I have a Browning Citori O/U 20 ga. Upland model that came with 2 3/4" chambers. That limits the steel loads to 3/4oz. and the lead to 1 1/8 oz. A friend gave me more than 1/2 a case of 3" 1 1/4 oz. Mark 5 Winchester shells so I decided to extend the chambers to allow more versatility in the gun. The problem is that the Browning has what appears to be very thin material in the area where the chambers are. I didn't want an unsafe gun after the work was done.
So, I tried various gunsmiths and found most didn't reply or had no experience with the chamber work but were willing to,"give it a try." Not something that instills confidence. Michael Orlen replied to my email but only once and never answered my subsequent request for details on how he was going to do it. He also had this issue with the Better Business Bureau that I didn't like.
http://www.bbb.org/central-western-...s/mike-orlen-gunsmithing-in-amherst-ma-204846
It was apparently based on one dissatisfied customer which seems like a small number of complaints. What I found to be off putting was his response to my requests and than his apparent lack of concern for his business rating so even though he would do it for about 1/2 of what Briley would do it for I went with Briley.
Stephen at Briley's seems to have limitless patience with my requests for details and my concern about the barrels subsequent safety. They did the work on the two chambers for $150 plus shipping and did it in 3 weeks from the time I sent it till I got it back.
Shipping is another story. I checked with the Postal Service and they would have shipped it Registerd signature tracking required for about $16 but I had already wrapped it with plastic tape which they don't allow. It has to be all paper so that all the signatures have a place on the package. Everyone that touches the package has to sign it and it is locked up at night in a safe. If it wasn't for having to re-wrap the tube, I would have gone with them.
FedEx wanted $80 and said it had to be shipped next day overnight even though it didn't since it had no receiver parts and was only the barrels.
UPS did it for $29 and their agent knew it didn't have to go overnight. Plastic tape was OK -no fuss-no muss.
The work Briley did seems to be very good with what appears to be a smooth transition from the chambers to the barrels.
So, I tried various gunsmiths and found most didn't reply or had no experience with the chamber work but were willing to,"give it a try." Not something that instills confidence. Michael Orlen replied to my email but only once and never answered my subsequent request for details on how he was going to do it. He also had this issue with the Better Business Bureau that I didn't like.
http://www.bbb.org/central-western-...s/mike-orlen-gunsmithing-in-amherst-ma-204846
It was apparently based on one dissatisfied customer which seems like a small number of complaints. What I found to be off putting was his response to my requests and than his apparent lack of concern for his business rating so even though he would do it for about 1/2 of what Briley would do it for I went with Briley.
Stephen at Briley's seems to have limitless patience with my requests for details and my concern about the barrels subsequent safety. They did the work on the two chambers for $150 plus shipping and did it in 3 weeks from the time I sent it till I got it back.
Shipping is another story. I checked with the Postal Service and they would have shipped it Registerd signature tracking required for about $16 but I had already wrapped it with plastic tape which they don't allow. It has to be all paper so that all the signatures have a place on the package. Everyone that touches the package has to sign it and it is locked up at night in a safe. If it wasn't for having to re-wrap the tube, I would have gone with them.
FedEx wanted $80 and said it had to be shipped next day overnight even though it didn't since it had no receiver parts and was only the barrels.
UPS did it for $29 and their agent knew it didn't have to go overnight. Plastic tape was OK -no fuss-no muss.
The work Briley did seems to be very good with what appears to be a smooth transition from the chambers to the barrels.