Randy's Custom Rifles&Rebarreling

Cathy,
I picked up the rifle today. All of the work is done as requested: My 7x 57 Mauser action that you ground the receiver on, removed the 'hump', installed a Douglas # 2 contour, Chrome-moly 1:9' twist, 23' match grade, hand lapped barrel. Machined octagon, thread, fit, chamber, cut and crowned, squared the action, installed new low bolt handle, 3 position safety & shroud, Timney adjustable trigger, Jewell bolt and polish inside, drill & tap for 2 piece Leupold scope bases and installed. All polished with 400 grit hand polish, blued barreled action, trigger guard, floor plate.

All I can say is...WHAT A PIECE OF ART! It is a great looking rifle. I can not thank you and Randy enough. It is like having Christmas early. Please extend my thanks to Randy. It is truly a pleasure working with you. I will certainly be a great reference for you, should you need it. I hope to be sending you more referral business.

Thanks again!
Larry Swartz

Good morning Randy,
I shot the rifle for the first time yesterday and it worked to perfection. I sighted in 3.5 inches high at 100 yards. I then shot pigs at 300, rams at 500, a gong at 700 and the buffalo at 1000 and never missed once! To say that I am happy is an understatement. The parallax adjustment on the scope is fantastic as a focus adjustment. It totally solves my problem about needing my eyeglasses to shoot.

I have found you to be the most knowledgeable gunsmith I have ever met and I have a lot of 'custom' work done over the years... I hope you won’t mind working with me off and on in future years.

Larry Partridge
Powell, WY

Randy,
Shot the 6.5-06 today. First group .605. Second group .265. Second group .020 off the lands. Couldn't be happier! Thanks for a great rifle.

Dennis Diaz
Petaluma, CA

Dear Randy,

I just wanted to send a quick note thanking you for the fine workmanship on my custom rifle. In thinking about this letter, I found one word to describe what the rifle has done for me, and for my participation in the sport of big game hunting. That word is CONFIDENCE.

Webster's dictionary defines 'confidence' as: 'that in which faith is put; belief; trust; feeling of security; self-reliance'. Webster's dictionary describes perfectly what my custom rifle has done for me.

As you know, I have hunted in the northwest corner of Wyoming for many years. Since you built my rifle for me, I have harvested a bighorn sheep, plus numerous antelope, deer and elk. Just last year I harvested a beautiful bull moose. [taken with .280 Rem.] All have been taken with my rifle, nick-named 'Sparky'. (I love the gun so much, I had to name it!)

Shall we mention accuracy? Sparky is famous for 1/4' groups at 100 yards, all bullet holes touching...Sparky will shoot as good as you can hold it. Several years ago, I harvested a cow elk from 275 yards, one shot between the eyes. The gun is incredible.

I wish you all the best in your endeavors, and many thanks for building Sparky for me!

Sincerely,
Fredell

Both of the bench rest rifles I had made from you are superior shooters. The largest group recorded for the 6MM BR was .438, which one of my relatives shot. I show none in the files larger than .375, shot by me. The 722 Rem. in .308 x 30 is superior, also.. Even better than the 6MM BR, though I didn't keep records on it. I use it to blow the minds of my visitors.

On one occasion I brought out the .308 x 30. I put it on the bench and fired one round. I called the shot by saying, "Good one." One guest said, "He missed his spot." Another guest, Roy, who knew my capabilities and that of my other rifles, replied, "He doesn't want to hit his aiming point, he just wants to get a good group."

Second shot, I said, "Good one." The first guest again said, "He missed the target completely." However, Roy, who was looking through the spotting scope said, "No, he just made the first hole slightly larger."

On the third shot, because I pulled the rifle slightly, I called it, "Way high and way right." Roy started laughing and the other guest looked totally confused. The third shot was perhaps 1/3 of a bullet hole right and 1/3 bullet hole high, making a pimple on the group.

Roy shot the rifle and got a group of perhaps 5/8" and the other guest got a group of perhaps 1 1/2", by far the best group of his entire life!

Randy Selby is not a Gun Smith he is a Precision Rifle Builder. Hunting or Bench Rifle, hands down he is the best kept secret in the West. I have been shooting Randy's rifles for more than 25 years and we are long time hunting buddies and bench rest shooting buddies. He builds every rifle the same way one at a time and the best way he knows how, as if he were building it for himself. Over the years he has built me over 20 rifles and many more for friends. All of the rifles are capable of shooting groups in the 2/10ths and 3/10ths of an inch at 100 yards and 1 1/2 inch groups at 300 yards or better. This is a bold statement but is the gospel. So if you want the best rifle money can buy you need to talk with Randy Selby. I call him the 'rifle doctor.'

P.S. Keep your powder dry

Mike Feagans
Sarasota, Florida

Dear Randy,

My Bruno arrived this afternoon in perfect condition, thank you for the rapid and excellent job. I may hunt with this rifle this fall. I look forward to the 9.3 barrel being finished and will call for pointers on how to install it when I receive it. The Cooper 20 Tacticals are on order with shipment in 2 months so I will email about them when they arrive. I spoke with a close friend Rusty Schultz last night about my Bruno and lo and behold you repaired the extractor on a left handed Rem 700 .300 for him about 10 years ago and he said you did a great job. Do you remember Rusty?

With regards, Don Br. from S.C.

Hi Randy & Cathy,

If I'm not working, I like to be hunting. For years I've been hearing good things about Randy's guns. My hunting buddy had him build a big magnum. What impressed me is when he picked the rifle up, it was ready to hunt! Sighted in and info on the scope as to where the bullet would hit out to 600 yeards. When he shot it, the group was amazing! Then I got to go hunting with a few other guys that had Selby built rifles and they were deadly. After further discussion, I found out they had several rifles built by Randy and they wouldn't have anything else!

I learned a long time ago to use the Pros (resources). One day we were visiting Randy about Grizzly Bear protection. He knew exactly what I needed and set me up ideally with a 480 Ruger pistol, 100 rounds of ammo, plus a custom built shoulder holster that is very comfortable. The perfect setup!

Then, it was time to get 2 of my rifles in order as neither one of them grouped. Plus my mule rolled on my big magnum and bent my barrel. Randy told me, he's straightened lots of barrels. Now I have 2 tack drivers I will love the rest of my life. Again, when I picked up the rifles, they were sighted in, ready to hunt, and info on the scope where the bullet would hit out to 700 yards. I love this kind of service! Use your resources and I highly recommend Randy!

Larry Brandt

Randy started building rifles for me in 1989. My first rifle was a 25 Gibbs on a 191 Enfield action. My second rifle was another 25 Gibbs with a maple stock also done by Randy. My third rifle was a 257 Weatherby cartridge on an Enfield action with a walnut stock hand done by Randy.

All of Randy’s work has been excellent. The metal working, the wood fitting and most important all of the rifles shooting ability is great.

Randy has re-barreled and re-chambered at least 6 rifles for me, in addition to the above. I truly enjoy using rifles he has created for me. I feel confident that you would be happy with his work and enjoy the beauty of his gun work just as I have.

Sincerely,
Harry B. Browning

I am a retired tool & dye maker/machinist and a gun enthusiast. I have traveled a lot and hobnobbed with many of the countries top gunsmiths, many associated with Safari Club International.Therefore, I appreciate that Randy Selby is by far the best of all of these I have met.

Randy is not a hobbyist. He is a dedicated, life time gun smith and his work reflects not only his constant work in this area, but in the years he also spent in other fields of industry, working to exacting, tight tolerances, which he applies to all of his gun work. I feel his superior mechanical and technical ability, experience and attention to detail contribute to a caliber of work that is not only highly mechanically sound, but each one is attractive, something you'd be proud to own, use, and pass on to the next generation....if you haven't worn it out!

For some, delivery may be a problem, but Randy gets the work done in a good time and out the door.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Randy and his family since the fall of 1992. I am able to visit nearly every year. They have graciously opened their home to me, and I have spent many enjoyable hours visiting with them and talking shop with Randy. We've had time for many detailed and continuing conversations of gun making ins and out, reloading, hunting experiences (and tall tales!), and I have had an opportunity by those conversations to learn to admire his abilities and knowledge.

If you want a top-notch gunsmith, Randy Selby is the man for you. You will be more than pleased with the work he does, whether it is a repair, conversion or a complete custom rifle.

Ron Faria, CA

Below are excerpts from letters Les Bowman wrote to Randy over the years. Les also wrote for the Australian 'Sporting Shooter' magazine in the 80's and also tested firearms for foreign companies.

From a letter dated July 5, 1981:
'We cannot tell you both how nice it was to have you here for even a short time. Come often. And you, Randy, as always, helped me out no end. Shooting for me has lost it's past interest. and with you I know that I can get the results and truth of what's what and why as well as if I were doing it. And maybe better.'

From a letter dated July 30, 1981:
'We sure did get some fantastic groups with the Rem. 7 x 57 with you shooting it.'

From a letter dated Aug 27, 1981:
'Received the SWIFT two days ago and yesterday installed a 12X Leupold on it that I used back at Colt. The first two shots touched and I pulled the next 1/4'. Thanks.'

From a letter dated June 21, 1985:
'I got one article off to The Rifle on the 17 caliber and have more they want. ...I used a picture of you in my article in the Rifle Magazine.'

From a letter dated June 28, 1983:
[in a previous letter he mentions writing an article for the Australian magazine, Sporting Shooter]
'I see your picture in one of the Australian mags pumping Hoopes #9 barrel solvent at Cody shop. Cite caption calls you one of the top gunsmiths of the US. '