Market Research Questions

[Bubbles]

All answers to the questions below are appreciated. I’m asking because DH has developed several rifles that fit the above criteria and some government agencies have expressed interest in buying them. We’re in the process of getting a FFL w/ 07/02 SOT. I’m trying to gauge if it would be worth advertising to the public as well, or if we should stick with the .gov contracts for now.

1) How much would you be willing to pay for a semi-auto .308 rifle system guaranteed to shoot 0.25 MOA or better? (AR10 or M1A)

2) How much would you be willing to pay for a semi-auto .308 rifle system guaranteed to shoot 0.5 MOA or better? (AR10 or M1A)

3) How much would you be willing to pay for a bolt-action .308 rifle system guaranteed to shoot 0.25 MOA or better?

4) How much would you be willing to pay for a bolt-action .308 rifle system guaranteed to shoot 0.5 MOA or better?

5) How much would you be willing to pay for a bolt-action .50 BMG rifle system guaranteed to shoot 0.25 MOA or better?

6) How much would you be willing to pay for a bolt-action .50 BMG rifle system guaranteed to shoot 0.5 MOA or better?

I used the phrase “rifle system” above. This includes a scope (Leupold or better quality w/ mil-dot reticle), sound suppressor (all NFA laws apply), aftermarket target barrel and trigger, hard case, bipod, and the appropriate gunsmithing to make the system work as advertised. The product will be a turn-key rifle system and will arrive zeroed and ready to go.

Accuracy testing would be done with a known load (e.g. Lake City Match) from a stable platform, not offhand.

TIA!

 

[taliv]

accuracy is important, but of less interest than ergonomics, dependability, parts availability, etc.

but for accuracy, how long is it guaranteed to shoot .25 MOA? first 50 rnds? 1000 rnds, 5000 rnds?

for reference, i'm in the process of paying roughly $8k for #2 (incl suppressor, scope, etc) for a KAC system, so you might say the market would bear it, but perhaps not so much for a lesser known brand or new company.

 

[Bubbles]

Thanks for your response. $8k puts it well into the profitable range; we were looking at charging less.

how long is it guaranteed to shoot .25 MOA? first 50 rnds? 1000 rnds, 5000 rnds?

The particular .308 semi-auto that we produced and submitted for testing has over 25k rounds through it that we can document (some agencies didn't tell us how many rounds they put through it), and is still grouping under .25 MOA. The barrel maker we're working with has told us that his products have a proven life expectancy of 50-100,000 rounds.

 

[USSR]

The particular .308 semi-auto that we produced and submitted for testing has over 25k rounds through it that we can document (some agencies didn't tell us how many rounds they put through it), and is still grouping under .25 MOA. The barrel maker we're working with has told us that his products have a proven life expectancy of 50-100,000 rounds.

Don

 

[Omnivore]

Depends

My first answer to all 6: It depends-- how much over 30 pounds does this mythical rifle weigh? Then; What is the reputation of the company making the guarantee and therefore what history of service and promise-keeping can we observe, etc.?

My basic philosophy as a designer: If you make something really good, and you can back it up, it will sell. If you have to ask, you're probably not ready for such a venture. If it costs fifty thousand dollars and it really is better than anything else, people will buy it. Not me, but enough others will.

We can play this any number of ways. How 'bout:
1. How cheaply can you build a rifle that can be guaranteed, with a full refund and a reputation to back it up, to shoot 50K rounds with an average, 5-shot group of under 0.5 MOA?

Start there. If you are familiar with guns, the manufacturing processes, and what people are paying for what, you can answer your own questions. If not, well, find out. There are some really great products out there, so you have to be doing something pretty damned amazing to get noticed. Build it and then come to the table and show us.

I don't mean to sound persnickety, it's just the way it is. I've been hearing these sorts of questions for 35 years. I was asked, as a technician, way back when I was 17 years old, by the boss and owner of a business, if he should keep the business open. I didn't need to answer. Obviously, the business closed soon after.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I'm only concerned about my first and second shot. If I miss the first it's good to know that round number two will go to the same poa. I don't need moa rifles, but I have some that are more accurate than I am. I'm not a benchrest shooter. That's too stressful.