Barrel blanks ?

[Frankr]

I wonder if you had a HV barrel blank and wanted to have it turned down to a sporter tube if a barrel manfacture would do that for you? I am going to make a call to one or two of them. But just wondering if anyone had it done or if it would be a good idea to have it done.. as with some of the barrel manufactures it could take up to a year to get a new barrel made. I was just thinking of having a HV barrel turned to a sporter.

 

[shortgrass]

Some will, some won't. Most won't work on a barrel that they didn't make to begin with. Might take a year to get one turned down. Don't know who's a year out, but, Harts' quoting 14-15 weeks, or so. I think Benchmark said they're about 6-8 weeks out. All's not lost, ya ' just gotta know where to look.

 

[Steve Blair]

Why not try to trade it for the profile that you want? You can probably find someone who has what you need.

 

[thefitter]

Are you just looking to make it lighter or do you want a completely different contour?

FYI I called Kreiger last week about fluting a barrel I have and was quoted +/- 6 weeks .

 

[Frankr]

Ok thanks. i will just go with a pac nor. i been waiting 4 months for one i ordered. but they did say 10-16 weeks if i ordered another one. Yea i was wanting to buy a cut barrel, as i know where i can get one and have it turned to a sporter contour. How about them McGowen barrel's ? they seem like they would be a good barrel for a sporter barrel?

 

[shortgrass]

McGowen is button rifled.

 

[KevinThomas]

FJIM,

Just as an aside, you didn't mention the make of the barrel, and that could be important. Cut or buttoned, no problem, but trying to turn down a hammer forged barrel will destroy it completely. Had a few friends who tried to turn some old Winchester Ultra Match barrels down many years ago for use on Silhouette rifles, and it utterly ruined every one of them. I've never seen one of these barrels that didn't shoot extremely well, and yet every one of the several that they turned, wouldn't hold a washtub group at 100 yards. Apparently releases whatever stresses may be built into the barrel during manufacture in some very ugly, and unpredictable ways.