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Joined: Jun 2013
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Campfire Regular
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So I went to pick up my 9.3x62 from the gunsmith yesterday.
FN98 action in a McMillan edge stock. Asked for smith to glass bed the action. Bedding job does not look very good although probably functionally adequate. He tells me it took him three hours and my total was $375 plus tax. This no-name smith is changing $125 per labor hour.
I did not ask prior to what the labor rate was. Shame on me but in all my time working with reputable smiths the rates has varied from $40-$75 per hour. Am I off base with this?
I am pissed that a simple glass bedding job cost that much but the work is done.
Do I have any option for recourse or am I obligated to pay the man and move on?
Semper Fi
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,480 Likes: 2 |
Was the smiths name U R Stuck ?
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 46,965
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jul 2004
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The last one I used was charging $100.00/hr, but he knew what he was doing and got things done quickly. I took him 4 handguns to put night sights on and he did all 4 in an hour.
We may know the time Ben Carson lied, but does anyone know the time Hillary Clinton told the truth?
Immersing oneself in progressive lieberalism is no different than bathing in the sewage of Hell.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,359
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
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So I went to pick up my 9.3x62 from the gunsmith yesterday.
FN98 action in a McMillan edge stock. Asked for smith to glass bed the action. Bedding job does not look very good although probably functionally adequate. He tells me it took him three hours and my total was $375 plus tax. This no-name smith is changing $125 per labor hour.
I did not ask prior to what the labor rate was. Shame on me but in all my time working with reputable smiths the rates has varied from $40-$75 per hour. Am I off base with this?
I am pissed that a simple glass bedding job cost that much but the work is done.
Do I have any option for recourse or am I obligated to pay the man and move on?
that must have been the "metric" rate. Pay and move along, IMO.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,578
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2004
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The expectation that a professional sole proprietor could make a living at $40-75/hr is just not reasonable in today's economy, after you think about taxes, insurance, expenses, and retirement. Every plumber and electrician I have hired in recent years has been in the $100-125/hr range, and I cannot see that a gunsmith should be worth less.
So $300 for a bedding job is not out of the question (which is why I do my own). Now whether it is a professional quality job is another matter.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
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Just had a 300 STW pillared and bedded and barrel bead blast and brake added and stock painted in polane T and was only $550 from a known smith. That's a slight bit high in my opinion.
BUT HE HAS DONE NUMEROUS FOR ME IN PAST. AND SEMI RETIRED.
Last edited by fuzzytail; 04/05/19.
If it ain't broke don't fix it!!!!!!!!!!!
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,188
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2018
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My local gunsmith has a list of prices on his website. -Glass bed receiver using Devcon Steel putty. $125.00 Add $50.00 for 2 aluminum pillars-
......the occasional hunter wielding a hopelessly inaccurate rifle, living by the fantastical rule that this cartridge can deliver the goods, regardless of shot placement or rifle accuracy. The correct term for this is minute of ego.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 28,131 Likes: 2 |
It won’t hurt to mention his price and see what he says .
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 69,662 Likes: 15
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 69,662 Likes: 15 |
You just have to decide if rifle is worth another $375.
If not, then tell him you hope he enjoys the rifle, and walk away.
I've done it.
Took a chainsaw in for a minor repair and went to pick it up after they finally got it fixed after about 8 months. Bill was like $250.
A whole new chainsaw was about $275... I told them to enjoy having that saw for supper. And left. Never to return.
Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla!
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,456
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,456 |
The expectation that a professional sole proprietor could make a living at $40-75/hr is just not reasonable in today's economy, after you think about taxes, insurance, expenses, and retirement. Every plumber and electrician I have hired in recent years has been in the $100-125/hr range, and I cannot see that a gunsmith should be worth less.
So $300 for a bedding job is not out of the question (which is why I do my own). Now whether it is a professional quality job is another matter. I completely understand the need to make a living but I have yet to see a glass bedding job cost north of $300. All have been between $150 and $250 whether fixed price or hourly. The $250 ones usually include pillar bedding prior to the glass.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,456
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,456 |
You just have to decide if rifle is worth another $375.
If not, then tell him you hope he enjoys the rifle, and walk away. The rifle is worth me keeping. I am in fact in possession of it now. He does have other small projects that we negotiated a fixed rate on before I left the shop yesterday.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,927
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,927 |
Darcy Echols probabaly isn’t even that expensive....
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,380
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,380 |
You just have to decide if rifle is worth another $375.
If not, then tell him you hope he enjoys the rifle, and walk away.
I've done it.
Took a chainsaw in for a minor repair and went to pick it up after they finally got it fixed after about 8 months. Bill was like $250.
A whole new chainsaw was about $275... I told them to enjoy having that saw for supper. And left. Never to return. Ive did the same.....
I work harder than a ugly stripper....
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Joined: Dec 2013
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,810 Likes: 5 |
Man says, “There are no good gunsmiths around me. I hate that I have to send everything off to someone a thousand miles away for a little job.”
Man gets bill from local gunsmith and says, “This is just too damned much. I could have sent this to someone a thousand miles away and paid less.”
Last edited by JoeBob; 04/05/19.
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Joined: Jun 2013
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,456 |
Darcy Echols probabaly isn’t even that expensive.... This is my thinking....
Semper Fi
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,456
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,456 |
[spoiler][/spoiler]Man says, “There are no good gunsmiths around me. I hate that I have to send everything off to someone a thousand miles away for a little job.”
Man gets bill from local gunsmith and says, “This is just too damned much. I could have sent this to someone a thousand miles away and paid less.” Hate to admit it but this is my reality.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 11,505
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 11,505 |
This is why you check references before engaging any tradesman.
Don't blame me. I voted for Trump.
Democrats would burn this country to the ground, if they could rule over the ashes.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,578 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,578 Likes: 2 |
By the time I get done mounting a scope, I wouldn't even do it for someone else for $100.00...
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8 |
Time to find another Smith.
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want. Rehabilitation is way overrated. Orwell wasn't wrong. GOA member disappointed NRA member 24HCF SEARCH
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,077
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,077 |
I do my own bedding, Devcon 10110 steel putty. it's really not that difficult.
If you have the skills to make a peanut butter sandwich, you should be able to master bedding.
I have used local gunsmithing for lathe work, and I always ask for a price or estimate up front. No surprises thank you.
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