How Much $s did you pay or would you pay for a Custom Chambering in your rifle???

How much would you pay to have a barrel chambered, Threaded, Finished???

1st​ this does not include the cost of the Barrel whether you bought it or your GS had the Barrel ?

2nd​ is the chamber for the cartridge SAAMI specks or Custom?

3rd is it a "Custom Design Cartridge" The Reamer has to be built-not in stock and would you want a specific Reamer Maker JGS/MASON/ PT&G ?

4th are you buying the Custom Reamer of having the GS buy it and keep it rent it?

5th​ are you having the muzzle threaded?

6th​ what finish are you having on the barrel/action – Cearkote/Beadblast

If you want to know why we are asking this is we are just trying to get an idea on what the present day costs for building custom rifles are. I have been working on firearms for over fifty years and have seen many changes in costs for materials and labor.

It has been a challenge the past few years getting out of GS , selling everything and then getting back in. Jill and I decided to start up a Custom Chambering & Cerakoting business about five years ago. Unfortunately I ended up with a spinal cord injury and even worse a sever injury after the surgery.

Well being a disabled USMC Vet and much perseverance it is paying off and I had some improvements with a SCS Spinal Cord Stimulator. Started Coyote Shadow Tracker, LLC in 2021.

This past year we have purchased a good selection of Start of the Art GunSmithing equipment and Cerakoting equipment.

We are hoping and praying to get everything operational by April 2022. With all new equipment, machines, tooling and renovating a 1,800sqft space is costing about $40k.

We basically did this to build our own "F" Class and ELR Rifles pulse we know a lot of shooters in the PRS field and would chamber for them.

We are not going to be a "Total GS Shop" been their done that and it's not worth the trouble. We are just going to be Custom Chambering, some stock/chassis work (sure we could build a rifle from start to finish) and limited Cerakoting (no Skulls & cross bones & snakes).

We are not putting our website until we are finished with the renovation.

If you want to PM us with prices you recently paid it would be appreciated and if you want to know what equipment and capabilities we have. I would be glad to talk with you.
Also posting you prices paid will give other LRH members an idea on what they can expect when making a new build.

We are not looking to get rich (may never break even), but are looking to make Class AAA+++ rifles for competition & hunting.

Thanks MUCH!!!!
Len & Jill

Being a disabled vet myself I wish you only the best.

I'm going to build two or three customs this year and already have a price from someone in the area.

I'll provide the stocks, actions, barrels, brakes etc and for his part it will run me 600.00-1,000.00 each.

He provides all the work, tools, tooling etc.

Mine will be on the higher end because they are not SAAMI cartridges and will all be WC's built off of the 375 Ruger case.

That is cheap by no means but seems awfully fair considering the work to be done figuring about 100.00-125.00/hr for machine time including chambering and finish reaming, fluting, lapping etc and finish work.
 
While it's always important to consider the pricing structure of the competition, it shouldn't be the overriding factor.

At the end of the day, it's what it costs you to do the work and make the margin needed to be profitable.
From unpacking and logging in/tagging parts etc, to doing the actual work, to final assembly and packaging for shipment.
Even responding to customer emails is time out of the day.
Consumables/shop supplies- don't forget to factor that in as well.
 
How much would you pay to have a barrel chambered, Threaded, Finished???

1st​ this does not include the cost of the Barrel whether you bought it or your GS had the Barrel ?

2nd​ is the chamber for the cartridge SAAMI specks or Custom?

3rd is it a "Custom Design Cartridge" The Reamer has to be built-not in stock and would you want a specific Reamer Maker JGS/MASON/ PT&G ?

4th are you buying the Custom Reamer of having the GS buy it and keep it rent it?

5th​ are you having the muzzle threaded?

6th​ what finish are you having on the barrel/action – Cearkote/Beadblast

If you want to know why we are asking this is we are just trying to get an idea on what the present day costs for building custom rifles are. I have been working on firearms for over fifty years and have seen many changes in costs for materials and labor.

It has been a challenge the past few years getting out of GS , selling everything and then getting back in. Jill and I decided to start up a Custom Chambering & Cerakoting business about five years ago. Unfortunately I ended up with a spinal cord injury and even worse a sever injury after the surgery.

Well being a disabled USMC Vet and much perseverance it is paying off and I had some improvements with a SCS Spinal Cord Stimulator. Started Coyote Shadow Tracker, LLC in 2021.

This past year we have purchased a good selection of Start of the Art GunSmithing equipment and Cerakoting equipment.

We are hoping and praying to get everything operational by April 2022. With all new equipment, machines, tooling and renovating a 1,800sqft space is costing about $40k.

We basically did this to build our own "F" Class and ELR Rifles pulse we know a lot of shooters in the PRS field and would chamber for them.

We are not going to be a "Total GS Shop" been their done that and it's not worth the trouble. We are just going to be Custom Chambering, some stock/chassis work (sure we could build a rifle from start to finish) and limited Cerakoting (no Skulls & cross bones & snakes).

We are not putting our website until we are finished with the renovation.

If you want to PM us with prices you recently paid it would be appreciated and if you want to know what equipment and capabilities we have. I would be glad to talk with you.
Also posting you prices paid will give other LRH members an idea on what they can expect when making a new build.

We are not looking to get rich (may never break even), but are looking to make Class AAA+++ rifles for competition & hunting.

Thanks MUCH!!!!
Len & Jill
First thanks for serving our country. Glad you are on the mend.

I have not read past your opening post. The first thing that came to mind was this…
Becoming a barrel dealer would seem to fit right into this. Do you plan on or would you consider that as a future option?
 
Just got my 25-06 back from Diamond-T rifle shop in Idaho. It was rebarreled, Cera-koted, and accuracy work done to receiver and bolt lugs. The barrel was made by Hart barrels. Total cost of barrel to include shipping barrel to Diamond-T was $530. Diamond -T charged me $560 for mounting barrel, cera-koting the barrel, action, and floor plate, and then shipping back to me.
 
I have been quoted prices from $375 - $550 for just chambering, and muzzle threading from
$50 - $110 .
Never had anything coated yet.

One of the smiths I chatted with quite a bit WILL
not make a pre-fit nutted barrel. He is the one that will chamber, thread, and install my barrel.
But it will be shouldered and I can't use the barrel nut method.
 
I pay $300-350 for a non-custom and $30 more if smith needs to rent reamer, this includes fitting to the action. Fluting a barrel is $80-130 depending on type. Thread muzzle is $75. Cerakote barreled action 1 color is $165 and $50 more for second color on any fluting or contrasting. Cerakote barrel only is $75-100.
 
What I had done years back and now I can buy 2-3 guns. Chamber cut 300-375.00 , muzzle thread & cap ,( brake I supply ) 65-90.00 , I only use SS bbls now , flutting is a big one straight flutting around 150--275.00 . My bbl's are 28 inch Palma contour . I would have the Action, bbl and custom dies made at same time, including chamber testing-fired rounds- headspacing-throating & Chrono at the same time. Trigger I supply along with the action, unless I get action from smith. Its all on how one talks with the smith !!! Good luck & shoot straight & often. Am now waiting on a quote for my new TOY ! includes BBL, threads ,chambering ,dies, proofing, chrono , with or with-out action , just started the program. Told him need it by May 2022- he has done a few for me already.
 
How much would you pay to have a barrel chambered, Threaded, Finished???

1st​ this does not include the cost of the Barrel whether you bought it or your GS had the Barrel ?

2nd​ is the chamber for the cartridge SAAMI specks or Custom?

3rd is it a "Custom Design Cartridge" The Reamer has to be built-not in stock and would you want a specific Reamer Maker JGS/MASON/ PT&G ?

4th are you buying the Custom Reamer of having the GS buy it and keep it rent it?

5th​ are you having the muzzle threaded?

6th​ what finish are you having on the barrel/action – Cearkote/Beadblast

If you want to know why we are asking this is we are just trying to get an idea on what the present day costs for building custom rifles are. I have been working on firearms for over fifty years and have seen many changes in costs for materials and labor.

It has been a challenge the past few years getting out of GS , selling everything and then getting back in. Jill and I decided to start up a Custom Chambering & Cerakoting business about five years ago. Unfortunately I ended up with a spinal cord injury and even worse a sever injury after the surgery.

Well being a disabled USMC Vet and much perseverance it is paying off and I had some improvements with a SCS Spinal Cord Stimulator. Started Coyote Shadow Tracker, LLC in 2021.

This past year we have purchased a good selection of Start of the Art GunSmithing equipment and Cerakoting equipment.

We are hoping and praying to get everything operational by April 2022. With all new equipment, machines, tooling and renovating a 1,800sqft space is costing about $40k.

We basically did this to build our own "F" Class and ELR Rifles pulse we know a lot of shooters in the PRS field and would chamber for them.

We are not going to be a "Total GS Shop" been their done that and it's not worth the trouble. We are just going to be Custom Chambering, some stock/chassis work (sure we could build a rifle from start to finish) and limited Cerakoting (no Skulls & cross bones & snakes).

We are not putting our website until we are finished with the renovation.

If you want to PM us with prices you recently paid it would be appreciated and if you want to know what equipment and capabilities we have. I would be glad to talk with you.
Also posting you prices paid will give other LRH members an idea on what they can expect when making a new build.

We are not looking to get rich (may never break even), but are looking to make Class AAA+++ rifles for competition & hunting.

Thanks MUCH!!!!
Len & Jill
Last barrel work I had done cost $400 to chamber, thread and fit my barrel to my action—I provided the barrel, action, and reamer—
 
Morning Len and Jill i usually supply the reamer a dummy round and the barrel. over the years it is creeping up first time I had a chambered and threaded for brake it was $200 couple years later it's been up to 250 just dropped one off yesterday it is now 300 to chamber and thread a rifle for a muzzle brake
Morning to you Bill
yest it's about $300 for a chamber and muzzle thread especially
Chamber - 150-350
Cerakote barrel - 100
Cerakote action - 100
Muzzle thread - 50-100

The one that surprises me is chambering. It seems to vary from $150-$400, but what is the difference? I'm sure some setups take longer, but are they more precise?

Can anybody tell me why some charge more for magnums or non-SAAMI reamers? Is it different? I get that throating should cost more as well as renting or buying the reamer.

Also, IMO, Savage nut type chambering should maybe cost a few bucks less since reamer depth is probably slightly less critical.
Chambering should be the same cost as to the labor. There is an extra cost depending on the reamer you use.
if you have your own reamer, Also all chambers should be done exactly the same way. Never heard of a GS tell someone do you want a "Hunting Chamber of Match Chamber" and charge different. The only difference is the " Reamer" it's self. Takes the same amount of time and skill to cut a SAAMI chamber as does a Match/Custom designed chamber. Just have more cost for the type of Reamer.
 
Just got my 25-06 back from Diamond-T rifle shop in Idaho. It was rebarreled, Cera-koted, and accuracy work done to receiver and bolt lugs. The barrel was made by Hart barrels. Total cost of barrel to include shipping barrel to Diamond-T was $530. Diamond -T charged me $560 for mounting barrel, cera-koting the barrel, action, and floor plate, and then shipping back to me.
Shawn at Diamond T does outstanding work. He's done work for me and is very reasonable (plus, he's only 20 minutes away).

I haven't had occasion to have the kind of work done you are referring to but I applaud your efforts to work through all the adversity to achieve the goals you and Jill have set and my prayers will be with you for physical well being and long term success in your venture
 
The first thing that came to mind was this…
Becoming a barrel dealer would seem to fit right into this. Do you plan on or would you consider that as a future option?
A few years ago, I did just that, I bought in quantity from a well known maker and offered them for sale. First off, people expect you to sell for the same price as if they, themselves had ordered the barrel from the maker. At most, buying 'quantity', all the barrel makers I checked with, and I checked with at least 5, you can expect a 10% discount off listed price. 10% isn't much mark-up. The next 'problem' I ran into was, I had Sendero contour but the customer wanted Palma contour, or I had a #3 contour and they wanted a #4, and fluted. You don't have fluted?! Can you flute it for me? Same cost as the maker would charge? Not without a CNC mill you can't! I have fluted on manual mills, both vertical and horizontal, it's hard to get very far away, where as with a CNC you can go do something else while the cutting is going on. For a 1 man shop you end up with "too many irons in the fire" to do a good job of it. Low mark ups, not having the contour the customer wants, not having the twist rate wanted, having a fluted one and not having one that's not. There are just so many options when shopping for a barrel these days. Took me almost 2yrs to sell off 20 barrels. Sure, I used a few on builds I did. But holding merchandise that long for a 10% mark up wasn't quite worth it. And, it took time away from my 'other' work that paid better.
 
I'm waiting on the price of barrels to go up! A barrel maker probably buys a semi load at a time, or more. The price of the steel bar is bound to increase. The operating costs for the barrel maker is increasing, too. The operating costs for the gunsmith are on the increase, so todays pricing is irrelevant @ the current 7.5% inflation rate.
 
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