The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Guns, Politics, Gunsmithing & Reloading Gunsmithing Are there parts you use often that you wish were better priced?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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My partner and I formed a machining company around 7 months ago, but are looking to turn it into a full time gig for us during 2016. I'm not super familiar with the industry, and am searching for some production type work to keep machines busy when we aren't making our own parts or prototypes. Are there any commonly used items in smithing that you wish were more available, or priced lower? We have a lot of capability on the design/CAD/engineering side in addition to very precise machinework, and would like to impress some folks with what we can do...but I'd like some input on what folks like you in the gunsmithing world are looking for! Tyler Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system.  | ||
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Personally, I'd be interested in a 1-piece 1913 20-moa base for a howa mini. Also, I'd be interested in a bottom metal for a r700 that works properly with alpha magazines (no spacer, longer COL). I don't know what the wider market for these would be though... | |||
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I have made short runs of parts and specialized tools many times over the years. The problem is that you make 100 and you sit on them for a year or ten and make $5 each on them. It generally does not even pay the wage of the person who ends up having to take the phone calls and ship out the parts. I think most of us who do produce stuff for the industry do it as overflow from our normal, in shop production. It's pretty hard to pick one part out of the many billions and expect to produce it cheaper than these overflow parts and the parts left over from the manufactures original runs. I have gotten to the point where I will only sell my overflow to Western Gun Parts. I now refuse to sell any parts over the counter because I simply can't make money at it. I do much better making one off automotive parts for the local hotrod shops and farms than I do making parts for the gun industry. Just sayin. When I was a kid. I had the stick. I had the rock. And I had the mud puddle. I am as adept with them today, as I was back then. Lets see today's kids say that about their IPods, IPads and XBoxes in 45 years! Rod Henrickson | |||
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I don't want to be harsh, just honest; you need to find another area of interest to make parts for; gunsmithing does not lend itself to mass production of anything. Every job is different and requires different parts and tools. It is hard to pay for machines and labor on the relatively low demand gun smiting parts and tools. Too much of it is low demand, niche items. Even if there were commonly used items, they would be in very low demand. Not saying there aren't any parts you can make, but I can't think of any right now. Look in a Brownells catalog and see what is offered there. What Speer said, applies, of course. I wish you luck. | |||
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How about just a standard ADL Remmy trigger guard that doesn't cost $35. I would think that would be a $20 tops part, but if you're machining from a billet there wouldn't be a lot of margin for your profit... Shoot straight, shoot often. Matt | |||
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It's not so much the machining that makes parts so expensive. Parts like trigger guards and floor plate assemblies must also be polished and blued or anodized or people simply won't buy them. The cost for that hand finishing is very expensive and usually outstrips the price of machining the part itself. This is why a lot of those components on cheaper guns are often made of plastic castings or are of cintered steel and are basically unpolished and blued or painted. When I was a kid. I had the stick. I had the rock. And I had the mud puddle. I am as adept with them today, as I was back then. Lets see today's kids say that about their IPods, IPads and XBoxes in 45 years! Rod Henrickson | |||
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Haha, I appreciate the honest opinions, and perhaps this isn't the right field to find high volume parts to make, but figured it couldn't hurt to ask! Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system. | |||
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Maybe start with a trademark for guns and accessories. Under the MK umbrella. "Overkill Arms Mfg" for an example. Establish a name for a unique product and then expand. Start with one thing that you do well. Expand to sights and widgets etcetera. 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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You can go take a look here http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/ to get an idea of what someone that is successful making gun stuff is producing. At least you will get an idea of what seems to sell and what the going prices are. | |||
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I hear there is lots of money to be made making add-on knurled cocking piece extensions like the Mexican Mausers used... | |||
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Now, that one is actually a good idea; you will sell quite a few of them. | |||
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A safety for the Cz 452 left hand which works back for safe, forward for fire, with a mirror image for the right hand version. You will find a big market for them here in the uk | |||
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Many years ago I made a run of firing pins for a very cheap semi-auto pistol that several of the pawnshops were selling out the door for about $50.00 with a holster and box of ammo. Firing pins always broke and often within about 20 rounds. I made nothing on the parts after CNC machining and heat treating. I made money on having them and replacing them. Still have a few left. Dave In 100 years who of us will care? An armed society is a polite society! Just because they say you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you. | |||
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Based on local machinists who do work for me I would suggest building your business on machining aircraft parts and do specialty gun parts as a secondary. | |||
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Make parts for oilfield machinery. Hundreds of machine shops in the Houston area do very well doing subcontract machining for the very large oilfield machinery manufacturers. It requires a good sales force and meticulous record keeping. Right now the oilpatch is in the toilet but things will turn around in a while. Always has. | |||
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If you want to make money selling gun parts/tools, economics dictates that they must be drop-in parts for high volume guns, i.e., Glocks, ARs, 1911s, etc. | |||
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"Very precise machine work" "Sophisticated machinery" 'Somewhat reasonable prices" Make some actions. Really really good mauser clones in rare sizes and sell them (just the actions) for under $1500. Say a few mauser kurz actions one the small end, and a few mauser magnum on the large end. | |||
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Actions are definitely tempting, but I'm not sure what that would do to our insurance, and would certainly require a lot of testing before they were sellable. Some contract work as others have PM'ed me about is certainly what we're after, simple and high production numbers would be great to keep the machines busy. Oilfield or aircraft stuff would be great, and I'm sure high profit. Don't have any contacts in that industry and not sure how one would get involved although I've been on the lookout for stuff online. Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system. | |||
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A "generic" tube gun chassis for long range; rather than being made for a specific action, it would be made for your barrel block with a floating action. Since the block is what is attached to the chassis, it could be cut down after the block to expose the free-floating action. You could work with a barrel maker to offer barrels with a custom contour; something like 10 inches of non-tapered cylinder. I know that Lilja Barrels does this for Kirby Allen's "Raptor Contour" barrels (though both sections are fluted/no block). Krieger will make custom contoured barrels. Two of the best in the industry. Just make a different diameter hole through the block for different barrel diameters. Team up with a precision gunsmith; ship him the chassis, barrel, and barrel block. The customer can send their action to the 'smith. You make parts without the hassle of insurance and FFL concerns. I have NO IDEA if anyone besides me would want this...but I would buy the first one. | |||
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One thing you might consider is the receiver sight. Original Lyman Model 35 and 36 receiver sights sell for obscene prices, up to $600 apiece, and they shouldn't be that hard to reproduce. No space age technology involved. | |||
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you don't need to know beans about oilfield equipment or aircraft parts. You must hire a salesman(s) that knows his business and you concentrate on the machining and manufacturing processes. Gun stuff is fun but it is a low profit business at best - just an expensive hobby if you get in to manufacturing. | |||
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Unless you are making stuff for homebuilders and experimental planes, making aircraft parts will require a large investment in business systems and processes to be able to demonstrate control over configuration, traceability, raw material certifications, AS9102 first article inspection, etc. Not sure how much over and above this might be to what you are used to doing now, but it needs to be considered... | |||
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Asking custom gunsmiths about high volume parts may not be the best approach. I would go to the Brownell's and Midway site look at their most popular items and see if you can identify something you can do faster and cheaper. Me, personally I think there should be more rings with integral to bases. Remington 700s, Win Model 70s, Savage 10/110 Mike Legistine actu? Quid scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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yes -- actions should be $50 bucks, left, right, CM or stainless .... just a pipe dream opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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I payed $200 for a Rimfire magazine. A nice price, so I bought two. The orginals are unobtanium, so I had to do what I had to do. | |||
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CZ 452 bottom metals.. in steel. And nicly profiled! | |||
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Keep the suggestions coming  Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system. | |||
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While your "barrel block" chassis is something I'm not currently making, I am nearly finished with a bullpup chassis that features modular sections, and down the road after launch (it's made for Remington 700 SA at first) you will be able to get different action sections for several popular bolt actions..Tikka, Savage, Winchester, etc. And you cut 10" off your rifle's length and gain a bunch of adjustability and a fantastic custom trigger!  Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system. | |||
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at some point I'm thinking the business becomes a "mauyfacturer" IAW BATFE Don't limit your challenges . . . Challenge your limits | |||
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I like this one. But I would want to be able to purchase direct. | |||
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Tyler- That bullpup idea looks good, especially for a long barrel. I do still like the idea of a barrel block, though. With a Savage action and its barrel nut (or a custom barrel nut for other actions) much of the rifle building could be done at home. Like JTEX, I would like the option of just buying it outright. Does your bullpup have different butt stocks available? | |||
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Sarcasm, yes? True enough, until all 150 people who want one or two are served. He needs orders of 5,000 pcs or more to make a living on small parts. Tyler, the reason there is a lack of affordable and desirable custom parts is because of a lack of demand beyond a certain price point. Usually that price point is too low to be viable. Otherwise people just as smart as you would be making them now. The only place I see big numbers of small parts or inexpensive gadgets going in volume is the Tacti-Cool stuff. If it's simole and cheap it's being mass produced overseas unless it is original enough to patent. Otherwise you need "efficient quality" which is what I call high dollar stuff and a competitive price in its class. Either way you need to set some serious money aside for marketing/advertising. Word of mouth and forums take too damn long. My two cents, worth somewhat less but best of luck! Smart people make it happen every day! "Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson. | |||
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Interesting, I bought a GreenerGP shotgun recently. When I was looking up the Greener sight for info I noticed some of the gunmakers diversified into the manufacture of ,ie nuts and bolts,aircraft parts etc....time scale would have been after the war when rebuilding was taking place. Some things never change...jc | |||
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Tyler, People seem to like to buy 1911 parts. A round butt mainspring housing (as opposed to the more severe bobtail cut mainspring housing) might sell. Take a look at the Kimber Supercarry, Sign Nightmare carry, or Smith and Wesson E Series 1911sc as examples. | |||
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I need a locking block for a 20ga. Charles daily shotgun. None to be found anywhere, all out of stock | |||
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Standard bottom metal for '03 and '03-A3 Sproingfelds. If I had a decent place to find standard bottom metal, hinged floorplate, in the bow release, in the white with at least a 320 grit finish for $100 or so, I would probably buy 5 of them, with more to come later. And Mexican Knurled cocking knobs;-) Hair, not Air! Rob Martin | |||
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You we couldn't get that to $100, it's too complicated. Bullpup will have different "bag bar" areas available, so yes the rear section can change somewhat. There will be more models, including a much more hunting oriented bullpup stock in the future. Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system. | |||
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Gosh Duane. After 45 years of dealing with tightwads, cheapskates and assholes, I thought you would be getting pretty thick skinned by now. After only thirty five years I can have a guy call me an: “Overpriced, ripoff, money grubbing, sons-a-bitch” right to my face and now days I just smile and ask him if he would like fries with that, before I walk away from him. But then again, I'm a little funny that way! I also have a VERY LONG memory and a long black-ball-list where that shit is concerned. LOL  When I was a kid. I had the stick. I had the rock. And I had the mud puddle. I am as adept with them today, as I was back then. Lets see today's kids say that about their IPods, IPads and XBoxes in 45 years! Rod Henrickson | |||
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Especially when you consider rusty old milsurp bottom metal goes for near that.  Aut vincere aut mori | |||
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Hey, I gotta try! Too many Springfields around here with cobbled bottom metal or still with stamped pieces. I even have a >416 Taylor on a Smith Corona 03-A3 wearing cheap Mauser bottom metal! Hair, not Air! Rob Martin | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Guns, Politics, Gunsmithing & Reloading Gunsmithing Are there parts you use often that you wish were better priced?
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