How much do you charge to chamber a barrel?

[Dusty Stevens]

1500

With some customer’s guns in the line thats about right with the texts, calls, emails and drop ins.

 

[hoz53]

With some customer’s guns in the line thats about right with the texts, calls, emails and drop ins.

lol ive been in a different business and it was the same thing with all you talk about.

 

[JRS]

1500

I actually hoped a gunsmith would offer an honest answer.

 

[Rustystud]

I don't claim to be the best or worst. I have a shelf in my shop of threaded tenons from other smiths from all over the country. The "shelf of fame and shame". Some are works of art in both fit and finish. Some are frightening poor examples of machining.
Some actions and barrels go together like they are suppose to others require hours of tedious fitting. I think it would be unfair to any quality smith to hold him to a one fixed price. Many smiths under price their work because they are not doing it for their lively hood.
I also think you get what you pay for, meaning "cheap price cheap work". Quality workmanship, requires good equipment and good skills.
Nat Lambeth

 

[hoz53]

I actually hoped a gunsmith would offer an honest answer.

oh well im no gunsmith so its just my guess but i thought you did some of that kind of work

 

[hoz53]

I don't claim to be the best or worst. I have a shelf in my shop of threaded tenons from other smiths from all over the country. The "shelf of fame and shame". Some are works of art in both fit and finish. Some are frightening poor examples of machining.
Some actions and barrels go together like they are suppose to others require hours of tedious fitting. I think it would be unfair to any quality smith to hold him to a one fixed price. Many smiths under price their work because they are not doing it for their lively hood.
I also think you get what you pay for, meaning "cheap price cheap work". Quality workmanship, requires good equipment and good skills.
Nat Lambeth

i agree with that

 

[JRS]

oh well im no gunsmith so its just my guess but i thought you did some of that kind of work

No, I don't. That's the reason I asked the question.

 

[kendog]

I actually hoped a gunsmith would offer an honest answer.

By the time I log in he gun, get a detailed scope of work on paper, completely tear down the rifle with casual inspection as you go, clean everything up (grease, gunk, etc), chase all the threads in the receiver, check/square ring, check/square/lap lugs, check/square bolt face, measure action, check/measure barrel, determine where the barrel is going to land in the stock (for sporter rigs), set up/machine the chamber end, set up/machine the muzzle end, polish barrel, fit barrel to receiver, engrave caliber and my logo and barrel mfg data on underside of barrel, finalize the invoice, call the customer, hold their hand a while when they pick it up, and log it out, I have at least 5 or 6 man/machine-hours in the work.

 

[JRS]

By the time I log in he gun, get a detailed scope of work on paper, completely tear down the rifle with casual inspection as you go, clean everything up (grease, gunk, etc), chase all the threads in the receiver, check/square ring, check/square/lap lugs, check/square bolt face, measure action, check/measure barrel, determine where the barrel is going to land in the stock (for sporter rigs), set up/machine the chamber end, set up/machine the muzzle end, polish barrel, fit barrel to receiver, engrave caliber and my logo and barrel mfg data on underside of barrel, finalize the invoice, call the customer, hold their hand a while when they pick it up, and log it out, I have at least 5 or 6 man/machine-hours in the work.

I'm asking about a chambering job. Not a heart transplant.

 

[kendog]

I'm asking about a chambering job. Not a heart transplant.

That is a chambering job. Would you take your car to the mechanic and just have him put rings in the engine? Never mind all that other pesky stuff that goes along with a ring job...

 

[shortgrass]

I'm asking about a chambering job. Not a heart transplant.

All of what Kendog posted is part of a chamber job.

 

[JRS]

That is a chambering job.

If I drop off a new Borden action, new barrel blank and reamer, I want a chambering job performed. Not plastic surgery.

 

[kendog]

If I drop off a new Borden action, new barrel blank and reamer, I want a chambering job performed. Not plastic surgery.

Ha ha. Plastic surgery in the gun biz is cerakote. Proper chambering is professional grade machine work, or at least it should be approached that way. I have done everything from rusty 1892 Winchetsers to top of the line Swings, RPA Quadlocks, Stillers, Nesikas, BATs and just about everything in between. They all get the same attention to detail. The Win levers require a bunch more work to fit properly.
You asked for an honest answer, and I gave you one.

 

[JRS]

Ha ha. Plastic surgery in the gun biz is cerakote. Proper chambering is professional grade machine work, or at least it should be approached that way. I have done everything from rusty 1892 Winchetsers to top of the line Swings, RPA Quadlocks, Stillers, Nesikas, BATs and just about everything in between. They all get the same attention to detail. The Win levers require a bunch more work to fit properly.
You asked for an honest answer, and I gave you one.

I asked about the man hours for a chambering job, and that only.

 

[Eddie Harren]

I asked about the man hours for a chambering job, and that only.

You've been getting the "Engineers Version".

 

[Shrek]

By the time I log in he gun, get a detailed scope of work on paper, completely tear down the rifle with casual inspection as you go, clean everything up (grease, gunk, etc), chase all the threads in the receiver, check/square ring, check/square/lap lugs, check/square bolt face, measure action, check/measure barrel, determine where the barrel is going to land in the stock (for sporter rigs), set up/machine the chamber end, set up/machine the muzzle end, polish barrel, fit barrel to receiver, engrave caliber and my logo and barrel mfg data on underside of barrel, finalize the invoice, call the customer, hold their hand a while when they pick it up, and log it out, I have at least 5 or 6 man/machine-hours in the work.

That sounds like a realistic tally of the time. For all the time , overhead , and skill involved $300-$350 is inexpensive. My diesel mechanic is the cheapest competent mechanic in town and he gets $85 an hour. A gunsmith is getting about $60 an hour at $300-$350 and has plenty of overhead to cover out of that.

 

[JRS]

I received the answer I was asking for Thanks anyway.

 

[Eddie Harren]

I received the answer I was asking for Thanks anyway.

GFY! or Good For You!

 

[Jayson]

you also need to include the PIA factor. some customers pay a lot more than others due to this.

 

[kendog]

I asked about the man hours for a chambering job, and that only.

You asked "How many man hours does it take for a complete chambering job?" And I answered your question. And thew in a little detail about what is involved.
You are wiling to get a Borden action, I assume a premium match barrel, a good quality reamer probably custom ground, and you want it assembled with Remington or Savage production line approach??