.357 Rifle Availability?

[Big Blue]

I had been thinking about sending for a new .357 barrel, but with the rifle being made again, I'd just as soon have that. $164.50 for a new barrel or $240 for a new SB1-S35 rifle. Anyone know if the rifles are available yet or can we expect to see them around September? I also wonder why they decided to put the .357 and .44 mag. in a SB1 frame? Just seems like it complicates things unnecessarily. Sports South lists them as SB2, but I imagine that's in error.

"*Note: The frame of the 44 Mag. (SB1-S44) and the 357 Mag. (SB1-S35) cannot be fit with any other centerfire rifle barrel. They are capable of being fit with accessory shotgun barrels, but their rifle capability is limited to the specific 44 or 357 Mag. barrel that it is shipped on the gun."

Thanks,
Don

[quickdtoo]

The SB1 frame is less costly to produce and they want to get in on the new Indiana deer rifle season sales, so they'd better get them in racks soon, April is the expected arrival time.

I dunno where ya got the $164.50 for the barrel price, it's $87 for the barrel and $25 fitting and shipping, plus whatever it costs to ship your frame to them, about $125 at most total.

Tim

[Big Blue]

Thanks Tim,
My mistake on the price. I have a barrel program form all filled out and I had included the cost of a new synthetic stock set on there, so the price is more like $112 for the barrel swap. At half the cost of a new rifle, it makes a bit more sense.
The SB1 frame may be less costly for them to produce, but the price tag listed in Sports South is the same as any other SB2 framed synthetic stocked rifle. I would have hope they'd pass some of their savings on to the customer.
Don

[quickdtoo]

I'm just guessing, but the price sheet originally sent out probably only listed the 357 and 44mag as being on SB2 frames as that was their original plan, so the price would be the same, hopefully the SB1 versions will be a bit less. RSR shows both as being SB2 also, but no prices.

Tim

http://www.rsrgroup.com/opncatalg.php