Author Topic: High cost of BPCR sights? (Read 1181 times)

bpcshooter · « **on:** March 06, 2005, 05:13:52 AM »

Anyone who has shopped around for American made repeatable, Long Range "Soule" or adjustable windage "Globe" sights, is aware that they will set you back from $500 to $800 for a set. This is the price of some lower end rifles.
An estimate ... total cost of raw materials to produce each sight is under $40 dollars. Most of the parts required, are produced on CNC (Computer Numeric Code) machinery, so manual labor should be minimal, except for assembly and final fitting.
So why the high dollar cost? Also, retail pricing between manufacturers is very similar and mostly none competitive. What are your thoughts?

ribbonstone · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2005, 05:44:43 AM »

Certainly can't defend their pricing...and it does seem as if there is a price-fixing agreement.Not the only item in the catalogue that seems to be that way.

Bottom line, they charge that amount becasue they can.

Ray Newman · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2005, 06:31:42 AM »

How do you know all that the sight makers have CNC equipment?

If you are referring to MVA, why not say so?

Assuming that they all did, the price of such CNC equipment is expensive.

Then when you add in a limited market for a very precision sight & the cost of doing business (insurance, utilities, workers' comp, wages &/or benefits, cost of raw materials, paying the loans on equipment, building, or investors, etc.) prices do 'get up there' real quick.

Timberlake · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2005, 07:53:06 AM »

Good post Ray. I think if somebody (you, Ray) could factor all this back to put the cost in 1874 dollars we'd be surprised at the value we are getting today.

TL

Ray Newman · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2005, 11:09:52 AM »

Timberlake: last year I tried to figure out 1874 cost vis-a-vis 2004 costs & got no where. From what I did learn though is that attempting to do so is not as easy as it looks.

After this mornings post, I did look thorough Sharps Rifle; the Gun That Shaped American Destiny by Martin Rywell (1979), ISBN 0-913150-21-5, LOC catalogue # 56-12177.

Well after doing so, it looks like the sight maker(s) are not the only who are greedy, taking advantage, over charging, etc.

Price list--circa 1876:

Creedmoor Rifle #1 (best quality) US $125.00*
(* included vernier rear sigfht to 1300 yds, interchangeable globe front w/ Morrocan leather case for sights.)

.44-77-312 loaded shells, per M US $42.00

50-70-457 loaded shells, per M US $42.00

Telecsopic sights US $40.00

.45 caliber brass (various chambers), per M US $26.50--32.00

.40 caliber brass (various chambers), per M US $22.00--30.00

.44 caliber brass (various chambers), per M US $26.50--32.00

Various reloading tools US $.50-1.00

Sharps powder, per pound US $1.00

Black Walnut Rifle case (lined) US $7.00- 15.00

mahogany Rifle case (lined) US $7.50 - 22.00

Rosewood Rifle case (lined) US $20.00- 40.00

Leather rifle cases (depending upon style) US $15.00 & 5.00

Timberlake · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2005, 01:32:17 PM »

Ray,

I have the same reference. I even called the library. Somehow, I just knew you could figger this out, in relative terms. In straight dollar speak, some have said 40 times 1874 $'s = current. I don't know. Thanks.

TL

ribbonstone · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2005, 03:12:39 PM »

Not as exacting in many ways, but can consdier the price of gold over the years.

Timberlake · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2005, 09:12:41 AM »

Hey fellas,

I found a web site that may be of some use in comparing 1874 prices to 2003 prices. That's as far as the calculator goes.

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi

or try
http://www.halfhill.com/inflation.html

Enjoy

TL

RPbump · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2005, 02:16:56 PM »

You can buy a front and rear sight from Ron Heilman for less than $500.
I now have 3 of his sights and highly reccomend them. There is no wobble fore and aft or side to side and the settings are repeatable. The only addition you should get for one of Ron's sights is a Hadley style eyecup and if you have one of those tell Ron the thread size when you order. Rbump

The Pistoleer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2005, 06:14:08 AM »

So RP how does one get a hold of Ron?

The Pistoleer

R J Talley · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2005, 08:03:32 AM »

You guys are missing one of the true great deals of the century. Go to cabelas and check out the Pedersoli Soule sight set. The Soule sight, fron spirit level globe, inserts and levels plus screw in a wood case for under $400. Is it repeatable? Yep. Does it have click stops? No. Is it precision? I believe so. I have two of them plus an MVA plus some East Euro job I got from Buffalo Arms. Of the bunch, the Pedersoli is as good or better.

popgunbpcr · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2005, 12:59:13 AM »

bpcshooter,

Check out this site. advancemfgtech.com.

This company made, and still makes the sights that went on the BPCR Browing rifles.

They make the soule bases for Browing, Winchester, Sharps, Remington, Ballard.

Complete set right now, front and rear soule sight ( winter prices) is $325.

Have a great day.

RPbump · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2005, 03:03:46 PM »

Pistoleer, Sent you a private message (PM). RPbump

The Pistoleer · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2005, 03:47:12 PM »

Got it. Thanks for the information.

Pete

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2005, 04:15:38 PM »

If the cost seems prohibitive, try this:

http://trackofthewolf.com/categories/partDetail.aspx?catId=14&subId=167&styleId=770&partNum=RS-CREED-5-WE

You can outfit the front and rear for less that $100.00

Ray Newman · « **Reply #15 on:** March 22, 2005, 05:58:31 PM »

I once had such a sight as shown in the above post on a Browning B78 .45-2.1. I soon threw it away.

The elevation adjustment markings were quite crude & there were none for wind. It also was difficult to return to a previous sight setting(s).