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Hi desertdog

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 3:15 pm
by morpheus
Has anyone heard of this company? I have been trying to find someone close to me that does barrel threading. Oddly enough I found them doing an internet search on an unrelated topic. It looks like they do barrel threading and SBR work. This would only be a couple hour drive for me.....a two hour drive in rural Nevada is easy for us use to driving in this big country.

Edit: Forgive me; I should have clicked the search option first. Obviously his company has been discussed here on this forum a little. It appears most are satisfied with his work; with one comment saying they were disappointed with the quality. I just got off the phone with him; he seems like a nice guy and barrel thread times are about 3 weeks with him right now. I still would like those who have experience with this company to chime in on barrel threading quality.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 3:51 pm
by strobro32
I do not recomend Hi-Desertdog.

They sold me a threaded SS MKII barrel that canted my can. It had no shoulder.

I returned it for credit toward shortening the barrel and a .5 x 28 thread job on my 77/22. It took HDD 3 months to return it with 4 missed promised return dates. It came back with a .5 x20ish threads. The threads ruined my adapter on a P22 and SS Spectre mount.

I had Thompson Machine turn the 77/22 into an integral b/c the barrel was too short to fix. HDD took 2 months to give me a refund on the purchase price of the MKII barrel. No attempt was made to get cash back for the adapter or mount. SWR took care of my Spectre mount for free. SWR and TM ROCK!

HDD did not cheat me, just did bad work and couldn't keep his promised shipping dates or refund dates.

I will say this, companies like HDD who communicate only through email make it easy to share the complete/whole story with others.

CYA.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 3:56 pm
by doubloon
I've used them, they adapted and threaded my P226 .22LR conversion for ~$85 which included shipping back to me and a thread protector. I've been happy with the results.

If you're the type that needs a lot of hand holding then this is not your shop. When/if you talk to the guy on the phone it sounds like he's broadcasting from a windy mountain top over AM and his accent doesn't help.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:09 pm
by chrismartin
I purchased a threaded Green Mountain barrel for my Ruger 77/22 from him.
It had several thousandths of run out and the threads were a bit off and would not fully shoulder a silencer, well on to causing what strobro32 experienced.
Luckily, a board member here that owns a lathe was able to fix the problem and get me back up and running.
It also came with the worlds shittiest thread protector.

I will not be buying from HDD again. I should have just purchased a barrel and had someone else thread it.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:22 pm
by doubloon
I have to admit, the thread protector I got is made from aluminum so cheap it feels like plastic.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 6:22 pm
by chingon
I was pleased with them extending and threading the .22LR upper for my Taurus PT92

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 6:54 pm
by GoJohnnyGo
I'm glad I read this thread!! I've been on the fence for a few weeks about ordering a barrel from these guys and had pretty much made up my mind to do it. Scratch that idea!

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 8:16 pm
by gunn24
Did a 21A barrel for me with pleased results. Since TT is so backed up M60joe is on of those guys you know your s--t will be done right.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:23 am
by Diomed
gunn24 wrote:Did a 21A barrel for me with pleased results. Since TT is so backed up M60joe is on of those guys you know your s--t will be done right.
Wait, are you saying Hi Desert Dog and M60Joe are the same shop?

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:45 am
by ilintner
They sent me a " new " 10/22 Green Mountain barrel... surface rust, shotty work, wouldnt chamber rounds without them being jammed. After months of arguing and being accused of causing the problems I disputed with my CC company and got my refund. Poor product, even worse customer service.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:44 pm
by doubloon
shoddy

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:19 pm
by morpheus
Thanks for the info guys. I think I will go elsewhere with my stuff. I'm just not willing to hand over my guns to anyone.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:24 pm
by morpheus
doubloon wrote:I've used them, they adapted and threaded my P226 .22LR conversion for ~$85 which included shipping back to me and a thread protector. I've been happy with the results.

If you're the type that needs a lot of hand holding then this is not your shop. When/if you talk to the guy on the phone it sounds like he's broadcasting from a windy mountain top over AM and his accent doesn't help.
That is funny as hell. Have you looked on a map to see where he lives? He probably does live on a windy mountain top. Honestly, I am surprised he has phone service where he is. I live in rural Northern Nevada with a population of about 40K, but this guy is very rural.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:42 pm
by gunn24
Diomed wrote:
gunn24 wrote:Did a 21A barrel for me with pleased results. Since TT is so backed up M60joe is on of those guys you know your s--t will be done right.
Wait, are you saying Hi Desert Dog and M60Joe are the same shop?

No not at all, just saying hes a good alternative to TT, HDD is hit or miss.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 3:07 pm
by doubloon
morpheus wrote:
doubloon wrote:... I am surprised he has phone service ...
I've only talked to him on the phone 2 or 3 times but every time it was a struggle to understand him through all the static.

And no, I never looked it up before but as best as I can tell he lives somewhere around here ... that's pretty remote.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 3&t=h&z=18

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:52 pm
by JC Weaponry
retracted.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:59 pm
by morpheus
doubloon wrote:
morpheus wrote:
doubloon wrote:... I am surprised he has phone service ...
I've only talked to him on the phone 2 or 3 times but every time it was a struggle to understand him through all the static.

And no, I never looked it up before but as best as I can tell he lives somewhere around here ... that's pretty remote.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 3&t=h&z=18
Doubloon, you are right on the money.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:14 am
by chp5
I bought a Browning Buckmark threaded barrel from him with a thread protector and it was good to go. YMMV though! Based on the multiple bad reports from board members, I don't think I'd take a chance buying from him again.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 8:36 am
by m3s90
I had him thread my SAKO Quad set 22, 22wmr, 17m2, and 17hmr. No issues all were threaded correctly.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:16 pm
by stevejobs
I bought an 8" threaded barrel for a Ruger Charger from them. Good craftsmanship but the threads were very rusty, like he did it last year and it wasn't stored right.

I also bought a threaded .22LR Advantage Arms barrel for a Glock 19, and he tried to blacken the end of the barrel that sticks out of the gun (even though I did not request this). It looked like he used model paint on an oily barrel, because the paint was already flaking off when I took it out of the box. I peeled some more off with my finger nail before mounting it in the gun for the first time. Now it's half black half SS.

But... HDD does have good prices on things that are hard to find complete (like pre-threaded barrels for odd guns).

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:23 pm
by MrM4
I have a 1022 barrel from them, it was alittle out of spec when i got it. 1st time i shot it my Outback seized on to the barrel after shooting 200 rds. After much heat cold and every other crazy idea it finally came off. I chased the threads with a die and it works fine now but it is still pretty tight.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 1:28 pm
by Dweezil
I bought a Ruger MKI threaded BBL from him with contoured thread protector. Came out perfect. Also, had him thread a Savage .308 barrel and Handi Rifle barrel with matching thread protectors. Took about a month longer than he predicted (about 2 months total) but all turned out perfect. Tried to contact him about 6 wks ago for another thread job...and still no answer. Sent THOSE barrels to Hooper instead. We'll see how that plays out.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 pm
by BWPerdue
I've had him thread 2 10/22 barrels and reset the front sights on them - they both turned out very well. I also bought one of his branded 10/22 threaded bull barrels. It's made very well and is accurate. He is hard to communicate with, though.

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:30 am
by imyomama
I bought this barrel from him.. fluted 16" threaded .. and it works just fine and is very accurate so far! no complaint.. the guy is a little difficult to understand over the phone , but if you know what you want , you can just order it from the website , which is what I did. I'm very happy with mine and the price was good!

here is a pic of the gun .. (it's a work in progress.. still working on the camo job ....)

Image

Re: Hi desertdog

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:22 pm
by morpheus
That's a nice looking rifle!