Let’s go through each point and take them at face value.
Quite frankly, it seems part of this consternation with the price, is people have no baseline for what a proper CRF rifle costs. Comparing any properly timed and built CRF to a R700 based “custom” is apples and oranges.
Let start with the first question- if you want what this rifles offers, how are you replicating it? And how are you getting it for less money?
You believe that is that is happening- load mags and cycle? And is that how long it takes? What gunsmith that actually understands how CRF needs to work and be timed will you go to for them to fully function test it? How much will they charge?
Keep in mind, the only one that function tests every rifle and is watching and checking every part of the cycle of operation… starts at $15,000 for synthetic stocked rifle. And he doesn’t do 100 rounds and multiple magazines.
Ok. What does your gunsmith charge to fire a 10 round group and guarantee it’s under 1.5 MOA with common/factory ammo? The last one I new that would do it, charged $450 extra a barrel/rifle.
Yes. Two magazines that 100% work from your rifle.
Stock yes, bottom metal no. They have to purchase the bottom metal, and it isn’t all that cheap- to develop or produce. It is a very well designed piece.
I couldn’t disagree more. Quite frankly most don’t have enough money for what it would cost to replicate this rifle using a gunsmith.
CRF that uses prefits- OK, buy another MRC for $2,595. Scrap everything but the action, trigger, and bolt. Get a new barrel fitted- $600-$900. Get a gunsmith or machine shop to make a one off bolt handle and knob (about $300 last I found), and a one off AICS bottom metal (very, very low end, $500). If you want a ROKStok at this point for it, either buy the mold and get a company to copy it ($50,000 to $100,000) or pay $1,800 for a wood stock. $130’ish for two mags. Then on the low end, $400 to fully and completely through every part of the cycle of operation- not just with the 2x mags the tokens coming with, but a stack of random mags too- if you can even find a gunsmith that will do it, and knows what they are doing.
I wish it were just over $3,000 as well. But also know what it costs to try to get an equivalent rifle delivered from a legit gunsmith- I started trying to find smiths nearly 20 years ago that would, and could do it. When I did, I paid heavily for it. So much so, that is why I started having to learn it all myself- I couldn’t afford it.
The baseline is that it isn’t “$1,200 more than their other rifle”, it’s “for sub $4,00, you are getting a rifle that is unlike any other from any manufacture, and that has more hands on time actually making sure it functions than all but probably D’Arcy Echols, and Rigby. That is not to say the Marshall is the same as those; but it is very different than paying $3,000-$6000 for screwed together parts bag that can be bought from any online store.
At the end of the day- the rifle simply can not be replicated for $4,000- if at all.
