The
Mad Machinist CDiPrecision Gunworks creates detachable box magazines for a wide range of rifles, including this Howa 1500 .223.
JEFFREY ALLEN OF CDIPRECISION WORKS INTERVIEW BY STEVE JOSEPH • PHOTOGRAPHS BY CDIPRECISION GUNWORKS
he American Shooting Journal reached out to Precision Rifle Series supporter Jeffrey Allen, founder and owner of CDiPrecision Gunworks, niche provider of detachable box magazines for numerous rifle brands. Based on the Gulf Coast of Florida in Sarasota, Allen focused his sights on filling a need in the gun industry back in 2008 when he started CDi. His lifelong work experience set him up to be exactly what the gun industry needed, and not a minute too soon. Find out what inspired him to start CDiPrecision Gunworks, how he developed his amazing and wide-ranging array of talents and where he is steering his machine shop for tomorrow.
T
JA I have 30 years of tool-and-die-making experience working for a machining company, and have created things for all sorts of industries, from medical implant work to space satellite and nuclear plant parts. There was a lot of military aircraft work as well, and I have even designed and built automated machinery for manufacturing music strings – violin, cello, guitar. This is amazingly more complicated than it sounds. Just before I opened CDiPrecision Gunworks I was working with high-end injection molds, and that is very tedious with very tight tolerances. I still do some drag race motorcycle stuff, and our motorcycle has won a few championships and records. ASJ What type of equipment do you use to make all of these pieces and parts? JA We have two computer numerical control (CNC) milling machines in house, and I make all of our parts. We have an Okuma Genos M560V that is ultrafast, and makes very high quality parts. For inletting, I use a Milltronics RW-15.
CDiPrecision Gunworks is always adding new DBMs to their already extensive selection.
American Shooting Journal How did CDiPrecision Gunworks get started? Jeffrey Allen I had an FN-SPR tactical precision rifle with a hinged floorplate and wanted a detachable box magazine (DBM) like the Remington shooters had. No one made them. So, I got busy. I designed one that would fit on the factory detachable-bottom metal rifles that FN was making with McMillan Stocks. After that, I had folks who wanted a DBM systems for their Howa and Savage 10-110 series rifles. We were well on our way then. After several designs, additions and refinements I now offer the best one on the market – bar none. I’m always adding new lines to meet the need for rifles with subpar magazine systems. ASJ What is your background to have even attempted designing your own product?
ASJ Tell us more about what products you carry? JA Right now, we do a full line of DBM setups that include: Remington 700 – SA and LA; Remington Model 7; Remington AAC; Kimber 8400 SA and LA; FN-SPR/Winchester Model 70 SA – post ’64 only; Winchester Model 70 long action, magnum and .223.308 box available – post ’64 only; Mauser 98 large ring in .223 and .308 box mags;
CDi offers a lifetime guarantee on all of their parts. americanshootingjournal.com 53