Re: Blueprinting and barreling Howa and Tikka actions
The Tikka T3 is a fairly straight forward job to do and certainly one of the easiest.
The Howa is similar to doing a Remington.
Both are usualy straighter and true-er than a 700 but still need a true up.
Its an interesting thought, cross atlantic riflesmithing trade.. ha ha.
The hassle of sending a rifle back and forth from the US to Germany wouldn't be impossible, but the cost would be better spent in the rifle and have one of the better riflesmiths and there are a few on here all very capable of doing the job.
The strength of the € at the moment makes it maybe a little more expensive on a 1 to 1 comparison with the same rifle here. And European customers always frown at the difference in prices from the USA to here.
But in that you have to factor in the added costs we have to complete the build.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Proof. </span> costs 100€ all in if you courier 1 rifle to proof and back.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Barrel.</span> if its not a German made barrel, you have 5% import, 19% VAT and the international shipping on top of what the same barrel would cost a smith in the USA.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Stock: </span>you have 5% import, 19% VAT and the international shipping on top of what the same stock would cost a smith in the USA.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Coating:</span> again, if the coating product is made in the USA, you have 5% import, 19% VAT and the international shipping plus whatever the European supplyer makes as a profit.
same goes for bases, rings, triggers. then you have to factor the time it takes to go to the customs depot to pick incomming kit up, thats a good half a days job.
Thats just the cost on the parts, factor in the high price of Income tax, property tax, health insurance, fuel, and other overheads etc and it becomes apparent that 1 for 1 much kit is more expensive here in the EU.(there are some exeptions)
Having said that, we try and keep our prices pretty much inline with what the same thing would cost on the US market.
The major hassle for us is getting regular punctual supply of kit made outside the EU. Especialy from the USA, and the doubts on how much longer we will actualy be able to get anything out of the USA.
There is a definate trend at the moment towards "We'll make it our selves" Ive seen at least 3 direct copies of the Badger mag system here in Europe, rifle actions similar to the surgeon actions and a few other configurations are also appearing, Very much lacking is a EU Composit Stock manufacturer that can prduce the styles and models required, hence we rely pretty much on US Supply.
For us Europeans at the moment buying in the UK is a steal, 15% VAT and the pound down at a very low exchange rate, you've got plane loads of women going shoe shopping over in Blighty !! same goes for shooters, many are buying Optics and Gadgets from the UK at the moment at prices that are less than we get trade on the continent.
Swings and roundabouts.. bit off topic but an insight into our daily bread.. Pete
