Have Aussie gunsmiths got too expensive

[Billo]

I recently started looking for a stainless radial muzzle brake for a rifle I want to whack a thermal on and FMD not only are some of the local made muzzle brakes overpriced but getting one modified to suit my needs was going to cost more than some new rifles.

Are we getting ripped for accessories, well I say yes.

In the end I emailed a NZ machinist and he custom made and posted a brake for only $133 Aus

[Oldbloke]

I recently started looking for a stainless radial muzzle brake for a rifle I want to whack a thermal on and FMD not only are some of the local made muzzle brakes overpriced but getting one modified to suit my needs was going to cost more than some new rifles.

Are we getting ripped for accessories, well I say yes.

In the end I emailed a NZ machinist and he custom made and posted a brake for only $133 Aus

In NZ truck loads of rifles are fitted with brakes or suppressors. Would explain it to some degree. But I'm hearing you.

[Wapiti]

Getting ripped off, maybe. Depends.

If it's an online re-seller flogging Chinese made stuff he can multiply his cost by 3x, and all his got to pay for are his laptop and home office, if that, yep.

If it's an Australian business, paying rent, wages, compo insurance, enormous electricity costs and paying for machine time, nope.
Especially for one off jobs.
You are providing what is basically a reflection of both your skill, customer satisfaction and expectations in a "maybe" timely manner.

I do my own work (machining) and even to cut threads dimensionally tight and true takes time... if I put a workshop cost on my personal work I'd chuck it in.
Let alone for others expectations.

The fact now of how the lead time to get gunsmiths done has been for ages, sums up there's plenty of people who want work done regardless and understand and accept the costs.

[Billo]

I hear what you saying wapiti regarding chinaco brakes and maybe he gets high quality blanks made and then modifies too suit ?

Either way this brake wasn't on his list of standard calibres, so not only was the bore opened up but he also tapered it to my specs where it mates up to the barrel, these labor costs which he quoted were less than 25% of what local gunsmiths were wanting to charge.

[Wapiti]

I hear what you saying wapiti regarding chinaco brakes and maybe he gets high quality blanks made and then modifies too suit ?

Either way this brake wasn't on his list of standard calibres, so not only was the bore opened up but he also tapered it to my specs where it mates up to the barrel, these labor costs which he quoted were less than 25% of what local gunsmiths were wanting to charge.

Makes sense to get slotted centre-bored blanks of different diameters and carbon/stainless, and then just chuck them and drill oversize for calibre and then cut the threads to suit the order. Also if you (or he) knows your barrel diameter he can taper cut to suit.

Getting different design slotted blanks takes the milling steps out, but even the above can put an extra hour of Aussie labour plus machine time onto the price easy.
I used to set up and inspect large fabrications in China prior to payment /export here, and personally there's no way I would do the above.
I'd just place orders for completed brakes from a Chinese workshop, to my order, from dimensions I'd sourced from firearm models here. They do the whole thing, ready to go, for barely more than half finished parts. Set up time is the killer.

[Billo]

Wapiti here is the brake I got made for a Ruger 358 Winchester, finishing is somewhat nicer than I expect, ports are even chamfered, which is a nice touch

for those curious I ordered this from DPT Machinist, who I suspect actually made this from scratch.

https://www.dpt.co.nz/about/

[Wapiti]

Mate that's extremely nice work, great surface finish... even the interior of the holes. The chamfers are very well done. Looks like a great blast finish too.
Great pic by the way.
Please let us know how it feels to shoot, don't care about the noise (shooting is loud anyway!)

I was sceptical about the effectiveness of multi-hole (drilled, not slotted) until I tried one on my favourite walkabout super-light 300WM. The difference between it on and off is incredibly obvious. I reckon less than a standard weight unbraked 308.

That fella is a real good find. Great score.

[Billo]

Mate that's extremely nice work, great surface finish... even the interior of the holes. The chamfers are very well done. Looks like a great blast finish too.
Great pic by the way.
Please let us know how it feels to shoot, don't care about the noise (shooting is loud anyway!)

I was sceptical about the effectiveness of multi-hole (drilled, not slotted) until I tried one on my favourite walkabout super-light 300WM. The difference between it on and off is incredibly obvious. I reckon less than a standard weight unbraked 308.

That fella is a real good find. Great score.

Yeah I reckon I'll be using his services again in the future, as I said Ill be using a thermal on this rifle so ear plugs and ear muffs

[mickb]

very nice Billo, I dont use brakes, but thats nice.