How much do you charge to chamber a barrel?

[Alex Wheeler]

This is kind of off the beaten path but it is line with what everyone is saying.When I was building custom fishing rods, a man came in my shop and told me what he wanted me to build for him.When I told him it would cost him $450.00,I thought he was going to have a cow. I didn't then nor I do now usually show someone why it cost so much,but since this was a friend of mine,I did.When everything started adding up he kind of understood I guess.We are still friends and he didn't have me build the rod after all.
In any kind of business ,everything is relative.You pay for what you get.
Jim

I used to make my own for fun. Sold only a few of them. A good blank is well over $100 before you even talk about guides. Big difference in a well built spine located rod vs an off the shelf rod. I am surprised the custom rod builders can make a living honestly. Winston rod is local here and they make fly rods, run you about a grand.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

I've used the same gunsmith now for 9 years (site sponsor) - He's done every job excellent & he's done 50 caliber (50 BMG Imp.) through .223 A.I. - All with the same attention to detail. - His website has his prices that I use as a guide of what to expect for the work-order work-scope.
I've never asked for a discount & never will.

- I try to keep things brief & to the point when I contact him which is usually by E-mail (so he can address it at his convenience) - I send him a Christmas card whether he did a job for me or not that year. - I try to pay the whole work-order up front. (because I trust him)
- When I know that I'm going to be doing a project I send him an E-mail to get in the "queue" which shortens up the turn-around time.

- One of the most valuable things I think that I've done was read a "How to work with a gunsmith" paper back about 10 years ago.
- Also, I do most of the parts logistics & get that part of it taken care of so when I ship things to him there's not a bunch of that stuff to deal with. - a lot of builds I provide the Finish chamber reamer & a dummy round as well.

- I believe that we get what give if we have a good gunsmith. - I have a great relationship with that person & we have mutual respect for each other.

I'm paying $410.00 for a full chamber job with the muzzle crowned & I have No regrets at all.

-Ron-

 

[clowdis]

Brownells list the prices from their gunsmithing survey at $200 to $350.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I have 4 rules when letting any smith work on or chamber a gun.
1. If he tries to change my mind on what case to chamber, I walk.
2. If he spends 20 minutes bad mouthing his competition, I run.
3. if I hear how he built a rifle for a national champ that is no longer a top shooter. I'll probably walk. It was one barrel and 15 yrs ago so irrelevant today.
4. If I drop parts off totaling more than the work being done with no chance of a add on supplied by the smith, I pay when completed. I paid in full upfront twice and in both instances, my work repeatedly went to the back of the line.

 

[shortgrass]

This is kind of off the beaten path but it is line with what everyone is saying.When I was building custom fishing rods, a man came in my shop and told me what he wanted me to build for him.When I told him it would cost him $450.00,I thought he was going to have a cow. I didn't then nor I do now usually show someone why it cost so much,but since this was a friend of mine,I did.When everything started adding up he kind of understood I guess.We are still friends and he didn't have me build the rod after all.
In any kind of business ,everything is relative.You pay for what you get.
Jim

It always seems to look easy and shouldn't take but a few minutes from a "distance", doesn't it!

 

[snakepit]

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.

Ryan has built two benchrest rifles for me and his work and the accuracy of the rifles has been worth every penny he has charged. If he wants to charge $350 to chamber a barrel I will gladly pay it because I know first hand the quality of the work he produces. He is also a top F Class competitor who has had to put his competition shooting on the back burner because of the high demand for his high quality gunsmith work.

 

[JRS]

I used to make my own for fun. Sold only a few of them. A good blank is well over $100 before you even talk about guides. Big difference in a well built spine located rod vs an off the shelf rod. I am surprised the custom rod builders can make a living honestly. Winston rod is local here and they make fly rods, run you about a grand.

Seeker blanks can cost $260.00 or more. Add another $100.00 - $200.00 for AFTCO roller guides. They get pricey very quickly.

 

[jnm300ultra]

It’s nice to hear a smith say all the things that he is going to do and does it. I have used Kendog on both my rebarrel jobs, work is meticulous. Both jobs were on my F class rifle. When Ken comment on all the work it takes I believe it, and seen it. When I call he calls back and when I pick up my rifle it’s not like get we are done now leave. Long story short Ken does great work and nice guy to do business with, highly recommended.

Thanks for getting my 6.5x47 lapua done so quickly.
Jason

 

[perry42]

1500

LOL A good friend chambered a barrel for me at no cost..I watched while he did the work and was amazed at the different steps taken to insure accuracy. He took almost 3.5 hrs to chamber, thread the muzzle, and crown the Bartlein 1.25" barrel. I left the 6.5x55AI reamer with him in case he would like to try that for himself. Knowing the cost of machinery and tooling, I feel that $375 to $475 work was performed on my barrel. By the way the 6.5x55AI shoots very well. My barrel required more work than the average barrel as it is mounted in a large ring Mauser action. A reputable gunsmith can be found on this site for any area of this country. Referals are a plus that is not to be ignored. Pay the man for his knowledge, time, and use of machinery/tools.

perry42

 

[gat]

Do you know if there is a way to rebarrel a M77 VT and get that dark patina on the stainless barrel like the factory does?

Send the stainless barrel through hot blue tanks after bead blasting. It always worked for us!

 

[284winner]

I was just curious. I have heard from $250 to $650 to chamber a pre profiled barrel in my area. So, I was just curious what something like this costs in other parts of the world.

That's quite a variance in cost to chamber a barrel. Possible those numbers vary so much due to some Smith's charging on the lower end for JUST chambering and others charge at higher rates based on chambering, crowning and barreling to the action and head spacing as one cost. Here in Michigan I've paid from 140.00 for chambering, crowning and fitting the barrel to the action to 300.00 for that same work at a different gunsmith.

 

[Hippy]

I try to relate it to other services a person has done
Call an HVAC or Plumbing service tech have him spend a couple hours diagnosing and fixing your pronlem at $120 or more an hour


Lest you forget the travel time to and from his shop Insurance for the vehicle,gas,tires etc

Jim

 

[urbanrifleman]

When I go to my job they don't pay me to drive to and from work. I never understood why private businesses feel they should...

 

[Eddie Harren]

When I go to my job they don't pay me to drive to and from work. I never understood why private businesses feel they should...

That's because you are not in business. You are an employee of a business. They charge their customers for your time spent doing the job for the customer.

 

[alinwa]

That's because you are not in business. You are an employee of a business. They charge their customers for your time spent doing the job for the customer.

Sooo well put Eddie, thank you