hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
20k in reamers no doubt plus alot more in tools,equipment,inventory,shop ect but you oughta figure out some tax writeoffs!
How much do you charge to chamber a barrel?
- Thread starter urbanrifleman
- Start date
Any 'smith that lacks common business sense won't be around long, at least above the radar that is. Sure, business equipment, tools and tooling and most other business expenses should be utilized at tax time. But, ya' still gotta' have "cash in hand", to write the check, when that insurance premium is due, you need to replace a tool or buy another to keep your customer happy, and many other unseen required business expenses . I think few who work for a company realize how much they're actually being paid beyond what the pay check says. Companies provide insurance many times and paid vacations. The employer is also responsible for half of the amount paid into S.S. as well as having Workmans Comp insurance and having a safe place to work in. The self employed get to pay the full amount themselves and provide that health insurance for themselves and their family. I would suggest that anyone who thinks that $250-$350 is to much to pay for a custom barrel install start up their own gunsmithing operation or , maybe just find another 'hobby' that is lower in cost. Current shop hourly charges at the local car dealerships is $125/hr. At the 'independents' it 's $85 (I think). The local plumbers and electricians are at $85+ and charge another $45/hr for the 'helper', with itemized charges for everything. The 'hobbyist', that "flys below the radar", can charge less. No FFL, no ITAR Registration fee, no liability insurance, and works for 'cash' only and work for a company that provides "benefits" during the day. Most gunsmiths aren't getting rich, but they shouldn't have to live like a pauper, either. If you doubt it, just start up your own operation, one that's a legit small business.
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These threads always seem to turn into "what ya' oughta' do" or give advice on "how to run your business"......
hogpatrol
Gold $$ Contributor
As one who does his own rifles, I find it hard to understand the low prices for professional gunsmith work. Go in to any small to large machine shop and ask the hourly rate for a man and machine for a one off job. I can remember twenty years ago it was around $200 an hour. Even with CNC and subsequent increases in productivity, inflation should have that number higher.
hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
yes i agree that all the things youve discussed in your post are true. i hope you arent suggesting anything different because that would be wrong. im sure not attacking any gunsmith and if anything i would like to help them so dont jump to conclusions about things i have posted.
Call Jon Beanland 580-471-3380. He is right down the road from you in downtown Gould, OK. He is one of the best.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
+1 on being a top notch smith. But his que times can be lengthy too, op was not wanting a long wait.
I would never pay more than 400 to chamber and thread a muzzle, but I don't have to either, 4 smiths within 100 miles that will do it for under and the rifle will shoot.
If I drop my parts off and the wait even gets close to a 2 week wait, I'll probably call, after hours of coarse.
A smith can ask for whatever he feels he needs, your right to pay it or look elsewhere. A deadline sans complications needs to be set, I don't care who you are or who you think you are, a more important client may get snuck in before you, fact of life.
I've actually had a Saturday appointment and walked out of a gun shop in 7 hours with a complete build, chamber, muzzle thread, paint, stock inletting and channel work all done on CNC machines< custom action. Once you've experienced this service, the bar has been set as to what you will put up with.
Edit: This is with all parts supplied, don't ever start or think of starting w/o all parts for the build, you're just setting yourself for disappointments.
If I drop my parts off and the wait even gets close to a 2 week wait, I'll probably call, after hours of coarse.
A smith can ask for whatever he feels he needs, your right to pay it or look elsewhere. A deadline sans complications needs to be set, I don't care who you are or who you think you are, a more important client may get snuck in before you, fact of life.
I've actually had a Saturday appointment and walked out of a gun shop in 7 hours with a complete build, chamber, muzzle thread, paint, stock inletting and channel work all done on CNC machines< custom action. Once you've experienced this service, the bar has been set as to what you will put up with.
Edit: This is with all parts supplied, don't ever start or think of starting w/o all parts for the build, you're just setting yourself for disappointments.
hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
the time factor was always a much bigger factor to me-- I like the way you handle that
Precision gunsmithing is like most things, quality is not cheap or fast. There are cheap and fast ones out there.
I charge $350 to chamber and $100 to thread the muzzle. I'm so backed up with full builds I'm not even taking barrel installs til probably next winter. If a customer wants I send him a video of his barrel indicated in the lathe with zero runout in front of the throat, the throat, the neck and the base of the chamber. I also post pictures of each and every bedding job I do for every full build. Anybody can make the outside of a rifle look good with some paint. Its what's on the inside that counts.
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Cigarcop
Silver $$ Contributor
I do the same, just show them what there getting..... I ain’t skeeered!
I agree. I love looking at your builds Keith. You also show the ins and outs of the builds. There is probably only a handful of people in the entire industry that do it. Perfection isn't cheap or fast. Most people also don't figure in the time they are going to spend talking to the customer about what he wants, helping him out with questions he has down the road etc, and also if he comes to pick it up and shoots the breeze lol. I factor that into my labor charge for a complete build. It allows me to spend time with them and they don't feel like I'm trying to kick them off the phone or out of the shop.
Lol, I sounded like a badass, but really, once the clock starts you're at their mercy, that's where trust comes in. There are some great gun builders, and there are some first rate clowns.
hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
those things are what i know. i was always willing to pay but i wasnt willing to wait a year so i started doing my own stuff or i just didnt do it.
i now know i could have found excellent quality in a reasonable amount of time but im not in the market to get work
like anything i suppose. im sure there are guys out there that will be able to satisfy us on both the quality and time issues if you look enough and want to pay enough-- keep up the tough guy schtick though
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$200 to $350 https://www.brownells.com/UserDocs/Miscellaneous/Cat70ShopSurveyList.pdf
Many other gunsmith prices at link, from Brownnells.
Many other gunsmith prices at link, from Brownnells.
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