I’m new to buying guns and have a dumb question why is it cheaper to buy a parts kit with every part than it is to buy the built gun? This is $700 cheaper

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homemadeammo42@reddit

If you have a way to make a receiver, sure.

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Skrewbert86@reddit (OP)

I just noticed that but the receivers about $300 so still $400 cheaper

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These are not like building an AR. You're going to need more than $400 worth of tools, let alone the skills and experience. Most people buying kits send them out to somebody to build them. Usually it is done when there are no real already built options for that gun.

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Robbot24@reddit

If the kit comes with the barrel installed (which this one appears to) it’s a 15 minute job to assemble with tools most people have laying around the house.

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Charles_Perc@reddit

The labor, talent, tools/jigs needed to do it correctly

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jtj5002@reddit

Lmao it's a vz 61. You just need 15 minutes and a YouTube video.

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GunsAndWrenches2@reddit

None of which is required for a scorpion kit lol

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alkatori@reddit

I mean... labor costs money? This is pretty normal.

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Purple_Calico@reddit

It almost cheaper to buy a 3d printer and print a AR trigger compatible reciever than that.

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Bl4ckM0ng00s3@reddit

Make sure you dremel the little metal rat tail off the disconnector or it will try to fire full auto and you’ll get a hammer follow malfunction.

Other than that, these are very easy to build. You just won’t end up putting the controlling lever in (part 29 here):

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/cz/machines-guns/vz-61-skorpion-smg

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ImpressiveAlarm3992@reddit

Excise tax for completed firearms and the labor to assemble such a thing. Also in this specific example it could mean the product was made far before inflation thus preserving profit margins without necessarily passing on the cost to the consumer.

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Independent_Bid_26@reddit

You're missing some parts, and it costs money to pay people to put guns together. Yes, it generally costs more to buy a built product, rather than building it yourself.

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Logan_Frost@reddit

While true, there are companies selling finished Skorpion receivers now, these are fairly easy to put together honestly. Not gunna say AR-15 lower parts kit easy, but most of the same ideas are in play. They start life as a closed bolt, hammer fired pistol after all, making them far easier to build for the average joe than say, a vz-28 or other open bolt SMG.

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Independent_Bid_26@reddit

Totally understand that. Still have to pay people to put them together.

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Logan_Frost@reddit

I dont get your meaning. Its simple enough that with videos and a kitchen table you can put together a Skorpion on a new receiver yourself, no need to pay someone to do it. Theres no real hard to do parts needing presses or special tooling, unless the barrel isnt already fitted to the upper, but even then its not a huge ordeal.

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Independent_Bid_26@reddit

I am just saying you still have to pay employees to complete the task. Which means more overhead, and increased cost over buying a parts kit. What is there to understand? Its that way with most products.

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WiseDirt@reddit

If it's simple enough that a capable individual could watch a video and figure it out themselves, why would they need to pay someone?

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Drunk_Catfish@reddit

Because this entire conversation started about why it's cheaper to build yourself than it is to buy complete.

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texdroid@reddit

Like every other business today, they're probably paying a guy $20 / hour and it takes him 30 minutes to build one. Then they charge you an extra $400.

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Go_Loud762@reddit

Other people mentioned the labor costs, but another big chunk of the cost is due to excise tax on complete firearms. That tax is 10%

Firearm parts don't have that tax.

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sumguyontheinternet1@reddit

Unless you live in Colorado! Then parts and ammo get the extra tax, as well as holsters, optics, complete guns, or anything else that you can say has to do with firearms. Even cleaners and lubricants.

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Go_Loud762@reddit

Damn, dude. That's insult to injury.

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crinklepant@reddit

Its the same way with computers, and honestly a lot of modular hobbies.

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Franticalmond2@reddit

Redditor discovers the labor component of product pricing, more at 11.

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Forsaken-Guava-2993@reddit

Generally, yes, it is cheaper to build. But complexity varies depending on what you’re building and what tools you’ll need.

I’m a strong proponent of building. You learn a lot more about the platforms you’re using and can better service them or upgrade them in the future.

Just make sure to do a LOT of research. What you’re building will be controlling and directing an explosion in your hands or near your face. You can get seriously injured or possibly killed if you don’t know what you’re doing and that will cost a lot more than you will save.

Okay I changed my mind, don’t build unless you are a trained professional. Be safe out there.

Or you can be a guy that buys an AR lower and AR upper and push two takedown pins and say “I built this” and that’s rather safe.

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xxpvtjokerxx@reddit

It comes down to receiver availability and difficulty of assembly. Star 70z kits are like $100 - no receiver and difficult to build. AK parts kits can be pretty cheap, but you need the tools to press a barrel (ten ton press, drill press) and rivet the receiver.

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Skrewbert86@reddit (OP)

Yeah, I’m gonna marry Poppins it snap my fingers and it’s done