local cost of barrel installation

partisan1911

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2009
Messages
171
Location
Alaska
I thought a few of you might enjoy seeing what the local gunsmith in my area charges.

So I have collected all the pieces to put my rifle together except the barrel. I went to the local gunsmith here in Fairbanks. He is the only gunsmith in the entire area. I asked him how much for a broughton 26" barrel in .243ai installed and then all my componenets cerakoted. Here is his price breakdown.
barrel $400
reamer $250 and he gets to keep it.
Install $300
cerakote $300.

If I wanted it fluted +$200, Brake and install $250. He tells me because the price of metal has gone up. I guess I am putting this product on hold until I save up some more money and can ship the components out of state like I have been doing with the rest of my projects.
 
I thought a few of you might enjoy seeing what the local gunsmith in my area charges.

So I have collected all the pieces to put my rifle together except the barrel. I went to the local gunsmith here in Fairbanks. He is the only gunsmith in the entire area. I asked him how much for a broughton 26" barrel in .243ai installed and then all my componenets cerakoted. Here is his price breakdown.
barrel $400
reamer $250 and he gets to keep it.
Install $300
cerakote $300.

If I wanted it fluted +$200, Brake and install $250. He tells me because the price of metal has gone up. I guess I am putting this product on hold until I save up some more money and can ship the components out of state like I have been doing with the rest of my projects.

Thats BS. Im work for a wrought iron company. I am both the sales manager as well as a weldor in the shop. Steel has gone up 19 cents a pound locally. I could see there being some difference because of your location, but i still think he s trying to screw you
 
If he is keeping busy, I'm quitting my job, going to gunsmith school, and moving to Alaska! Heck, you can undercut by almost half and still make a mint!

I would look else where, if you have all the parts, turn around time should be quick. Good luck.
 
I thought a few of you might enjoy seeing what the local gunsmith in my area charges.

So I have collected all the pieces to put my rifle together except the barrel. I went to the local gunsmith here in Fairbanks. He is the only gunsmith in the entire area. I asked him how much for a broughton 26" barrel in .243ai installed and then all my componenets cerakoted. Here is his price breakdown.
barrel $400
reamer $250 and he gets to keep it.
Install $300
cerakote $300.

If I wanted it fluted +$200, Brake and install $250. He tells me because the price of metal has gone up. I guess I am putting this product on hold until I save up some more money and can ship the components out of state like I have been doing with the rest of my projects.

How much would it cost you if have it shipped and done in CONUS?
 
He must not realize the market is nation wide these days. I'm not against paying for above average work, but , the price needs to be competitive. You could order that reamer yourself from Manson Reamers, they might even have it on the shelf, $130 or so for a removable pilot finisher, order the barrel from Broughton, they don't offer any discounts 'till you order 5 in one order, w/shipping they're about $350. Even with the added shipping to your local you'd come out ahead. Maybe, he just didn't want the work! It might be he has to "farm it out" and make a profit too. That .243AI is pretty common for 'smiths, that do chambering, to have.
 
Oder the reamer yourself and pay $130.00 and keep it. Then find a smith on this site to do the work for you. Shipping is not that expensive.
I do not know if there is a list of the gunsmiths post on here somewhere, but there should be.
 
I'll bet you can find a 'smith that already owns a .243AI reamer and you won't even have to buy one. Reamer charge is usually included in the price of the thread, chamber & crowning unless its something really off the wall, won't use again for 10years, then the customer supplies the reamer.
 
Partisan, I recently had a 300 WM built off of my Rem 700 action. My dilema wasn't so much the cost of it but I wanted to find the right smith who had experience building long range rifles. I shipped mine from CA to PA and had Kevin Cram of Montour County Rifles (easy to find here on this sight) build it. Couldn't be happier and I new the job was being done right.
 
I have several long range rigs built by some well known gunsmiths but most recently a barrel job is taking a year for these gunsmiths. I was looking at getting a broughton barrel and they normally take 15 weeks to get the barrel out so I understand that. The local gunsmith I figured could get it done sooner than a year but for the prices quoted I can definately wait.
 
I can understand that it is a long time frame. When I was researching smiths a lot were in the six month to one year range. I already had the bbl, which was also a Broughton 5C. I think Kevin had it done within about 7 to 8 weeks after I sent it to him.
 
I ordered a lilja barrel a couple days ago and expect it will be ready in a couple months. My last barrel job is 6 months and still waiting. Can anyone guide me to a gunsmith than can ream a .243 AI, install a barrel on an action, put a coating on the parts in less than 6 months?
 
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