Needing to tool up, looking at comparisons.

Well, mine is gonna be more than hobby level. This is gonna allow me to make a better living so I need it to be good.

Not to be one to rain on your parade but don't expect a whole lot of extra income I've met a ton of gunsmiths a can honestly say none have been rich. Now with a benefactor it may be different. If he's an investor idk what kinda return he'll expect 10%? But if money is truly no object buy a CNC EDM and start cranking out actions
 
Shoot also make sure you add the power flush system for chambering!!!! What kinda set up are you running now?
 
Not to be one to rain on your parade but don't expect a whole lot of extra income I've met a ton of gunsmiths a can honestly say none have been rich. Now with a benefactor it may be different. If he's an investor idk what kinda return he'll expect 10%? But if money is truly no object buy a CNC EDM and start cranking out actions
Im well aware of the trials and tribulations of gunsmithing. This will give me a lot more capability and I have other irons in the fire. This is basically just the next step in where Im going.
 
Shoot also make sure you add the power flush system for chambering!!!! What kinda set up are you running now?
Not running anything at the moment. Working at a range as a gunsmith with basically everything but machine tools or refinishing capability. It sucks because I have to farm that work out.
 
If you have no shortage of money why are you asking questions on a hobby forum?
If indeed you want the best look at a Mazak Integrex, it will do all of the gub work that you need and then some.
By the way gub is a joke from the Woody Allen movie Take the Money and Run.
A Mazak Integrex may be seen here , it will make the guns for you.
Well, Im not gonna get something like that, the point of revealing my situation was coming from more of a place of "I dont have to limit myself to the absolute cheapest Chinese crap" than "I have inexhaustible cash at the ready". Id love one of those machines you just posted, in the future, I hope to actually have the need for a few. Laugh if you want, Im here to improve my livelihood.
 
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Not running anything at the moment. Working at a range as a gunsmith with basically everything but machine tools or refinishing capability. It sucks because I have to farm that work out.
So I kinda thought you had some machining background..... I had basically none before January. I've read your post on PM there is definitely some knowledge in that group but them boys will kinda eat you alive you ask a question you'll get 50 $h!tty replys to 1 helpful. I noticed that each of them basically tore apart your lathe choices and not offered any real help the one guy offered to sell you that lathe that is in need of some TLC it's a bad ass lathe but it will be a while before you start turning on it. I think from what I've read the 1440 is a great choice with it having 2" spindle bore is nice as far a gunsmithing 1.5" will do almost anything you'll ask with exception of some 50 cal applications. Thank god the 50 is kinda gone the wayside I've owned 2 over the years and they're basically a novelty item that's my opinion. I'm not sure of the OD of the 416 barrels. I seen where guys on that site will rip on grizzly all day long like I've stated earlier I've had no problems with mine it was basically new when I got it used. Your gonna wanna practice practice practice threading that took me a week or two every night before I felt comfortable enough to try it on a 400 buck barrel, and guess what my 31" barrel is 29.75 because I screwed up the tennon. But she's a tack driver :) I was looking at the 1440 it looked like the slowest rpm is 60 that seems slow until your threading up to a shoulder. I swapped my single phase motor for a 3 phase and did a VFD upgrade so now I can thread at 1 RPM if I wanted I think 30 is where I did my last one and with a break resistor I can stop on a dime. Ive even added I flood type coolant system. I've done all this with the help with the guys in this group. Do you know what type of tooling your gonna run? I would suggest HSS that's what I find works best. Are you going to true and blue print? Are you going to single point? Are you going to use reamers? I'm not sure if it was in this group or the other that you stated you mainly be doing custom actions. What brands? Are you going to build or buy you own jigs? I'm trying to build my own to get more time and experience on my equipment. I've priced buying jigs and custom reamers I could drop another 3k a PTG tomorrow and still not scratch the surface. I've prolly got a couple grand in just tooling for my lathe I'm just now starting to tool up for my mill I've only about 5-600 bucks and haven't don't $h!t yet lol. Check out the viper on YouTube I've learned a lot from him.
 
I do have a machining background, just no machines currently. Im sure you understand Im not the only one. That wasnt me that posted on there. I am also gasmith on that page. I havent posted there yet. I just joined not long ago and have been posting here but looking around the net after all your responses and seem to end up there a lot. I realize theyre a little less forgiving on the other forum, thats why I posted here first. As far as jobs go, truing and blueprinting are definitely gonna be on the list. As far as tooling, thats gonna depend on what Im working with. There will be a variety of tooling for a variety of applications. I will need to practice anyway (and will have a couple months opportunity before the place actually opens) so I have prepared for this. Im actually a graduate of Colorado School of Trades. I understand what goes into doing these things you speak of and have done many of them before, I just havent had the scratch for my own machines and havent stayed in a single location long enough to justify such an endeavor.

"I was looking at the 1440 it looked like the slowest rpm is 60 that seems slow until your threading up to a shoulder. I swapped my single phase motor for a 3 phase and did a VFD upgrade so now I can thread at 1 RPM if I wanted I think 30 is where I did my last one and with a break resistor I can stop on a dime."

That sounds like something I need to do.
 
"Are you going to build or buy you own jigs? I'm trying to build my own to get more time and experience on my equipment. I've priced buying jigs and custom reamers I could drop another 3k a PTG tomorrow and still not scratch the surface. I've prolly got a couple grand in just tooling for my lathe I'm just now starting to tool up for my mill I've only about 5-600 bucks and haven't don't $h!t yet lol. Check out the viper on YouTube I've learned a lot from him."

Im going to build a lot of jigs as well. I also have a huge stash of "junk" parts that will allow me to get plenty of face time with the equipment. This includes barrels and actions. I hear ya on the tooling. As I stated in my other thread on here, Im trying to make sure I learn what I can on these forums about gearing up and what different guys are doing so I can get as close to setting myself up from the get go as I can (I realize that Im always gonna forget somethng, it always happens lol). I will definitely check out Viper if you recommend him.
 
Well I'm super confused now with the back ground what equipment have you used? Why wouldn't you want to stick with what you know? Have you checked with the Colorado school of trades to see if they have anything they are willing to part with? Maybe some of you former instructors?
 
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