Any gunsmiths in OC?

[Deleted member 9396]

+1 for Shoot SoCal

 

[Secret]

ArmStrong Arms in Laguna Niguel can help you with just about anything. They have fixed everything from old bolt guns to some of my gun projects. Not necessarily OC but worth a visit. Just make sure you bring your gun with you and they will give you a quote over the counter.

Yes, but call first for an appointment. They operate off appointment only. They're my primary gunsmith and they are excellent.

Would you recommend them to restore a browning hi power with new parts, like say MK3 Firearms style?

 

[Mil-Dot]

Applied Kinteics in Fullerton

 

[Striker777]

I would stay away from Bolsa, many years ago they wanted to charge me 50 dollars to help me punch a single pin into my gun. The guy said it would take him less than a minuet to do it so I walked away and left a nasty review on Google. I get it that's how they make their money but 1 minuet does not equal 50 bucks.

I don't know about what they charge is fair or not but not real happy with their work.

 

[spacecataz]

Would you recommend them to restore a browning hi power with new parts, like say MK3 Firearms style?

I've seen a lot of variety in the kinds of firearms that go across their counter. I'll wager they could do it. Call 'em!

 

[slixx]

Anyone know of any shops in OC that sells a good selection of 1911/2011 parts such as hammers, sears, disco, thumb safety's, springs and so forth?

 

[john323]

I'm not in OC however I have a good assortment of all 1911 parts.

 

[Batman]

I'll just say that in my opinion, my experience with Armstrong Arms wasn't satisfactory, and if you want more details, please PM me.

 

[secretaznman]

Looking for a 2011 savy gunsmith somewhere in the OC area. I have some questions about my 2011.

Same, someone who knows Staccatos and 1911s too since I have a few high end ones. I've been struggling to find a good one locally, so I decided to be my own gunsmith.

Getting certified armorer for 1911 (doing this in a week) via Colt and getting my 01 FFL so I can go learn how to build 1911s.

 

[secretaznman]

ArmStrong Arms in Laguna Niguel can help you with just about anything. They have fixed everything from old bolt guns to some of my gun projects. Not necessarily OC but worth a visit. Just make sure you bring your gun with you and they will give you a quote over the counter.

I've used them, they are specialist in older guns but I have to say the wait time is ridiculous. I had an older pistol that's banged up cerakoted. He did a great job and I'd recommend but it took 7 months!

I asked to have a muzzle device attached and they said the current wait time is 4-6 weeks.

 

[AR15barrels]

I asked to have a muzzle device attached and they said the current wait time is 4-6 weeks.

I do perm attach jobs while-you-wait and lots of people from OC come see me for that reason.
The main reason that many shops have long turnarounds on perm attach jobs is that they do not do them in-house.
I do perm attach jobs for shops that collect them up and then bring them over to me once a month.

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

Every gunsmith has ups and downs. Good experience and bad experience. I can say the same about AR15Barrels, he reused a used crush washer (<0.50 cents new) to pin and weld a muzzle device on my AR, and that was crooked, sold it on Calguns (luckily not at a loss) and told the buyer who did the p/w which he wasn't surprised either. Also the P/W jobs from here would be getting a "WTF" meme for having the biggest "P/W show" where the Weld occurs and it leave that unsightly P/W mark on the muzzle device. I think he may have learned to blind it now, but many years ago, nah.

At Armstrong Arms, their attitude just sucks ass.

Bolsa is great at fixing Berettas as they are the only authorized Olympic level Beretta fixers in SoCal or something like that, wouldn't trust them for anything else for fixes that isn't Beretta.

Applied Kinetics is the hidden gem, he gets my money. (Plus he is Asian which I am as well, if you don't think race plays any factor in 2A world, look at Calguns.net, good ol' boys and all.)

If you get gunsmith work at The Heavy Machine, just remember that they were previously Republic Rifle in Laguna (same owner, mixed reviews, with toward the end of business closure at RR lead to them stealing/keeping many customers' slides and uppers.)

 

[slixx]

I'm not in OC however I have a good assortment of all 1911 parts.

Where are you located? Do you have a shop or a small biz out of your house?

 

[Rickvs]

I'll try to put this a nice way.
People don't bring me their guns that Bolsa did a good job on.
There are probably lots of those, I just don't see them because nothing is wrong with them.
I am the guy that people bring their wounded and helpless guns that the customer or some other shop messed up.
I have fixed lots of guns that were previously at Bolsa for work and then needed corrective surgery to restore proper function.
I would not use them for any type of barrel work like threading, crowns, chambers or perm attach jobs, basically anything on a barrel requiring actual machining.

They may have gotten better since Fred turned over operations to Jason. My brother used to work there a long time ago and did almost all their rifle work and all lathe work. He had graduated from Yavapai College Gunmithing in AZ. When he left, no one knew how to operate their old lathe. Another machinist friend had to go in and show someone how to run it, but it was never top quality machine work after Randy left and moved to AZ. Fred was a great stock worker, though.

Randall (AR15barrels) does excellent work while you wait.

 

[john323]

Where are you located? Do you have a shop or a small biz out of your house?

Monterey Park Ca 91754. 323-722-3903
Work out of my home

 

[willssmithing]

Looking for a 2011 savy gunsmith somewhere in the OC area. I have some questions about my 2011.

We are not in OC, but, not too far away in Corona. Will's Gunsmithing specializes in 1911/2011

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

My newest experience. I had a faxon barrel that needed to be fit on a factory receiver. A 10/22.

I called Applied Kinetics, and bro already knew what needed to be done to fit onto receiver. (I looked online and knew what needed to be done through various sources with top 2 solutions.) I knew my gun would be in capable hands at AK. He gave me exact $ quote and approximate turn-around.

Well... I set the appt few days out, so I figure I'd compare this skilled gunsmith to another somewhat reputable gunsmith. I called Armstrong Arms.

They could not give me a quote over phone like AK, nor they seemed to be too knowledged in one of the most common rifles in CA. So I set a time to go bring it to them in person, they took my name and #. I go in, and they have no clue about me stopping by on agreed time and they had to look through their computer. (Man I called like an hour ago.) So poor CS off the bat. Then the front guy took it to their gunsmiths and brought it back, and when I asked him for quote, and the numbers he gave was that it could be 50% to 200% extra on top of what AK quoted me at. I took my stuff back and waited for my AK appt.

Applied Kinetics appt day, I went and he took it back to attempt thermal fit (the 1 of 2 solution), and could not and told me he needed to lathe, etc. (the more certain 1 of 2 solution). He gave invoice for what he quoted me over phone few days before.

If you are in OC, go to Applied Kinetics first and foremost in my opinion, the owner is very knowledgeable and highly capable gunsmith. The only reason I keep having trying other places is the distance to location, but 90% of the time I go to Applied Kinetics.

The 1 time I went elsewhere, where the person was highly reputable gave me a work done like by a bubba.

 

[Paradiddle]

Any current recommendations for a good Smith and Wesson revolver smith? Competition tuning, trigger work, etc.

 

[willssmithing]

Any current recommendations for a good Smith and Wesson revolver smith? Competition tuning, trigger work, etc.

Will's Gunsmithing specializes in Smith & Wesson Revolvers. We are located in Corona, CA

 

[Pistolero]

The guy I trust in the OC for gunsmith is David at AFAB in Fullerton. Cool ass shop and guy does everything in house. Cerakote, polishing, gold plating etc. Dude is quality