder are you using? I am, at this time, loading 40.3 4198 touching the lands. Guess I will have to increase load faster and just go to 42.0 and go from there.

[Robinhood]

H4350 Start at 41.1 and go up in .3 increments. I would load no greater than 42.3. I use 400 yds for my tests. When you find that node, work around it.

[blvedere]

Got my rounds mixed up. Am using 4350 in the 6.5, but am using 4198 in my 30 BR. My 30 will put 5 in under an inch at 300 yards. My range is only 300 yards, but I occasionally shoot in 600 yard shoots at another range. Hope I can get the 6.5 to shoot as well. Take care Bob

[BlueDog]

Do any other forum members have any suggestions or experiences to share?

Hello Robot! Did you ever make any headway? I’m still waiting for my barrel (currently on day 348). I’m doubting I get it before my 1 year anniversary wait date. Insert sad face here: ->

[Robot]

To update, I did finally receive the barrel from Jim at Apache. It ended up taking about 10 months to receive it. For the last several months I would send an email or call every couple of weeks to inquire on the status of the order. I usually didn't get a response back, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to keep checking. I don't think he's a crook or rip-off man. He just seems very disorganized on the administrative side of the business. In my opinion, if you're going to take people's hard-earned money for pre-orders you should make every effort to get them what they paid for in a timely fashion. But as they say...good, cheap, and quick, pick any two. The the machine work on the barrel looks good. I did run into an issue installing it though. The barrel threads have a sharper point or "peaks" on them then the factory barrel has and the new barrel it won't thread onto the rifle action. I put never-seize on everything. The factory barrel comes off and threads back onto the action with no problem. The factory barrel nut threads onto the Apache barrel with no issue. The recoil lug slides over the threads with no issue. However, when the Apache barrel is threaded onto the action it will only go on about half a turn. I stopped there as I didn't want to force anything. I did some research and it seems the issue is the "peaks" of the threads are cut a little taller and sharper then the factory barrel. Visual inspection seemed to confirm this. A known issue with tolerance stacking that some people can run into with prefits? The most often recommended remedy seemed to be lightly sanding the threads with very fine grit sandpaper/emery cloth to knock the peaks down a couple .001", cleaning the grit off thoroughly, and test fitting until it fits properly. Has anyone else run into this issue? I'm a little apprehensive to start sanding on the thing after it's finally arrived looking so nice, but a barrel I can't install onto the action isn't doing me any good. Any other suggestions?

[Robinhood]

The factory threads can be as small as 1.055, where often someone cutting threads single point may be as much as .0075 larger. also it is not uncommon for metal to get pushed to the peak in the thread cutting process. You will find many machinist will use an abrasive like cratex or even roll sandpaper to remove that proud metal.

You can measure the OD of the threads. If it is larger than 1.055 it would not hurt to wrap some abrasive around the threads and give it a few twist taking time to measure often. The pitch diameter will not be affected and the amount of thread engagement percentage wise is not impacted that much either. Remember, the area you are sanding is small and things can happen quickly.

[eddiesindian]

Mr. Skinner (apache barrel) finally came through! Received my 26" .243 X caliber bull barrel last week ,I installed it, shot it this weekend and wouldn't you know, I found the load it likes 40 rounds in to load development. 4 rounds thru the same hole, one 1/16" off @100... Couldn't believe my eyes. 107gr SMK , Lapua brass,BR2 Primers, 38.5gr H4831sc. 020 off the lands. If I repeat it again this weekend, I'll take pics and clock the load. It was worth the 6 month wait.

[BlueDog]

Mr. Skinner (apache barrel) finally came through! It was worth the 6 month wait.

Congrats! Really glad you’re happy with it. Looking forward for the pics. I wish I only had to wait six months, I’m now 367 days waiting. But perhaps it will shoot better the longer I have to wait?!? Lol.

[eddiesindian]

Congrats! Really glad you’re happy with it. Looking forward for the pics. I wish I only had to wait six months, I’m now 367 days waiting. But perhaps it will shoot better the longer I have to wait?!? Lol.
Truth be known. I started showing concern when he wouldn't answer any of my email. Finally got a hold of him through he's order page. Asked him about my order. He confessed it got lost in the shuffle. He chambered, threaded both ends and had it delivered in 3 days. You may want to get a hold of him through he's order page