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

Love it when gunsmiths start making bids.

The man asked a fair question about pricing and is getting some fair answers.

Professional 'smiths don't bid on jobs as they already have enough to do. I'm not a professional barrel fitter or gunsmith (there is a big difference). I just work on my own stuff and other projects I find interesting.

A professional 'smith that I have the highest respect for once told me the one main rule in his shop:

"Don't do anything to make the phone ring."

Lot of wisdom right there.....

Good shootin'. -Al

No doubt having been on the phone with many gunsmiths and been in their shops while they were trying to get things done. Probably ONE of the reasons it sometimes takes years to get something done. And I wasn't being negative either.

Thanks all for the input. I should have been more specific on which action and pre-fit barrel when I asked. No intent of having gunsmiths try to under bid each other, just wanted a range. Rough range from $100-$65 (if no issues) + shipping to/from gives me the info I need to chew on while the action is getting nitride.

Thanks again all.

And you never know if the apple you get will be rotten....

My gunsmith is getting three cases of beer for screwing a proof prefit onto an anTiX action and checking headspace. Nice thing is, in “the Sanctuary” once the beer goes in the fridge it’s community beer….

Bring him 3 cases of Bud Light Lime.....even if community, it could be setting there a LONG time. Next time he'll tell you only bring a 6 pack! ...grin...just joking, I don't dislike anyone enough to do that.

I ended up buying a barrel vice and action wrench to do this. Still waiting on the action to be returned from coating.

Before I sent the action out I screwed the barrel on (hand tight), put the base/ring/scope on (just on, not loctite/etc) and put it in the stock with bottom metal just to check balance and weight. Felt really, really nice.

anTi action
Proof pre-fit 20" Sendero contour chambered in .308
Grayboe Trekker
Grayboe Hunter M5 bottom metal
MDT flush fit 3 round AICS mag
Defiance rail
APA low rings
NXS 2.5-10x42

Right at 7 lbs all up with a little forward balance. Looking forward to getting the action back, screwing it together, and putting it to use.

Finished this and thought I'd update here.

Received the action back from Birdsong and installed the barrel. Researching I read everything from 35 ft lbs to 75 ft lbs for torque suggestions. I used 50.

Put everything together with the exception of using a S&B 3-12 in Ferrell low rings instead of the NXS 2.5-10 in APA lows.

Sighted in yesterday evening. 2 shots to get zero then a 3 shot cluster that was well under an inch using a generic .308 load of 46.5 grains of Varget with a 150 ballistic tip.

Rifle feels great and shoots great. Stock is a bit odd on looks but makes up for it in functionality. I left it unbedded as Grayboe suggests and it stacked the rounds. Only 5 rounds through it yesterday but it's a very comfortable stock and easy to get behind. Using Grayboe Hunter M5 DBM with MDT 3 round AICS mags.....feeding is incredibly smooth. The flush fit mag/bottom metal is really nice for a hunter.

Rifle will go on doe patrol over the next several weeks to see what I like and don't like. Right now I can't find much about it that I don't like.

They don't make pre-fits for these
I wouldn't install one on even a custom action unless i had a head space gauge, though

Nice job.

As Dylan once said, "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows".

Hope you enjoy your rifle.