If you're in this industry long enough, a day or two, you'll undoubtably come across a buyer with "no budget, just want the very best." That always lasts until you spec out a build and present the potential buyer with a price. At that point, you find out what the budget really is and you go from there. 
So, it happed again the other day. I had a perspective customer come into the shop and start asking about the possibility of building him a long range Grendel. The conversation went a little like this.
Customer: "Let's say I want to shoot a target, or even an animal, really far away, like really really far, and I want to shoot it with an AR-15. Could you build me something to do that?"
Me: "Absolutely, I'd be happy to. First we have to nail down some specifics then I'll put together some options for you. First, what are your goals? Second, do we need to worry about things like weight, overall length, etc? What about your budget?"
Customer: "I already said, I just want to shoot things really far away. There is a long range contest at my gun range in May, I want to win. I don't care what it takes. It doesn't matter if it's long and heavy, heavy might even be good, less recoil. Oh, big scope so I can see far."
Me: "Budget?"
Customer: "Do I look like I care what it costs?"
Okay then... I've built a number of custom guns for this customer before so I already know his preferences. Furthermore, I'm very familiar with what he already has in his safe (and has thus rejected for this competition in May) so I have an idea of where this is headed. Here is what I spec'd out for him;
After getting it all spec'd out and figuring out pricing, I had a quick chat w/my customer. I passed on some numbers expecting full well to quote a few alternatives, things like dropping the Seekins upper/rail and going with something more "conventional". "How would that affect accuracy," was the primary question I was expecting to hear. I must have had 3-4 backup scope choices queued up as well, for the exact same reason. Instead, the answer that awaited me was simply, "Sounds good. Order it up! How soon can I have it?" :eek:
Alright, another one of these. I've had a few of these builds over the years. Guys are drop dead serious, even willing to pay more for expedited shipping from my suppliers, cause they need it, quick! Then, when it's all done and ready to go, they can't make it to the shop, they need to renew their purchase/carry permit (don't get me started), they had some bills come up, etc. I get it, life happens, but custom builds are every bit the risk/investment for the builder as they are for the customer.
Long story short, I know enough to ask for a down payment on one of these. So, I tip-toe into the topic... "You know, a build like this is pretty specific. I'm going to need a down payment on this one. I'm sure that you understand." Without missing a beat my customer replies, "Really??? Dad??? Just build me the gun. I think that I've earned it." Sigh... He's not wrong. He's been through a LOT and it won't be ending anytime soon either (kidney transplant is imminent, after nearly 30 surgeries and ~75 hours of cross-clamped bypass, it's no surprise). Shooting is really the only option for competition he has at the moment and I'm not about to quench that fire. As a result, my tax return and annual bonus is being reallocated and the medical bills will need to remain on the payment plan.
Watch out guys, Blake is already one hell of a shot at distance. He routinely shoots a 6" steel plate at 250y and will chew through boxes of ammo between misses with an "adequately accurate" .223. I'll almost feel sorry for the guys showing up with decked out turn-bolt Creedmores that my 9 year-old beats with his gas gun using lighter/slower bullets, almost. I told him that the qualifier was to hit a 9" steel plate at 200y once in 5 tries and he laughed himself into a stupor. I'm really glad that understands that different levels of behavior are acceptable at different times. I just hope that an upcoming transplant doesn't get in the way of this shoot, they don't do this at our local range very often.
Build pics to come. Parts should start rolling in as early as tomorrow.
So, it happed again the other day. I had a perspective customer come into the shop and start asking about the possibility of building him a long range Grendel. The conversation went a little like this.
Customer: "Let's say I want to shoot a target, or even an animal, really far away, like really really far, and I want to shoot it with an AR-15. Could you build me something to do that?"
Me: "Absolutely, I'd be happy to. First we have to nail down some specifics then I'll put together some options for you. First, what are your goals? Second, do we need to worry about things like weight, overall length, etc? What about your budget?"
Customer: "I already said, I just want to shoot things really far away. There is a long range contest at my gun range in May, I want to win. I don't care what it takes. It doesn't matter if it's long and heavy, heavy might even be good, less recoil. Oh, big scope so I can see far."
Me: "Budget?"
Customer: "Do I look like I care what it costs?"
Okay then... I've built a number of custom guns for this customer before so I already know his preferences. Furthermore, I'm very familiar with what he already has in his safe (and has thus rejected for this competition in May) so I have an idea of where this is headed. Here is what I spec'd out for him;
- Six Sigma Arms Lower
- AR Gold Trigger
- KNS Trigger Pins (FDE)
- Magpul PRSv3 (FDE)
- Magpul MOE+ Grip (FDE)
- Magpul MOE Trigger Guard (FDE)
- Geissele LPK
- Seekins Precision IRMT-3 v3 Upper
- Seekins Precision SP3R v3 MRS MLOK
- LaRue MLOK Rail Panels (FDE)
- Geissele CH (DDT)
- Lilja AR24 6.5 Grendel (DC FDE)
- Lilja Maxim bolt + TC carrier
- APA Gen3 Fat Bastard
- Wojtek Adjustable GB
- Geissele 34mm SP Mount (DDT)
- Schmidt & Bender 3-20x50 PM II H58 (RAL8000)
- Magpul MLOK Bipod
- Built/tuned for LR accuracy
- + Misc small parts
After getting it all spec'd out and figuring out pricing, I had a quick chat w/my customer. I passed on some numbers expecting full well to quote a few alternatives, things like dropping the Seekins upper/rail and going with something more "conventional". "How would that affect accuracy," was the primary question I was expecting to hear. I must have had 3-4 backup scope choices queued up as well, for the exact same reason. Instead, the answer that awaited me was simply, "Sounds good. Order it up! How soon can I have it?" :eek:
Alright, another one of these. I've had a few of these builds over the years. Guys are drop dead serious, even willing to pay more for expedited shipping from my suppliers, cause they need it, quick! Then, when it's all done and ready to go, they can't make it to the shop, they need to renew their purchase/carry permit (don't get me started), they had some bills come up, etc. I get it, life happens, but custom builds are every bit the risk/investment for the builder as they are for the customer.
Long story short, I know enough to ask for a down payment on one of these. So, I tip-toe into the topic... "You know, a build like this is pretty specific. I'm going to need a down payment on this one. I'm sure that you understand." Without missing a beat my customer replies, "Really??? Dad??? Just build me the gun. I think that I've earned it." Sigh... He's not wrong. He's been through a LOT and it won't be ending anytime soon either (kidney transplant is imminent, after nearly 30 surgeries and ~75 hours of cross-clamped bypass, it's no surprise). Shooting is really the only option for competition he has at the moment and I'm not about to quench that fire. As a result, my tax return and annual bonus is being reallocated and the medical bills will need to remain on the payment plan.
Watch out guys, Blake is already one hell of a shot at distance. He routinely shoots a 6" steel plate at 250y and will chew through boxes of ammo between misses with an "adequately accurate" .223. I'll almost feel sorry for the guys showing up with decked out turn-bolt Creedmores that my 9 year-old beats with his gas gun using lighter/slower bullets, almost. I told him that the qualifier was to hit a 9" steel plate at 200y once in 5 tries and he laughed himself into a stupor. I'm really glad that understands that different levels of behavior are acceptable at different times. I just hope that an upcoming transplant doesn't get in the way of this shoot, they don't do this at our local range very often.
Build pics to come. Parts should start rolling in as early as tomorrow.
