Barrel length problem

[trapperdan]

I sent a new Shilen 28" barrel blank to a smith to have fitted and chambered. It came back with the barrel finished at 271/2"including threads.
Shilen states that 1" should be cut off of each end of the blank before finishing. He didn't do that. Is this going to haunt me forever and should I take it back and have it re-done? What kind of problems will come out of this if any? Any and all help will be appriciated.
Thanks. Dan

 

[std7mag]

Not sure why they would specify an inch at each end?
A few thousandths to square up, sure.
An inch?

 

[trapperdan]

I'm not sure either but it say it on there web page in "RED" letters.

 

[Judd]

How does it shoot?

 

[std7mag]

Glad i bought a prefit.

 

[DaveTooley]

Barrels that are lapped require shortening on the muzzle. The lap flares the bore as it goes in and out with new lapping compound. I would shoot it. The target tells all.

 

[Will Henry]

I believe the Shilen barrels are counterbored at the breech end to start the button and they don't cut that off at the factory. They also do not cut the muzzle end and there is the possibility of some runout of the reamer at the the muzzle or slight belling from the lapping process. Hart used to make a small saw cut at the point where the air gauge showed some enlargement.
I don't think shortening at the breech is important at all and, if the rifle shoots well, I wouldn't worry about the muzzle end either; unless you actually wanted a 26 inch barrel. If this is the case or if the rifle does not shoot well, I would have the gunsmith cut and crown it to the desired length. It's a 20 minute job. When having a barrel fitted, it's a good idea to specify a length. WH

 

[tobnpr]

I don't think shortening at the breech is important at all

I concur. Once the throat area is dialed in w/a pre-bore, it's not going to matter.
Question that came to mind is- did you expect a finished length of 26"? As WH noted, this should have been specified by you (and the smith should have asked and not "assumed" you wanted to maximize length.

Muzzle end is different, I'll always take a bit off, and use pilots or gage pins to check for any belling or tightness at the end.

 

[trapperdan]

This is a small wildcat round I am working on and have only shot it out of my reloading room window into the ground 12 times working up a load and looking for pressure signs so can't say how good it shoots yet.When searching for a barrel I saw several mentions of their barrels being 28" and would finish at 26".When I saw the statement " cut 1" off of each end I just assumed that was kind of the accepted standard.It dosent matter to me what the length is if it shoots good. I was just wondering why they would say cut 1" off. Now I know.
Thank for all the good information.
Dan

 

[jackieschmidt]

With all due respect to your gunsmith, it is understood that you always cut at least one inch from the muzzle end of a new barrel blank.

He should nave known this.