Why are custom rifles so Pricey??

[dodgefreak8]

so I am going to show my ignorance here and try not to offende anyone.. I am kicking the idea around of selling my Ruger no.1 7mmstw and building something custom. I am looking at many of the sponsers here and the rifles seem to start at around $3500.00+. Now I am not saying that they are not worth that but I am curious why they cost so much. Here is what I have so far.

Defiance action around $1000.00
kreiger Barrel $300.00
Laminated stock with bedding block $300.00
trigger $200.00
Bottom plate dependds but we'll say $200.00
install barrel (most gunsmith prices I have found) $350.00

totals at $2350

so lets say $2500

what do rifle makers do for that extra $1000.00 ??? Is there a lot of accuracy work involved? I would think not if you are buying an aftermarket precision action.

Help me out here I don't want to goof up

 

[Edd]

There is a lot of time involved in building a rifle. You have underestimated the cost of some of the items and the only thing you have paid the builder is the $350 for threading, chambering, and crowning the barrel.

If you had a completed barreled action, a stock blank, and bottom metal, you could spend $1000 to get those parts fitted and assembled. Then you still have to mount the scope.

I going to order some parts for a custom soon. I'm going to have about $3000 in the parts. Then I'll have to pay someone to put everything together.

 

[WyoElk2Hunt]

In most anything your labor runs almost as much as parts in retail market. So athousand for a custom build is a bargin. You pay for the perfection of him putting all the parts together and making them work to perfection.

 

[dodgefreak8]

the costs I quoted were directly off the sites so i don't know how I underestimated them?? I guess that is my general question though. ( and where my ignorance lies) the stock is pre fitted for a remington reciever which the defiance is modeled after so no fitting required. Or is it?? secondly and this is an honest question. what is required to fit the bottom metal?? I thought the bolted right up?? I am payng the action manufacturer for fitted perfection paying $1000.00 for his product and I am paying the smith to mount the barrel with precision. I guess the other parts i.e. stock and so on require way more fitting than I was aware of.

 

[BountyHunter]

The way you parted the components you are almost correct

You obviously priced the Stockyards Bobby Hart LR special stock but even it should be skim bedded

You will not normally find a custom Smith using that Stock for their custom package

$40 off on the trigger figure $240 for the Jewell

A normal blank stock will require at least minor inletting for action and 700 clone bottom metal will require minor inletting

Figure the barrel is closer to $325 or more for the longer than standard blanks

Add $200-250 for muzzle brake

Add $60-75 for sling studs and $75-100 for recoil pad on normal blank

Now if using the Stockys stock you are only paying for chambering crowning bedding and fitting the trigger

IMO if a Smith wants to charge as much for labor as parts run like hell find another smith

It is true that some smiths only do complete packages for this reason also ad it allows them go maximize their profit
They order all the parts at dealer and mark them up to retail

I have a 6.5x47 built just like you are talking and final price was under $2300

 

[J E Custom]

With everything furnished The work should be less than $1000.00 but if the smith has to furnish a
special reamer and head space gauge that can drive the price up. Also if there is any stock work
required before pillar bedding.

On a completely furnished parts rifle the normal amount of time to do a finished rifle is 15 to 25 hours

You bought expensive parts (That's Good) But you have to look at the work to assemble them.

Factory rifles have neither the best parts, or the precision assembly required to consistently
build an accurate rifle.

If you had a big name company build your rifle and required all of the same parts, you could add
40% to those parts and 30 to 40% to the build for the name.

All of this would bring the cost to somewhere between $6,000 and $8,000.00 dollars.

J E CUSTOM

 

[WyoElk2Hunt]

Most Gunsmiths don't get rich building custom guns just make a living and are more proud of there precision shooting builds than mass production.

 

[desertbull]

buy a used Savage or Remington at the gun shop or pawn shop, blueprint action, re-barrel, restock, new trigger, bed the action, get good bases and rings.

$1200-1500.

 

[Edd]

buy a used Savage or Remington at the gun shop or pawn shop, blueprint action, re-barrel, restock, new trigger, bed the action, get good bases and rings.

$1200-1500.

I think I need to get a new calculator.

Good used 700 rifle $450
Accurize action $550
Re-barrel $700
Re-stock $500
New trigger $250
Bed the action $300
Good bases & Rings $150

Total $2900

 

[desertbull]

I think I need to get a new calculator.

Good used 700 rifle $450
Accurize action $550
Re-barrel $700
Re-stock $500
New trigger $250
Bed the action $125
Good bases & Rings $150

Total $2900

pawn shop rifle Rem ADL - 300
Blueprint action - 150 - MCR
barrel $550 including install - MCR
New trigger - $75 - gunbroker
Bed action - 125 - MCR
Bases and rings - 100 ebay
stock - 225 - ebay

perhaps you should keep the calculator and find a new gunsmith

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/7mm-mag-mcr-71186/

 

[Edd]

pawn shop rifle Rem ADL - 300
Blueprint action - 150 - MCR
barrel $550 including install - MCR
New trigger - $75 - gunbroker
Bed action - 125 - MCR
Bases and rings - 100 ebay
stock - 225 - ebay

perhaps you should keep the calculator and find a new gunsmith

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/7mm-mag-mcr-71186/

A different gunsmith wouldn't change much. You can always save a few bucks if you are willing to spend the time and effort to shop classifieds or places like ebay but you usually end up buying something that wasn't exactly what you wanted. I wouldn't be happy with that combination.

 

[J E Custom]

I think I need to get a new calculator.

Good used 700 rifle $450
Accurize action $550
Re-barrel $700
Re-stock $500
New trigger $250
Bed the action $300
Good bases & Rings $150

Total $2900

Edd. A good Remington action and a new stock plus a quality barrel and the smithing that you want
should cost $1800.00 to $2,000.00 Max.

Then add your optics and bases.

I just built a rifle (For myself because the labor is cheep)with everything you have listed and total
cost Including dies and reamer fell just under $1000.00 dollars.with that, if you estimate the labor
you can see that they can be built at a very reasonable price considering what you get.

J E CUSTOM

 

[desertbull]

A different gunsmith wouldn't change much. You can always save a few bucks if you are willing to spend the time and effort to shop classifieds or places like ebay but you usually end up buying something that wasn't exactly what you wanted. I wouldn't be happy with that combination.

I would not pay anyone $300 to bed an action and $350 to blueprint it.

 

[royinidaho]

It depends....on one's definition of "custom".

If a donor factory action is to be considered it must by fully trued including lugs. Not much difference in overall cost than a "custom" action.

I have a 'custom' built on a Rem action and one built on a Bat action. The Bat actioned rig is "more" custom than the one with the Rem.

From owning an attempting to use a lathe, I have learned a bit about how much consistency and a thou is worth. The closer the tolerance the increased skill, patience, feel and discipline are needed. That's where the worth is!

I have "screwed" several rifles together as I consider that I am by no means a "fitter". From the "fit and finish" as is expected and achieved by any smith on this forum I consider my DIY projects "screwed" together.

My DIY rigs will shoot along with my custom rigs for a little while and for the "most part" after tons of tuning, fiddling and shooting.

The one fully, Bat action, custom rig, the process is simply use the load the smith tested it with, cartridge dimensions the smith used (got some loaded rounds with mine), load sight-in during break-in, develop drop chart and start harvesting stuff.

The seemingly extra bucks actually balance out in your favor over the long haul....

Keep in mind "there ain't no free lunch"