GB on Wild West Guns Guide Gun in .457 WW Magnum / .45-70 - UPDATE II PG 2 - NOT HAPPENING

Cold and I put our heads together and decided this would be a cool project. We played with it at SHOT and it's the next step.

Wild West Guns is a custom shop out of Anchorage, Alaska. www.wildwestguns.com

The Guide Gun is a Marlin .45-70 guide gun custom smithed. The rifle is also chambered for .457 Wild West Magnum which will cycle .45-70 as well.


Info on the .457 Mag
www.wildwestguns.com/Reloading/457Data/457data.html

Other features are:

Barrel length 18.5 inches
Recoil Control Porting System
Straight style Wood Stock Cut to Your Length of Pull
Pachmayr Decelerator pad
Action tuned for reliability
WWG Trigger Happy Kit installed and set at approx. 3lbs
Safety Vented Magazine Tube
WWG Ghost Ring Rear Sight
Williams Fire Sight in red with skeletonized hood
Mil-Spec Parkerized finish
Test Fired


Options we are working on are Wild West Big Loop Lever ($149), Initial Engraving ($85) and a few other things.

The rifle usually sells for $1320, we are seeing interest which would determine price.

We are looking at doing a GB for their .457 WW Magnum ammo as well.

Feel free to email Cold or I for questions.

I picked up a WWG take-down version in 357mag recently, and it is a fine piece of work!!

Would you consider the 1895SS instead of the Guide Gun? When I visited the shop a few years ago one of the staff enumerated the advantages. I do believe one was that with the semi-pistol grip it was easier to hold the weapon with one hand whilst reloading.

I have an 1895 that I do plan on sending in soon for a Guide Gun treatment. I don't see the take down ability as worth $550.

They will also apply Gun Kote over the parkerizing for an additional fee.

Originally Posted By stony275: Would you consider the 1895SS instead of the Guide Gun? When I visited the shop a few years ago one of the staff enumerated the advantages. I do believe one was that with the semi-pistol grip it was easier to hold the weapon with one hand whilst reloading. I have an 1895 that I do plan on sending in soon for a Guide Gun treatment. I don't see the take down ability as worth $550. They will also apply Gun Kote over the parkerizing for an additional fee.

Stony,

We are working out details. Right now I am just trying to gauge interest. If WW Guns wants to do options so people can semi spec their own rifle then we will try to do that.

Consider selling your 1895 and going with this instead!

These guys do great work. I am in the shop every chance I get to drool over their stuff.

I might be intereste depending on price point and date money is needed
Chris

Interested... Looking for solid details... Wonder if a .458 SOCOM Vortex would fit on one of these barrels... I want a "tactical" .457 WW!!!

Spooky

I would be in as well. I bought the SOCOM .458. Very Pleased. Lets do it with a April/May time frame.

Iritei

I was at the Shot SHOW in Vegas last week with Teppo Jutsu and Marty. while wandering around happened upon these guys from Alaska with a sweet LEVER gun. I spoke with Steve and Ken for about 30 minutes and we definately can get this going, also, I called Jim West, owner and as he said "the wildest of the Wests" he is also very interested in doing some group buy work for us, so lets see what we can get in terms of interest and you all know I will take it from there!


UPDATE AT BOTTOM

Originally Posted By stony275: I don't see the take down ability as worth $550.

Indeed pricey, but so damn cool!! (I assume you've handled one since you visited their shop, you must have strong willpower to resist ) Also great for those who value the portability.

tag

Is this a 50% down / 50% on delivery, or all up front deal?

Originally Posted By MeagerMouse: Is this a 50% down / 50% on delivery, or all up front deal?

Yes indeed, thats what me and Jim West discussed, its pretty much standard procedure

I've got one and I love it. Jim is great to work with. I looked at one at shotshow 2003 (Orlando) and like esskay said the take down is way cool, so I bought it. Only downside, is I think the fact that the mag moves rules out the rail mount. I've been meaning to call WWG and see if I can send them the bbl and have it TIG'd on to the tube and re parked.

Obviously I'm not in for the GB, However, I would suggest someone find a decent case for the std gun. Jim sold me a AR or Mini-14 type case, but there ought to be something a little smaller, maybe with quality padding (not that jim represented this case as being anything fancy). It's too tall with the scout scope for a shotgun case, and way too short for the scoped rifle case. Some guy at SHOT -2004 took an order for a generic-quality short scoped rife case that he said was just big enough for a Rem Model 7 with scope, but it never showed up and I lost his number.

Also the guide gun is supposed to shoot .410 shotgun shells.

Country Boy

Ok,

One picture just doesn't do this rifle justice... I found these on some auction site a while back. They are the best pictures I've seen of these rifles... I believe the only difference between this rifle and the GB rifle is the scope set up, the big loop option, and the stock shell holder...

Spooky

Spooky,

We are working on the big loop lever...Going to try and have that be part of the GB. It is truly a "must have" once you actually play with the rifle.

I wonder where they got the stock shell holder....that's exactly what I would want.

Great pics! That thing is SOO sweet.

Tag for info on price. Would love to get in on this if the price is right.

Never having participated in group buy before, my question is, what am I looking at in terms of savings?

Originally Posted By stony275: Never having participated in group buy before, my question is, what am I looking at in terms of savings?

We don't know, the number of rifles included in the GB will directly affect the price. So the more people we get saying they are interested the more discount we will all get.

Saying you are interested here does not mean you are obligated to buy. But we have to see if there is enough interest out there to even make the 25 minimum. We need at least 25 to do anything.

As soon as we finalize we will let you all know, I promise you.

Interested

somewhat interested

Hi,

Interested

Tagged with possible interest. My 1895SS is one of my favorite guns.

ETA: Would there be a price diff if I send them my 1895 to rework for the GB?

ETA II: Here's another example of WWG workmanship on THR.

Originally Posted By 6530: Tagged with possible interest. My 1895SS is one of my favorite guns. ETA: Would there be a price diff if I send them my 1895 to rework for the GB?

We will be calling Wild West Guns on Monday to speak with them concerning specifics on the Gb. We will add this question to the list, thanks for the interest.

6530,

Thanks for the link... The more pictures I see the more I want one! HEY - EVERYBODY!!! SIGN UP FOR A WWG LEVER ACTION!!! DO IT NOW!!!

Spooky

tag (possibly interested).

I have had a strong hankering for a quality big bore lever action. Can't wait to hear the details. Very interested.

I realize there are a number of variables to nail down. But, if I can send in the 18955SS that I already own, and there is a siginificant savings then count me in on the group buy.

I really prefer the 1895 to the Guide Gun.

Stoney,

Could you explain the difference between the 1895 and the Guide Gun? I've always thought they are about the same...

Spooky

I'm not stony, but the diffs are that the Guide Gun has a shorter barrel (18.5" vs. 22") and the Guide Gun doesn't have the pistol grip stock.

Guide Gun blue


Guide Gun stainless


1895


stony, correct me if there's anything else.

Thanks 6530!

Looks like the loops are just a little different as well. Is there a big difference in cost? I wonder why you want all that barrel and then end up chopping it off? I do like the pistol grip better!

Spooky

Originally Posted By Spooky130: Thanks 6530! Looks like the loops are just a little different as well. Is there a big difference in cost? I wonder why you want all that barrel and then end up chopping it off? I do like the pistol grip better! Spooky

Yeah, I didn't notice that the levers are different. Though this GB may include a big loop (been looking at one for my 1895 anyway, though).

I think the typical WWG Guide Gun is an 18.5" barrel. You bring up a good point on the barrel chopping - I'd have to think that one over.

I'm considering sending mine in to reduce my cost. It depends on what the final pricing is. If I can go by WWG's site it looks like you can deduct $385 if you provide your own rifle. If that's the case in thos GB, I may just keep my 1895 since it's worth more to me than $385. If you don't send one in you get the base gun for $385 which is a great price (I think that makes sense...

You would be hard pressed to find a 1895 or a GG for less than $385. For some reason I bet they get pretty good deals on them!

You are right - the lever would become a non-issue if you went with the Big Loop Lever. Besides, if you get the big one, you can look at your old lever on eBay!

I wish they would add a tube extension - it would make sense to use up all the extra room under the barrel but would add a little weight. I also wonder if there is enough room under the barrel for another shell anyhow.

Spooky

tag

I have the co-pilot,. It's great.

Originally Posted By THellURider: We are working out details. Right now I am just trying to gauge interest. If WW Guns wants to do options so people can semi spec their own rifle then we will try to do that.

IS caliber one of the possible "tweaks"? I'd love to get in on this group buy, but I have another caliber in mind. Do you think I could spec it out for the GB, pay for it, and then wait for it to be built and arrive later?

Thanks.

Originally Posted By warriorsociologist: Originally Posted By THellURider: We are working out details. Right now I am just trying to gauge interest. If WW Guns wants to do options so people can semi spec their own rifle then we will try to do that. IS caliber one of the possible "tweaks"? I'd love to get in on this group buy, but I have another caliber in mind. Do you think I could spec it out for the GB, pay for it, and then wait for it to be built and arrive later? Thanks.

We'll see come tomorrow night. Sit tight.

What's the count now? Last I heard it was 22...

Spooky

Im giving Jim West a call tomorrow around 1 pm CST, either ThellUrider or I shall have a full post on the theoritical price based upon current numbers, the final spces etc all on here and we will then attempt to start a Group Buy in all its officialdom with the good guys (mods) here on ARFCOM.

might be interested pending specs.
would like the kevlar stocks as an option FWIW

I would love to get the kevlar stocks... but I can't see paying $595.00 for them and I've bought a lot of high dollar stocks for my ARs. I would be interested if the group buy could get them down to $200-$300 on the kevlar stocks...

Spooky

Originally Posted By Spooky130: I would love to get the kevlar stocks... but I can't see paying $595.00 for them and I've bought a lot of high dollar stocks for my ARs. I would be interested if the group buy could get them down to $200-$300 on the kevlar stocks... Spooky

+1

Yep, large loop lever for sure, and a decent price and the kevlar stocks would be icing on the cake.

I hope this works out. I need something different in my collection, and the offerings from WWG is at the top of my list.

I'll take this one, sans the scope.

Allright guys, you'll have to sit tight another day. Mr. West was out of the office today.

You might try talking with Ken, he is the general manager there and does all of teh group buys on thehighroad.org.
He does some pretty impressive buys, if this one works out anything like his others I am going to have to sell some plasma.
Chris

Looks like it is a no-go for me. I have run into some problems.

UPDATE

I just got off the phone with Jim West, owner of Wild West Guns and as always, the wildest of the Wests, he is going to run numbers and send me and email and or call me tomorrow with the results. The price reduction will depend on the following things: First: the number of orders we can get within a month (the standard Ar15.com GB wait time) Second the specs we have for the rifle, unlike my 458 SOCOM group buy, this one will have little to no chance of variation. As Mr. West stated, they are not making guns, they are customizing, accurazing and outfitting a leveraction and thus, the less deviation that is in the group buy, the easier it would be for them to bang them out (right now their current wait time is 9 months, but for us with a standardized group buy, we would get a nice push to the front....) and thus we would need to decide on a single spec'd out model. With that being said, I believe we would be going with the standard guide model which retails for $1,320 but of course we will be soon finding out the discount. Also, there will be a group buy on ammo if this gets off the ground and approved. In case you all didnt know Col. Jeff Cooper, renounded in the shooting sports and hunting world, uses a Wild West Guns Lever action and loves it, remarks on it and featured it in his latest book. It is a real FINE piece of shooting iron to say the least. I will post the results of Jim West's number crunching once I get it!

Cold,

SWEEEEEEETTTTTT!!!!!!

Here's what I would like:

THE ALASKAN GUIDE
Barrel length 18.5 inches
Recoil Control Porting System
Straight style Wood Stock Cut to Your Length of Pull
Pachmayr Decelerator pad
Action tuned for reliability
WWG Trigger Happy Kit installed and set at approx. 3lbs
Safety Vented Magazine Tube
WWG Ghost Ring Rear Sight
Williams Fire Sight in red with skeletonized hood
Mil-Spec Parkerized finish or Bead Blasted Stainless
Test Fired
.45-70/.457WWM

Extras of interest - maybe these are the options...
Big Loop Lever
Kevlar stocks

Who makes the ammo right now? How about brass? $32/20 pieces of brass makes the .458 SOCOM look cheap! How about the dies? Are you ready to work your magic with the likes of Corbon again?

Spooky

Got it. I'm out guys.

I would be interested depending on the time frame and the cost. Please keep me in mind.

Originally Posted By Spooky130: Who makes the ammo right now? How about brass? $32/20 pieces of brass makes the .458 SOCOM look cheap! How about the dies? Are you ready to work your magic with the likes of Corbon again? Spooky

I believe WWG has their ammo loaded in Montana by some shop. Therefore I do not foresee us working with Corbon on this one.

Corbon was a half-assed joke sort of directed at Cold

It would be nice to find someone loading it that could put them together a little cheaper...

Spooky

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