The 441/2 is one of the simplest actions for one to personally work on. 
If CPA has the parts one could actually do the work very easily by themselves.

I have been making a living by gun smithing for the last 24 years. When I started my wife was an RN so I didn't have to charge very much. We had to move a while back because my wife can no longer work and we could not afford to stay where we were ( also wanted to get back to a red state). The new shop building cost $44,000, and then I had to finish the inside and the electric. The shop has enough machines to do quite a few things, including rifle a barrel. The shop rate is $150 per hour but I very seldom charge that much. When I worked as a mechanic I was making $15 an hour and the shop rate was $30. I took my car in to a shop a few weeks back and the shop rate was close to $300 an hour., I have the same tools as they do plus a bunch of machinery, I should raise my rates.

uscra112 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2022 at 6:15am:

Kia soul. Up to a few years ago I did all my own work on cars. The sticker shock of having it done in a car dealer shop hurt. When I drove a 1952 Chevy pick-up I did all my own repairs and kept it running for over 20 years, 5 engines, 3 trans missions, two rear ends and one frame . When I bought it for $10 it had a rod sticking through the oil pan. My step-son has it now but I don't think he drives it much. It had 500,000 miles on it when I gave it to him.

And they wonder why I drive a 20 year old Saab and effect my own repairs. Ditto the 52 year old MG "Sunday go to meeting car".

As for shop work on guns, I'm also glad that there's not much beyond my capabilities and equipment. But I'm self taught on the lathe and there's stuff I can't do. When it comes down to paying shop rates for work I have to think long and hard, and decide how long I can go on beans and hot dogs - stuff's going up at a much faster rate than my retirement income is. It would seem that a fair number of older folks like myself are getting priced out of the game, just when we finally have the time to enjoy it.

an old saying.  the sweetness of cheap is soon diminished by the taste of poor quality   art

I started a response to your question it got lengthy, here's a somewhat shorter version...
When my children were small, (they're in their thirties now) I thought the world of gunsmithing would be a good supplement to our income, was I wrong.   
The revenue for the hours I put in didn't come close to the rate at which my current employer paid me for regular time let alone the OT- which this was.   I fully understood the machining end of things as it was similar to the work I was doing everyday, how do the gunsmiths do this faster than I?  Time is money.  A little slow but I figured it out, they weren't.  Clients weren't going to pay me anymore no matter how good I was.  I quit doing this as a side line for about 10 years just to purge the system - personal projects included...  I say no to anyone that even asks now.

Your bill? if the work is quality, they really know and understand what they are doing, it's how they make their living?   

It's a pittance compared to similar crafts/industry.  The market I'm in, those of us willing to work in the trades, get our hands dirty, make our backs, knees, feet hurt at the end of the day... is rapidly diminishing, I charge what my conscience allows and I sleep well. .   

I'm on an advisory board for two different trade schools and the number of interested candidates is on a downward spiral.   
   
A little story before I go back to work, this happened after I quit all gunwork - there was an individual I did a lot of farm equipment repair on the side and this was traded for access to a prime hunt area - that pulled at him almost as much me doing the work- he wasn't fond of having anyone on his property so there was a bit of an impasse.  He once brought me a high end vintage shotgun and told me to fix it, loose rib, fail to fire, difficulty extracting, a couple other small issues, I really didn't want to do it but I eventually got around to it and the end product really turned out nice.  Up front I had explained that this would come at a cost that exceeded our trading there'd be $$ required.  This old gentlemen was a bit of a skin flint so I figured we'd be at odds when all was said and done.   
I presented him with the final bill for my efforts, didn't include a price, just a comment, "pay me what you feel this was worth and I'll determine whether or not I'll do any work for you in the future".  Needless to say, up until he passed, he's the only individual I ever did gun work for work for.

My 2¢

I don’t do gun work for other people.  But if I did, I’d charge a rate similar to what we get for consulting.  We get $200/hr plus travel expenses to tell people what they already know.  After paying liability insurance, taxes, overhead costs, etc…. I get to put about $100/hr in my pocket.  Billing rate and what you make are not the same thing.

Both in their 80's and still in the shop every day doing what they love. But doing things because they like it, surely not because it pays well.

Lucky guys! I loved my job at Winchester, everyday was fun. The pay hardly mattered, I'd have worked there for free.

This is not a poor man's sport, and quality work is hard to find at any price. 

You get what you pay for, but only if you're lucky.