Barrel Work by Mike Orlen today

[allen newell]

This morning I drove out to Amherst, Mass and met with Mike Orlen at his house. The plan was to open the chokes on a 12 ga VHE from Mod and Full to Improved and Mod. Mike was kind enough to allow me to watch him at work which I found very interesting. Anyway, in about ten minutes he had everything done. Now I have my 'upland' gun.

Just want to share with my PGCA colleagues that MIke is a real professional when it comes to this type of barrel work and a great guy on top of that. I'd highly recommend him.

[Dean Romig]

I too have visited Mike for some choke work. He is a very accommodating guy and I am very satisfied with his work.





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[Bill Murphy]

I have an AHE 32" trap gun that has full and full chokes. I would like to shoot our local five stand where very soft and close targets are thrown. Would Mike Orlen be the person to approach about my choke modifications to cylinder and skeet? :corn:

[Greg Baehman]

I have an AHE 32" trap gun that has full and full chokes. I would like to shoot our local five stand where very soft and close targets are thrown. Would Mike Orlen be the person to approach about my choke modifications to cylinder and skeet? :corn:
Although Mike is very reasonably priced with an expedient turnaround, I recommend you save both time and money by simply putting your AHE's barrels in a vise and whack them off about 3.5" with a hacksaw. This should result in the chokes coming in just about perfect for your needs, the gun might end up being a little more dynamic and a little lighter to boot. :)

[Larry Frey]

Too late, Greg beat me to it.

[Robin Lewis]

Should Mike be added to this thread? http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18751

[Gary Laudermilch]

I have heard nothing but good about his choke work.

[Dean Romig]

Should Mike be added to this thread? http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18751


Sure, why not - he's a good resource for members here.





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[Robin Lewis]

Sure, why not - he's a good resource for members here.

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I don't know him or I might add him but ..... I have no knowledge of his work; Hopefully someone will add him that recommends him.

[King Brown]

Mike's been good to me.

[Bill Murphy]

Mike went through a period of "nothing out, no explanation or contact". The bad part was no explanation was given. Maybe he has something to say about that dark period by now. He seems to be back in business, for now.

[allen newell]

1. Bill Murphy, Mike can do the work you need done without question. 2. Yes, why not add Mike to this thread or elsewhere as appropriate. Be advised that as per what Mike told me today, he only works on shotgun barrels. Does not do pistol or rifle work.

[Dean Romig]

I think we should also get a clarification from Mike as to whether or not he works on composite barrels.





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[Greg Baehman]

I have personally used Mike Orlen's services on five different occasions, twice for choke alterations, once for chamber lengthening and twice for stock bending. Every interaction has been satisfactory - with a very fast turnaround time. Every gun I have shipped to him has been returned by the eighth day after sending, it's a 4 day ride out there via UPS and a 3 day ride back; which of course, tells me he has done the work and shipped the gun out within 24 hours of receipt.
There are several very good gunsmiths scattered around the country that many of us entrust our precious doubles with that do quality work, but it's hard to find a gunsmith doing quality work with a quicker turnaround.

Here's a link to his services offered, price list and feedback in a thread he started on SGW:
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=36237

[Larry Frey]

Mike is my go-to guy for stock bending and I've sent him guns and had them back in as quickly as couple of days. One gun came back untouched with a note that the gun had an old repair at the wrist that in five years of hunting I had never noticed. He said the repair was solid and would likely never give me any problems but he did not feel comfortable heating and bending it. He could have just bent it and charged me but the way he handled it assured my business for as long as he wants it. He has also done barrel work for me with excellent results as well.

[Robin Lewis]

Should Mike be added to this thread? http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18751
If one of you would add your comments to this link, then the FAQ gunsmith link will include him. Thanks

[Buddy Marson]

The Parker barrel maker that worked on those barrels will roll over in his grave if you screw with those chokes. If you're on the bird it will break. If it doesn't, practice, practice, practice!!!

[Frank Cronin]

I think we should also get a clarification from Mike as to whether or not he works on composite barrels..


He did a set of LC Smith damascus barrels for me in the past.

[Bill Murphy]

Buddy, you and I see it the same way. "Learn to shoot."

[Daryl Corona]

The Parker barrel maker that worked on those barrels will roll over in his grave if you screw with those chokes. If you're on the bird it will break. If it doesn't, practice, practice, practice!!!

Just remember- choke is measured in inches, misses are measured in feet.

[allen newell]

I don't see this any different than if Parker Bros were still in business and after ordering the gun with mod and full chokes, the customer decided to send it back to Parker and have them open up the chokes. Parker Bros would be only too pleased to satisfy this customer. It's now much more suitable for upland hunting. Parker Bros would be pleased I'm sure with the restocking of this VHE done by Brad Bachelder and the georgous wood from Cecil Fredis shop. The original owner had the stock cut way down for his wife. This VHE was not in all original condition when it came from the family that inherited it. If it came to me in all original condition, I most probably would have sold it long before now and/or traded it for something more suitable.

[Greg Baehman]

The Parker barrel maker that worked on those barrels will roll over in his grave if you screw with those chokes. If you're on the bird it will break. If it doesn't, practice, practice, practice!!!
Are you limiting your opinion to just screwing with the chokes?

How about other alterations from original such as refinishing or honing of fluid or composite barrels, adding a pad, stock bending, adding finish or complete refinishing the stock, restocking, re-cutting the checkering, etc. on any Parker gun whether it's been messed with previously or not?

If you feel the same about other alterations there might be enough seismic activity to measure on the Richter Scale from all the grave rolling going on in the Meriden cemetery, not to mention the upheaval coming out of the gunsmithing community.

[Buddy Marson]

Wild Skies, if you read my post , chokes being altered is the only thing I mentioned. Your comments are not pertinent to my post and certainly not appreciated. If you want to stir the pot start your own post.
Buddy Marson

[Greg Baehman]

Mr. Marson,
It would appear your post regarding screwing with the chokes "stirred the pot" initially and I only responded to it. I meant no harm, in fact, I personally have evolved in my philosophy of altering guns from original to one of 'doing no harm'.

If you feel my post was not pertinent to your post, I apologize.

Regards,
Greg Baehman

[allen newell]

If I thought that we'd get all choked up over this subject, I wouldn't have written this post. Seriously though, my view is that if the gun is all original, leave it alone but if it's already been altered or changed then make it suite your purpose if that's your desire.

[William Davis]

My guess is a gun returned to Parker for choke work would be reamed honed and tested for pattern. Most New Parker’s were ordered with specific pellet count and distance requirements, I would think a gun returned the same.

Most, not all, gunsmith today open to a specified measurement, not testing the gun for pattern or point of impact. If a Parker, its done in a barrel that was bent to regulate not machine made all alike like modern barrels. Not a simple job to set up. A lathe cuts fast takes a lot of time and experience to set up the work. Further from true harder the set up.

Best way to tell how the work will be done is the cost. Low cost means quick machine work with no testing. Pay a lot you should get good work.

William

[Mike Koneski]

I sent my BSS 12g to Mike about 3-4 years ago to open those full/x-full chokes to LM/LM. Had the gun back in maybe a week and he did a great job for a very fair price.

[allen newell]

I shot this VHE on skeet today and my scores went up dramatically. Quite satisfied with Mike's work.

[Bill Murphy]

Not a comment for the other posters, but tales of ruined barrels by gun butchers are rampant. If you have gotten good work from the gun butchers, congratulations.

[Dean Romig]

Bill, have you had barrel work done on any of your Parkers? Any work of any kind on any of your Parkers?
Do you have a preferred gunsmith whose name you'd like to add or share?





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[Bill Murphy]

Dewey Vicknair, Dan Rossiter and Larry Del Grego and Son are the only active gunsmiths who have worked on my Parkers. Dan Rossiter built my Becker themed Parker pigeon gun. Keith Kearcher did some heroic repairs to the two sets of barrels of a DH pigeon gun, but I have never had any choke work done in sixty years of Parker shooting and collecting.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Bill, is Dewey currently in business?





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[Jim DiSpagno]

Dean, according to his website, yes. He is in Lititz Pa.

[Mike Poindexter]

Mike went through a period of "nothing out, no explanation or contact". The bad part was no explanation was given. Maybe he has something to say about that dark period by now. He seems to be back in business, for now.

For what its worth, about 12 years ago I sent Mike (after talking to him on the phone) a pair of 16ga VHE barrels to reblue, relay short rib, lengthen cones, and open chokes to Q1 and IC. He went "dark" and it took 8 months to get the barrels back, even with half a dozen phone messages and e-mails. While the chokes and cones were done perfectly, the rib relay, while serviceable, was not done as well as I expected (gaps in the solder), and the blue was done well, but he didn't polish off the sides and bottoms of the lugs. It seemed to me the job had been "hurried" to get it out, even with the 8 month delay.

That said, it seems as if Mike is back in the groove and doing excellent, timely work, based on what others are saying, and I hold no grudges for the problems I had long ago. We all go through tough times and I would try him again. But not with an AH.

[Mike Koneski]

The Parker barrel maker that worked on those barrels will roll over in his grave if you screw with those chokes. If you're on the bird it will break. If it doesn't, practice, practice, practice!!!

Buddy, just remember that way back then the only way one could kill a bird was with a full or extra-full choke!! We have since proved that you can efficiently kill birds with open chokes too. :) I do 100% agree though that if you are on the target you will break it. Core patterns are basically equal, it's those fringes that some guys care about. :whistle: Me, I prefer a LM over anything but I'll shoot what's in the gun and still break 'em!! It is what it is.

[Rich Anderson]

Although Mike is very reasonably priced with an expedient turnaround, I recommend you save both time and money by simply putting your AHE's barrels in a vise and whack them off about 3.5" with a hacksaw. This should result in the chokes coming in just about perfect for your needs, the gun might end up being a little more dynamic and a little lighter to boot. :)

:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh: I wouldn't open the chokes on that gun for anything. Shoot spreaders or just make smoke which is better yet.

[Rich Anderson]

I think we should also get a clarification from Mike as to whether or not he works on composite barrels.





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Mike did some choke work for me on a set of Damascus barrels. The chokes came out perfect.