Being relatively fresh faced from the other side of the pond to coming here on and off, I've always been fascinated with the differences between the two places.
One being how the gun industry is of such a high standard from a small industry compared to at home.
Our barrels are at best $500, but usually can pick them up from time to time for $150.
I've spoken with plenty guys here now here, and the going rate for fitting a barrel is £1200 and upwards.
$1800 seems quite high in my world for a barrel being fitted to a Tikka T3 for 2-3 hours work
What are you guys getting, that we don't for your money?
I know we discussed this very subject briefly…
Let’s try and break it down to account for some of the answers. Buy once cry once I have heard this many times but it doesn’t necessarily represent value and depending on calibre. You won’t be crying once as if you shoot enough you’ll be 2-3000 rounds down your exhaust pipe and crying again for another Gucci barrel. Yes barrels are exhaust pipes, an expendable item, shoot it and enjoy it, don’t worry about the cost. The internet drives people’s choices of barrels but they don’t always get value…
Barrel costs: Gucci barrel say £500-£600 delivered a Phoenix £500 ish delivered a Pendragon Precision £460 delivered and there’s nothing wrong with either. There are cheaper barrels (I’ve fitted over a dozen manufacturers barrels) that will give any other a run for their money in particular ZPV, yes Serbian made but just cheaper to produce because of cheaper cost of living. The barrels themselves are proving to be excellent shooters.
Machining: My machine/set up time, threading day Rem 700 16tpi and bolt nose recess 30 minutes give or take. Chambering, pre-cut rough out chamber and finish 40 minutes tops and that’s with a cup of tea in the middle. Muzzle thread and crown another 30 minutes ish. This is on a manual lathe a CNC will rip through those ops in minutes when set up. So to be generous let’s call it 3 hours labour give or take for a T3 6.5 Creed…I did a 6mm BR in 2 hours plus set up the other day.
Tooling: It’s simple, if you’ve not got the tool you can’t do the job so is a moot point really we all have to buy tooling regardless but that’s where high costs come in unless the customer is buying the reamer and keeps it. I spread reamer costs across all customers charging each for a cut at £60.
Overheads: Most guys here work on a part time basis out of garages/sheds not premises so no overheads as such. Nothing wrong with that I started in a treble garage but was in premises in just over 16 months.
Supply and demand: Not sure about this point tbh but the demand is there at the right money. Nearly end of July and I’ve fitted 78 barrels this year so the demand is there and the supply can be had if you can access other makes of barrel. People get too hung up on barrels in my opinion.
A customers pal just paid £1500 for a Bartlein barrel recently so if you break it down £5-£600 for the barrel, £70 postage (spread across several rifles I never take anything less than 5) to and back from proof, £45 for proof, calibre dependant. So before Labour but including proof say £660 there’s Vat in that but if you’re vat registered you claim it back so irrelevant.
That leaves £840 (less vat) for tea, electricity and a bag of crisps for a few hours machining set up/work, call it 3 hours ish @ £280 an hour…nope nobody works for nothing I suppose. On a CNC you could do 10 a day and not break a sweat…there are some good factory rifles out there now at barrel replacement cost. But it’s still worth replacing a barrel for a custom fitted one.
