Rebarrel

Some will charge quite a bit more because they don't want to use, in their opinion, inferior barrels !!
I had a Bergara barrel fitted at a third of the price quoted by another well known smith and can't fault it yet, but don't expect it to be faulty in my life time !!
I don't know what part of South means in your avator but if you are south of Scotland then James at Jager SA does a good job at a good price and lives in the Essex area, I think, which is South also if you are talking South of Scotland, so you may be able to pop in and see him.


Please elaborate. Who fitted the bergara, at what cost, and who quoted 3 times what you paid. We need to know this. Even god doesnt charge 3x what i've seen beraras for
 
I don't why every thread mentioning a gunsmith or a rebarrel causes so much bickering, if you want a cheap job that won't break the bank James Clarks probably your man, if you want a decent job then take your pick Neil, Paddy Dane, or Callum will all do excellent work, but as with most things you get what you pay for.
 
James did mine at a third of the price quoted by three other smiths.
I have no reason to believe it is inferior to any of the other offers.
My decision to use James was not based purley on price, his reputation was also taken in to account.
 
James did mine at a third of the price quoted by three other smiths.
I have no reason to believe it is inferior to any of the other offers.
My decision to use James was not based purley on price, his reputation was also taken in to account.

As long as your happy with the job, that's all that matters, but for me a gunsmith who loves cerakote, is a bit like the carpenter who loves decorators caulk.....
 
I don't why every thread mentioning a gunsmith or a rebarrel causes so much bickering, if you want a cheap job that won't break the bank James Clarks probably your man, if you want a decent job then take your pick Neil, Paddy Dane, or Callum will all do excellent work, but as with most things you get what you pay for.


Oh no here we go again, James Clarks work isn't decent, it's inferior and cheap, you get what you pay. Really...
You need to get out from behind the PC a bit I think, take a look at the work in action.
 
I was quite surprised at the number of well respected stalkers that have had work done by James.
I know that if his work was inferior his name would have splattered all over the web by now.
 
Not once I have said there's anything wrong with your work James why are people assuming I'm talking about you? Your not the only gunsmith that uses cerakote, my opinion is you get what you pay for.. That's MY opinion I wouldn't want a Bergara tube fitted to my rifle for reasons already stated on this thread. That has nothing to do with who would be fitting it, I just wouldn't want one, do it once and do it properly....
 
As long as your happy with the job, that's all that matters, but for me a gunsmith who loves cerakote, is a bit like the carpenter who loves decorators caulk.....

I sent my rifle off for a ceracote job to a guy who everyone raved about,I think he even claimed he was the only authorised one at the time.Well it came back to a local rfd and was sent straight back,it came back again and guess what,sent it straight back.
This guy was nowhere near the cheapest smith and I will never use hiim again .He ain't on this site.
S0 expensive got me nothing but a head ache!
 
Not once I have said there's anything wrong with your work James why are people assuming I'm talking about you? Your not the only gunsmith that uses cerakote, my opinion is you get what you pay for.. That's MY opinion I wouldn't want a Bergara tube fitted to my rifle for reasons already stated on this thread. That has nothing to do with who would be fitting it, I just wouldn't want one, do it once and do it properly....

Well sorry but your post above suggests otherwise.
 
James did mine at a third of the price quoted by three other smiths.
I have no reason to believe it is inferior to any of the other offers.
My decision to use James was not based purley on price, his reputation was also taken in to account.

james charges £550 doesnt he? Who is charging £1650 to fit a barrel? Name 1 or all 3 please..
 
I sent my rifle off for a ceracote job to a guy who everyone raved about,I think he even claimed he was the only authorised one at the time.Well it came back to a local rfd and was sent straight back,it came back again and guess what,sent it straight back.
This guy was nowhere near the cheapest smith and I will never use hiim again .He ain't on this site.
S0 expensive got me nothing but a head ache!

Sorry to hear this, as a result the product gets a bad name. I've been coating for over 10 years, unfortunately there are lots of experts now offering Cerakote. I hope you got it squared away.
 
James wasn't charging that at the time but regardless of that I am not naming any other smiths, if you want a re barrel do your own homework.
 
James wasn't charging that at the time but regardless of that I am not naming any other smiths, if you want a re barrel do your own homework.

you are talking rubbish.

you cant claim someone does work for 1/3 of the price of others without substantiating it. Going rate for basic rebarrel and thread/cap with no surface finish is £800-£1000 by the top smiths using best barrels which cost no more than £400. Bergarras are sub £200 which means you paid £333 max.
which also means good 'ol JC worked for about £100. Worth every penny...

You dont get issues like this when you pays proper beans

Jager SA


so to answer the op's question, about £800 if you use paddy, neil or mik, £1000 callum. £550 jager sa

Research done
 
Last edited:
Well sorry but your post above suggests otherwise.


What I can't get my head round is why do you have to use a bergara James? Can You not get hold of the better barrels? Like Kreiger, Sassen, Pacnor etc? Or do you just choose not to use them? Would you still be the cheapest smith if you were using different barrels? I'm not having a poke before you get on your high horse I'm just asking the question?
 
Can anyone give a rough price on a sako 85 rebarrel

Equiring out of interest
Thanks all
In 2015 I had a Sako 75 .243 re-barrelled to .260. The rifle was sent to James Clark who removed the old barrel, fitted a 20'' Bergara barrel in .260Rem, threaded for moderator (invisible cap too), Cerakoted in gunmetal grey, London proofed. Four months start to finish £650 all in.
The rifle shoots very well indeed and is used for deer stalking. I am not a target shooter. This is just my experience of having a new barrel fitted and I am very satisfied with the standard of workmanship and the performance of the rifle. I hope this helps inform your considerations.
 
Some 'smiths have paid for the requisite licence to allow barrels to be exported from the States to them, others have not and fit only what they can buy from elsewhere. Guess who's cheaper?
 
The standard price is without doubt £500 for a standard barrel and £1000 for a stainless match barrel. It is not just the barrel but the Smith who works on it and it might surprise some to know that the are very few truly trained Smiths in this country. There are of course some excellent ex engineers who can do good work. But in my case I chose Patrick Croft. He fitted a Krieger Stainless Match barrel to my Tikka action and after market stock in 30-06 Ackley. I asked if my Tikka action needed blue printing and told don't worry.

The result ....a bullet on bullet shooting rifle. I then Decided to change the calibre to .308 , this meant the barrel being shortened for the chamber work. It was then ''smoked '' and painstakingly set into the new GRS Berserker stock I bought. Once again I asked, should it be bedded, trust me I was told again ....I have also learnt there was a lot of material removed from the stock as my barrel is a wide profile.

Gun was test fired yesterday...1 x fouler....then three bullets through the same hole. If that does not show the quality of a decent match grade barrel and more importantly to use someone who knows his trade. Oh and for those who live near Neil , I was chatting to Patrick one afternoon and he stated that his work was second to none...so if another Smith recommends another I reckon that's good advice to any of you reading this.

Simply put let a skilled person who knows about guns and can sort any problems that might occur.....that a sign of a good smith

and remember buy cheap buy twice. Not meaning to upset anyone but it is so true....it took me a long time to learn that one!
 
Last edited:
Back
Top