Gunsmithing Gunsmithing recommendations
- Thread starter mese341
- Start date
Is the stock a flat top or inflated? If it's a flattop LRI. Hell, if you want the best looking most consistent bedding LRI. If LRI bedded my stock I would take it to matches just to assemble it in front of everybody.
Cresent Customs, Area 419, GAP(not sure if they offer this as just a service) all offer excellent bedding that I have personally seen or shot. I bed my own now. But these are they guys I would pay to do it.
Cresent Customs, Area 419, GAP(not sure if they offer this as just a service) all offer excellent bedding that I have personally seen or shot. I bed my own now. But these are they guys I would pay to do it.
LRI is top end. Not cheap either.
But the deal is its some of the finest around.
I have only used them and Mile High for rifle work.
Both do good work.
Could just have them instal DBM and do bedding yourself?
Im about to be in this boat and looking forward to the bedding job personally
But the deal is its some of the finest around.
I have only used them and Mile High for rifle work.
Both do good work.
Could just have them instal DBM and do bedding yourself?
Im about to be in this boat and looking forward to the bedding job personally
"Cheap".
Allow me to expand on that for a second. If you poll 100 shops and ask them to take a blank from the mold to a finished product there are 3 likely scenarios:
1. A high percentage will pass on the job completely.
2. A few will try it and likely make a mess with your money.
3. A handful will be able to deliver to expectation.
An uninletted blank void of any peripheral features/accessories does not cost as much as one completely finished. That is how this all starts. That said it is more expensive because stock companies must still make a margin of some kind when they sell them like this. A shop like mine must also make some sort of margin. So, it's been marked up twice already and there's no avoiding that. I pay taxes on stuff sitting idle on my shelves just like any other business does. It's the price of admission to be able to conduct commerce in our society.
Now go to the labor side of things. In the time it takes my shop to complete a stock a vendor will likely make a box full. The difference is what you are paying for. I'm expected to leave no rock unturned. A stock company does a good job, but its outside of reality for them to do an exceptional one. If you want that, then the costs are elevated due to the time involved.
Anyone who's walked through my joint has seen the resources I've committed to this kind of work. Even with all of that and the higher price that you pay, I still pretty much break even on the jobs. Any (smart) business owner will tell you that they don't venture into something to "make a wage". That's owning a job, not a business. I do it because I genuinely like the stock fitting part of this game and I want to do the best job I possibly can.
Perspective:
A custom wood stock for an exhibition grade rifle starts in the $7,000-$10,000 range. Wood will run anywhere from $1,200-$5,000. Is that a ripoff? Hardly when you consider the rarity of the premium blanks these days and that the stockmaker will have a few hundred hours devoted to the project. Sounds like huge money and it is, however these guys might do 3 to 4 rifles a year. Could anyone here operate a business on $40,000 for an annual income? That's really tough to do and its why few take it on.
A composite stock that we've fitted and painted typically runs around $200-$300 more than what is offered from the manufacturer or an online vendor. If you appreciate the work and can justify the cost, we are happy to help.
For the record, I've not raised the price of this service in the 11 years I've been in business.
Allow me to expand on that for a second. If you poll 100 shops and ask them to take a blank from the mold to a finished product there are 3 likely scenarios:
1. A high percentage will pass on the job completely.
2. A few will try it and likely make a mess with your money.
3. A handful will be able to deliver to expectation.
An uninletted blank void of any peripheral features/accessories does not cost as much as one completely finished. That is how this all starts. That said it is more expensive because stock companies must still make a margin of some kind when they sell them like this. A shop like mine must also make some sort of margin. So, it's been marked up twice already and there's no avoiding that. I pay taxes on stuff sitting idle on my shelves just like any other business does. It's the price of admission to be able to conduct commerce in our society.
Now go to the labor side of things. In the time it takes my shop to complete a stock a vendor will likely make a box full. The difference is what you are paying for. I'm expected to leave no rock unturned. A stock company does a good job, but its outside of reality for them to do an exceptional one. If you want that, then the costs are elevated due to the time involved.
Anyone who's walked through my joint has seen the resources I've committed to this kind of work. Even with all of that and the higher price that you pay, I still pretty much break even on the jobs. Any (smart) business owner will tell you that they don't venture into something to "make a wage". That's owning a job, not a business. I do it because I genuinely like the stock fitting part of this game and I want to do the best job I possibly can.
Perspective:
A custom wood stock for an exhibition grade rifle starts in the $7,000-$10,000 range. Wood will run anywhere from $1,200-$5,000. Is that a ripoff? Hardly when you consider the rarity of the premium blanks these days and that the stockmaker will have a few hundred hours devoted to the project. Sounds like huge money and it is, however these guys might do 3 to 4 rifles a year. Could anyone here operate a business on $40,000 for an annual income? That's really tough to do and its why few take it on.
A composite stock that we've fitted and painted typically runs around $200-$300 more than what is offered from the manufacturer or an online vendor. If you appreciate the work and can justify the cost, we are happy to help.
For the record, I've not raised the price of this service in the 11 years I've been in business.
Last edited:
When folks refer to a "flattop" stock, it is one that has no inlet for action or barrel channel machines in it. If this is your stock then bite the bullet and send it to Long Rifles Inc. If it is factory inletted, then many top-quality Smith's can bed it for you. Those mentioned above plus RW Snyder Gunsmithing (he did my 300wm with Crane MK13 lug), Alex Sitman at Master Class Stocks has done many NRA champions' stocks.
The McMillan A5 at top of pic below was bedded by Alex, the 300wm at bottom is a Manners T4 done by RW Snyder.
@LongRifles Inc.
I was in no way digging at your cost.
I just know a lot of guys crap a little when they see it.
Then they learn about just how perfect it is compared to “bubba” down the road who charges $200 for a bed job.
While I haven't visited your shop, yet, I am a fan and have followed your work since you started posting it on here.
While I have to count my pennies currently saving for a bigger overpriced house (they all are in the Denver area) one of your full builds is on my short list of wants. Probably an old Winchester..... ?
Will call sometime about visiting in July while on vacation with my rugrat up your way.
I was in no way digging at your cost.
I just know a lot of guys crap a little when they see it.
Then they learn about just how perfect it is compared to “bubba” down the road who charges $200 for a bed job.
While I haven't visited your shop, yet, I am a fan and have followed your work since you started posting it on here.
While I have to count my pennies currently saving for a bigger overpriced house (they all are in the Denver area) one of your full builds is on my short list of wants. Probably an old Winchester..... ?
Will call sometime about visiting in July while on vacation with my rugrat up your way.
Yeash. Denver? That place is a FICO score challenge.
I left CO in 2003. I have to say I dont regret it as the whole mindset seemed to change shortly after I departed.
As for my response:
I get hit with the cost(s) often. Whenever possible I use it as an opportunity to try and put the job into perspective.
No offense taken.
