DAVE WELLS,CUSTOM GUNS,NICHOLSON,PA-WARNING

[ernierod]

I ordered a BE wad pistol,with a KKM Barrel,from DAVE WELLS,CUSTOM GUNS,NICHOLSON,PA-worst mistake I ever made.I tested the Dave Wells(with the KKM barrel) wad pistol at 50 yds.Would not hold better than 5.5" groups with any ammo/powder combination.Sent pistol to a very reputable BE pistol smith in the SE(and on our list) and asked him what is wrong with this pistol.I kind of knew what he was going to say.The bbl WAS NOT A KKM BBL that I paid for.The bushing/bbl fit was not tight-the bushing/slide fit was not tight,hood area was a sloppy fit AND the rear lock up was ON THE LINK RATHER THAN ON THE 2 LUGS.Called Dave Wells and proposed that he-refund some of my money or has the KKM company send me a bbl,at no cost to me,and I would pay a gunsmith,of my choice,to install it in the pistol.In return I would drop the issue.He refused and wanted me to send the pistol to him and he would take care of it-a totally unacceptable idea.I then sent the bbl to Kevin of KKM Precision to verify findings.Talked to him this morning and he said the bbl WAS NOT a KKM bbl.I thought my proposal to Dave Wells was more than fair but I guess his greed,lack of common sense and arrogance over rode good business sense. I wonder if he knows the definition of fraud?? I realize now that Dave Wells is not a gunsmith,is greedy and totally dishonest and is very comfortable lying to his customers.(when I first got the pistol I asked where was the"KKM Precision" LOGO that was supposed to be on barrel hood)-DAVE WELLS said he had to grind it off to fit bbl)I hope a warning goes around to all our friends on this forum and that Dave Wells does not find any more victims.This information is the truth-as all of the info from KKM,BE gunsmith,emails and phone calls  are documented.I am sorry that the other 7/8  people who also got burned didn't complain on these forums as we have to police ourself.**I have a written contract with Dave Wells-indicating what components are to be used and what performance I am to expect from pistol**

[williamlayton]

I have had simular experience with an engraver--.
Good post---keep your evidence and records straight.
Blessings

[drdougrx]

OK....so what's BE wad pistol???

[ernierod]

A wad pistol for BE(bulls eye) target shooting capable of putting 5/10 shots in a 2'' circle at 50 yards from a mechanical testor-a Ransom Rest.

[gunnut69]

Also the 'wad' means the pistol is set up for wadcutter ammo. I don't know Mr. Wells but believe in listening to bboth sides of any story. There are some truly unscrupulous people out there and they deserve the pain but sometimes there are miscommunications, Unfortunately it doesn't seem that is the case here. On these low energy pistols I've had good luck with the Briley bushings with a tightly fitted ball and a very slightly relieved barrel. Keep us informed as to how this all works out..

[ernierod]

Final Resolution Dave Wells Wad Pistol.All I wanted,from Dave Wells,was for him to send me a new KKM barrel-which I paid for.Seeing no cooperation from him-I submitted a complaint to the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU-Washington DC/Eastern PA District. Within 3 weeks, I received a new KKM barrel from Dave Wells-I guess he felt it was the right thing to do :-)  I am OK with this,learned a lesson and won't have to deal with him ever again. Cheers

[PA-Joe]

He did ask you to send him the gun back so he could make it right! You didn't want to do this and then you complain about him!

[mattl]

Not quite sure I would want to send it back to him either.  If he had fit the wrong barrel and nothing was said about it until the customer realized that it wasn't the correct barrel that he paid for, then I would give the Gunsmith the benifit of the doubt and allow him to fix his wrongs.  If he told the customer that he had to "Grind off the KKM Precision LOGO" to fit the barrel and then it end up not being a KKM Precision barrel at all, then that is what I would call a lie.  He had to know that there was no logo there to begin with, he claimed that he ground it off.

[hoghunting]

He did ask you to send him the gun back so he could make it right! You didn't want to do this and then you complain about him!

 I wouldn't send the pistol back to him either. Gunsmith knew he screwed ernie when he built the pistol, why give him another opportunity?

[Freezer]

Fool me once shame on you, fool me dwice shame on me! I would have demanded all my money back since all the work had to be redone. There is no excuse for this kind of fraud.

[ernierod]

Since putting my story on these forums,as a warning to other shooters,I have received 10 to 12 UNSOLICITED emails,from other shooters and their dealings with Dave Wells.You would not believe their awful stories.I sent the pistol back to DW one time to install the correct length trigger-and under no condition would I send it back to him again.I have copies of ALL emails sent to me and the scariest of all was two shooters sent their hard ball guns to have the trigger adjusted-and they both went FULL AUTO. OMG !!!!!. I will not comment on DW anymore-if a person wants to deal with him-that's OK with me.I did loose money with him and I am glad to finally get a KKM barrel for my pistol. The rest of the problems I can fix myself.I wonder if the state of Pa.lets just anyone  become a gunsmith-or does this incompetent even have a license??

[ernierod]

Had Dave Salyer,N.C. gunsmith,install new barrel/bushing.I had to shorten elevation screw on rear sight-was interfering with firing pin.I installed Ed Brown hammer,sear,extended ejector ,modified sear spring and highly polished all internal parts. Did proper trigger job,adj to 3.5 lbs. Trigger is crisp,breaks like glass with no creep.All these things Dave Wells should have done-but didn't. Pistol now functions properly and is very accurate.