MOOSE'S GUNSMITHING
FAQ
Do you have walk-in hours?
We do not have walk in hours. Please contact us first to schedule an appointment at least 24 hours prior. Email is always preffered or use our online booking system.
Our contact info is as follows:
603-800-2282
How much is my work going to cost?
The firearm must be brought in for an in-person examination before we can provide and estimate. Every job is different and there are many variables to take into account that we just cannot do over the phone. For repair work shipped to us we can typically provide a range the job will fall into, but that price will not be final until the job is inspected in person.
How long will my work take?
Current lead times for early 2023 are about two to six weeks from when it hits the door step. Wood work will often take longer (finishes have to dry). If you happen to have something come in when we are already doing a batch of other guns, it may be quicker. This is especially true with bluing.
How do you handle shipping and billing for work not dropped off in person?
Please email me with a tracking # and leave a note in the box with what you want done with your name, a physical return adress (not a PO box or UPS store), phone number, email. Due to the complexities in quoting most jobs I will call you at the end and run your credit card over the phone or email an invoice and a link to my card payment processor (clearnet). Except for parts deposits, we do not charge up front. You will get billed when the work is done. For security reasons please do not include any credit card info in the box or email. If you are old fashioned you can mail me a cashiers check or money order. But, given you are reading this you probably have a debit or credit card.
How long do I have to pay my bill?
We require payment in full within two weeks of initial notification, after that we charge $10 a day for storage. Unfortunately we have extremely limited storage space and need to keep things moving through the shop. No work will be released without full payment.
Can you ship my gun back to me directly?
Yes. As long as it is legal in your jurisdiction we will do so, but require an adult signature. If it is not, we will ship to an FFL of your choice (looking at you California).
How should I pack my gun?
Please ship in a hard case, it costs more but shippers are apparently 300 lb gorillas and you probably want your gun back in one piece. See the usual suspect forums (i.e. gunboards, castboolit forum etc) for shipping damage and snapped stocks. The extra few bucks saves us both stress and frustration.
Do you offer any discounts?
At this time the only discounts we offer are for volume.
Will you make me (insert random gun part here)?
Maybe. Whenever possible we like to work off of drawings. We will work off of original drawings or from other aftermarket manufacturers. Without the entire firearm or mechanism provided there can be no guarentee of fit and function. We will not work off customer provided dimensions to copy an old part. Such work will be done based on time, tools, and materials.
Will you make or repair (insert random non gun part here)?
Maybe. We can happily mill the face of your anvil if you can find someone to hard face (weld) it. But, we will not make any part where a failure can cause injury or harm. So no automotive suspension, frame, or brake parts, for example. But, we will happily make you a carberator adapter.. These jobs will be billed based on time, tools, and material costs. We also offer limited precision grinding services.
Why are you charging me for tools if you are in the business of using them?
Many one-off jobs require a custom cutter or fixture that has no other use, except for that job that will probably never get done again.
Why does my bill include ammunition consumed?
Almost universally all firearms are test fired prior to return. If a firearm cannot be test fired for whatever reason (not provided complete, for example) it will be returned with a red 'unsafe to fire' tag and it will be noted on the bill that we were unable to verify safe function. If we discover a saftey issue (for example an out of headspace condition ) and you decline the repair, the firearm will be returned disassembled or rendered permanently inoperable. Currently all of our customers have the same number of eyes and appendages they have before they were customers and we intend to keep it that way.
What firearms won't you work on?
This is an alarmingly long section, but I can assure you there are an alarming number of questionable guns out there. Please note, this list is not all inclusvie and we reserve the right to refuse work for any reason. Many of these guns we refuse on the grounds that the repairs we do will cost more than replacement. Others are beacause they are borderline pipe bombs even when new or have no parts support and manufacturing new parts is cost ineffective.
Any firearm that comes in with animal or human body fluids and materials will be refused. If you really, really want that gun worked on, dish soap and a scrub brush are kept on premises and there is a hose outside.
Handguns:
Iver johnson revolvers
American bulldog revolvers
Break top revolvers of all types
Jimenez and all associated brands
Any pot metal or zinc alloy frame handgun regardless of make or model
No-name brand Turkish import handguns
Any handgun that uses the firing pin as an ejector
Cheap Semi auto 22lrs
Cheap semi auto 25/380 autos
Shotguns:
Turkish import semi auto, SxS, O/U, and pump action firearms (excluding Stoeger)
Damascus barrel firearms (excluding the faux etched patterns, but if in doubt we say no. many of those guns had minimal safety factors when they were brand new).
Cheap rusty single shot shotguns
The vast majority of semi auto mag fed shotguns (excluding Saiga and Vepr)
Rifles
No name import or most single shot 22s
IO inc, pioneer and century US made AK platforms (other brands are accepted, including century imports. These brands tend to have unfixable issues with heat treatment of major components).
SKS rifles and similar
We do not modify stock triggers or aftermarket ones. We will install aftermarket triggers at our sole discretion.
Will you reload my spent brass?
No. We do not reload spent brass or load custom ammunition.