What would be a typical cost estimate for a good gunsmith to properly assemble,chamber,crown, bed a custom? I'm not sure what all is necessary,never having built a custom before but I would just like a good estimate of cost of everything a good gunsmith would need to do if he had all the parts.

The thing is that I have to save quite a while to get any of my toys. It might take 6-10 months for me to save enough to buy a custom TI action. I was thinking about buying the parts and then finding a gunsmith. Half the fun of any new rifle or high end piece of equipment for me is the anticipation while I save to get it anyway,so this would provide about 3 years worth of joy.LOL

Iv'e paid anywhere between $500.00 and $1000.00, depends on the smith!

I paid more than Ackleyfan did for a couple of them, but the smith already had the majority of parts. I am not sure what it would cost if you provided all of the parts and pieces for the build and were just paying for the labor. A call to Kevin Weaver, Gene Simillion or whoever you have in mind isn't a waste of time. Alot of info to be gained and I'd definitely write down exactly what you want and what you expect from the sum of all your components bolted together.

Right in the ballpark IMHO.. I'd be in the $500-700 range for what the OP asks for above - depending on the action..

Should have mentioned that I supplied the parts!

I paid $850 to have my only custom put together. That was barrel install, bedding, cerakote, trigger install, and feeding work. I supplied all the parts and told him what I wanted done in writing and everything was done to my satisfaction.

It was a few years ago but one of the best competition/LR gunsmiths in the Midwest charged me less than $500 to true Rem 700, thread/chamber/headspace a new Kreiger barrel, and tune the factory trigger. I took care of the stocking myself. I felt like I got a smoking deal, but I don't think his prices have gone up much since.

two of the best.mike Bryant and col billy stevens.with a custom action.850.00 or less.they are both very very good.

ITAR registration for a gunsmith license has bumped up prices somewhat. Get a good smith, you never regret it.

I’m having one done now and supplied all of the parts. Labor is 1125 with cerakote of the metal bedding the stock with pillars muzzle brake and thread protector tuning the trigger and opening up the stock for proof research sendero lite barrel. Borden timberline action.

Derailing my own thread,but what does a Proof Research Sendero Light barrel compare to in weight?

Right now I would like to do this build in 300 Win mag with a Proof Research barrel,Lone peak Ti action,and Manners MCS EH5 stock. Anyone have a ballpark weight I would be at?

I’ll have my rifle done in a about 4 weeks at I’ll get a weight for you. It will be similar as using manners carbon fiber stock in 280ai. The action will be a few ounces heavier on mine.

I also have a proof research summit being delivered tomorrow so I’ll try to get a weight on it. It uses the defiance rebel action but is 6.5 creedmoor so not sure the weight difference to the ti long action.

Thanks Paul,.no hurry, but any info would be great.

Horizon has a pretty good deal. It's their "REBARREL" service.

$999 and includes all of this:

Our rebarrel process includes truing the factory action and trigger, replacing the barrel with a Benchmark barrel (available with or without flutes – fluting at an additional charge) that has been hand lapped and contoured to your specifications and securely bedding the action in the stock. We also adjust the trigger (and can provide custom triggers at an additional cost), securely bed the action into the stock, and lastly, we test shoot the rebarreled rifle for groups (depending on the caliber there might be an additional charge for ammo).

It all depends on what parts you want. Just like building a hot rod car. The sky is the limit. You can use an old donor action from a used $200 savage, or get a custom made action that set's you back $3k. Same with barrels, triggers etc. A chrome molly or stainless ? Fluted ? Carbon fiber wrapped ? I've purchased ER Shaw close out over runs for $30 that shoot very well. Or you could spend a grand $1k on carbon wrapped barrel. Same with the stock. You can buy a Boyds stock for $100, a McMillian Stock for $600 or a high end hand made custom hardwood stock with beautiful checkering and inlays for $10,000.00.

I'm in the middle of doing the same thing that you are looking at. Bought a Defiant Rebel action with a custom 20 MOA rail built into the action. Included a custom serial number. Increased tenon length on the action. I can't remember the price of the action as I purchased it about 3-4 years ago. Thinking it was around $1100-$1200 ??? Then had to wait almost a year for it to be completed. I purchased a McMillan stock through Rick Bin here on the campfire. IIRC It was around $600. The barrel for this build was a Shilen, and once again, I cannot remember the cost. Got it on sale. Thinking it was around $200. Then you need a trigger, rings, scope and the list goes on. I am fortunate to have a close friend here on the campfire that has a lathe. He can cut, crown, and chamber the barrel for me for free. That saves a lot of money.

Good luck on your build. Let us know what you're plans are other than a TI action. Chambering ? Stock ? etc.


Owl

I believe the OP was asking about the gunsmith's labor charges to machine and put together parts already in hand.

I can't remember a full custom coming in under $1,100 since before the turn of the century. The last one that I had done, year before last, was $1,410 and I supplied the action.

Like I said, all depends on the parts. Anyone can screw a pre-machined barrel onto a savage action, and drop the barreled action into a boyds stock. If the barrel needs chambered and threaded, that's an additional fee. Needs a new trigger, another installation fee. TIME = MONEY. Nothing is free. The more work required, the more money you're going to pay.




Just like mudhen states - he paid $1400+ 2 years ago.

This is how I would expect it to break down:

Labor
$75-$100 to chamber ($50 more if it is a "safety breech" and $50 more if it needs an extractor cut)
$75 additional to thread the barrel
$75-$100 to cut and/or crown
$75 additional if threaded for a brake/can (plus $75 to blend/time the brake, if needed)
$25 for a generic purchased thread protector ($75-$100 for a custom)
$100-$150 for bedding depending on the amount of work needed on the stock (pillar bedding would be more)

Parts
Avg barrel price is $280-$400
Avg muzzle brake is $40-$120
Avg stock is $150-$700
Avg trigger is $60-$250
Avg scope base and rings: $25-$200

Misc
If working on a surplus bolt action:
$50 to D&T for bases
$60-$120 for the bolt handle to clear a scope
$60-$100 for magazine work (if needed)
$50-$250 for a safety (as high as $600)
$75- $400 for feed rail work (if needed)
I'd add an additional $100-$200 for charge hump or sight base removal, or to face the receiver.

The finish could be all over the map depending on the rifle and type of finish. $100- $800
Optics would be from $300-$3500

Have had several built in the last 10 years
Last 2 was a 280 ai and a 300 rum
I gathered up all my parts before hand and bills have been between 700.00 n a 1000.00
Not counting parts

$500 to true an action? Jebus. I need to bump my rates, lol.

I use a 5 axis cnc mill made by Kitamura Machine tool company. The caliber machine you trust you life to when you fly the family to your chosen vacation spot. Very, very high caliber machines. That is what does our Tier 1 accurizing services. In addition, you get a timed/Tig welded bolt handle (when applicable), your base holes for optics are bored and thread milled.

Barrel work is done on a production class cnc slant bed turning center. A process I developed 10 years prior to the rest of the "custom" industry. Been at it since 2003. Was once told it was a waste of time and that I was never going to equal what a manual lathe guy does. They don't say that anymore....

Stock work? 3D surface machined inlets. We start with blank stocks fresh from the mold here. I don't want anyone's inletting. We do our own.

We are not the most expensive, nor are we the most affordable. I am convinced though that when you have a full effort build done by us, it will distinguish itself once you see the effort put into it.


Lots of shops build rifles that shoot well. With modern machine tools (manual or cnc) and capable hands, its very, very possible. The quality of aftermarket components is better than its ever been. With that in mind, there are two things left to address: Fit and finish is one. Customer service is the other.

I would invite you all to do your own research on those two subjects.

Good luck on your project.

C.

Chad glad to have you here on the campfire.

one thing to consider.... My smith did not like to use my parts, as much as to get them through him. It wasnt for his profit, but for him to not be responsible for the accuracy of parts I supplied that may have issues. If I provide the barrel, and the end result doesnt shoot well, it could become a problem. If I spec the barrel and he provides it, then its not my problem. I suspect it all comes down to warranty on something that I provided the parts on...

Mr. Dixon
Will your company rebarrel and do action work on a Kimber Montana?

$250-$500 per month?
Depends how long he takes.