Significantly less - at least in my experience. This is the rationale I have always accepted for why we had shorter barrel backs. When the bore length exceeds ~5x the cutter diameter it becomes very difficult to machine with similar precision and finish. The original Freak inserts were already flirting with a 7.5x L/D ratio which can be achieved with some expensive spade-type gun drills on regular lathes. At 8.5"/0.677" they're at 12.6x. I suspect that, for production needs, they're paying a premium over normal machining services for a shop that has gundrilling equipment to bore+ream these down from a nominal 0.75" ID extruded tube. Maybe the quantities justified a custom extrusion at .71"...
In comparing price points, the SS freak kit seems to still be available for $130. Subtracting $30 for the case, that's $12.50 per insert - compared to $35 per Dye 8.5" insert, making them ~3x more expensive. Make no mistake, though. I'm thrilled that they're doing it. In a world of $1k guns we can certainly afford a $300 barrel kit. And I especially appreciate industry standardization.
In comparing price points, the SS freak kit seems to still be available for $130. Subtracting $30 for the case, that's $12.50 per insert - compared to $35 per Dye 8.5" insert, making them ~3x more expensive. Make no mistake, though. I'm thrilled that they're doing it. In a world of $1k guns we can certainly afford a $300 barrel kit. And I especially appreciate industry standardization.
Comment