OKLAHOMA, Rebarrel M98 cost?

[jon lynn]

With the help of our HC friend Gil Martin, I will be the owner of a 98er ready to convert, one piece per pay day. With Gil’s guidance I already selected a barrel (24” .308), and have plans for a new trigger (Timney), base, and stock (Boyd’s JRS or Fajen synthetic), all the things we do with Mauser actions.

But gunsmiths here in Oklahoma vary in skill, price, and sadly availability. I have a few guys I am checking with, but some of the prices leave me shocked. One in Moore, charges $80 just to use his FFL services! But I found gun dealer in McAlester, who wants a more reasonable price of $20.

I am wondering if any of my fellow Oklahomans can recommend a gunsmith, either in the Norman/OKC area, or McAlester area (preferred). One who is not going to use me to pay his kids tuition to OU or OSU. I am seeking the fair price for: Bluing, Installing and gauging the barrel. I haven’t a clue what a decent price would be. I am not looking for the services to be free, but really, $80 for FFL?

As for the installing of the Warne Maxima bases for unaltered 98 large ring. One guy quoted me $26 per drill & tap (tax not included) is it really $104 for four holes?

[Larryjk]

jon lynn, I am not in OK, but WY. I will tell you that many Mauser actions have been "ruined" by gunsmiths that don't know what they are doing. First, I charge $15.00 per hole to drill and tap for scope mounts. But that is for 4 holes in alighnment with the barrel so the rifle can be sighted in when it is complete. That means turning an old barrel into the action and using a Forester jig to drill and tap correctly. $26.00 per hole is not excessive. Make sure the action is drilled using a one piece base for spacing so it can be used late as well as a two piece set.
I charge $250 plus the barrel to install a barrel correctly; face the receiver, lap the lugs, face the bolt, headspace the chamber to 0.001 clearance, mark the barrel and blue. to blue the remainder of the rifle and accessories is generally another $50.00. That is using hot blue, caustic salts.
You will also need to have the bolt handle altered to use a scope. I weld on a new handle and charge $60 for the welding. You will also need a low scope safety.
I don't have the names of any gunsmiths in your area. My prices are very reasonable.

[Larryjk]

jon lynn, Check with your local sporting goods stores. They must have someone they send their customers to for gunsmithing. Then check at the local trap club. Someone around there knows.

[Rapier]

Jon,
What Larry did not say, and I know why, he is shy..... You do not have to have a smith in Oklahoma do your work. You can send the pieces and parts to any smith anywhere and they can send the gun back to you, no problem. So if you want Larry to do the work and he swears to do a nice job, he is in the market for work.
Ed

[Larryjk]

Rapier, I wouldn't say I am shy, just reserved. I was giving Jon an idea of costs for comparison. If you look on the net at what custom services charge, I am sure as heck not as high as most. I catch hell from smiths in this area for being too low. But it is always wise to make sure a smith knows what he is doing so the action isn't ruined by stupidity. I quote the barrel work as my charge plus the barrel so they can decide what barrel they want. I chcarge them what a barrel costs me, not retail. I always want to talk to a customer so we can agree on what he wants done and what his expecttions are on the completed job. I am sure there must be a smith in that area, but yes; I can handle the job if he so wants.

[Rapier]

Larry,
You are so right about the butchers around in just about any community. I think if you have been around guns for a while everyone has at least a couple of stories. I will not bore everyone with mine, which is what really started me building my own custom rifles and handguns. Professional gunsmithing is a tough trade to make a living wage at and is more a labor of love for 99% of the smiths in this country. My hat is off to anyone who takes up the trade, is good enough not to destroy more than they fix, and sticks with it.
Best,
Ed

[Larryjk]

Rapier, There is an old story about how to retire as a millionaire gunsmith. Start by marrying a gal with 2 million dollars and you might have a million left to retire on. Not really a joke.
I am on my second life, retired from the first and spending my retirement while doing gunsmithing. Like you said, I do it because I enjoy it. But I still want to do it right and after you invest in the lathe and mill and all the other things you need. you find there is no profit left to enjoy. I realized that and had a "real" job because I knew I couldn't make a decent living for a family as a gunsmith. You have to have a retail outlet to make a profit.
My worst peeve. Actions that have been drilled on a drill press without using a jig and end up using shims and other junk to get a scope sighted in. Then welding up the holes and starting over to make it right.

[Rapier]

A'men brother! And it isnt just the home guy that drill holes that way either. Many years ago I got a 96 action back from a smith with the scope base holes drilled off line to the left of center. I ended up having to fix it myself, I guess that is when I started doing my own work, actually.

Like you, I have a real job, just not retired yet, and do guns as a hobby.
Best,
Ed

[DogYeller]

Jon, give Dennis Feken a call, he's located in Mulhall, OK 405 649 1125 or 405 649 1153.

[PJgunner]

A while back I found a 1909 Oberndorf Mauser in 7.65x53 Peruvian. it has a pretty nice sporter stock on it, Timney trigger and looked pretty nice over all. Even the price was right at $150 complete with a cheaipe scope. Well, I bought it for the wood and the action anyway so I took it to my friendly, but not cheap gunsmith. They have built several rifles for me based on Mausers and while he's not inexpensive, I feel his prices are more than fair considering the quality of the work. The only thing I needed done on the rifle was a new barrel in .308 Win. When the gun was finished, the cost was $500 and change. I put different scope on the gun and shot a .80" group after getting it on paper at 100 yards. That's a 5 shot group, not three. The 7x57 Mauser on anFN action he made my is a consistant .75" gun and the one load I've tried in the .280 Rem. he made is also very sub-MOA. It shoots .75" groups with my handload and hovers at the inch mrk with Remington factory ammo.
Looking at Larry's prices, they're very reasonable. All I will say is most of the ones I've had built have run four figures. Was it worth all that expense? Well, for me it was. I have riles that look good, shoot good and are damn pretty to look at. What more could one want?
Paul B.