Last time I attended that gun show being discussed in another thread I ran across various center grip XP's. Most were in the $600 range...some with rings/base and some even with scopes (but not woth an extra $200). Then there was a .221 FB in the original stock with a Weaver base for $400. So that leads me to wonder, what is a fair XP price?? And what should I be aware of when looking for one?? After returning from this past weekend show my Dad mentioned that $400 XP was still there.

Dan,
$400 for a 221 Fireball XP is probably market price but my last 2 XP's were purchased for less. Although I didn't buy this actual XP a friend of mine did about 4 weeks ago. It was a stock 7mmBR, Weaver mount, with a red dot sight (Tasco or Aimpoint--Can't remember). Price paid was $425. Add the value of the dot sight and mount and you made a good purchase on a XP (for my purposes) that you do not have to open the bolt face to rebarrel or if you so choose you can use the Zytel stock if you did rebarrel (as long as you keep the same taper). So for my purposes I would rather pay $400 for a BR than I would a Fireball. It all depends on what you want. Since they have not been made for some time now, I wouldn't be surprised to see the price slowly go up.
Ernie

I just paid $450 for a .223 with very few rounds shot through it. No extras came with the gun. Figure to have it made to a switch-barrel with .223 and 17 Mach IV barrels.

A17Shooter

Dan,

$400 is not unreasonable. I would offer $350 and see if the price is negotiable, but I would probably be willing to pay $400.

Since it is a 221, I assume that it is a center grip zytel stock. That would be a bonus for me since I prefer the center grip to the rear grip. I don't care for the Zytel, but I can always put another wood center grip stock on it.

Tillio can open that bolt face up for you and rebarrel it to just about any caliber you desire.

I know perfectly well what Tillio is capable of!! He's gotten quite a few of my dollars. ;-) The fella that has this XP has had it a couple shows now without it moving. I may look into some others at the show and see what kinda of optics they have. They also had better bases/rings which I am willing to pay for.

I really would rather have somthing with a bigger bolt face. A Contender can handle anything with the .221FB bolt face that I care to shoot.

Thanks for the info.

That Tillio is a trip. I was at his place about two weeks ago dropping off some guns that we reblued for him. He practically had me rolling on the floor laughing by the time I left.

Those gun show guys can be funny. I have seen some items at the gun shows for YEARS now with the same price on them. I often wonder is some of them sell anything. I once offered a guy $20 less than his asking price on an old 20 ga. Ithaca 37. He practically ripped my head off. You would have thought that I had insulted his mother. I saw the same gun there two years later on his table. I guess it was worth toting it back and for a few dozen times for $20??? If he hadn't torn in to me for trying to negotiate, I probably would have paid the asking price. Go figure.

Saw a XP in 7mm 08 at a local shop yesterday. It had a composite stock and a laminated thumbhole stock too. Asking price was $399.

Chief Rid,

If you're not interested in the 7-08 XP I may be, email me at TCContenderFan@aol.com with the shops name and tel. number.

Thanks.....Ike

Ike. You got mail.

Thank you !

Dan, Delmont Sport Shop got a 100R in 260, I believe, with Leupold rings base and 4x scope for 639.00.

Ouch...I'll be passing on that one!! Went passed your place on Monday. Had to go to Best Buy in Greensburg to return a cordless phone...then somehow ended up at the Ford dealer down the road and cleansed myself of the Chevy Balzer I was driving! Riding in an '01 F150 Super Crew now!! hehehe. That was the most expensive phone shopping trip I ever made!!

There are several XP's on the Gunsamerica.com website and the prices are all over the board! I am on there a lot and am selling different guns on the site, but it seems that some people that have guns there, think there gun is worth way too much. It's a great site Contenders too.

My wife wants to go to Best Buy to computer shop this weekend, I sure hope the trip don't end up like yours. Next time your in the area stop in. Some day I'll have to figure out where Stush is, I didn't know anyone in the area blued besides me. It would be nice to have some local to descuss some of the problems and techniecs with.

They do good work...did a custom Mauser .30 Gibbs and 6.5-06 for me. The 'smith we mentioned (Tillio from Homer City) does the metal work then sends it to Stush and his Dad for bluing. I NEED to get to Stush's to pick up my 30-30AI barrel and a RSBH Hunter...before I go I'll let you know. Maybe I'll snag you to ride along.

The more the merrier. Bring X-ring along. :-) Although I am now back to work full time since having some minor surgery at the beginning of the month, so I am only there on evenings and weekends.

Thanks for the compliment on the bluing, Dan. My dad does 99.9% of the work, so the credit is all due to him. I am learning the ropes slowly but surely. I am picking up the bluing, repairs, and stock work from him and just starting to get into the metal work with some help from Tillio as well. I am currently building a 500 Linebaugh on a Ruger SBH frame. I fitted the new cylinder and turned and threaded the new barrel last week while I was home from the full time job. Keep your eyes out for an article. I am starting to write one on the conversion process to submit to Gary, if he is willing to post it.