berettadevon Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Found out very recently that what im told by my local gunsmith is'nt always true, let me set you the scene. I pop along to my local gunsmith with what i think is a problem with my Beretta, the lower striker seemed to be very slightly pitting the primers. Now as this is the first decent gun i thought id do the right thing and pop in and have them check it. I have replaced many a firing striker on my old guns so am in the know on how to go about it plus not making the repair dangerous. So i tell them the problem and state that i could do it myself but thought i'd have them check it, to which i get a reply of "well you cant check the strikers yourself correctly anyhow as you will need a special tool to be able to get the stock off" . . . . mmmmmmmm i stand there thinking oh ok well it is a Beretta so maybe he right!! So from that he advises me to go away and fire a few more cartridges and return with the gun and the empty cartridges so they can make a better judgement. To which i did!!! Then im told " well ya strikers are fine they just needed there tips polished smooth but id advise then gun gets a service" Ok i say but that will have to wait for the moment. So for the last few days the gun has been in the cabinet doing nothing, i decided id remove the butt pad and take a look in to see about this SPECIAL TOOL fitment oh and to my amasement all it is is a dam ALLEN KEY!!! Needless to say i didnt return to the gunsmith in question as ive now done the job myself which took me all of about an hour-ish!! and as for the service, it was only serviced about 6 months ago!!!! Whilst im at it, am i right in saying most gunsmiths charge £180 for a service???? Love to hear what others think and even if they have recieved the same sort of ****!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Sounds like he was just chancing his arm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 It is a very long Allen key though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berettadevon Posted August 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 It is a very long Allen key though! very true but thankfully as im a mechanic also i have plenty of the socket type and a nice long extension bar too!!!!! Am so glad ive done the repair job as now am looking forward to tuesday morning on some crows!! Fired a few test rounds earlier and strikers are leaving perfect hit primers!!! Me a happy man OH YES!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 It probably does need a "special tool", but you were lucky enough to have a long allen key to fit it. Gunsmiths often suggest a gun service, to make a lttle job worthwhile doing (from a financial standpoint), you don't have to accept it. The last gun service I had was a year ago and cost me £50, as no parts were required,any parts would naturally be extra. It doesn't sound to me as though the Gunsmith was trying to have you over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berettadevon Posted August 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 It probably does need a "special tool", but you were lucky enough to have a long allen key to fit it. Gunsmiths often suggest a gun service, to make a lttle job worthwhile doing (from a financial standpoint), you don't have to accept it. The last gun service I had was a year ago and cost me £50, as no parts were required,any parts would naturally be extra. It doesn't sound to me as though the Gunsmith was trying to have you over. Basic service was £50??? blimey i was quoted £180 and that was just for the service without any parts required. Shame i dont live nearer you as id wana be knowing your gunsmith!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joecash Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 unfortunately there are plenty of del boys in the gun game, its like garages charging £200 for servicing a new car - all that involves is basically £20 worth of oil and an oil filter plus a so called "inspection". rip off britain! There are some decent gunsmiths about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlaserF3 Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 It only costs £160 to have a Krieghoff fully serviced and that includes all pins, springs, etc; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Gun service for me : £50, assuming nothing is broken. If something is broken, then usually just the parts on top, no extra labour charges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevorevans Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Was quoted £80 for a service and new pins for my 425, he was collecting it and dropping it back off to me for that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 (edited) £180 would need to include new stub pins and fitting, springs, strikers and pins to not be a rip off, had an old midland OU serviced (fault with trigger) fault fixed and serviced for £50, had the bottom pin in my browning reprofiled for free Where is your local gunsmith ? Edited August 17, 2014 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 It would be better if we knew the gunsmith involved and his side of the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 What difference would the gunsmiths story make? Judging by the replies the gunsmith is obviously overcharging for his services, and to call a long allen key a special tool? They're as common as muck. Sounds like the typical sales spiel that follows a sharp intake of breath. Make the job sound harder than it is and somebody who doesn't know any better will cough up and pay. Too much of it is happening, especially in the gun trade. The majority of dealers and smiths are spot on, but there's always a few greedy ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) A service should cost around £50-£80 plus parts so yes £180 does sound a bit as though he thinks very highly of his own hourly rates but I do agree that stock removal tools can rightly be called special because relatively few would happen to have one in their tool box unless it came with their gun. Don't forget different guns will have different bolt sizes too, some need a long socket and not an allen key. They say guns should be serviced every year to avoid trouble but I've saved between £3- £4 grand not bothering, so can easily replace a whole one even if it disintegrates one day. Edited August 18, 2014 by Hamster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 My local shooting ground charge £175 for a shotgun service by their in-house gunsmith - i'm not sure what that includes, but I don't think it includes any replacement parts as it is a generic 'service' price. They had an offer of a free hour of clay coaching with that - so make what you will of that price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseapaul Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Some give you sound advice some just want to take your money. I asked a gunsmith in Colchester to order me in a beretta urika 2 in 20g,he just laughed and told me 20g is useless in semi auto! they won't cycle as not powerfull enough!. You need a 12g, take a look at all my used bargains I have hear.... Needless to say I went elsewhere and got the 20g and has cycled/performed flawlessly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Are we talking an actual gunsmith here? Or a gun shop claiming to be a gunsmith who then sends it off to an actual gunsmith?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigEd85 Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Some give you sound advice some just want to take your money. I asked a gunsmith in Colchester to order me in a beretta urika 2 in 20g,he just laughed and told me 20g is useless in semi auto! they won't cycle as not powerfull enough!. You need a 12g, take a look at all my used bargains I have hear.... Needless to say I went elsewhere and got the 20g and has cycled/performed flawlessly. I am 100% certain I know which shop you are talking about, boarded up windows and and you have to press a button to get in? On another note, I have never once had my shotgun serviced. 11 years old from new, thousands of cartridges through it! ATB Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 As with all trades there is good and bad.I have a excellent gunsmith in derek lee of boston close to me.hopefully you will find someone very soon. Atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 basic strip & clean service is £70-100 typically.Parts etc more as required dependent upon what is found.£180 is high but that may have assumed new pins/top lever spring etc.I do not presume all gunsmiths are out to rip folk off,in fact my experience is the opposite.A service.if the gun is well used about every 5 years makes sense,the number of articles about an annual gun service etc is a little OTT though! Guns,even the better ones do go wrong eventually,you can either have occassional small service bills or await something breaking and having a bigger bill,tis your choice. Whilst most owners remove stocks to have a look...a trained eye knows what to look for etc and I would be be very wary of fulling stripping an older gun/sidelock etc because you will end up taking a tesco bag of bits to a gunsmith,and probably with a few springs missing and get a whopping bill to sort your mess out!Gunshops and gunsmiths need to make a living,find one you like and trust and feel good about supporting them! atb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 same as bike shops - "can you quickly tune my gears up whilst I'm here (I can do it but easier for someone else to) - oh, we'd recommend a gold level service at £90 where we get your bike working the best it can with it's current parts.... Sounds similar - they must think because you own an expensive gun you wouldn't mind paying over the odd's for anything to do with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseapaul Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 I am 100% certain I know which shop you are talking about, boarded up windows and and you have to press a button to get in? On another note, I have never once had my shotgun serviced. 11 years old from new, thousands of cartridges through it! ATB Ed Yes that's the one, I think Windows boarded to stop the ******** flowing out!. I have never had any gun serviced including a rizzini ou that never missed a beat in 20 years- I never use snap caps either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigEd85 Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Yes that's the one, I think Windows boarded to stop the ******** flowing out!. I have never had any gun serviced including a rizzini ou that never missed a beat in 20 years- I never use snap caps either. Years ago, he refused to sell me the gun I wanted (Sako Finnfire) and refused to sell me a variable power scope, he was then really miffed when I went elsewhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Years ago, he refused to sell me the gun I wanted (Sako Finnfire) and refused to sell me a variable power scope, he was then really miffed when I went elsewhere! Amazing thing is they are still in business! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Yes that's the one, I think Windows boarded to stop the bull###t flowing out!. I have never had any gun serviced including a rizzini ou that never missed a beat in 20 years- I never use snap caps either. I know who mean now he is umm an experience from my dealings including buy a 20 bore off him he wanted my wife to have a 12 he had instead, gave me lots of interesting "facts" about gunfit, I just left shame it was a good price for an honest gun. Gun trade is full of honest hard working people but there are a few dodgy dealers as well just like the car trade or any other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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