silver wrote on Aug 15^th, 2025 at 2:58pm:


Doug,
If you can afford it, buy now. Our great orange father has slapped a 39% tariff on Switzerland. Swiss powder will surely be more expensive if not scarce. I’m going to order a case and split with Neal. Added to what I have I should be in good shape for another season.

My experience with CPA has been great!

Ordered in Sept. 2024, arrived inMatch. Quite a few e-mails with Gail, coaching me on options, suggestions on which option best suits my shooting plans, cost differences….its a lengthy list but her help is much appreciated.

I ordered x-tra fancy wood and did my own finishing. That and the very attractive CPA color case finish makes this the nicest looking rifle I own.

I’m trying breach seating for the first time and enjoying the trip! I am closing in on the gap between getting it shoot close to as good as it looks….it will be a bit of time though.

Do it again? You bet! Might even entertain getting a .22 barrel. But first I have to find a Weber style breach seating tool for a CPA .38-55.

Tom

Been following this string for several days . My. CPA experience very different from some of the reports

CPA Has built 3 rifles and done several barrel changes and stock modifications for me over 25 plus years. Work aways well done with fair pricing. Was it fast ? Small things like firing pins very fast. Dropped and lost a trigger plate screw at a match. Gail mailed one Monday after the match on hand Wednesday.Total remodel from Pope Style offhand stock to Sporting stock including turning the barrels down for proper balance, work took couple months.  Stock shaping checkering and finish. Barrel Turing new dovetails & Bluing number of skills required. All well done .

Have also visited the original CPA  shop and the current Dingmans ferry location several times . They are not large operations. Dingmans work is performed in 3 connected locations Stock duplicating and Bluing separated from gunsmithing . 

Typically 3-4 people on site. No receptionist Secratary etc. Gail and others travel to major matches and events. She recently visited our clubs Single Shot and Lever Silhouette introduction day with a display.Delivered a new rifle same time. I’ve never seen or done  business with the two Sharps/High Wall builders shops but expect they’re similar perhaps larger. 

Have done a lot of business with MVA best quality small business with response shipping etc similar to CPA. Just had a SXS Shotgun repair done by one of the best shotgun gunsmith.  Same experience with a Single Shot gunsmith I’ve recommended on this forum. Both very good none fast and they don’t always answer the phones, there working 

It comes down to a choice, quality small shop work . Or production with a large staff.if that’s the objective plenty of imports out there.

Boats 

Thanks your reply, bet your wife be pleased. Something you can pass along to her. Gail’s an excellent offhand shot. Regularly in the top scores Conestoga clubs winter gallery matches. Her dad was a very good shot too, and the expert on original Stevens rifles.

Boats

Dellet that’s a good description how small shops work. Afraid we get used to Amazon like service. Chinese made junk shipped instantly delivered by piecework paid drivers.I use them but it’s at the expense of ruining small local business 

I like the old ways best.

Boats

boats wrote on Aug 21^st, 2025 at 5:51am:

Absolutely 
It’s the small things that make a good family or micro business, ones not big enough to be considered small by the people that talk about helping small business.

My first call to CPA was concerning technical questions and action strength. I was considering a 60,000 psi cartridge. Of course some gal, probably the receptionist, answers the phone. I explain the reason for the call and get some sort of answer like “sure what would you like to know”. First thought was she’ll take notes and get back to me, so I lay out a real simple version what I want to do to the little lady. Big mistake. Answer started out with, well first thing is rimless can’t be done, max case diameter is, but because of the hammer, rim diameter over X and overall length over Y becomes a problem shooting fixed, but you can breech seat up to z. About 38 seconds into the explanation I have to get her stop and let my brain catch up.

Only to be topped by another call that rang too many times and a guy answers the phone. Same thing, I lay out the question and get an answer something like “ I really can’t help you, I only answered the phone because it rang too many times. Gail is over working on one of the machines that quit. She’ll call you back”. Have to do it all to make it pencil out at the end of the month.

Calling MVA isn’t much different and many others that make moulds and other tools we use. I tend to go out of my way to support an operation like that. And cut a lot of slack when things take weeks instead of days to get.

FWIW Dept:  It can work both ways.  Month ago, I sent off an 1875 to C Sharps for a rebarrel.  The lady on the phone quoted me 4 months. Cool, I know how this works.

I called earlier this week to make a change; same lady says no problem.  15 minutes later I get a call back, sorry but your rifle is in final finish. 

Thanks, but oh Crap!  I budgeted this for November!  Time to call Little Brother the Broker.