Best Gunsmith

[Rand McNally]

I'd vote for Ryan Zelinka at Bill's. His knowledge is top notch, he is fast and very fair. Between him and John Burnice, you can pretty much answer EVERY gun related question on the planet. These two are walking encyclopedias...

[northernglocker]

Jesus this place is nuts. Someone makes a comment, a perfectly legit comment, about the fact that there is a big difference between armorers and gunsmiths and the fact that many who are armorers refer to themselves as gunsmiths. This is true, but a member takes offence and makes it into a personal attack, sheesh. I tellya.
As for good gunsmiths, Ireally like Pat Laib in Spicer MN, only guy I will ever allow to work on my shotguns.

[northernglocker]

BTW, Pat gave me no money or services for saying this

[jshuberg]

Who are the gunsmiths generally considered the most reputable,talented, and honest in or near the Twin Cities?

What kind of work are you having done?

[user293]

another + 1 for grundhauser gun works. won area 3 C class open this year, my first time at a big level 3 match and used his pistol. this comes from someone who just shoots his gun he made for me, and i would highly recommend his work. hes a great guy, and knows his stuff.

[SGT.E.USMC]

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[Rem700]

Ryan thanks for your service.

Love the intro

[Sammichman]

Certainly not a Major Gun Build ,,but Ahlmans installed a scope mount and Modified the Bolt on my Yugo M48,,,the price was right the turnaround time was Fast the work looked nice and the Rifle is on Target,,,I plan to use them again on some of my Euro trigger mods

[yuppiejr]

I was pleased with the speed and quality of the barrel cut & recrown service I got done at Capra's in Blaine on my Remington 700 varmint contour .308, gun went out on Wednesday smack in the middle of rifle hunting season and I had it back the following Wednesday.

[SGT.E.USMC]

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[peckerhead]

One thing I've learned, is the ability to assemble a firearm and swap out some parts does not a gunsmith make. Make sure you find a smith, not an armorer....... If that is in fact what you are looking for. It seems to me that an awful lot of armorers are calling themselves gunsmiths.

I think that's good advice for skilled craftsman across the board, not just gunsmiths. There's a difference between a true mechanic and a "parts changer." It seems that the chain stores employee a lot of the latter - guys who just plug in the code reader and replace the parts where the computer indicates a problem. A true mechanic does his own diagnostic work, sometimes finding that it's only severe corrosion on the battery terminals and perhaps time for an inexpensive terminal replacement rather than a new alternator at a 100% markup (which wouldn't even fix the problem).

My first true love is music and guitars. There are A TON of hacks out there who don't even qualify as repairmen, much less luthiers. If the gunsmith scene is anywhere near as bad, that really worries me.

Maybe asking for testimonies from dissatisfied customers would be a good elimination tool. People with bad experiences are far more likely to vocalize their opinions than those with positive ones. I remember a guy on here posting pictures of his vintage Browning shotgun that had been butchered by a "gunsmith."

Isn't that the truth.

As someone who has had two Fender Telecasters pretty much destroyed at the hands of "repairmen" over the years, I agree wholeheartedly. I'm getting ready to get some work done on one of my rifles. God help me.

[peckerhead]

This is a loaded question. (yes, I'm aware of the pun. Quite proud of it actually. )

Please take the time to get references for your gunsmith. You will get responses like "Try my son", or "Look up my cousin, He's a gunsmith" etc. etc. Try to get a recommendation from someone who was a customer of these smiths, not just a neighbor, friend or family member. You will likely be much more pleased with your outcome.

One thing I've learned, is the ability to assemble a firearm and swap out some parts does not a gunsmith make. Make sure you find a smith, not an armorer....... If that is in fact what you are looking for. It seems to me that an awful lot of armorers are calling themselves gunsmiths.

That being said it is also helpful to know what it is you need done. Like any other specialty, there are smiths that are better at some things than others.

I'm one (if not the one) that Strad is poking here because I routinely recommend my son and our custom shop when people ask about a gunsmith - but I take great offense at your comment: "not just a... family member...you will likely be much more pleased with the outcome."

Jason's guns are regarded by his customers to be some of the best and most accurate rifles they have ever shot.

If you want testimonials from customers than call and ask
Ryan Eskandary USMC at:
612-298-2800
Ryan4784@hotmail.com

Or try another customer of ours that Jason had built numerous firearms for and that would be:
Daryl Siewart at:
(651) 387-5633
biffieboy1969@msn.com

Jason himself can give you other customers as referrals IF YOU ONLY WERE TO CALL HIM AT 952-200-8823 or visit his web site at tacticalfirepower.com

Jason is a graduate of Pine Technical Gunsmithing School. Some of the others here have mentioned Matt in Grand Rapids as being a great Gunsmith. If it is the same Matt I know - he was one of Jason's teachers who is now retired. A diploma'd gunsmith has had machine classes and can run mills, lathes etc. Armorers as Strad said do not always have that skill though some may.

When you do find a good gunsmith then keep him close as they really are hard to come by. And before you disparage any because their father is really proud of the work they do for others and the compliments others give the father about their son's work - at least have the balls to know what you're talking about before inserting the foot.

I'm not knowledgeable where gunsmithing is concerned. But between the frivolous threats of legal action against forum members posted by you over the years, the endorsement of mall ninja ammunition, and the content of your classes, I know enough to stay well clear of you, and anyone you happen to recommend.

And no, that is not trade libel.

[LarryP]

I'd ship it to those guys who live in the basement on the American Gun tv show

[walstien]

Bring any trigger to Ryan at Bill's and see what happens. You're gonna like it.

[Sammichman]

Anybody have any experience with Dicks In Lakeville,,,Thanks