Wacking off and re-crowning a barrel wont take that long, shouldnt cost too much. Probabley less then 30 mins.
Fluting is a differant matter. Fluting is an IFFY matter, you disturb the harmonics which may or may not screw with the accuracy. When I was in the business, I told customers it was a 50/50 shot whether it would shoot or not, and I had them sign a waiver. I'd guarentee the flutes but not the accuracy.
I tried to discourage people from fluting barrels, I've done a few and they turned out, KNOCK ON WOOD, one that scared me the most was a biathalon rifle belonging to the first runner up to the Olympic team. The fluting didnt hurt it a bit, but it gave me ulsers. Still I jacked up my prices for fluting trying to get them to forget it or go else where.
I didnt make any money on fluting barrels, I would use an old take off barrel, turn it to match the rifle I'm going to work on, and practice with it, making sure I got my "set up" just right.
Other people who know what they are doing (I didn"t) may be differant.
Its pricy, time consuming. You would be better off in my opinion, buying a new - pre-fluted barrel. There are some good barrel makers out there that sell some pretty dern fluted barrels.
And yes people charge a bit more for machine work.
I wont venture to say what it would cost, I now know the shop rates in your area and I've been out of the game for a while.
OH, I forgot, I did the fluting on a milling machine, I never had to take the barrel out of the action. Regarding cutting down the barrel, I'd use a 4 jaw chuch to hold the action, a cut off tool to cut the barrel and then crown it. Normaly it isnt necessary to take the barrel out of the action.
