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I'm now in Kentucky and asked a local gunsmith here if they could chamber my SS barrel blank in 243 Win and thread the shank to 1.055" x 20 TPI so I can install it in a Savage action for a hunting rifle. The estimate was $400. Am I so out of touch with gunsmithing prices? I've had match barrels chambered, threaded and extractor cuts for a lot less than that in California. I can buy a new chambered and threaded Criterion SS match barrel for $325 and a SS, Shilen C&T barrel for $330 online. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | ||
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Crowning and/threading muzzle too? Thats well within standard pricing. http://www.facebook.com/profil...p?id=100001646464847 A.M. Little Bespoke Gunmakers LLC 682-554-0044 Michael08TDK@yahoo.com | |||
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Crowning yes, no muzzle threads. It amazes me I can buy a completely finished Shilen or Criterion barrel for 20% less than having my own blank fitted. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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I would imagine the difference comes in doing a one-off vs volume production. In one-off, the one job has to pay for all of the setup and trial adjustments. Time = money. When you spread that out over a volume run, the per unit cost goes down. | |||
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Reason 1: You are getting a lower quality barrel with the S brand, criterion and many of the other makers. Reason 2: The cheaper ones are run fast, to minimum thread specs, and will not have an optimal fit on all receivers. Think; same as a factory barrel; not really custom. Reason 3: Chamber? Who knows what spec that was cut to? A true custom job is, custom fit to each receiver frame and the chamber will be cut to the customer specification. | |||
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Why screw around with rebarrelling when you can get something like this for a couple bucks more? It's even got a Turkish walnut stock. https://www.budsgunshop.com/pr...34+bolt+action+rifle Eron Ahmer Sulphur Gulch Gunsmithing | |||
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Charging a hundred dollars plus an hour for labor now days is very common. Or he just does not do to the job thus the high price. | |||
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Well Frank, I am over in western VA, and I just had a Douglas blank fitted to a Remington 700 action. All told it was $375, really hasn't kept up with inflation from what I used to get when I was in business 8 years ago. Max | |||
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The gunsmith isn't supplying the blank, he's just chambering my Pacnor Supermatch blank and said that he would chamber it to SAAMI spec for the 243 Win. No custom reamer, etc.
My action is trued, timed and the cocking ramp recut already and has a SharpShooter Supply match trigger. This will be it's fourth barrel as I used to do high volume varmint shooting and used it in 1,000 yard matches. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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$400 is pretty steep. In Phoenix Az. where I am in the winter. There are several hobbits that will put one on for $200. These guys are Long range shooters & F class guys that know what they are doing. Too bad you are far away. I would put it on for you this winter. | |||
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In parts of the world, a two million dollar 800 sq ft condo would seem like a bargain...In other parts, the enire town might not be worth that. Price comparison discussion here on AR always leaves me a bit befuddled. Costs and location always has an impact on prices as well as licensed full time vs part time hobbyist | |||
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Same thing, only different. https://www.motor.com/2023/05/...s-across-the-country Old Corps Semper Fi FJB | |||
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I have seen Larry Millers work I would have him put a barrel on anytime. | |||
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I am not a gunsmith but own a lathe. With that said let me guess the steps. 1) prepare lathe for chambering. Set up spider in head stock and install four jaw chuck. 2) barrel in lathe. Indicate both ends entill i am crossed eye. 3) turn shoulder and thread. How do i measure internal pitch diameter of the action? Make a plug gage or just use the action? Lets hope i don't crash into the shoulder threading. 4) chambering. Set up pump and home made rotary couplink to muzzle and reamer holding in tail stock. Chamber and check head space. 5) flip barrel around indicate both ends and crown. 6) polish or blast off all marks from chucking. I think I would be hard press to complete in 4 hours and if I screwed up I would owe you a barrel. I believe 400 is reasonable. | |||
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I can do a Remington 700 in a hour and a half if I don't hit chatter. I work from a steady rest. Before I finish chamber I mount a indicator on the end of the barrel & sweep a dead center making sure the bore is perfect lined up with the tail stock. If it is not you will get a over size chamber in the back. | |||
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$400 sounds high with no contour work. Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can. | |||
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Picked one up day before yesterday. $250, minimal contouring. | |||
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Well...that may be the best coure for you to follow. Have you asked around about this shop Nice clean work? sharp reamers, quality euipment, guaentee. reputaion? A top notch job can be welll worh a few extra dollars, while a shit job is money thrown away Barrel installation ? All opver the map! Truing up the action fce, bolt face and lug contact, checking firing pin protrusioin and test fire? Or... just crank it on with only attention spent to head space and that maybe with a cartridge instead of gages. Take your chouice, the above mentioned "methods" will certainly generate diferent prices The price quoted is well within the ball park for a pretty detailed job | |||
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Hey, some scream "bloody murder" at the costs at the machine shop, too. They want best quality, they want it to work as intended, and they want it now! And for minimum $$$$. It ain't WalMart or Dollar General. | |||
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I read that cost of living is up 20% in Alaska since Corona. After some research and agonizing I raised my guided fishing price from $500 for the boat for the day to $650. I was fairly certain I was shooting myself in the foot, but figured I can change for lower if the phone doesn't ring. Customers haven't blinked at the increase and I'm still getting tips. | |||
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I understand the set up and processes. Many years ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was the ship's machinist on a couple of nuclear submarines. The entirety of the job was to take my existing, profiled blank and ream the chamber to 243 Win. SAAMI spec., thread the barrel shank to 1.055" x 20 tpi and cut an 11 degree crown. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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I didn't know that Nucs went for 243 Win | |||
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You have to have small game rifles.  Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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[/QUOTE]...The price quoted is well within the ball park for a pretty detailed job[/QUOTE] Thats what I'm thinkin'. Another way to look at it might be the purchasing power of our money is diminishing quickly. | |||
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I rarely do 700's because that is not the line of work I am in, but I have a friend local who does all of that type of work. Some of those "pre fit" 700 match barrels are absolutely "tits" as he calls it. There are too many brands to blanket them like Tom would, and most are better than most gunsmiths. I'd have to ask him the brand, but he can buy 10 Kelby's and 10 barrels, and all the barrels will time correctly with the lettering, all the barrels headspace perfectly, and the pitch diameter of the threads is perfect. We setup several on an afternoon and most had a level of accuracy and repeatability that was near baffling. He charges $500 to thread chamber and crown, $650 if you want it threaded for a suppressor. Last I checked he has a mile long wait list. But for 90% of his customers, he uses pre-fits, and they are stunningly accurate. Nathaniel Myers Myers Arms LLC nathaniel@myersarms.com www.myersarms.com Follow us on Instagram and YouTube I buy Mauser actions, parts, micrometers, tools, calipers, etc. Specifically looking for pre-WWII Mauser tools. | |||
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I'm guessing the $500 does NOT cover cost of barrel? The results you desribe is pretty amazing. Of course, now.... one cannot take a shaving off the action face or bolt face or lightly lap lugs.....All timing would be off? | |||
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I see a market for precision washers :-) | |||
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Plus the barrel I presume? Old Corps Semper Fi FJB | |||
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Costs of everyday items have gone up for everyone, gunsmiths included. Small businesses are still the backbone of our economy, and I see few gunsmiths with a Mercedes coupe parked in the garage. Personally, I do business with my local craftsmen if I can... On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch... Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling Life grows grim without senseless indulgence. | |||
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No, that does not include the barrel blank. That is supplied by the customer.
No need to shave the action face, or bolt face, or lap any lugs. Everything is.... just fantastic. No need to correct CAM timing, no need to do much of anything. Nathaniel Myers Myers Arms LLC nathaniel@myersarms.com www.myersarms.com Follow us on Instagram and YouTube I buy Mauser actions, parts, micrometers, tools, calipers, etc. Specifically looking for pre-WWII Mauser tools. | |||
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FWIW: Pac-Nor $300 Douglas $520 Plus barrel. Old Corps Semper Fi FJB | |||
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send your rifle to Douglas. They will install one of their barrels for a song. "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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Plus the barrel, plus shipping both ways. Might as well call it close to 1K. An expensive song. https://www.douglasbarrels.net/fitting-services Old Corps Semper Fi FJB | |||
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And...they won't make it feed...You have to have someone else do that (at additional cost) Interesting to see them set 20 Rockwell at a minimum...Seen three FN's set back at 24! Not to knock Douglas...they do what they say they will do | |||
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