Hello Ham.
I am happy to explain how we arrive at the prices of the different versions since I determine the pricing.
1. Our import cost from Daystate. Add shipping and duty tax, add liability insurance that covers the product and our customers. You would be wrong in assuming all importers insure their goods. You would be wrong and not covered if the product is defective. This establishes our landed cost.
2. I then put a small margin in the product for our distribution company. Very small. This pays for the sales staff and support nationwide for our dealers. This makes the brand available at your local shop.
3. A margin then goes on top of that dealer cost to make the rifle desirable for the dealers to stock and keep on their shelves. This is also smaller than you would expect and much less than dealers want. Just ask them.
4.Barrels and cost to make them are not linear to the length. Trust me I know with my experience in making barrels. The longer barrels have much more waste and discard rate. Harder to drill, ream, cut grooves and turn outside dimensions between centers etc.
5. Stock cost are not only controlled be material cost. Finishing cost, tooling, waste etc are all factors.
6. Market factors. I can tell you that the carbon gray guns are very underpriced so the entry into the platform is available to more people. Ask the dealer selling it. They will agree the profit on the gray carbon rifles is pathetic. It is not that the other models are overpriced it is just they have a little more juice in them for the retailer.
I hope this helps for a better understanding.
Rob.