FAQs
Please click on the links below to view the FAQ answers
Rebarrelling considerations
The cost and time taken to rebarrel a rifle or pistol is dependent on a number of factors including;
Choosing a factory barrel or a blank one
Barrel availability
Any finishing work to be done to the barrel
Special chamber requirements
Any further fitting/inletting/bedding as required
If you change calibre, consider licensing implications
Rebarreling of rifles generally starts at $450 or can stretch to well over $1000 for special setups. Many customers choose to simply buy a new firearm or a second hand one in good condition - Please see FAQ "What is economy of scale" as it relates to the labour component of your project.
When rebarrelling, you will have to make choices about what you want to achieve. The plethora of information out there can be overwhelming, however I urge you to do your research and "due diligence" on what you take away from that research. I can certainly guide you and give you direction about what might work for you (and indeed I feel obliged to communicate with you any pitfalls that may be experienced with your project) however ultimately the final design will have to be decided on wholly by you, and generally I will need to know the following:
barrel brand
material (steel or stainless) and finish
length
profile
crown design
chamber & throat requirements
twist rate
extras such as bedding, action truing etc.
Rebarreling of rifles generally starts at $450 or can stretch to well over $1000 for special setups. Many customers choose to simply buy a new firearm or a second hand one in good condition - Please see FAQ "What is economy of scale" as it relates to the labour component of your project.
When rebarrelling, you will have to make choices about what you want to achieve. The plethora of information out there can be overwhelming, however I urge you to do your research and "due diligence" on what you take away from that research. I can certainly guide you and give you direction about what might work for you (and indeed I feel obliged to communicate with you any pitfalls that may be experienced with your project) however ultimately the final design will have to be decided on wholly by you, and generally I will need to know the following:
What is the best "all-rounder" or can you build me one?
Let me put this in context:
How many clubs does a golfer have?
WHAAAAT?!? 12 clubs to put a little white ball in a hole - you must be mad!
No I don't play golf but I am aware of the game, and I assume you are too!
In the same way that a golfer will use different weights, shapes and materials of clubs to achieve his target, the same is with firearms, and is usually the reason why many firearms owners have more than one - each one has a specific purpose.
Now don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with picking an intermediate twist rate so you can change the selection of your projectiles, however the real question at hand is "what are you going to do with the firearm?" and if it is the age old "a bit of this and a bit of that" then you need to pick which you do more often, and in doing so, you need to be honest and realistic with yourself. What are you really going to do? Like, really?
I'll use the analogy of people who buy big expensive 4WD cars and then put road tyres on them and they only go on the beach the day after they buy it and that's it. You need to be realistic about what you're going to do, and you will find your choices become easier, and you will be more satisfied with your purchase/project.
And finally, if you are trying to get a rifle with a flat trajectory, capable of delivering higher than average kinetic energy to the target, has low recoil, is cheap to buy, cheap to run on ammo, doesn't require much maintenance, and is of excellent quality and finish, I have the answer: "When you get a magic wand" - seriously, it doesn't exist. Well not yet, anyway.
How many clubs does a golfer have?
WHAAAAT?!? 12 clubs to put a little white ball in a hole - you must be mad!
No I don't play golf but I am aware of the game, and I assume you are too!
In the same way that a golfer will use different weights, shapes and materials of clubs to achieve his target, the same is with firearms, and is usually the reason why many firearms owners have more than one - each one has a specific purpose.
Now don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with picking an intermediate twist rate so you can change the selection of your projectiles, however the real question at hand is "what are you going to do with the firearm?" and if it is the age old "a bit of this and a bit of that" then you need to pick which you do more often, and in doing so, you need to be honest and realistic with yourself. What are you really going to do? Like, really?
I'll use the analogy of people who buy big expensive 4WD cars and then put road tyres on them and they only go on the beach the day after they buy it and that's it. You need to be realistic about what you're going to do, and you will find your choices become easier, and you will be more satisfied with your purchase/project.
And finally, if you are trying to get a rifle with a flat trajectory, capable of delivering higher than average kinetic energy to the target, has low recoil, is cheap to buy, cheap to run on ammo, doesn't require much maintenance, and is of excellent quality and finish, I have the answer: "When you get a magic wand" - seriously, it doesn't exist. Well not yet, anyway.
What is economy of scale?
Consumers today enjoy a competitive market with bargains to be had everywhere. Some are genuine bargains, and some, I think come at an unknown expense. Most of the items you enjoy at low prices are production items - televisions, cars, clothing etc - yes, even your firearm (if you have one). In other words they were made in large scale production runs that enables the cost of output to be as low as possible through volume manufacture. This is called "economy of scale." Google it - it is interesting.
In order to bring costs down, engineering decisions have to be made by designers. Sometimes, a simple change in material selection or method of manufacture can double or triple the cost of a component or product, thus "forcing" the manufacturer to choose the more cost effective material or method. This means, (and I know I'm being cynical here) that many manufacturers will simply go the cheaper route given any choice, and indeed, when it comes time to make the next model, the price will stay the same or increase while the costs of manufacture will either stabilise with inflation or even be driven down by the ability for the manufacturer to make it cheaper when reviewing materials/methods. Yes, even with shiny new electronics devices that look and seem so much better than the last generation. They may have new technology or a few key features that make it superior to its predecessor, but you can bet your bottom dollar the manufacturer is always on the look-out for efficiency. And so they should be - just ask yourself how "efficient" do they get?
So to wind up this rather long winded explanation, what I am saying is whilst your $900 rifle has served you well and is more than satisfactory, it is a fact of life that the cost of rebarrelling it will most likely exceed half its' value. And if you want something custom, then you will be approaching or exceeding the cost of the firearm as new.
The reason for this is:Use of Australian or imported european materials
No benefit of economy of scale - it is a one-off job
Correct design and materials always used - no short cuts
Cost is at todays trade rates
Australian labour
Also, when compared to other trade equivalents such as mechanical repairs to your car, it may be easier to justify costs; The cost of a vehicle service when compared to the cost of the purchase of the vehicle is not so steep a curve as it is when repairing or modifying your firearm.
In order to bring costs down, engineering decisions have to be made by designers. Sometimes, a simple change in material selection or method of manufacture can double or triple the cost of a component or product, thus "forcing" the manufacturer to choose the more cost effective material or method. This means, (and I know I'm being cynical here) that many manufacturers will simply go the cheaper route given any choice, and indeed, when it comes time to make the next model, the price will stay the same or increase while the costs of manufacture will either stabilise with inflation or even be driven down by the ability for the manufacturer to make it cheaper when reviewing materials/methods. Yes, even with shiny new electronics devices that look and seem so much better than the last generation. They may have new technology or a few key features that make it superior to its predecessor, but you can bet your bottom dollar the manufacturer is always on the look-out for efficiency. And so they should be - just ask yourself how "efficient" do they get?
So to wind up this rather long winded explanation, what I am saying is whilst your $900 rifle has served you well and is more than satisfactory, it is a fact of life that the cost of rebarrelling it will most likely exceed half its' value. And if you want something custom, then you will be approaching or exceeding the cost of the firearm as new.
The reason for this is:
Also, when compared to other trade equivalents such as mechanical repairs to your car, it may be easier to justify costs; The cost of a vehicle service when compared to the cost of the purchase of the vehicle is not so steep a curve as it is when repairing or modifying your firearm.
What are your hours?
By appointment only. Please Contact me
Do you buy old guns?
Yes, I most certainly do. Even if it's broken, it can be stripped for parts. Please Contact me
How do I buy a "Saf-Key"
First of all, contact me with your proof of agency. Law Enforcement, Military, Fire and Emergency Services, suitable training organisations or entities that make forcible entries that are authorised, justified or excused by law.
Can I buy a silencer?
In Western Australia silencers (or more correctly known as suppressors) are not currently legal to possess unless you have a state or federal exemption.
The word "silencer" is incorrectly applied to these devices and for some reason the word is still in use today, even in legal documentation. The use of the term most likely stems from movies and media use, which in turn has also affected legislation - e.g. restrictions on "military appearance" firearms as though the appearance has something to do with its' capabilities. As discussed below, a shot cannot usually be "silenced", merely the level of sound reduced. They work in a way very similar to a muffler on a vehicle.
Generally, there are two sounds most firearms make; the "crack" noise the projectile makes as it moves through the air and breaks the speed of sound(cannot be suppressed) and the exploding/burning powder (this can be suppressed).
For general cartridge loadings and firearms out there today, it is nigh on impossible to "silence" a firearm, and in any event even if you could do so, the device would be so large the whole firearm would be rendered almost useless. Most suppressors simply reduce noise in an attempt to make use of the firearm more comfortable for the user and those around them. In civillian hands they are a "gentlemans accessory" and indeed in some countries they are a required item so you don't bother your neighbours! Food for thought...
The word "silencer" is incorrectly applied to these devices and for some reason the word is still in use today, even in legal documentation. The use of the term most likely stems from movies and media use, which in turn has also affected legislation - e.g. restrictions on "military appearance" firearms as though the appearance has something to do with its' capabilities. As discussed below, a shot cannot usually be "silenced", merely the level of sound reduced. They work in a way very similar to a muffler on a vehicle.
Generally, there are two sounds most firearms make; the "crack" noise the projectile makes as it moves through the air and breaks the speed of sound(cannot be suppressed) and the exploding/burning powder (this can be suppressed).
For general cartridge loadings and firearms out there today, it is nigh on impossible to "silence" a firearm, and in any event even if you could do so, the device would be so large the whole firearm would be rendered almost useless. Most suppressors simply reduce noise in an attempt to make use of the firearm more comfortable for the user and those around them. In civillian hands they are a "gentlemans accessory" and indeed in some countries they are a required item so you don't bother your neighbours! Food for thought...
What are my considerations when choosing a "special" chambering?
Firstly, I will define what I mean by the term "special" as it relates to chambering:
Any wildcat, proprietary, custom, improved or obsolete chambering. Basically, anything that is not currently available on the market from factory (with some exceptions).
Two seem to regularly come up: 6.8SPC and 300 blackout (or its cousins). In fact the 300 blackout is becoming steadily more and more popular so it may become a standard loading one day soon.
Special chamberings are usually requested by the experienced shooter who is already adept at hand loading and case forming processes.
Anyone considering a special chambering will have to accept that access to parent brass or ready to load brass can be a major hurdle. Prior to ordering a special chambering, you will need to make sure you have access to reliable load data, have the knowledge and skill to form your own brass/loads, and will need to know the new barrel specifications required for your loading. See "Rebarrelling considerations" in these FAQ's. The cost may also be a little higher as special tooling may be required.
I know it sounds exciting to have something different to everyone else to stand out from the crowd, or that this new cartridge might perform better or put you one step closer to the holy grail of cartridge performance, but a word on this; I think I can safely say that most cartridge designs and modifications have already been done and tried - whether they are published or not is another thing entirely. If something really amazing and new came along that was so astoundingly head and shoulders above the rest then chances are it would be in manufacture right now and be dominating every competition it held an advantage for.
There's something to be said for simplicity and choosing a cartridge that is easy to source.
Any wildcat, proprietary, custom, improved or obsolete chambering. Basically, anything that is not currently available on the market from factory (with some exceptions).
Two seem to regularly come up: 6.8SPC and 300 blackout (or its cousins). In fact the 300 blackout is becoming steadily more and more popular so it may become a standard loading one day soon.
Special chamberings are usually requested by the experienced shooter who is already adept at hand loading and case forming processes.
Anyone considering a special chambering will have to accept that access to parent brass or ready to load brass can be a major hurdle. Prior to ordering a special chambering, you will need to make sure you have access to reliable load data, have the knowledge and skill to form your own brass/loads, and will need to know the new barrel specifications required for your loading. See "Rebarrelling considerations" in these FAQ's. The cost may also be a little higher as special tooling may be required.
I know it sounds exciting to have something different to everyone else to stand out from the crowd, or that this new cartridge might perform better or put you one step closer to the holy grail of cartridge performance, but a word on this; I think I can safely say that most cartridge designs and modifications have already been done and tried - whether they are published or not is another thing entirely. If something really amazing and new came along that was so astoundingly head and shoulders above the rest then chances are it would be in manufacture right now and be dominating every competition it held an advantage for.
There's something to be said for simplicity and choosing a cartridge that is easy to source.