Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Cost to install a pre-fit?

Range of cost to have a pre-fit installed? New action, no barrel to remove. I know it's a couple of minutes job for someone with a barrel vice, action wrench, torque wrench, and go/no go gauges.

Thanks

I don't know about a real gunsmith, but around here a package of deer meat will get 'er done.

You don't need a barrel vice, action wrench, torque wrench or go/no gauges. I have done many just using a vice with wooden inserts and a new factory round for headspace (back off snug a little bit). You can use a strap wrench to tighten up the nut if you don't have the wrench made for the job though I have that wrench.

No nut, it's a shoulder pre-fit.

Shucks, why don't you just beat it on with a hammer until it looks about right?

I am pretty good with a sledge hammer.

Depends on the rifle it's going on.
Some require a lot of care and fitting. Examples can be Pre-64 Winchester M70s, 1917 Enfields, SMLEs and Springfield 1903s They have to be set up to time correctly and clear the extractors. Most autos other then the AR15 are also in that class.

Others like Mauser M98s, Remington M700s and Ruger M77s are very quick and easy.
So saying "new action" doesn't give enough info to answer the question.

Sorry....Defiance anti. Guaranteed headspace for shoulder pre-fit. Will likely be a Proof pre-fit barrel. It should be about as easy as it gets.

you ought to be asking your local smith that's gonna do the job. Not trying to beat him up on price by finding the lowest price some other smith is charging. You want him to stay in business? Or you looking to do this for someone else??

I don't have a local smith. That's why I'm asking. The only two nearby that I would trust anything to have stopped doing smith work, one produces suppressors and the second only does machine work for custom projects now.

I'm asking to get an idea of price, figure in cost of shipping to/from....and compare that to the cost for me to pick up a barrel vice, action wrench, torque wrench, and go/no go gauges and do it myself.

Parts I'm providing:
Defiance anti w/guaranteed headspace.
Proof Research pre-fit barrel already chambered.

The job:
Screw the barrel on to ~80 ft/lbs. Check headspace.

I thought it was a simple question but this is the campfire....

This is what's needed, with the exception that the action doesn't need the recoil lug since it's integral:

I've never used a torque wrench to tighten barrels. You take the crush value and then calculate the index angle. Hand tighten the barrel, scribe a line on the barrel and the action. You then you scribe another line on the circumference of the barrel indicating the distance the barrel needs to be turned to tighten to achieve the proper crush fit. I've used this method on my long range prone match rifles, centerfire benchrest match rifles and hunting rifles that I've built, never had any issues. Unless you're looking for an excuse to buy a torque wrench... 😉

Even the shouldered prefits are pretty easy, actually even easier than the nutted prefits. A vice with wood pads and a strap wrench. Still I would have someone check the headspace just for luck. You don't need it to be incredibly tight, 50-75 foot pounds.

Why not get a barrel vice, action wrench and head space guage and do it yourself? -Al

Have wondered the same so bumping this for Jay.

Thanks for the bump Joe.

This thread reminds me of a quote from a forum member here who was a gunsmith....asking for info here is like bobbing for apples in a septic tank, you might eventually get it but it's just not worth it.

Not sure where you're located JCM. I have the tools and do my own pre-fit shouldered barrel installs on a Bighorn Origin. When I asked one 'smith to do this, I think it was around $80. I bought the tools instead and the $80 I would have spent went towards go/no go gauges, grizzly action vise and Bighorn action action wrench.

Jay,

PM or call Shaen (shooter's here) he will give you a fair price, then you han decide of you want him to do it or buy tools to do it yourself.

I've got a wheeler barrel vice and action wrench, I've never used id sell if you want them, or I'd be happy to loan them to you.

Pretty sure you can rent headspace guages too

Fair enough.

Here, this would include checking the action and tenon threads dimensions prior to fitting, trial fitting with Dykem to verify contact at the shoulder, checking headspace with a real headspace gauge (not a piece of brass), cleaning and final assembly with the appropriate lube on the tenon and the barrel torqued to the action mfg. recommendation. $100 will cover it if no problems pop up.

Hope this helps. -Al

If it is a pre-fit that is GUARANTEED to headspace up correctly, I would charge about $65 plus return shipping and insurance. I use the corrrect headspace gauges and if it don't fit up right it is a whole new ballgame. Heed what Al says, he knows what he is doing