Gunsmith work question

[moondog]

Question for the Smiths out there.
It has always baffled me on lead times for guns getting built. More so for new barrel fit. I've waited almost a year in some cases for a full build. All parts either drop shipped, sent, or provided by Smith.
On one occasion, may years ago, I asked if I could make an appointment to get a barrel chambered. The guy looked at me like the RCA dog in the old advertisement.
I owned a high end Automotive shop for 30 years and know a little bit about scheduling work. Would it be out of line to say, make an appointment for a chamber job say 6 months down the road and expect it done in a day or two? A week for a full build? Man splain it to me.

 

[rijndael]

I can't explain it, but I can work around it. I have a shelf full of new barrels, chambered and ready to go, just waiting to get installed on an action.

 

[BlueWater]

In general, I'd think it largely depends on the backlog of a given shop. (With any product or service one might be buying.) With a decent gunsmith in high demand, it doesn't surprise me that first-in-first-out arrangement ends up with the timeline being quite long.

My own recent example: scheduled for some bolt work and an install/fitment of a pre-cut barrel. It was 6mos down the line, but when called I immediately provided the parts (gun and new bbl), and it was done within a week of submission. Even with such a handover of parts, like that, I'd still expect a much more involved set of processes of a "full build" to take longer, assuming it was all done custom, per-order.

EDIT: As suggested, above, a given shop can have pre-made elements of a service all ready to go, in the case of pre-cut and -chambered barrels, for example.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I've often wondered about this also @moondog. The last few barrels I've needed spun up I was able to get on the gunsmith's schedule where he would call me a week or so before he needed the new barrel and rifle. Then it would be done in another week. His schedule for me is out 3 to 6 months.

 

[moondog]

And I get being 6 months or more out. I don't do barrel nut pre fits. Nothing against them, I just prefer a shoulder. I have barrels chambered and ready to go on the shelf. I generally get a couple chambered up at a time.
I just ordered a 300PRC Reamer from JGS with a freebore I want. So that will be a minute or two to get. It was just a general scheduling question. Like I said before, whenever I've tried to schedule a chamber job, I get the RCA dog look. One exception is LRI. They said if I drove up, dropped off Thursday morning, I'd be out the door Friday. Haven't used them yet though. With shipping becoming more of an issue, a 5 hour drive isn't looking too bad.

 

[Steel Mover]

Standard shop answer is or was 6 weeks. You might see it in six something, but it will not be in weeks.

 

[clowdis]

When I was working full time I usually tried to get all work turned around in 2-3 weeks, provided I had the parts. Part delivery can drastically effect lead time, especially barrels. Stocks on the other hand can take a long time, especially if you're looking for a wood stock with an oil finish, checkering, bluing, etc. Otherwise, a lot of gunsmiths, even full time ones, are notoriously bad business men and will "get to it next week".

 

[DShortt]

There's a thread on the forum called Crooked Chambers / Uneven Lands. There's a lot of superfluous information and fodder in there but it also explains several of the challenges a custom gunsmith faces. Worth a read if you really want to see the other side of things.

 

[Judd]

Fast, Correct and Cheap…you can typically find 2 but it’s rare to find all three.

The gun business ever since I started playing in it…you picked who you wanted to use and you wait. I rarely even ask anymore. I also plan ahead of time so it’s not a problem.

Now I have my own lathe and now I work on my own time schedule, which at times is longer and more expensive

 

[Army sniper]

I honestly been in business since 2008 and I never have peoples stuff longer than a month unless waiting on parts as I hate for people to have my stuff longer than needed so I refuse to do it to my clients and most times will even do a barrel job on a weekend just to get it out the door but then again I don't take in work I have to sub out to other smith's either and I'm a one man band in my shop and don't have a ton of custom builds but right now I just finished 2 and have 5 more to do when they bring them I don't let them drop them off till I can do them as I don't need them sitting in my shop collecting dust this is just how I do business and its worked great for me

 

[ShtrRdy]

@moondog, I thought of a couple other options.

For barrel work - Fisher T&C does only barrel work and seems to get work through. I used him once and it went very well.

Fisher T and C

www.fishertandc.com

For a build - there's a new guy that is very knowledgable and looks like he does good work. Triggered Precision Machine. His name is Shawn.

Triggered Precision Machine LLC

Triggered Precision Machine is a family owned, custom firearm company focused on hand-built precision rifles for long range shooting, competition and hunting.

triggeredprecision.com

 

[Fisher T&C]

This really is a good question. I think one of the main problems is management. I think how a business is managed is just as important as the quality of the product or service. I believe some shops simply offer too many services and quickly get overwhelmed; especially when you are just one man like me. I did general gunsmith work when I first started out 13 years ago; it's a mess. Managing phone calls and walk-in customers makes it where you can't plan work out in a timely manner, it simply becomes unmanageable. You need a support system to thrive; knowledgeable people who can take calls and answer questions. And let me tell you they are hard to come by. A one man shop in particular is going to be hard pressed to be able to afford one good helper if they can even find one.
I was done with general gunsmith work in '16 and did manufacturing/machine shop work, I loved the production environment; just work and get it done.
When I decided to go out on my own I wanted to specialize in barrel work because of my experience in precision rifle matches. I can manage it and get work done in a timely manner. I can get emails and calls returned, send estimates, invoices and do all the shipping. Believe me that stuff occupies a lot of time, but with only offering a few services it can be balanced.
Yes, the supply chain can bog things down especially when someone needs something uncommon like a specific barrel or needs a custom reamer made.
There simply isn't the support the automotive industry has in manufacturing with parts being made in China, Mexico, Europe, India and the US all together. The firearms industry is dwarfed by the financial power of the automotive industry. That's a different conversation in itself.

 

[butchlambert]

I might have to wait for 6-12 months to chamber a rifle. That is why I don't work for the public. I am very hard to motivate.
Now if you want a rest top it will ship the next shipping day.

 

[DaveTooley]

I was sort of semi retired but here is my current problem.

 

[DShortt]

I was sort of semi retired but here is my current problem.

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Well I'd say it's a better problem to have than no work in the shop. Glad to see your skills are in demand.

 

[Mulligan]

I was sort of semi retired but here is my current problem.

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Good Gravy!!!!
CW

 

[butchlambert]

I was sort of semi retired but here is my current problem.

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I know, you roll them out on the feeder, hit the go button, and spend the rest of the day fishing.

 

[shortgrass]

Well I'd say it's a better problem to have than no work in the shop. Glad to see your skills are in demand.

But, there comes a point in life where you don't really want that kind of problem. Sometimes though, the money is too good to say "no thanks". I say "no" a lot lately. But there are times a good job presents itself and I'll say "OK". I've got hand fit and finished wood stocks of my own I'd like to finish before 'times up'. Some seem to think I should take every job that comes in. "No thanks!"

 

[freebird22/250]

A common problem with the great gunsmith's, I'm covered up!!!

 

[LVLAaron]

I was sort of semi retired but here is my current problem.

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Want some help? lol