I am thinking the best market niche for big bore premium actions at a non outrageous price are a falling block capable of fitting up to four bore, BMG variants, 700, 600NE single shots, True magnum length classic double square bridge Mausers, a GMA hybrid type big bore action and a field grade double.

What do you think the market is for these?

If you had all the equipment to make these like a wire EDM, regular EDM, 5 axis CNC ect what would you make?

This is more market research than a hypothetical question.

Thanks!

No significant market for serial production ... plenty of custom builders ... quit the cheap booze ...!!

Was thinking in terms of tens or low hundreds or production runs not thousands.

Just stop it ...!! Rent a hot dog cart or taxi and burn up some of that extra energy ... you can't sell enough to make em cheap enough to sell ... how's that for circular marketing logic ...??

Well GMA is still in business.

Go buy a CZ!
Rodney.

This is not for me. I am out of the equation.

The CZ is great but I stated a larger hybrid action than the CZ like the GMA and a Magnum double square bridge Mauser for example.

quote:

Well GMA is still in business.

And there not cheap.

quote:

you can't sell enough to make em cheap enough to sell ...

VERY true words! Time and money and VERY segmented low demand niche markets.

quote:

Originally posted by J_Zola:

quote:

Well GMA is still in business.

And there not cheap.

GMA actions are about 3K. That would be the price point and quality goal for those.

quote:

Originally posted by Omnivorous_Bob:

quote:

you can't sell enough to make em cheap enough to sell ...

VERY true words! Time and money and VERY segmented low demand niche markets.

I did not say cheap. I said not outrageously priced.

I think a premium falling block action to make a four bore or 50 BMG or 600 nitro single shot for 2K would sell don't you?

I was just messing around. It would be neat to see another option in a big single shot for up to 4-bore, why not a falling block capable for 2-bore. Maybe crazy but would be interesting to have something built with modern steel, hardness etc. An oversize #1 in 2-bore would be classic.
Rodney.

I think BAT has a action that will handle a 408 Cheytac for about $1350. It of course does not have a trigger, bottom metal or a magazine. It appears by lead time that Bat, Stiller, Hall, Stolle and the rest are busy and I assume making money selling an action and bolt for $1000 plus. But I guess they are aiming at a different market.

BigB

I think the recoil is starting to get to you Boom Stick. How many nuts out there do you think want a 2 or 4 bore? I think if you made a hundred it would take a life time to sell them.

Here is a pic of Ed's home made 4 bore in process.
He is doing this by hand and I applaud him for it.
But if you can buy one for 2K or a field grade gun for 4K that would be cool IMHO

I was thinking that an action big enough to take that cart or chambered something smaller like a 50 BMG, 600 NE ect.

quote:

Originally posted by J_Zola:
I think the recoil is starting to get to you Boom Stick. How many nuts out there do you think want a 2 or 4 bore? I think if you made a hundred it would take a life time to sell them.

I think 50 BMG shooters might like a falling block action for target shooting.

That falling block is someone elses, from Weapons
forums.I posted it just for folks to see.
Mine is the other one on the 12ga FH thread.
I think once the development is done with mine, the
action can be done for 1500, and it is modern departure
from regular falling blocks, in that it will go
into a one piece stock, which is 450 bucks right now,
and maybe a whole gun with rifled barrel 3000 dollars. Ed

Oh, Sorry Ed. Can you post a recent pic of yours?

This may not be your question, but my wish is for below medium price option. Say $1,000 not a $200 cheep H&R but just one level up.

I would like a break open single shot. Probably a 4 bore. But, then what we call a 4 bore today is really on the big side of things, so it might not be my ideal. I think a $1000 4 bore would sell. Only need be strong enough for black powder or equivalent too suite me.

I would buy an 8 bore black powder break open single, at $1000 in heart beat. And maybe even try and kill a few animals with it. Would something that small sell? Like wishing for the 585HE to catch on. Not big enough?

For value and great fun, a 577NE built by Savage might be just the ticket. A Savage for $1000. A no frills beefy version of the 220 shotgun with reasonably prices hornady ammo and components. I bet a combo like that would actually sell. A break open single in 577NE would be nice too, if it was easy on the wallet and looked just 1/2 way classic.

Thanks for the response fourbore.
Noted.

Ed. Since you have a lot of experience with these things what would you like to see made at a good quality above average price point?

$1500 - $2000, nothing more then 2K.

For a single shot?

quote:

Originally posted by viperidae:
$1500 - $2000, nothing more then 2K.

Perhaps single barrels scaled up NEF
style, 8ga(.835") with barrel breech diameter of 1.35"
ans scaled up further to the .935" 4ga with
breach of 1.6". Ed

What I wish a gun manufacturer to build??

Your going to laugh

I wish Savage would come out with a short light bolt action in 450 Marlin.
With their Accubed Synthetic stock in Stainless Steel for around $700.
It would be my new Truck Gun.

John

As for numbers, look at how many 50 BMGs have sold in the last few years. There is a market for an "off the shelf" one size fits all single shot falling block type action that will handle the big NEs, 50 BMG and 4 bore if the price is reasonable.

Thanks for the validation on the 50 BMG thinking.
I think tight chambered target barreled single shot falling block 50 BMGs could be popular and by design be 5" shorter than a bolt action.

Hey Boomer,

Are we saying a Ruger No 1 but 20% bigger?
I'm just trying to visualize it.

John

Reading my mind Phatman. A scale up of the Ruger # 1 would be the easiest I think.

No market - none, zip nada .. those that want a 4bore don't want a cheap action on it
I've heard, from a maker, that the market for high end singles is less than 20 a year ...

Nobody is going to make a cheap action. I just said not outrageously priced.

The FARQUHARSON actioned rifle is beautiful visually, and I believe very strong.

I'd love to be able to afford one in 4 bore, meaning the size Ken Owen used to

build his double rifles in 4 bore, which is a copy of the REWA rifles done for the

Maharaja REWA by Holland and Holland a hundred years ago or so. Refer to "MASTADON"

Safarikid's old rifle. The 20mm Vulcan case can be used as the foundation brass for

that size. The bullet is like a giant 600 NE by Woodleigh, it weighs 2000 grns.

It would be difficult to do an oversized #1 style falling block for $1000-. A break open maybe, but would it sell? Nostalgia is nice but don't think it would be easy. My preference would be the falling block like Ed is working with. Already have a 20" heavy barrelled 10 Ga mag NEF break open that looks more like a launcher of some sort than a hunting gun.
Rodney.

Had a suggestion that I was thinking about as well. A double falling block.

Did not know they had been made before.

A bit on the rare side and that would add value.

A birdie told be Ziegenhahn and Hagn makes them but not seen a pic. Hagn does lovely work though.

http://hagnriflesandactions.com/untitled1.html

Hey Boomer! A couple trips back I was in the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest and they had a temporary exhibit of mostly pre-18th century firearms. Some of the most unbelievable stuff you can imagine all from the former Empire. Would you believe pretty much every crazed from the sun idea in the realm of powder burning devices had already been done in the 17th century ...?? BELIEVE IT!! Also took two rolls of film at an outdoor artillery museum of just muzzle brakes. All that's been done too and most of it in the old world 70+ years ago. Hey if you study (comprehensively) the work of these three guys (John Browning, Paul Mauser, Ferdinand Von Mannlicher) you'd see that 90% of the modern stuff we use was invented by one of them. Now - about that Hot Dog cart ...

Jay...
Im not claiming to reinvent the wheel. Just make a decent wheel to the niche market.
Care to share some pics?

That's a whole day project Boomer, locating, scanning. hosting, & posting. Jump a flight - Europe is full of small museums jammed with the stuff.

Boomie- There is no market for that stuff. Forget it! My Borchardt action cost $3K and took 2 years to make. I think the Smith made about 20 of them during his entire career. Butch Searcy made a few Farquarson actions and still has all the parts. Maybe you could buy him out and become the Farqy guy!-Rob

Thanks for the replies.
I think that turn around and cost have been the road block.
If someone did a run of say 100 Borch-Farqesque actions for say 2K a pop some people would have fun like you rob with your 50 BMG single shot.
One at a time by a smith is rough but with the right equipment the relying on custom one offs would be fixed.
Has anyone ever offered other than custom one offs before?
On to the other actions. True magnum double square bridge Mausers fetch a premium and so do actions like GMA.