All Ya' Gotta' Do Is.........

[shortgrass]

Even though I tried to talk him out of it, a customer has me fitting a Rem. take-off barrel to his 700 action. I started this little endevor at 2:30, this afternoon. Just screwing it together, by hand, the headspace was short and the caliber designation was about 3/4 of a turn from where it needed to be (before being torqued). I adjusted the shoulder so the lettering/caliber designation would be correct after the barrel was torqued to the action, adjusted the tenon length and counter bore for proper clearances and upon screwing the action on to the barrel the barrel didn't have enough threads. So, I had to pick-up the existing thread and 'extend' it toward the shoulder. OK, all is as it should be. I 'deepened' the chamber and set the headspace. DANG! The chamber didn't clean-up! I see heavy 'shadows' of the factory cut chamber where my reamer hadn't cut! That won't do, can't leave it like that. Adjusted the shoulder for a complete 'round' of set-back. Adjusted the length of the threaded tenon and the depth of the counter bore. "Deepened" the chamber and set the headspace (FOR THE SECOND TIME!). I'm right near the end of the threads on the barrel. Not willing to take a chance and not have the barrel torque to the action correctly I 'pick-up' the barrel tenon thread again and thread as close to the shoulder as possible. I stopped for the day right there, it was 5:20 PM,,,,, almost 3hrs. I still need to chamfer the counter bore edge and the mouth of the chamber before afixing barrel to action. My shop rate is $50/hr. I ask you, is a Rem take-off worth that?

 

[Ggmac]

Been ther done that will not anymore . If the customer had to watch while you were working , I'm sure his attitude would change , well maybe not .
Good luck , Gary

 

[shortgrass]

I told him I'd put his barrel on for $160. He cringed a bit, but agreed to it...... After all,,, "all ya' gotta' do is".......... and I hate having someone over my shoulder while I work!

 

[therifler]

SG, according to a world famous gunsmith. what you just did is create a custom tuned rifle . which he gets 2500.00 for but he does throw in a 250.00 stock .

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ive seen em where somebody takes metal stamps and cross out the caliber and stamp the new one on there. Or they do it like my favorite from the 90's the 7mm rem mag STW. It does a number on them 7rem mag brass when it goes thru the pawn shop

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

Stupid; now he's $160 into a junk barrel that he paid god knows what for. Some people are too cheap for their own good.

I'm not a gunsmith, but I probably would've walked from the job.

 

[shortgrass]

Stupid; now he's $160 into a junk barrel that he paid god knows what for. Some people are too cheap for their own good.

I'm not a gunsmith, but I probably would've walked from the job.

If you were a gunsmith, in business for yourself, you probably wouldn't be in business long! As long as it is safe, feasible and not beyond my capabilities, it's "money in my pocket". I'm regularly told that I'm too da*% particular about what I'll do and what I won't do. Just because a customer saw it somewhere or "someone else does it" does not mean I will. "Sometimes, you've got to educate them through their wallet!"

 

[shortgrass]

I started this thread for 'informational' purposes. How often do we see posts about installing a take-off barrel and what it should cost ("all ya' gotta' do is"). Sometimes a factory chamber will clean-up with 3/4 turn of set-back, sometimes it takes 2 3/4 turns. For quality job, done by a shop that carries liability insurance, all 'shadows' of the old chamber must be machined away by the 'new' chamber. You can not let a barrel leave your shop, that you installed, without a legible caliber designation on it,,,,,, although I see many that are not marked. That's just the way it is in the 'real' world. The 'hobbiest' down the road, with a lathe in his garage, may or may not care about a 'fresh' chamber or caliber designation, but he has no insurance and is not 'in the business', either,,,,,, even though he may charge for his 'work'.

 

[kendog]

I started this thread for 'informational' purposes. How often do we see posts about installing a take-off barrel and what it should cost ("all ya' gotta' do is"). Sometimes a factory chamber will clean-up with 3/4 turn of set-back, sometimes it takes 2 3/4 turns. For quality job, done by a shop that carries liability insurance, all 'shadows' of the old chamber must be machined away by the 'new' chamber. You can not let a barrel leave your shop, that you installed, without a legible caliber designation on it,,,,,, although I see many that are not marked. That's just the way it is in the 'real' world. The 'hobbiest' down the road, with a lathe in his garage, may or may not care about a 'fresh' chamber or caliber designation, but he has no insurance and is not 'in the business', either,,,,,, even though he may charge for his 'work'.

I have installed many Rem take offs over the years. Not sure why you insist on re-cutting the chamber, but I leave it as-is, and this is what I tell the customer. You have a 90% or better chance of an un-altered Rem barrel head spacing on an un-altered receiver/bolt/barrel bracket. You have a better than 90% chance of the roll markings NOT indexing. If it screws on and head spaces it is $75, IF ANY of these conditions change, or they want the factory marking to index, the meter starts running and it will likely cost as much or more than cutting a blank. They can scream like a panther, but that's the way it is. Most guys understand and go along, the ones that don't are cheep charlies and I just don't want their "business". Can't win every bid.
There are plenty of no license guys out there, some terrible, some downright excellent. Until they get a license and insurance, they are just wetbacks.

 

[butchlambert]

Why pick up the thread, just make a little longer thread relief. Shortgrass, I understand where you are coming from, but as only work for myself and Family I don't have that to worry about.

I have seen several barrels,used, adapted to different receivers and none had the threads picked up. The only had a longer thread relief. They still had plenty thread to torque down safely. That might not satisfy some craftsmen, but it will work just as well and could save the customer money. By the way, the ones that I'm speaking of were done by very noted accuracy smiths.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ive measured quite a few remingtons over the years and if its a newer cnc action it may have a decent chance of headspacing etc but the majority (99%+) has zero chance of working as is. Either headspace is off or bolt nose spacing is off. With tolerances you cant with good conscience screw one on and send it out. All you ever gotta do is throw a handfull of recoil lugs from brand new rifles on the surface grinder to see how good theyre all matched up. Then you gotta figure out how to indicate the barrel in! No thanks. Aint nobody got time fo dat.

 

[Ggmac]

Shortgrass, when I suggested that the guy should watch , it was that if he knew how much work went into , just screw it on , he would appreciate your dedication. God forbid I let anyone watch me work , it's a guarantee something's gonna go wrong .
I completely understand why you should pick up the thread . Times I just made a shortcut , ended up costing me more .
I hope your customer appreciates all it takes .
Gary

 

[Eddie Harren]

Ive measured quite a few remingtons over the years and if its a newer cnc action it may have a decent chance of headspacing etc but the majority (99%+) has zero chance of working as is. Either headspace is off or bolt nose spacing is off. With tolerances you cant with good conscience screw one on and send it out. All you ever gotta do is throw a handfull of recoil lugs from brand new rifles on the surface grinder to see how good theyre all matched up. Then you gotta figure out how to indicate the barrel in! No thanks. Aint nobody got time fo dat.

Dusty, You got the Bronchitis?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dusty, You got the Bronchitis?

Aint nobody got time fo dat

 

[hogpatrol]

My shop rate is $50/hr. I ask you, is a Rem take-off worth that?

No. Maybe $75/hr.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

No. Maybe $75/hr.

Thems 60's era prices. I went into a lawnmower shop last week and his sign said $90/hr and he has a high school kid doing the work

 

[hogpatrol]

Thems 60's era prices. I went into a lawnmower shop last week and his sign said $90/hr and he has a high school kid doing the work

Did the owner have on a mask? Holding a gun? Either that or changing spark plugs must have really gotten technical.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Just the world these days man. Machine shops get $90/hr and my plumber buddy gets $104

 

[grovey]

I've never met a plumber worth $100.00 an hr. Is his last name Clinton?

 

[Danny1788]

I'm a garage hobbiest and I've done two rem take offs. Pretty much the same amount of work as a blank. That isn't what makes the money for me. Not today!