Also...
Here is a personal email sent to me by Ernie of Red Creek Tactical...not sure why he thought there was anything wrong or negative in the inquiry...natural to want to know the stability & Rep of a company you are considering dropping $3 grand in...ya think?
However, his response was mostly polite & succinct, not sure why he did not just post it here, as I was just the OP trying to get info...not the one implying any negativity, just receiving the knowledgable advice of others...which pretty much seemed reasonable, cautious common sense.
Well, sometimes, we can be wrong...he makes a good case for his work just has not taken the same road as other builders.
Quote:
"
Lewis,
A friend of mine informed me today about your post on M4carbine.net.
It interesting to see some of the replies.
First off, I routinely refer people to Wilson Combat for .458 SOCOM rifles who are looking for a lower priced, more mass produced rifle, or to Rock River. We are s small custom shop and have never represented ourselves otherwise. We build custom 1911’s, Glock’s, M&P’s, etc, as well as custom AR platform rifles and bolt action tactical rifles. We do a limited number of guns each year and don’t have any desire to be larger that we are. There are plenty of “larger” companies in the market for those who “choose” that option.
We have built and supplied guns to many law enforcement agencies and individual officers and have been in the gun industry for over 30 years. One of the firearms instructors for the Utah State Troopers recently sent me an email letting me know he had fired over 6,500 documented rounds through his M4 we built for him without cleaning and without a single malfunction. So, what we build works and these guns are used by people who trust their lives to them.
We also have a fairly significant Cerakote operation and do coating for other shops as well as other manufacturers, such as U.S. Machinegun Armory, Battle Arms Development, etc Yes, my shop is in my house and that’s how I want it for now. It allows me to work late in the evening without interruption and still be there for my family. A personal choice.
As far as the guns we build, they are custom built with the best, most expensive components and much more goes into our guns than many others on the market. As an example, we have worked with Tactical Springs to get custom cryogenically treated chrome silicon springs which we combine with our own buffer system, which help create smoother and more reliable function.
As far as “manufactured in-house” goes, there are only a few manufacturers, such as Colt, who build most of their own components. Noveske, as a good example, is a barrel maker who operated out of the back of PacNor barrels shop for many years (I know, I visited their shop) and they don’t make any of their own components other than the barrel. Art down at SWS in Texas makes their rails, they have their receivers and all other parts made by other companies and only do the assembly.
So, the sum total of a rifle is the parts you use to build it and the care in which its built. If you compare the components in my builds you will see all the main parts are made from billet, not cast and the only parts we use from a standard lower parts kit are the small detents and springs, etc. We do things like use a specially made cutter to precisely face off the upper receiver so it’s perfectly true where it meets up with the barrel. On barrel extensions, they are custom turned to the exact inside diameter of the upper receiver for a press fit, etc. Things not found on lower end mass produced rifles.
So, size is only one metric for a company and if mass produced is what you’re looking for then there are many good options out there. We’re not, and don’t ever want to be in that segment of the market.
Those that know me and know the quality of work we do have no problem with my shop being in my house. As an example Rich Lucibella, the Publisher of SWAT magazine ordered two of the Tomahawks… I have done ammunition and weapons development projects for the military, such as the 5.56mm Optimized round (currently fielded Brown Tip), the Mk-288 Reactive Material Enhanced 50BMG, etc and was a consultant for companies such as Barnes Bullets, where I was involved with their Military and Law Enforcement product strategy and was the guy who got the 300gr TAC-X bullet for the .458 SOCOM developed.
Now, apparently sharing you expertise is a bad thing… Perhaps it would be better if I was a total jerk to customers and didn’t take the time to answer questions and explain things.
The thing about the forums is that there are a lot of nobodies, who desperately want to be somebody and they throw out little snide remarks with no fact or substance to back them up. Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one…
So, when you assess the market and the product offerings available, you should realize that they range from custom built rifles and pistols from reputable small custom shops, to large mass produced gun form large comapnies. What is best depends on your personal needs, preferences and budget. Nuff said.
-Ernie"
Ernest Bray
Red Creek Tactical, LLC
Colt, Glock, SIG-Sauer and Remington Factory Certified Military and LE Armorer
NIC Industries Premier Partner – Manufacturer Certified - Award Winning - Cerakote Applicator
CELL: 801-376-1821 (anytime)
BUS: 801-616-0600
FAX: 801-770-2080
EMAIL:
ernie@redcreektactical.com
Or
ernie.bray@gmail.com
WEBSITE:
www.redcreektactical.com
ADDRESS: 494 North 560 West
American Fork, UT 84003
Bookmarks