Rollover Realities: Gold IRA and the Taxman Cometh?

• •Alright, so I’ve been eyeing a larger chunk of my 401k to roll over into a Gold IRA.
• •I’ve got about $350k in my current 401k from my manufacturing gig here in Cleveland, and honestly, this stock market volatility is making me twitchy.
• •Everything I've been reading sounds good, but I want to make sure I'm not missing some obvious tax pitfall with a direct rollover.

Alright, so I’ve been eyeing a larger chunk of my 401k to roll over into a Gold IRA. I’ve got about $350k in my current 401k from my manufacturing gig here in Cleveland, and honestly, this stock market volatility is making me twitchy. Everything I've been reading sounds good, but I want to make sure I'm not missing some obvious tax pitfall with a direct rollover. I value hard assets, always have, and gold just feels like a smarter play for a substantial portion of my retirement right now.

My main concern is making sure I get this done without any nasty surprises from the IRS. I'm looking at a direct rollover to avoid any kind of 60-day rule headaches or accidental distributions. What have others experienced with this? Any specific forms or procedures that are particularly tricky? I’m in my late 40s, so I’m a ways off from touching this money, but I want to set it up right from the start.

I’ve heard stories about "constructive receipt" or other ways the IRS can interpret things if not done perfectly. Has anyone ever had an issue where their direct rollover was somehow miscategorized as a taxable event? I'm talking about moving a significant sum here, approaching half a million when I factor in my other accounts, so any misstep could be costly. Looking for real-world experiences, not just textbook advice, because sometimes those are two very different things.

Also, any recommendations on which custodians are particularly good at handling these direct rollovers without a hitch? I want someone who’s done this a million times and can guide the process effectively. My current 401k administrator isn't exactly known for their customer service, so I'm bracing myself for some potential hurdles on their end.
Thanks in advance for any insights, fellow gold bugs!