How To Choose A Gun Smith?

[MG5150]

G'day Gents

I'm keen to get the triggers adjusted on my rifles - how does one go about finding/choosing a good gunsmith?

Happy to take recommendations for Vic, preferably Melbourne or Mansfield area.

[No1Mk3]

Word of mouth, and talking to your local dealerships about who they use, not many do the work themselves but send the work out to people they know. Kudu Services would have been available from where you are but he was always booked well in advance and I heard he was having some health issues so not sure he is still taking on work. have you spoken to the folks at Mansfield Hunting about who they use? Personally I'm fortunate to have friends in my rifle club who are gunsmiths as well as a former RAEME Armourer who has wide sporting firearms knowledge so haven't had the need to seek outside services for some years, on that basis ask around at your local club as well as here.

[womble]

How to find a gunsmith is the bigger problem.

And when will you get your gun back ..someday maybe.

If you can’t find one there’s one at Pakenham Firearms. Any good or not I have no idea. But a trigger job is not particularly challenging.

Finding Pakenham Firearms would be your next problem. Because it’s very well hidden. Dose’nt seem to exist on any maps.

It’s not Hunt the Night. It’s a different place.

[Wapiti]

Have you considered doing the work yourself?
There's huge info on virtually anything out there, either on YouTube or online.
What's great about YouTube is that, despite people mocking these videos, people actually show you how it's done and in doing so, show you that it's quite easy. And that they actually can do what they say.
Don't laugh or listen to people who will tell you that this stuff is some kind of black magic - trigger mechanisms are just simple mechanical systems.
Changing springs, substituting them with commonly available options anyone can find, or polishing surfaces is terribly easy.

I might have a different outlook to some as originally a metal tradesperson, in that I was taught by my dad that if someone else can do that magic thing that seems impossible, so can you. It's all in your head, the brain that is open to learn and the belief that you can. You just need the info to shortcut your learning.

[jezzab]

I agree with Wapiti, I would give it a go yourself. I have stripped my PCP and modded every part of it, adjusted the trigger on a couple of my Tikkas, swapped barrels and triggers on my CZ457, swapped stocks on just about every rifle, changed bolt handles, extended lever on my CZ515 etc etc. I have friends that are too afraid to touch their rifles but its not rocket science and as mentioned, there is usually a lot of info online and most stuff if easy to work out.

Dry fire and test how light it feels, check the safety works correctly after you do it, slap the butt on the ground and make sure it doesnt go off. Just simple checks, if they fail then check it again. Worst case you can just put it back the way it was

My 2c anyway

[TuskerOrd]

Word of mouth is in my opinion the best. I don't advertise, I very much prefer that my customers vouch for me - be it good or bad.

Customers have nothing to loose, so in most cases customers will give an honest referral. I normally troll the forums, shooters and hunters will give praise where due, so if a name comes up regularly, in a positive way, you can kind of put your trust there.

[Billo]

I tend to think Gunsmiths choose their own customers these days