Tom- one of my traits, I guess, at almost 70, is my loyalty to good friends. I've known Brad Bachelder and his family operated custom gunsmithing operation for over 25 years, so I am more than a casual customer, I'm also a good friend and hunting partner with Brad. Two of the prized LC Smith 12 bores in my 'working collection" were also purchased from him, and I have a eye on an Ideal 12 with the Hunter One trigger and ejectors as well.
That being said, I have sometimes called or e-mailed them and left a message and not always received a quick reply. In my circumstances, that is no problem as I am retired and have time to travel about 27 miles from my home to his shop in Grand Rapids. Brad does a lot of business with all the area LE agencies on their issue weapons- sidearms and shoulder weapons, his store front is small and often jammed with customers.
Except for "vintage" shotshell boxes, he does not sell ammo or reloading supplies, instead he refers customers looking for those items to the Rylee's Ace Hardware and Sporting Goods just up MI Ave. to the West of his place. That's good business, IMO. Keep the $ spent locally.
Brad's wife Lori is a real treasure. I have never seen her flustered, even with ringing phones, UPS deliveries, and three customers waiting to pick up their firearms.
If you were trying to reach the Gun Library at Cabela's or Bass Pro, and didn't get a reply, I could see the reason for possible concern. But this is a smaller op.- normal hours are 1000 to 1700 Tues through Fri. summer hours, in the Fall I believe Brad has sometimes opened on Mondays to cover the greater amount of hunting season traffic.
You might want to try their direct e-mail instead. It is:
bachelderfirearm@aol.com-- their website is:
www.bacheldermastergunmakers.com--
There are many top shelf gunsmiths mentioned on our PGCA, among them I have observed messers: Vicknair, Rotelli, Bicknell, Kercher and Brad is also well mentioned. As I only know Brad, I tend to mention him first. I am also friends and a customer of Buck Hamlin in Mo., but as Buck, wisely perhaps, elects not to list on the Internet, I could only give you his phone number. I suspect he is out in the hardwoods now, 10 bore Smith or LeFever in hand, and a big Gobbler is a "Daed man Walking" soon--
I think, in fairness here, if you read the recent posts and see the fotos posted of some examples of Brad's work, you will wish to contact him. You will not be disappointed in the outcome.