Recommend g'smith in Orange County, CA?

[Average Guy]

Hi, all. I saw that course flyer with Rob Haught on it, looking all cool with his Scattergun Tech shotgun, and decided it was finally time to buy a ghost ring sight for my Mossberg 500, which I did (what's funny is, the guy I e-mailed the flyer to told me he'd done the same thing). I got mine on eBay for $69 total; he got his at www.cheaperthandirt.com for $55 + shipping. Grr. Anyway, to my question:

I'll need a gunsmith to attach the front sight. Can anyone recommend a good shop/smith in the north-ish Orange County, CA area? Bolsa Gunsmithing in Westminster is the closest (heck, the only) that I know of near me (405 and 22 freeways), but after the way they treated me on the phone (post-sale, of course), I'm reluctant to go back. Even south LA county (Long Beach) would work.

Thanks!

 

[aguyindallas]

The only smith I know that was any good in SoCal is at Condor Guns in Desert Hot Springs....probably about an hour or hour and a half from you.

You may give them a call.

 

[Average Guy]

Thanks for speaking out.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

ask them if they have a mill available.

the standard method of front sight attachment for the mossberg is silver soldering it in place, and that gets expensive, especially when the gunsmith wants to refinish the barrel and whatnot.

the way i attached it was to increase the size of the step in the front of the ramp on the mill, drill a hole in the large flat spit i made, drill a hole in the flat spot ahead of the actual blade, and, using the existing bead hole and a newly drilled and tapped hole, screw it on with allen head cap screws.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Average Guy,

Why not hand your shotgun over to Andrew?

He'll bling it out and make you looks even more studly.

HS/LC fo' life!

Peace outside,
Jim

 

[Average Guy]

I would be more than happy to have Andrew do it, but he doesn't have access to the equipment right now. And you know how anxious we get about our toys.

FYI, Evans (in Orange?) will do it (silver solder and refinish) for $100 if the receiver needs to be drilled/tapped (don't think so), or $75 for the front only.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Average Guy,

You're too savage for me.

You don't need ghost rings, you have your savagery!

Jim

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

that ain't that bad a price for getting the front installed.

if your 500 is even remotely current, it'll already have the right holes.

 

[Average Guy]

Update

Turned it over to Bolsa Gunsmithing today at lunch. (Man, do I LOVE my new job! They literally kick everyone out of the office by 5:30. More time to spend at home on THR.) The gentleman behind the counter was just that, and very friendly (maybe they got rid of the rude smith). He asked whether I'd seen the Trak Lock ghost ring sights and showed me what they had. I told him that I was considering them for my Defender, but the final decision depends on how I like the factory kit on my "low budget test gun." (Wanna do that one, Andrew?)

Cost: $65. If drilling and tapping had been required, $85. 7-10 days. Not too shabby.

Another thing: It occurred to me that I'm not really sure whether my shotguns "fit" me. I mean, they feel fine, but I don't know any different. I'll have them check length of pull when I pick up the Mossy. My question is, how would they make adjustments with a synthetic buttstock?

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

probably the same way i did. bandsaw.

 

[Average Guy]

Could you be more...specific?

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

remove the buttplate, cut the requisite amount off with a bandsaw, remount the buttplate. I beltsanded the buttplate down to try to make it look good, but i advise against it as it rediuices the amount of recoil pad area.

 

[Average Guy]

So how much would you charge me for a half-day shotgun familiarization and modification course?