Anyone else had to wait extremely long time for a barrel?

[kamrr4437]

I ordered a barrel back in late Feb. Still waiting on it. They say good things come to those who wait but the wait kills lol. I spoke to a friend of mine here in my hometown and he told me he quit building rifles because getting high end barrels takes to long and it makes the people he is building for upset at him. I guess people are ordering the fire out of barrels right now. I was just curious if anyone was waiting like me.

[bwaites]

Who did you order from? High end barrels tend to require some wait, but I don't think there are a lot people who have a 6 month wait right now unless you are ordering something out of the ordinary.

[kamrr4437]

Im ordered a 24 inch cut rifled barrel from Satern Machining. Fluted and crowned. Its been awhile but im willing to wait on it. Ive never heard anything bad about Steves barrels. And usually people say those barrels shoot lights out. But the wait is killing me lol. Im going nuts!

[bwaites]

You do realize that he no longer makes Grendel specification barrels, right? Satern declined to renew their production contract, and had a barrel sale starting several months ago. You might want to check and see if they have any left on their website, but from June 1 forward he is not contracted to make barrels for AA, or licensed to produce either Grendel or Beowulf barrels.

Alexander Arms has contracted to have cut rifled barrels produced by another high end manufacturer.

[RStewart]

Midway USA had some Grendel Satern barrels.

[kamrr4437]

Yeah but my order was put in beforehand so i should still be getting mine built since the order was already in. Thats what Kim there at Satern told me that any orders that were put in will still be completed.

[bwaites]

Yeah but my order was put in beforehand so i should still be getting mine built since the order was already in. Thats what Kim there at Satern told me that any orders that were put in will still be completed.

That will be interesting, since they no longer have a license to produce Grendel barrels, regardless of whether your order was in or not.

You may want to consider either contacting AA for a new cut rifle barrel, or contacting Templar who also makes cut rifle Grendel barrels.

Please keep us apprised of what happens!

[wulfbabe]

Saterns have all the barrels done and have had them done since the cut off. They are just waiting for parts. So please before you speak about others, please have your information correct and not assume they are doing something wrong. I am offended by your comments Mr bwaites. The Saterns are honest people and I take issue with you commenting on things that you know nothing about. I have known the Satern's for many years and I talk to them regularly so yes I do know what is going on.

[bwaites]

Saterns have all the barrels done and have had them done since the cut off. They are just waiting for parts. So please before you speak about others, please have your information correct and not assume they are doing something wrong. I am offended by your comments Mr bwaites. The Saterns are honest people and I take issue with you commenting on things that you know nothing about. I have known the Satern's for many years and I talk to them regularly so yes I do know what is going on.

You are making a large assumption that I believe they have done something wrong. I have said nothing of the sort. You are implying that I believe that they have or may do something wrong.

Lets review....The Saterns posted that they were not going to renew their contract to build Grendel and Beowulf barrels. They had an outstanding order with this individual, who reports that he ordered in February, for a Grendel barrel. They put a fairly significant quantity of barrels on closeout, at least some of those barrels have shipped and people have posted that they have received them.

This man has been waiting for a barrel for 6 months, you state that the barrel is done, but has not been shipped? If the barrel was completed prior to the closeout date, why did it not ship? What parts would not be available for a preorder, when all those other barrels were being sold as closeouts? If, as you state, that parts are being waited for, why weren't those parts that were on closeout barrels used to complete his order, since it was a standing order from many months prior?

No one is insinuating that the Saterns have done anything wrong. The fact is that they have declined to renew their licensing contract, that is simply a business decision, neither good or bad in and of itself. If they have completed their barrel run, and the barrels are done, then why has this man not received his barrel?

If his barrel was not completed prior to the contract cut of date, why has he been left in the dark as to when it will be completed?

One of the huge issues always present with the Saterns is the inability to consistently get information and feedback. People have tried literally for weeks to contact them, after sending many emails, and still never received a reply or phone call.

I shoot a Satern barrel, as do many of my fellow Grendel owners. We like the product, but communication with Satern is always a very rocky road. I needed a 7mm WSM barrel, I left multiple emails and voice mails last winter, yet not once did I get a call back or any response to emails.

The Saterns, from all sides, appear to be good people, but overwhelmed with the business side of running a successful barrel making business.

[LRRPF52]

We see this all the time in this industry and others. Some hard-working, entrepreneurial folks come up with a great idea or a great product, and do their best to bring it to market. People catch wind of it quickly, demand picks up, and the business knuckles down to meet demand.

Paperwork piles up, phones ring off the hook, family members attempt to absorb the administrative end of business, with little or no training, and are often not knowledgeable about the products or services in terms that can be managed through a professional customer service medium. Necessary staff is not hired to compensate for administrative duties, and the health of the owners usually suffers physically, mentally, and socially. Customers become agitated and frustrated with little or no feedback, and finally give up.

Then they tell their friends about their experience, and word spreads. The business suffers, and implodes. Lack of professional business management skills is the number one killer of some of the best small businesses with excellent products and services, and has been for a long time.

Customers in an information vacuum will cease to be customers, no matter the industry. I hope Satern is able to address these challenges, as they make an excellent product that shoots phenomenally well. If they can structure their business to handle the administrative aspects of normal business operations in a professional manner, they will be enormously successful.

[sloan]

Talkin s--- with 3 post, troll----sloan

[bwaites]

Talkin s--- with 3 post, troll----sloan

Actually, I don't think its that so much as being easily provoked. I actually like people who stand up for their friends! I stood up for the Saterns many times on the old board, simply because I knew they were growing and it was hard to keep up, even though I never had a chance to talk with them. Saterns are, by all accounts, good people. They made a business decision. So be it.

Unfortunately, they don't communicate much, which as LRRP pointed out is a problem with many small businesses that grow fast. I always hoped that they would eventually find a way to get some better customer relations and information out there, but so far it hasn't happened.

They do build good product and have done so in the past, so hopefully they can figure this out.

[wulfbabe]

Sorry I deleted my last post, didn't mean too. Very new to this. I am sorry that I got short with you, didn't mean to. Not a troll, just new!

[kamrr4437]

Out of all the barrel makers i could have picked. It had to be a Satern for me. I did talk to Satern Machining today actually and was told by Kim a couple of weeks. The time constraint was not really an issue i just wanted it to be built by them specifically. And they told me the barrel was already chambered before the June 1st deadline. So im a happy camper! They have never been nothing but nice to me no matter how many times i have called or emailed them. Its a shame to be losing such a fine company from the Grendel industry.

Keith

[dpw4x4]

Ordered one from shilen 19 weeks before it will ship and its a 6.5 grendel when you build them to what you want its werth the wait

[ARMANIAC]

Try waiting over a year. My Rock Creek/ABS barrel took that long. I think I blew up ABS's phone but in the end, I got exactly what I wanted and it's all good.